Ok, so first of all, dear Scotland, I’m in love. Glasgow might be humble by its appearance but its nightlife and people are vibrant and friendly. Friends’ recommendations for what to do in the city made it evident that our focus in this city will be on food and drink. In the two and a half days we spent in Glasgow we got a bit overwhelmed with options. But every spot, and every bartender, made us feel welcomed and relaxed.
Celentano’s
28-32 Cathedral Square, Glasgow G4 0XA, United Kingdom
IG @celentanos_glasgow
celentanosglasgow.com
Italian food and wine restaurant set on the side of the Cathedral House Hotel, a short walk from the Glasgow Necropolis at Cathedral [last image]. The menu focus is on seasonal ingredients and hearty, soulful dishes and is built to share, a nod to the traditional Italian dining experience. It’s a beautiful, cozy spot with an equally impressive cocktail and beverage selection. Celentano’s received Michelin Bib Gourmand within the first 6 months of opening.
Drygate Brewing Co.
85 Drygate, Glasgow G4 0UT, United Kingdom
IG @drygate
drygate.com
Found this spot accidentally. It literally called to us with a big bold sign. A spacious taproom with a wide selection of beers, a delicious menu, and fun live events. This is one of those spots you are likely to frequent with friends as a local. The building is an old converted box factory with a distinctive seven peaks on the roof, representative of Glasgow’s industrial past.
Fly South
1 Lynedoch St, Kelvingrove, Glasgow G3 6EF, United Kingdom
IG @flysouthglasgow
One of the many new cocktail bars in Glasgow that opened during the pandemic. The bar is immediately striking: from impressive decor to the floor-to-ceiling shelving bursting with rare bottles. It is the 3rd property from Dundee-based Macmerry 300 (a well-known name in the city) that immediately caught the attention of the cocktail community. The bespoke cocktail selection is breathtaking and often delicate. By the bartender’s recommendation, I tried the “Cherry Blossom Festival” (8th-century scotch, sakura iced tea, and soda), a unique take on a scotch spritz, one could say. Fly South is located in the city’s West End above The Drake (another bar) and next to Hooligan restaurant, which I must admit, looks fantastic as well. You could spend your entire day just in this one historic complex.
Kelvingrove Café
1161 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB, United Kingdom
IG @glasgowkelvingrovecafe
kelvingrovecafe.com
Lovely spot with a beautiful design. By day it is a bright cafe, by night it turns into a lively social bar. The cocktail selection is quite impressive. We came here twice, completely incidentally but not mad about it one bit. The drink to try is their “Appletini” made with freshly pressed juice from a Granny Smith apple. You read that right – freshly pressed! This is literally the best Appletini I’ve ever had.
Sylvan
20 Woodlands Rd, Glasgow G3 6UR, United Kingdom
IG @sylvan_glasgow
sylvanglasgow.com
An absolutely stunning vegetarian/vegan restaurant and natural wine bar. This was our very first stop in Glasgow and a fantastic start to the trip. The decor is clean with a nod to Bauhaus, plants scattered carefully throughout [cover image]. The menu is phenomenal. The smoked tomato dish served on rich, cheesy yogurt is a must-have. No matter what you order you can’t go wrong.
The Ben Nevis
1147 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB, United Kingdom
thebennevisbar.com
In a nutshell, this is a small bar with a huge whisky selection (plus beer and wine of course) and occasional live music. Situated right on a corner this is a popular local spot and one you can easily make your regular stopover. Which we did during our brief visit to Glasgow. The team is very knowledgeable when it comes to their scotch selection and carries themselves with that casual pub demeanor. The patrons are always hospitable, which I found is just typical Scottish hospitality.
The Gate
251 Gallowgate, Glasgow G4 0TP, United Kingdom
IG @thegateglasgow
thegateglasgow.com
They call themselves a modern Scottish pub but nearly everyone we met sent us to The Gate for cocktails. Located in a bit of a shady part of the city the bar is absolutely worth the journey. It is dark and industrial, yet at the same time casual and welcoming. The cocktail menu is 12 curated selections that change every few months. They are all unique, with clear ice and impeccable attention to detail. If you like whisky, The Gate is also a great spot for that.
The Pot Still
154 Hope St, Glasgow G2 2TH, United Kingdom
IG @thepotstill
thepotstill.co.uk
A very busy, good size bar best known for its obscene selection of malt whisky. The Pot Still carries over 800 whiskies, in addition of course to beers and pies. This place is a local happening with loud music that you can hardly hear over the chatter sitting at sticky, shaky tables. Everything one might want from a proper Scottish pub.
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See the list of London bars and restaurants here and My favourite bars and restaurants in Edinburg.
In the gear bag: Fujifilm X-T100 with an XF50mmF2 R WR and Fuji XF 23mm f/2 R WR lens. To see the trip on Instagram look up #xouk22.
