Glasgow Restaurants and Dining

(Glasgow, Scotland, UK)

Being the biggest and most popular Scottish city, it will come as no great surprise that Glasgow has become known for its very established dining scene, with more restaurants being found here than anywhere else in Scotland. A high concentration of eateries await diners within the West End area of the city, with plenty more restaurants and cafes being located all over the city.

A good assortment of restaurants in Glasgow reside within the Old Town, namely on Albion Street, West Regent Street, Ingram Street, Bath Street, Drury Street, Exchange Place and Stockwell Street. Those headed to the East End will find dining venues a plenty around Greenhead Street and St. Andrew's Square, while Pollokshaws Road stands out in particular within the South Side. In the trendy West End of Glasgow, eateries abound on Ashton Lane, Gibson Street and along the Westminster Terrace.

Many tourists and visitors to Glasgow find it hard to resist the local cuisine, which often has a modern Scottish twist. A number of Michelin star restaurants even compete on an international level. Dining establishments in the city usually offer many seasonal dishes, with some of the best being known for using locally sourced Scottish produce. In addition to local restaurants, most public houses have menus and dedicated dining areas, and are especially popular at lunchtimes, with many championing the Sunday roast, complete with all the trimmings.

Breakfast

Most visitors to Glasgow simply choose to eat breakfast at their hotel or guesthouse. However, those looking for a change may like to consider breakfast or brunch at one of the city's central cafes, such as Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Pret a Manger or Starbucks.

Located close to Sighthill Park, the rather funky Where the Monkey Sleeps cafe offers a hearty fried breakfast, with bacon, sausage, potato scones, eggs benedict, MacSween's haggis and Stornoway black pudding, as well as American-style 'supertramp' pancakes with maple syrup. Standing close to the Sauchiehall Centre and the Glasgow Film Theatre is the Willow Tea Rooms on Sauchiehall Street, where Scots porridge is a great way to start the day. Interestingly, the Willow Tea Rooms was actually designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and dates back to 1904.

Lunch

Lunch in Glasgow is generally taken between 11:30 and 14:30, with cafes, brasseries, restaurants, fast-food dining, wine bars and public houses all often providing lunchtime specials. Pubs are especially popular, offering hearty pub grub, genuine Scottish whisky and award-winning ale at affordable prices.

Being a Wetherspoon pub, the Counting House on St. Vincent Place boasts an extensive lunchtime menu, as does the Moskito Bar on Bath Street. Also of note is the Drum and Monkey on St. Vincent Street, where delicious lunches include haddock and chips, stews, cumberland sausage and mash, beef and vintage ale pies, and traditional Burns-style haggis, neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).

Dinner

Many restaurants and eateries around central Glasgow open their doors for dinner from 18:00 onwards, with cheap early bird offers suiting families. When it comes to fine dining, the choices really are very extensive, with possibilities including the Corinthian Club on Ingram Street, the Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery Restaurant on Blythswood Street, the Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane, and the Red Onion on West Campbell Street, where contemporary dining can be expected and celebrities often spotted.

Regularly appearing in the Good Food Guide, the Glasgow Red Onion features specialities such as roast field mushroom bruschetta, seared scallops with chorizo, roast chicken breast with haggis, spiced Gressingham duck breast, and king prawn korma with monkfish.