Sugar Boat

4.5

564 Reviews

£25 and under

Bistro

30 Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire G84 8AQ

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 22, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 4 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Great for brunch

Welcome to Sugar Boat - a relaxed & informal neighbourhood bistro in the heart of the town on Colquhoun Square, a stones throw from the sea front. We are open daily from 7.30am (8.30am on Saturday & 9am on Sunday's) through until late. We serve everything from breakfast with a cracking fry up or eggs benedict with or avocado & poached eggs on toast. For lunch & dinner we offer a la carte menus. Lunch is the more informal with burgers, fish & chips & daily sandwiches. Dinner can be a little more special. Cakes, scones & savoury snacks are available all day. We have a Wine Shop for off sales from our extensive list of over 100 wines - everything from £9.50 per bottle upwards. Enjoy a tip top cocktail from our bar made with premium sprits & our home made purees, cordials and juices or enjoy a pint of a locally brewed beer or a can of local Scottish craft ale. Choose to sit on the square or in our rear courtyard.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
£25 and under
Cuisines
Bistro
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:30 am–12:00 am Sat 8:30 am–1:00 am Sun 9:00 am–12:00 am
Phone number
01436 647522
Website
http://www.sugarboat.co.uk/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Oliver Nodwell

Location
30 Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire G84 8AQ
Neighborhood
Helensburgh
Cross street
Colquhoun Street
Parking details
A large car park is adjacent to the restaurant accessed via an archway from Sinclair Street & offers free parking for 2 hours. Free parking on local shopping streets for an hour or a couple of streets up the hill with no time limit. There is free parking too on the pier (5 minute walk).
Public transit
Trains run direct to Helensburgh Central from Glasgow; Edinburgh (2 min walk). Trains run direct from London Euston to Helensburgh Upper (10 min walk). Local bus services drop you in the square from neighboring villages & towns to Central Glasgow. The Waverley Paddle Steamer regularly stops at the pier in Helensburgh between Easter & October.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Sugar Boat Fry up£12.00
bacon, egg, sausage, black pudding, beans, potato scone, mushroom, tomato, toast & butter
Kedgeree – Smoked Haddock, Poached Egg£11.00
Grilled Loch Fyne Kipper, Sourdough, Lemon£10.00
Eggs Your Way (Poached, Scramble or Fried), Toast, Bacon£10.00
Avocado on Toast, Poached Eggs, Tomato & Shallot Dressing£12.00

Breakfast Muffins

Benedict£12.00
prosciutto cotto, rocket, 2 poached eggs, hollandaise
Royale£12.50
Loch Fyne smoked salmon, 2 poached eggs, hollandaise
Hebridean£12.50
Stornoway black pudding, 2 poached eggs, hollandaise
Florentine£10.50
ricotta & spinach, 2 poached eggs, hollandaise

Sweetthings

Porridge with Fruit Compote, Honey, Flaked Almonds & Chia Seeds£8.00
Natural Yoghurt with Fruit Compote, Honey, Flaked Almonds & Chia Seeds£8.00
Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes, Maple Syrup (Until Midday)£9.50

Continental Breakfast

£13.50

Tea or Coffee
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Croissant or Toast with Homemade Strawberry Jam
Natural Yoghurt with Nuts & Seeds
Serrano Ham & Emmenthal Cheese

What 564 people are saying

Sugar Boat reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.4Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Dunbartonshire/Renfrewshire
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Sugar Boat delights with "exceptional service" and "outstanding food." Guests enjoy a "welcoming space" with "great atmosphere," and a menu featuring "luxury" choices and specials. While some noted noise and spacing issues, highlights include expertly prepared dishes like mussels and fish and chips, paired with friendly and attentive staff.

