If you can’t decide how to celebrate Shrove Tuesday this year, try not to flip out.
The pancake party will not go flat if you follow our cast-iron recommendations for the best pancakes in Aberdeen.
Whether you like them sweet or savoury, fluffy or thin, for breakfast or an afternoon treat, there’s plenty out there for you to try.
Check out our list of some of the Food and Drink team’s favourite places to eat pancakes in Aberdeen.
1. Cartoos Grill House and Desserts
This Esplanade cafe and restaurant is fantastic for family outings.
But the robot waiters that bring the food to your table are not the only things at Cartoos that delights the kids.
The restaurants extensive dessert table includes some of the biggest pancakes and waffles in Aberdeen.
And you can stack them with a huge selection of fruits, syrups and other treats, making them a Food and Drink team favourite when taking children out for food.
Address: 3-9 Esplanade, AB24 5NS
2. Foodstory
A Thistle Street cafe and community hub, Foodstory features a Shrove Tuesday delight on its breakfast menu – caramelised banana, peanut butter pancakes with berry compote and plant-based yoghurt.
If that sounds too decadent – though I assure you we will not judge – go for the granola version, which is just as delicious.
Overall, Foodstory is great for most things – which is maybe why ChatGPT sent our reporter there – but it’s desserts are excellent.
Address: 11-15 Thistle Street, Aberdeen AB10 1XZ
3. Heavenly Desserts
A relative newcomer to the city scene, this Union Street dessert specialist opened in August 2023 but has quickly built a sugar-coated reputation.
And when it comes to syrup towels – as pancakes really should be called – Heavenly Desserts does not disappoint.
The waffles here come with names such as I’ll Have What She’s Having and Oh So Heavenly, but the selection really is limitless.
And if you want to mix it up then try a croffle – a cross between a crepe and a waffle. Each one costs about £10 a pop, but come packed with toppings.
Address: 206 Union St, Aberdeen, AB10 1QS
4. The Craftsman
Famous for its in-house roasted coffee, The Craftsman at the bottom of Guild Street also does a mean line in fluffy pancakes.
You get three pancakes served with either bacon, seasonal fruit and banana & biscoff plus a sprinkle of icing sugar and a side of maple syrup.
And if circular food is your thing, the bagels here are also really good.
Address: 2 Guild St, Aberdeen, AB11 6NE
5. The Pier
This cafe offers the chance to really up your Pancake Day game with an option that covers close to all the branches of the food tree.
Pancake? Check. Maple syrup? Check. BBQ pulled pork? Also check. Bacon, sausage, haggis and black pudding? Check, check, check and check again. Everything you need is present in The Pier’s Ultimate Breakfast.
The concoction doesn’t come cheap at £17.95, but if you finish this you may never need to eat again.
Address: Esplanade Sea Beach, Aberdeen AB24 5NS
6. Shakes ‘n’ Cakes
The pancakes at Shakes ‘n’ Cakes don’t come in stacks. No, they come in towers, along with a sensible advisory to share with friends.
So, rustle up some fellow pancake lovers and order from a choice of Chocolate Overload or Fruit Sensation at one of Shakes ‘n’ Cakes’ two city locations to enjoy some of the best pancakes in Aberdeen.
The north-east chain also has outlets in Banchory, Ellon and Inverness, so dessert fans across the region have no excuse not to fill their boots with sugary sweetness.
Address: 149 Spital, Aberdeen AB24 3HX and 441 Great Northern Road, Woodside, Aberdeen AB24 2EH
7. Cup
This Belmont Street cafe specialises in afternoon tea but also hosts some of Aberdeen’s best breakfast pancakes to get the day started.
And, when you’ve had enough of those, try some of Cup’s slider options – small burgers filled with everything from avocado to bacon to vegan haggis.
Address: 9 Little Belmont Street, Aberdeen AB10 1JG
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