The Cross Keys

We couldn’t book a room because we were too late, but the pub is beautiful. There’s a cosy open fire, it’s dog friendly, and the food and bar service were friendly. The food was awesome and very reasonably priced. It’s in a lovely village with a great setting.

We stopped in for dinner while visiting the area, and both the Steak Pie and my wife’s Village Bangers and Mash were amazing. The food quality was exceptional. It’s a nice, quiet pub, and the owner and the other chap behind the bar were pleasant. The pub is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so Google Maps needs updating.

After our hill walk, we wanted a cosy pub meal on the way back to Edinburgh, and the photos of this place caught our eye. The menu looked good, so we gave it a try. We arrived a few minutes after opening and were welcomed by a friendly server who let us choose our seats. Naturally, we picked the spot beside the wood stove, and he kept the fire going. Since we were the only customers, my friend asked if she could play the piano while we waited. He said yes, turned down the house music, and applauded after she played three original songs. The menu had plenty of choice, and I was delighted to see a vegetarian haggis burger. It was tasty and cooked just right, not mushy like some can be. The fries tasted fresh, with no freezer flavour. My friend’s Cullen scink was delicious, and her side vegetables were cooked perfectly. We were joking about booking a room because we didn’t want to leave. There’s a nice selection of local and regional beers on tap, including two nonalcoholic ones. In better weather, there are tables out front and a lovely garden at the back.

The Cross Keys in Kippen is a great local pub run by local people, and the owner is lovely. Service was brilliant, and the whole place is dog friendly. Our dogs could be with us in the garden, our bedroom, at dinner, and at breakfast. The rooms are spacious and dog friendly, with plenty of seating inside in two pub areas, plus an enclosed back garden and front benches in the evening sun. There’s a great choice of beers, wines, and other drinks. The food was incredible. We had breakfast twice and dinner, and everything was tasty, piping hot, and made with great ingredients. We enjoyed steamed mussels, and the Cullen skink was a creamy soup that tasted amazing alongside them. The granary bread and local butter were lovely too, as were the chicken bites. We didn’t order fish and chips, but saw plenty going out on Friday, with huge portions, big thick triple-cooked chips, and a very tempting look. The beef burger and chips were lovely and fresh. Breakfast was just as good, with fresh hot sausages, potato, haggis, and all the bits you need for a great Scottish breakfast. And the sticky toffee pudding was phenomenal, a huge portion with plenty of sauce, just how I like it. We’ve just got home after a fabulous weekend and would definitely recommend the place.