Glasgow restaurant scene has plenty to offer, so we'd better get booking all the best restaurants!
Kristina Galvydyte - Staff Writer•
We love Glasgow, and we adore the food it has to offer. From locally sourced Scottish dishes made with seasonal produce to almost any cuisine from all around the world, the UK’s friendliest city has it all. So, we’ve gathered some of our favourite restaurants everyone should book immediately in Glasgow.
1. Paesano
Paesano is the Italian haven beloved by most weegies, and one of the best restaurants out there. A place for traditional Neapolitan pizza, Paesano Pizza uses Artisan wood-fired ovens to achieve the most authentic taste, with all the ingredients imported straight from Italy. The restaurant has also made number one on our list of best pizzerias in Glasgow. Paesano is one of the best places to eat in Glasgow. What is more, they were named the best pizza places in Europe in 2022.
94 Miller Street, G1 1DT
471 Great Western Road, G12 8HL
2. Glaschu
Honestly, we were pleasantly surprised by this one and will be shouting about it from the Glasgow rooftops. Glaschu (pronounced Glas-a-hoo) is a Scottish fine dining spot located in Merchant City’s Royal Exchange Square and can be considered one of the best restaurants in Glasgow. Glaschu means ‘dear green place’ in Scottish Gaelic, and is the original name of what is now the city of Glasgow. With views over the Royal Exchange Square, the restaurant is not too big, boasting an exclusive members club feel, offering seasonal Scottish produce. While Glaschu is not suited for vegans, the modest menu boasts one vegetarian main and plenty of gluten-free options for the gluten-sensitive folks out there.
32 Royal Exchange Square, G1 3AB
3.
This one’s for the meat lovers out there, who appreciate the quality of produce and enjoy creative efforts to take those prime cuts to new heights. Porter & Rye ages and infuses their cuts in-house in an inventive way, treating visitors to something new every time they visit. The restaurant offers the best of what the Scottish larder has to offer, with both locally sourced and fully traceable beef and seafood available for everyone to enjoy. Guests can choose from several small plates to start, moving on to the dry-aged prime beef cuts or large cuts to share, and the restaurant was also named the best steakhouse in Scotland in 2023.
1131 Argyle St, Finnieston, G3 8ND
4. Cail Bruich
Cail Bruich is a Michelin Star titan in Glasgow led by Chef Lorna McNee, having won the prestigious accolade for three years in a row as of 2023. It’s one for a special occasion as the prices are on the higher side, but there’s a very good reason that McNee is the only female chef with a Michelin star in Scotland. Chef’s seasonal menu is well worth forking out for, so it comes as no surprise when the price is concerned, given that Cail Bruich means ‘to eat well’!
725 Great Western Rd, G12 8QX
5. The Hug And Pint
Located on the long old road that is Great Western Road, The Hug and Pint is a vegan bar, restaurant and music venue. The Asian fusion menu is worth checking out, whilst the live music programme features both local artists and international acts. Their menu is full of vegetarian and vegan comfort food like mushroom and cashew curry or miso potatoes with pickled wakame and crispy shallots. Plus, The Hug And Pint is also on our vegan and vegetarian restaurants list.
The Hug and Pint, 171 Great Western Road, G4 9AW
5. Ubiquitous Chip
Describing themselves as a “West End oasis”, the restaurant offers a wee escape from the concrete streets of Glasgow. Guests can expect plenty of plants, a noteworthy tasting menu and a plentiful drinks list. It’s entrenched in the sea of West End restaurants and has always been a top-class spot to enjoy some hearty scran and a calming atmosphere. Plus, it’s one of the best spots to visit on the cute little street that is Ashton Lane.
12 Ashton Ln, Hillhead, G12 8SJ
6. Nonna Said
Known for its quirky menu, Nonna Said is an absolute gem of a spot that combines Italian classics with modern street food with 90s hip-hop, cartoons and air hockey every day. At first glance, Nonna Said seems to be a millennial’s paradise. What is more, a must-try is the Carbonara Fritta and Lasagne Fritta with garlic mayo, and it’s as good as it sounds. The Philly Cheesesteak pizza is completely amazing, topped with liquid cheese sauce, slow-cooked beef, caramelised onions and green peppers. Nonna Said is officially one of the best pizza spots in Glasgow, offering creative pizzas that will make you want to dance.
