Restaurants in Glasgow
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Bothy
A bothy is not normally the most comfortable of abodes, but this West End player pays little heed to this tradition, boasting a combo of modern design and comfy retro furnishings. It also blows apart the myth that Scottish food is stodgy and uninteresting. The Bothy dishes out traditional, uniquely Scottish, home-style fare with a modern twist. It’s filling, but leave room for dessert. An £11 lunch will get you away cheaper.
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Bar 91
By day this happy, buzzy bar serves excellent meals, far better than average pub food. Salads, pasta and burgers are among the many tasty offerings, and in summer tables spill out onto the sidewalk – ideal for some people-watching of the bold and the beautiful variety.
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Wee Curry Shop
Great home-cooked curries. It’s wise to book – it’s a snug place with a big reputation, a limited menu and a sensational-value two-course lunch.
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West
A cavernous room with an airy, industrial feel on the edge of Glasgow Green, this brewery churns out beers brewed in strict accordance with the Reinheitsgebot – traditional German purity law. Which basically means it’s bloody good. Excellent German dishes accompany the amber fluid, such as bratwurst sausages, sauerkraut and schnitzels. Migrate to the beer garden overlooking the People’s Palace in summer. To get there, head to the People’s Palace and you’ll see it opposite, next to the bizarrely ornate facade of the former carpet factory.
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Firebird
A combined bar and bistro with a cheery feel, Firebird has zany artwork on its bright walls and, more importantly, quality nosh whisked under the noses of its patrons. Local flavours and Mediterranean highlights (mainly Italian and Spanish) are evident and organic produce is used wherever possible. Taste sensations range from wood-fired pizzas to a Moroccan chicken and chickpea salad.
Wudon Sushi, fried noodles, and ramen soups in a clean, contemporary setting.
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Café Gandolfi
In the fashionable Merchant City, this cafe was once part of the old cheese market. It’s been pulling in the punters for years and packs an interesting clientele: die-hard Gandolfers, the upwardly mobile and tourists. It’s an excellent, friendly bistro and upmarket coffee shop – very much the place to be seen. Book a Tim Stead–designed, medieval-looking table in advance for well-prepared Scottish and Continental food. There’s an expansion, specialising in fish, next door.
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Mono
Combining vegetarian food with music, Mono is one of Glasgow’s best vegan eateries. Monorail is in the same premises, which means you can browse through an indie record shop while waiting for your food to be prepared. The all-day bar-menu provides classics such as the breakfast fry-up while the main menu has a touch of flair demonstrating a Mediterranean influence. The lasagne is well worth ploughing through. Mono also makes a relaxing place for a coffee or a beer.
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Stravaigin
Stravaigin is a serious foodie’s delight, with a menu constantly pushing the boundaries of originality and offering creative culinary excellence. The cool contemporary dining space in the basement has booth seating, and helpful, laid-back waiting-staff to assist in deciphering the audacious menu. Entry-level has a buzzing two-level bar that’s open 11am to midnight daily; you can also eat here. There are always plenty of menu deals and special culinary nights.
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Oran Mor Brasserie & Conservatory
This temple to Scottish dining and drinking is a superb venue in an old church. Giving new meaning to the word ‘conversion’, the brasserie pumps out high-quality meals in a dark, Mackintosh-inspired space. There are also cheaper bistro-style meals, such as Cullen skink (soup made with smoked haddock, potato, onion and milk) or vegetarian haggis served with Arran mustard sauce, and more relaxed dining in the conservatory, adjoining the main bar.
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Bar Soba
With seating around the edges of the room and candles flickering in windows there’s a certain sense of intimacy in stylish and very friendly Bar Soba. You can eat in the plush downstairs restaurant, or in the bar. The food is Asian fusion and the laksas go down a treat – followed up of course with an irresistible chocolate brownie. Background beats are perfect for chilling and it can be a good spot to escape Friday evening crowds.
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Brutti Ma Buoni
If you like dining in a place that has a sense of fun, Brutti delivers – it’s the antithesis of some of the pretentious places around the Merchant City. With dishes such as ‘ugly but good’ pizza and ‘angry or peaceful’ prawns, Brutti’s menu draws a smile for its quirkiness and its prices. The Italian and Spanish influences give rise to tapas-like servings or full-blown meals, which are imaginative, fresh and frankly delicious.
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Lily’s Coffee Shop
Don’t be put off by the slightly sterile feel: Lily’s is a top lunch spot fusing a creative blend of East and West. It’s a unique cross between a Chinese bistro and chic cafe with made-to-order Chinese food (such as dumpling buns and mandarin-duck wraps) and standards like burgers and baked potatoes that are tarted up almost beyond recognition. The Chinese food is outstanding – fresh, lively and served with fruits and salad.
