DINING
In the main cities and towns, a wide variety of British and continental food is available. A traditional Scottish breakfast is porridge made from locally grown oats and either milk or water. Other local dishes include haggis (chopped oatmeal and offal cooked in the stomach of a sheep), cullen skink (fish soup), smoked haddock and salmon and partan bree (crab with rice and cream). Baked foods such as cakes and biscuits are exceedingly popular and some of the more famous are flat pancake-type scones, oatcakes and black bun, a fruit cake on a pastry base.
Scotch whisky is the national drink, and is famous the world over. There are also many local beers as well as lager. Licensing hours are subject to greater variation than in England; some pubs may be open from 1030-2400, others only 1130-1430 and 1830-2300.
Nightlife
In major cities, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, there is a vibrant nightlife, with many bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cinemas. These places also offer a fine array of theater, opera and music concerts. Some of the main venues for drama performances include the Festival Theater, Playhouse, Assembly Rooms and Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, the Citizen’s Theater and Theater Royal in Glasgow, as well as many picturesque regional theaters. The SECC building in Glasgow is a popular concert arena for live bands. Nightlife may be more limited in the smaller villages and islands. For more information on musical and theatrical events, contact VisitScotland (see General Info section).
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