If your ideal city break is spent sampling local delicacies or you’re up for spending as much time in street food markets as you do sightseeing, you’re in luck. Scotland’s metropolis is an urban paradise for foodies, packed full of atmospheric eateries. Leave your bags at your Glasgow hotel and head straight out into the city to see what culinary delight takes your fancy. Forget deep fried Mars bars because the restaurants, cafes and markets here are full of exciting new flavours to try, from new twists on haggis to authentic tastes of India. Hope you packed some adventurous taste buds!
Places to eat in Glasgow
Restaurants
If it’s traditional Scottish, seafood, Italian or Indian you’re after, Glasgow won’t let you down when it comes to their range of options. Fancy going fancy? With so many award-winning fine dining options, the city’s got that covered too.
Glasgow has a string of accolade-winning restaurants. Take the Sauchiehall Street resident Ox & Finch, recently awarded the Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide. Headed up by former head chef to the Formula One team, the tapas-style treats include tartare of roe deer and braised ox cheek. Seafood lovers should book a table at The Fish People Cafe for award-winning Shetland cod, while Italian restaurant La Lanterna has been awarded many a medal for its tasty cuisine.
The Ubiquitous Chip is a truly special place nestled on the cobbled streets of Ashton Lane. Championing contemporary Scottish fayre at great value, culinary delights include olive oil poached salmon, venison haggis with champit haggis and The Chip’s famous Caledonian oatmeal ice cream. It’s hard not to want everything on the menu!
If you only have time to visit one Indian restaurant in the city, make it Mother India. Well-known for its incredible service, elegant surroundings and delicious menu, top picks here include the king prawn and monkfish with ginger and dill curry. Can’t take too much chilli? Ask for the garlic chilli chicken that you can adjust to suit your spice tolerance. So, get yourself down to Argyle Street for the mother of all curries.
Restaurants in Glasgow
Cafés in Glasgow
Food markets in Glasgow
Cafés
It’s not just pubs that offer a warm Glaswegian welcome. The city’s cafes are famous for their friendliness, and the streets are filled to the brim with independent coffee shops to sample.
If you’re a vegetarian with a sweet tooth, head to the The Project Cafe in Renfrew Street. Set up to support the local community and serving a simple, wholesome menu in Glasgow’s city centre, they use only organic and locally sourced ingredients. Their homemade cakes are to die for, but if you’re in the mood for something savoury, try the soup and sandwiches.
Coffee geeks will love the decidedly hipster Steamie Coffee Roasters in Finnieston. They only employ trained baristas who weigh out the coffee (provided by Artisan Roast Coffee Roasters in Edinburgh) and decide whether to use 17 or 18 grams according to how long ago the coffee was roasted. Choose something from the funky, old school woodwork bench - it’s laden with homemade cakes, such as clootie dumpling or lemon and blueberry loaf.
It may be hard to get a table in Paper Cup in the West End, but it’s worth the wait. With coffee that’s among the best in the city, it also offers a lovely brunch - try the brioche French toast with bacon and caramelised banana.
Food markets
From street food to farmers’ markets, Glasgow has its fair share of places where you can sample some quirky, eclectic cuisine.
Looking for street food the weather can’t spoil? Head to the Big Feed Street Food Social, Glasgow's indoor, fully licensed street food market. With a buzzing atmosphere thanks to the back-drop of live music, the Big Feed takes place in a huge warehouse on Govan Road, just a short walk from our Glasgow Pacific Quay (SECC) hotel. Some of the biggest names in Scottish street food await you. With exciting new takes on pizza, hot dogs and burritos. There’s plenty on offer for vegans and fizz galore courtesy of a Prosecco tap.
The whole of Scotland’s larder awaits you at not one but two Glasgow Farmers’ Markets. Taking place in Queens Park on the first and third Saturday of the month, and in Partick on the second and fourth, you’ll find organic meats, artisan chutneys and some of the best smoked kippers you’ll ever try.
The newest street food market on the culinary block takes place in the Argyle Street Arches. Called Platform, this former nightclub now hosts 12 top independent Scottish street food traders every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 10pm, making it a great place to stop for a quick bite before (or during) a night out. It’s also just a short walk from our Premier Inn hotel near Argyle Street, Glasgow.