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Stravaigin II
Top service makes all feel welcome at this relaxed eatery just off Byres Rd. The menu changes regularly but always features a few surprises from around the globe. Slow cooking features prominently in preparation of both meat and vegetables, so expect those flavours to burst out at you. But it’s also got a legendary reputation for its burgers, fish ’n’ chips, and haggis, so there’s something here for any appetite.
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Heart Buchanan
The famous West End deli – give your nose a treat and drop in – has a small cafe space next door. Break any or all of the 10 commandments to bag a table, then enjoy some of Glasgow’s best breakfasts, all with an exquisite quality of produce, a refreshing juice or milkshake, or regularly changing light-lunch options. If you failed in the table quest, the deli also does some of these meals to take away.
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Konaki
Not far from the Kelvingrove museum, Konaki is a friendly and unpretentious Greek restaurant that makes a great morning or evening pitta stop. The starters are a particular highlight of the authentic menu – in fact, ordering a whole lot of them to share is the most enjoyable way to eat here. There are several Greek wines to accompany your meal; knock back a traditional thick coffee afterwards.
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Left Bank
Huge windows fronting the street greet patrons to this outstanding eatery specialising in gastronomic delights and lazy afternoons. There are lots of little spaces filled with couches and chunky tables reflecting a sense of intimacy. The large starter-menu can be treated like tapas, making it good for sharing plates. There are lots of delightful creations that use seasonal and local produce.
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Moka
If you’re looking for lunch in the West End, drop into Moka where you can sit in or take away (to the nearby Botanic Gardens, for example). Sarnies, paninis, baguettes and salads are all on offer, and fillings are fresh and inventive. It’s also good for vegetarians, and there are freshly squeezed juices available. For brekky you can’t go past the pancakes.
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Cheese Bar & Deli
If you’ve a hankering to gorge on dairy get here quick-sticks – mouth-watering cheeseboards have fine accompaniments too such as walnut bread and red wine poached pear. Heavenly. Fondue features but there are plenty of rustic noncheese dishes too, notably Lebanese pizza and hand-rolled venison sausages. Dining is unfussy in simple surrounds and service is prompt.
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Buttery
This well-respected, elegant restaurant is just west of the M8. Although it’s surrounded by grim, grey, tower-block flats (get a taxi here or drive), it’s a top, Victorian-era restaurant offering fine dining among crisp tablecloths and oak panelling, with a classy clientele to match. The menu is a combination of seasonal Scottish and British organic produce.
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Mother India
Glasgow curry buffs are forever debating the merits of the city’s numerous excellent south Asian restaurants, and Mother India features in every discussion. It may lack the trendiness of some of the up-and-comers but it’s been a stalwart for years and the quality and innovation on show is superb. It also makes a real effort for kids, with a separate menu.
reviewed
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Where the Monkey Sleeps
This funky little number in the middle of the business district is just what you need to get away from the ubiquitous coffee chains. Laid-back and a little hippy, the bagels and paninis, with names like maverick or renegade, are highlights, as are some very inventive dishes, such as the ‘nuclear’ beans, dripping with cayenne and Tabasco.
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Loon Fung
It’s rare to get such an authentically Chinese experience in Scotland and it’s quite a surprise after a spot of late-night dining to emerge to Sauchiehall rather than Hong Kong. There are various set meal options but be adventurous and pick dishes off the pages of Chinese specials rather than the Westernised plates; there are some real gems here.
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Ubiquitous Chip
The original champion of Scottish produce, The Ubiquitous Chip has won lots of awards for its unparalleled Scottish cuisine, and for its lengthy wine list. Named to poke fun at Scotland’s perceived lack of finer cuisine, it offers a French touch but resolutely Scottish ingredients, carefully selected and following sustainable principles.
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West Regent Street Bistro
Chic, stylishly laid-back and sleek in design, this bistro serves big wholesome portions of food at very reasonable prices. Popular with the after-work crowd (come later) it does a good mix of down-to-earth pub food tarted up and more inventive cuisine. Try the lamb shank slowly braised in red wine, orange, thyme and redcurrant jelly.
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Bay Tree Café
The mostly vegetarian Bay Tree Café is excellent value. It has smiling staff, filling mains (mostly Middle Eastern and Greek), generous salads and a good range of hot drinks. The cafe is famous for its all-day Sunday brunch, including vegetarian burger, tattie scone, mushrooms, beans and tomato. It also serves a vegan breakfast.
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