26 Candleriggs, G1 1LD
7. Gōst
Another phenomenal meat spot on the list, Gōst, which not only offers top-notch beef but also works with small, sustainable Scottish farms that grass-feed the animals. The restaurant uses “purebred Angus beef and former dairy cattle from the UK. What is more, the co*cktail and wine lists are also fairly extensive, as well as two pages of whisky choices, so there is truly something for everyone at Gōst.
77 Bothwell St, G2 6TS
8. El Camino
Okay, who wouldn’t love a Mexican Sunday roast?! Sometimes, combining the best of both worlds is the way to go. Accompanied by a selection of £5 co*cktails, guests can expect a massive portion of beef, lamb, chicken or veg with roast potatoes, Mexican greens, caramel corn, pico de gallo, caramelised onions, mac & cheese, Tex-Mex gravy, guacamole, sour cream and, of course, some Yorkshire puddings. But there’s more: taco lovers will also be delighted to hear that all tacos are slashed down to £1 between Mondays and Wednesdays. So, El Camino is truly worthy of a place on the best restaurants list!
17 Waterloo St, G2 6AY
9.
Ralph & Finns is a beautiful restaurant with tasteful décor throughout. Visitors can enjoy fresh seafood such as the Isle of Barra Scallops or the Shetland Hake, as well as locally sourced meat like the Highland Venison loin with sweet & sour red cabbage, sweet potato fondant, tenderstem broccoli and figs. The co*cktails are also worth a try, with most co*cktails from the menu being worth a try.
23-25 St Vincent Pl, G1 2DT
10.
TikTok celebrity and TV chef, Jimmy Lee has expanded his Cantonese street food business to Shawlands in 2022. The Chef’s grab-and-go venture offers a taste of Hong Kong’s frills-free street food, mashing up both Eastern and Western cultures. Guests can indulge in delicious creations with a cheerful spin, as well as comforting classics and fusion concoctions that combine traditional Hong Kong street food with a splash of modern Scottish cuisine.
67 Kilmarnock Rd, Shawlands, G41 3YR
11. The Hanoi Bike Shop
Those after something quirkier will love The Hanoi Bike Shop, Glasgow’s cult Vietnamese canteen. While you won’t be able to get your bike repaired over there, the place will fix your soul with comfort food. Plus, the outside terrace is delightful for those sunny days!
8 Ruthven Ln, G12 9BG
12. Beat 6
At Beat 6, guests can dine out with a clean conscience and donate to charity at the same time. It is said that one in two people will get cancer in their lifetime in the UK. Worthy of the best restaurants spot, 100% of Beat 6’s profits will go straight to Beatson Cancer Charity, which provides help to cancer patients and their families who are being treated at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. Beat 6 offers a ‘Dine to Donate‘ menu, with a monthly rotating four-course set menu that will provide guests with an immersive dining experience.
149 Milngavie Rd, Bearsden, G61 3DY
13. Celentano’s
Calentano’s is listed on the Michelin Guide, so no wonder it’s on our list. However, not all restaurants on the list have to be expensive. Listed on our list of the cheapest restaurants in Glasgow featured in the Michelin Guide, the restaurant boasts a Bib Gourmand distinction for its Italian cooking. Guests can grab lunch consisting of a glass of house wine and any small pasta for £15.50 on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For dinner, pasta lovers can grab a large pasta for as little as £19, or a vegetarian dish such as kale and pumpkin seed ragu with garden herbs for £15.
28-32 Cathedral Square, G4 0XA
14. Sole Club
Sole Club, a speakeasy fish restaurant hidden behind a chippie fridge door is the newest addition to Glasgow’s restaurant scene. The spot seats only 20 people, boasting an intimate, trendy atmosphere. What is more, Sole Club is also a working chippie for those just wanting a comforting takeaway.
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