Best Places to Relax in Glasgow

Concealed behind the prim and proper sandstone facades of Bath Street you’ll find Glaswegian favourite, The Butterfly and the Pig. There are two sets of steps outside: one goes down to the restaurant and one goes up to the tearooms. Head up to the tearooms and you would be forgiven for thinking you’d just stepped into a particularly sumptuous Edwardian parlour, complete with exquisite light fittings and a grandfather clock. The prices are surprisingly reasonable considering the eatery’s reputation. Almost all their breakfast and lunch fare, including eggs royale, pancakes and Mediterranean platters, cost comfortably less than a tenner. However in these plush surroundings you may as well play the part and plump for the Prosecco Afternoon Tea, resplendent with sandwiches in homemade bread and freshly baked treats.

There are a whole string of cosy restaurants all along the Finnieston stretch of Argyle Street but if it’s seafood you’re after, it has to be Crabshakk. Making clever use of its small space over two floors, the restaurant is a great choice if your idea of relaxing to a good meal is hunkering down in a corner and letting the bustling atmosphere wash over you. Lovers of all things fishy will be spoilt for choice here, from seared scallops to monkfish cheek scampi to plenty of crab, of course. Their crab cakes are a customer favourite: proper specimens filled with flavoursome crab meat. The limited space makes it important to book ahead, but once there you can settle in for some quality, fresh seafood in an intimate setting.

The fine folk over at Hillhead Bookclub have pulled off something quite special here: they’ve managed to take this cavernous former film theatre and make it feel cosy. Although often a bustling nightlife spot, if you come at a quieter time you’ll easily be able to tuck yourself away in a squashy armchair up on the mezzanine levels. Hillhead Bookclub even has a table tennis table to mess about on, as if you didn’t feel at home enough already. During the day you can turn up early for their brunch menu and try their Book Club Waffles with jalapeno mac and cheese, two fried eggs, crispy shallots and hot sauce. The theme for their main courses is ‘things you wish your maw cooked’, and it’s hard to disagree. Included are top-notch vegan options including lentil, carrot and vegan haggis pie. Wash it all down with one of their guest beers and enjoy that warm, happy feeling as you admire your gorgeous surroundings.

For some, the best way to get warm and cosy on a cold day is with some spice. On the cobbled Candleriggs in the heart of the Merchant City sits KoolBa. One of Glasgow’s most decorated curry houses, KoolBa seamlessly fuses Indian and Persian cuisine into one menu. The ceiling here is hidden behind a beautiful silk canopy, instantly creating a warm, insulated atmosphere as you sit in one of the many booths below. A variety of meats, fishes or paneer is available marinated in spices and cooked in their tandoori oven. Meanwhile on the Persian side of the menu, there is a selection of mouthwatering kebabs, including the Shashlik with its chunks of marinated lamb fillet.

It should be remembered that ‘cosy’ and ‘fine dining’ are not mutually exclusive, and Stravaigin is an excellent example. Dark woods, wrought iron staircases and the liberal application of fairy lights bathe the restaurant in a warm fuzzy glow, perfect for gathering round with a few close friends and sampling some delicious small plates. The dishes are designed to show off Scottish cuisine and include roast duck breast with caramelised honey neeps, walnut dukkah and anise sauce, as well as heritage beetroot with smoked labneh, pinenuts and pickled bramble. And once the meal is over, you can sit back with a dark rum espresso martini and idle the night away. Far better than going back outside.