Bar entertainment in Scotland
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Artà
This extraordinary place is so baroque that when you hear a Mozart concerto over the sound system, it wouldn't surprise you to see the man himself at the other end of the bar. Set in a former cheese market, it really does have to be seen to be believed. As its door slides open, Artà's opulent, cavernous candle-lit interior is exposed. There's floor-to-ceiling velvet, with red curtains revealing a staircase to the tapas bar and restaurant above in a show of decadence that the Romans would have appreciated. Despite the luxury, it's got a relaxed, chilled vibe and a mixed crowd. The big cocktails are great.
reviewed
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Oran Mor
Now some may be a little uncomfortable with the thought of drinking in a church. But we say: the Lord giveth. Praise be and let's give thanks – a converted church and an almighty one at that is now a bar, eating venue and club venue. The bar feels like it's been here for years – all wood and thick, exposed stone giving it warmth and a celestial air. There's an excellent array of whiskies. The only thing missing is holy water on your way in.
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Bar 10
A tiny city treasure that will cause the canny Glasgow drinker to give you a knowing glance if you mention its name. As laid-back as you could ask for in a hip city bar, the friendly, tuned-in staff complete the happy picture. It transforms from a quiet daytime bar to a happening weekend pub on Friday and Saturday nights. It also does decent, cheap paninis, salads, and the like during the day.
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The Butterfly & the Pig
A breath of fresh air along trendy Bath St, the piggery is a little offbeat, a little zany and makes you feel comfortable as soon as you plunge into its basement depths. The décor is an eclectic bunch with a retro feel and this adds to its familiarity. You get the feeling that servicing this place regularly would be rewarded with your favourite pint being poured just as you enter the doorway.
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Brauhaus
The bar itself is fairly small – half a dozen bar stools, a couple of sofas and a scattering of seats – but the ambition is sizeable, with a vast menu of bottled beers from all over the world, ranging from the usual suspects from Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic, to more unusual brews such as Paradox Smokehead (a 10% ABV stout aged for six months in a whisky cask).
reviewed
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Basement
The Basement is a laid-back and pleasantly grungy bar – check out the weird, welded furniture made from tank-tracks, camshafts and motorcycle chains – with staff decked out in Hawaiian shirts that are almost as loud as the decor. Background tunes are upbeat but not intrusive and, if you get peckish, excellent Mediterranean and Mexican munchies are available.
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Assembly Bar
Assembly originally opened in 1996 (as Iguana), making it positively prehistoric for a style bar, but a combination of timeless decor, cool sounds, big sofas and good-value food has kept it popular. There’s a relaxed crowd of mostly students topping up on coffee during the day, but the atmosphere heats up as pre-clubbers pour in during the evening.
reviewed
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Waxy O’connors
If you’ve been trying to avoid those acid flashbacks, steer clear of Waxy O’Connors. This labyrinthine maze of six bars on three levels (you may not emerge for days), including the inspiringly named Murphy’s Bar, is an Escher drawing brought to life. Sadly, it’s also an Irish-themed bar, but even that doesn’t ruin the surreal fun.
reviewed
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Villager
A cross between a traditional pub and a pre-club bar, Villager has a comfortable, laid-back vibe. It can be standing-room only in the main bar in the evenings (the cocktails are excellent), but the side room, with its brown leather sofas and subtropical pot plants comes into its own for a lazy Sunday afternoon with the papers.
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Arches
A one-stop culture/entertainment fix, Arches doubles as a theatre showing contemporary, avant-garde productions and there's also a club. The hotel-like entrance belies the deep interior, which make you feel as though you've discovered Hades' bohemian underworld. The crowd is mixed – hiking boots are as welcome as Versace.
reviewed
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Brel
Perhaps the best on Ashton Lane, this bar can seem tightly packed, but there's a conservatory out the back so you can pretend you're sitting outside when it's raining, and when the sun does peek through there's a beer garden. They've got a huge range of Belgian beers, and they also do mussels and other Lowlands favourites.
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Corinthian
A breathtaking domed ceiling and majestic chandeliers make Corinthian an awesome venue. Originally a bank and later Glasgow's High Court, this regal building also houses a plush club, downstairs in old court cells, and a piano bar. It has recently been renovated.
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The Tun
Set among the glass-and-steel architecture of the redeveloped Holyrood district, the Tun is a funky fish-tank of a place, with chunky leather sofas and steel bar stools. It’s popular with political types and media people from the neighbouring BBC studios and the Scotsman newspaper offices just across the road.
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Indigo Yard
Set around an airy, stone-floored and glass-roofed courtyard, Indigo Yard is a fashionable West End watering hole that has been patronised by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Pierce Brosnan and Kylie Minogue. Good food – including open-air barbecues during the summer months – just adds to the attraction.
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MacSorley's
There's nothing better than a good horseshoe-shaped bar in Glasgow, and here the elegantly moulded windows and ceiling add a touch of class to this happy place, which offers live music every night and some excellent, inventive pub food. DJs from the nearby Sub Club also play sets here.
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Firewater
A large venue constantly mobbed, Firewater is a good honest servant of Sauchiehall St. It’s always lively and there are usually some pretty good bands plying their trade. Huge American pool tables, drink offers and club passes means it’s a good place to get connected.
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Standing Order
One of several converted banks on George St, Standing Order is a cavernous beer hall with a fantastic vaulted ceiling and some cosy rooms off to the right – look for the one with the original 27-tonne safe. Despite its size, it can be standing-room only at weekends.
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Vodka Wodka
Every vodka drinker's dream, Vodka Wodka has more varieties of the stealthy poison than you could possibly conquer in one sitting. Its brushed metal bar dishes out the liquid fire to students during the day and groups of mid-20s in the evening.
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Elbow
An attractive mix of modern and retro style makes Elbow one of the New Town’s most appealing neighbourhood bars, with staff who make you feel welcome, a tempting menu of wines and cocktails, and regular pub quizzes and live music nights.
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Torvhaug
Style cats slink into the ultracool Torvhaug with its sleek, dark leather and moody red lighting in the bar downstairs and club with DJs upstairs. Shadowy nooks are good on a stormy night –it has a real nightspot feel about it.
reviewed
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Johnny Foxes
Stuck beneath the ugliest building on the riverfront, Johnny Foxes is a big and boisterous Irish bar, with a wide range of food served all day and live music nightly. Part of the premises, The Den, is now a smart cocktail bar.
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Mojama
Very retro and very futuristic at the same time, it’s worth popping your head into this Jetsons -like place to curl up nursing a drink in the blood-red interior. On Monday it’s wannabee DJs who spin their own tracks.
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Pivo Caffé
Aiming to add a little taste of Bohemia to Edinburgh’s bar scene, Pivo (the Czech word for beer) serves bottled Czech beers, Budvar-Budweiser on draught and two-pint cocktails, and has DJs on the decks from 10pm on.
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Pivo Pivo
Cavernous downstairs beer hall with beers aplenty – 100 from 32 different countries to be exact. Add to that an impressive array of vodka and schnapps, and it may be a while before you see daylight.
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Aragon Bar
A traditional bar located in this trendy part of town, with changing guest ales and board games behind the bar for those lazy afternoons. There’s also a decent wine selection.
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