564 Reviews

S
Susan
Glasgow3 reviews
5.0
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
An incredible experience. Food superb and wonderful service. Will definitely be back.
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K
Kirsteen
Devon1 review
5.0
Dined on April 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely outstanding Sunday lunch. We'll be back!!
Is this helpful?
A
Ann
Dunbartonshire1 review
3.0
Dined on April 13, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Having been to your restaurant a few times for breakfast, dinner and once before for Sunday lunch. We have always found the food and service to be good. I was aware however that the Sunday roast meal is placed on top of a carrot (or similar) puree (which I don’t like). Today I ordered the roast beef and checked it would not have any other veg than is stated on the menu. I was assured it would only be the parsnips which were on the menu. It wasn’t and again my meal arrived sitting on carrot puree. They did change it but everyone else had finished their meal by the time mine arrived. My husband had the ox ragu which was very tasty but Luke warm. My sister ordered the rhubarb fool which had very little rhubarb, no taste of mascarpone and next to. O meringue. It tasted like whipped cream. All in all a disappointing visit.
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N
Nancy
Dunbartonshire1 review
5.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
As ever great and different food in a welcoming space : good vibes and waiter excellent service
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M
Malcolm
London3 reviews
3.0
Dined on March 30, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
The food was outstanding as usual. The noise level was too high and meant conversation at the table was difficult. When booking for number of people it would be very helpful to be able to say number of children on the party as £25 per person desposit means we had to fork out £100 up front for a table of 4 (two adults and two children)
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D
Douglas
Perthshire3 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our second visit this month and again we loved it. It was a typical busy Saturday night, great atmosphere with friendly, knowledgeable staff and great food. An excellent menu with plenty of specials to choose from, with a mix of small and large plates, service excellent and food exceptional.
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l
lindsay
Glasgow4 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Exceptional service, both friendly and attentive Good to see a working kitchen and the effort going in to the dishes
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T
Thomas
London2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Best fish and chips I had for a long time. Professional, attentive service. Definitely going back to try more of the menu.
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S
Scott
Glasgow2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely, warm welcome by friendly owner, who took us to our table. Fast, friendly service. Delicious, expertly prepared food - excellent chefs superb at their craft. Menu choices luxury. Cool, chic bistro decor. Great atmosphere - laughter and chat. Beautiful sunny day so a great outlook. Travelled up from Glasgow West End and will absolutely return to this new "local" for us. Great value for 5* and Michelin quality experiences. Mussels huge, fresh and cooked perfectly/expertly. Stuffed chicken leg absolutely scrumptious. Perfectly cooked delicious seasonal greens and potatoes. What an absolutely superb restaurant. Thank you for a brilliant day.
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M
Maureen
Glasgow6 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 11, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
As ever the Cullen Skink was very tasty. The toast was a little on the overdone side though. The haggis starter size was just right and also very tasty. Service was very prompt.
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FAQs

Sugar Boat is rated 4.5 stars by 564 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 22, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 4 times today

30 Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire G84 8AQ

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Colquhoun Street
Neighborhood
Helensburgh
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:30 am–12:00 am Sat 8:30 am–1:00 am Sun 9:00 am–12:00 am
Price
£25 and under
Cuisines
Bistro
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
A large car park is adjacent to the restaurant accessed via an archway from Sinclair Street & offers free parking for 2 hours. Free parking on local shopping streets for an hour or a couple of streets up the hill with no time limit. There is free parking too on the pier (5 minute walk).
Public transit
Trains run direct to Helensburgh Central from Glasgow; Edinburgh (2 min walk). Trains run direct from London Euston to Helensburgh Upper (10 min walk). Local bus services drop you in the square from neighboring villages & towns to Central Glasgow. The Waverley Paddle Steamer regularly stops at the pier in Helensburgh between Easter & October.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Oliver Nodwell
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.sugarboat.co.uk/
Phone number
01436 647522

Sugar Boat

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

Main

Sugar Boat Fry up£12.00

Kedgeree – Smoked Haddock, Poached Egg£11.00

Grilled Loch Fyne Kipper, Sourdough, Lemon£10.00

Eggs Your Way (Poached, Scramble or Fried), Toast, Bacon£10.00

Avocado on Toast, Poached Eggs, Tomato & Shallot Dressing£12.00

Breakfast Muffins

Benedict£12.00

Royale£12.50

Hebridean£12.50

Florentine£10.50

Sweetthings

Porridge with Fruit Compote, Honey, Flaked Almonds & Chia Seeds£8.00

Natural Yoghurt with Fruit Compote, Honey, Flaked Almonds & Chia Seeds£8.00

Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes, Maple Syrup (Until Midday)£9.50

Continental Breakfast

Tea or Coffee

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

Croissant or Toast with Homemade Strawberry Jam

Natural Yoghurt with Nuts & Seeds

Serrano Ham & Emmenthal Cheese

What 564 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Sugar Boat restaurant rated?

Is Sugar Boat currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information