The Dory Bistro & Gallery

The Dory Bistro & Gallery sits right on Anstruther's harbourfront, where fishing boats still bob in the water and the smell of salt hangs in the air. It's part restaurant, part art space - the kind of place that works equally well for lunch after a coastal walk or an evening drink with actual views worth looking at. The gallery side rotates local and visiting artists, nothing pretentious, just decent work that reflects the East Neuk's creative community. Food-wise, it takes the seafood seriously without being fussy about it. Fresh catch, proper cooking, nothing overdone.

This is somewhere to spend a couple of hours rather than dash through. Walkers doing the coastal path between East Neuk villages will find it a natural stopping point, and it's exactly the sort of spot that makes a caravan holiday around Fife feel less like you're just passing through. The nearby parks - St Monans is barely a mile away, Kilrenny Mill just beyond that - are well-positioned for exploring this stretch of coast, and the Dory fits neatly into that routine.

Anstruther itself is compact enough to walk around, with its fishing heritage museum and proper fish and chips shops dotted about. The Dory stands out for actually being somewhere people linger. Whether you're a serious art-goer or just after decent lunch with the harbour as your view, it delivers on both fronts. Parking can be tight in summer, so aim for late afternoon or book ahead if you're planning dinner.