Breakfast
When Mhairi Taylor opened Delizique some 16 years ago, it helped put Glasgow’s West End firmly on the UK’s culinary map. Today this cafe and deli remains as popular as ever, with plans to expand into a dedicated restaurant later this year. In the meantime, head here for the very best full Scottish breakfast in town, complete with tattie scones and Stornaway black pudding.
Up a steep side road from the eastern end of Sauchiehall Street, Singl-end is housed in the basement of a gothic tenement flat a few minutes walk from Glasgow School of Art, serving up exemplary baked eggs and small-batch coffee by Southside Roasters.
Over on the Southside, tiny Potluck has a faintly Scandinavian vibe and a changing roster of delectable brunch dishes, including stacked hot cakes with strawberries and maple syrup, as well as heftier options such as chorizo, halloumi and egg on chilli-oil waffles.
- Hanoi Bike Shop
Lunch
As a port city – and a big-hearted one – Glasgow has welcomed successive waves of immigrants over the centuries, leading to a truly international food scene with thoroughly authentic Italian, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Polish neighbourhood restaurants. Overlooking Glasgow Botanic Gardens is the popular Italian eatery North Star, where owners Ester and Maurizio serve simple but lovingly made Mediterranean-leaning dishes, such as wild mushroom ravioli and 8oz burgers on brioche buns.
Glasgow’s current pizza hotspot is Paesano, bringing traditional Neapolitan pizza to both Miller Street in the Merchant City and second branch in a West End location.
Legendary Glaswegian curry house Mother India has a string of restaurants in its venerable portfolio, including the new Dining In – a poshed-up takeaway and deli on Argyle Street. For lunch, try the tapas-style Mother India’s Cafe, minutes from the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, to see why Glasgow is regularly named as one of the UK’s curry capitals.
For a more bohemian vibe, venture south to the Glad Cafe, an atmospheric bohemian cafe, gallery and venue space showcasing local artists, musicians, comedians and performers.
Hidden away on pretty, cobblestoned Ruthven Lane is Hanoi Bike Shop, Glasgow’s first Vietnamese restaurant – and some still say the best (although the more low-key Non Viet is also getting rave reviews). It is as big on atmosphere as it is on flavour, with colourful Eastern lanterns and vintage bike wheels adorning the walls. As the little sister restaurant to two other West End dining institutions, The Ubiquitous Chip and Stravaigin, you’d expect nothing less.
Grab and go
Fancy a picnic? Pop to one of Piece’s five outposts for a perfect Scottish take on the New York sandwich deli, plus baked treats by Big Bear Bakery.
- Frozen cheesecake at Chaiwallah; owner Stephen Young
In the West End, lovely little Chaiwallah, housed in a lovingly restored former toilet block in a buzzy corner of Kelvingrove Park, serves Tchai Ovna-blended tea, raw cakes and treats by Wild At Heart, and sandwiches with cheeses from IJ Mellis cheesemongers.
- Stravaigin
Dinner
Ten years ago, Finnieston was simply a historic West End residential neighbourhood, with grand tenement flats built to house the workers at the dockyards nearby. Today it has been transformed into an exciting foodie destination. Opt for Ox & Finch for French chef Aurélien Mourez’s sophisticated twist on Scottish dishes, or try The Finnieston for creative cocktails and seasonal produce sourced meticulously from Scotland.
Today much of the buzz is about Alchemilla, a lovely new mediterranean restaurant with former Ottolenghi protege Rosie Healey in the kitchen. Expect Israeli-influenced, vegetable-centric dishes such as caramelised cauliflower topped with tahini and pomegranate seeds, sea bass ceviche and herb-crusted quail.
- The Finnieston; Porter & Rye
Also on the Finnieston strip is the New York-influenced Porter & Rye, serving innovative cocktails and dry-aged steak. The restaurant stays open until 1am, making it a secret spot for steak after catching a gig at the nearby SSE Hydro.
If you’re craving impeccable Scottish seafood, make a beeline for Crabshakk, one of the first openings in the now-established foodie enclave of Finnieston. Or head out to the East End to A’Challtainn, in the regenerated Barras Art and Design Centre (BAAD) market hall, for delectable chowder and perfectly served west coast langoustines.
- Cocktails at The Finnieston
Drinks
It’s hard to think of a more perfect pub and restaurant than Stravaigin, in the West End, where care is lavished upon every claret-topped bloody mary and both the bar and restaurant menu manage to innovate but never alienate the steady stream of loyal locals.
For an even more traditional flavour, try The Lismore at the bottom of Byres Road, with a gleaming array of whiskies behind the bar and regular traditional music sessions in the corner.
In the city centre, around the back of Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, is the lovely art deco bar and restaurant Rogano. Sip a cocktail at the bar and soak up the atmosphere of this 1930s icon, Glasgow’s oldest surviving restaurant.
Music lovers and fans of dark and dirty dive bars will love Nice ‘n’ Sleazy on Sauchiehall Street, which has hosted countless rock legends over the years and retains an unmistakably retro rock’n’roll vibe.
Anna Hart travelled as a guest of People Make Glasgow. A Virgin Rail trip from London Euston to Glasgow Central takes just four and a half hours, with one-way fares starting from £30
