Skip to content
Locrawl
Evening

Golden Hour at the Gardens

Aberdeen’s evening light is short in winter but sharp. Start at the sunken gardens as the day fades, then move to the city centre for dinner and a cocktail in a converted church.

Best time: 15 JanAbout 180 min

Timeline

  1. 13:59

    Cafe at the Cross

    Grab a hot drink and a pastry. The Cafe at the Cross is just four minutes from the anchor and opens early, giving you a warm start before the cold evening sets in.

  2. 14:29

    Queen's Terrace Gardens

    Walk to Queen's Terrace Gardens. This is your viewing spot. At 90 minutes before sunset, the sky is brightening into the golden hour. The sun is setting toward the SW, so position yourself in the sunken garden to catch the last light on the stone walls.

  3. 16:29

    Ashvale

    Head to Ashvale for dinner. It is a proper sit-down traditional fish restaurant. By 30 minutes after sunset, it is well within its opening hours (open until 20:00 on weekdays, 16:30 start). The walk from the gardens is manageable if you head towards the city centre.

  4. 17:29

    Soul

    Finish the evening with a cocktail at Soul. Located in the elegantly converted Langstane Kirk, it is open until midnight. This is a perfect spot to wind down after dinner, just a short walk from the city centre dining area.

Local tip

Aberdeen wind can be brisk in January. Bring a coat. The Cafe at the Cross is a reliable warm-up before you head to the exposed terrace gardens.

Check before you go

  • Ashvale is open Mo,Tu 16:30-20:00 and We,Th 12:00-14:00,16:30-20:00. On weekends it is 12:00-20:00. Ensure you arrive before they close.
  • Soul is open daily 12:00-24:00.

Worth knowing

  • Ashvale is open at 16:29 only on Fr, Sa, Su

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Aberdeen (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Back to Aberdeen