Glasgow’s best sharing plates

Needing a slice of Spanish life, rápido? The good news is that you can immerse in the country’s atmosphere, food and music without so much as boarding a budget flight. Barca Tapas is located in the heart of the city centre, a stone’s throw from Central Station and GOMA, on the second floor of the glitzy Princes Square mall. And it’s been serving up traditional dishes for over a decade, making it a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike.

Small plates are ideal for sharing and the tapas menu here has something for everyone. Choose classic dishes like patatas bravas, Pimientos De Padrón and gambas al ajillo, or more adventurous dishes like chorizo and black pudding croquetas, Costillas de Maíz (charred corn ribs with Pedro Ximenez sherry, balsamic glaze and toasted almonds), Trucha con Frijoles y Espinacas (fillet of sea trout, butterbeans and spinach in a bread and almond sauce), or spicy octopus.

Nothing quite beats an evening filled with copious amounts of pasta, pizza, bubbles, and cocktails – which is exactly what Rutherglen’s Luciano’s is serving up. With its warm ambiance, delectable food menu, and an impressive array of drinks, this charming eatery has become a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike. One of the most popular cuisines in the world, Italian is on the menu and we are ready to eat. Traditional with a modern twist, Luciano’s does all the dishes you’re craving, with a few surprises along the way.

We always start with mixed olives for the table, focaccia with rosemary and sea salt, a heavy tomato bruschetta, fresh fried calamari, and breaded mac ‘n Italian Taleggio cheese, mortadella croquette with a pistachio dip. To die for! The antipasti sharing boards come laden with cured Italian meats, cheeses, mini pizza dough, and tomato bruschettas. And of course, the best thing to share is always a pizza – of which Luciano’s has plenty. Our favourites being Salsiccia al finocchietto e funghi pizza (tomato sugo, Tuscan sausage, mushroom, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese), the vegetarian Bianca Tartufo pizza (white pizza with mozzarella, taleggio cheese, truffle pasta, wild mushrooms), Napoli pizza (tomato sugo, mozzarella, anchovies, capers, garlic, black olives, evo oil, basil).

If you love craft beer, pay a visit to this West End haunt that’s perched right on the banks of the River Kelvin in Glasgow’s West End. Live performance, great food, a love for dogs and a passion for beer are at the heart of the philosophy here at Inn Deep. And, where else can you drink and listen to spoken word, under an original archway with a street art mural and a disco ball?!

Inn Deep focuses on hearty modern pub fare, such as pizzas, nachos, wings, ribs, tacos and burgers. Lighter bites include the likes of goat’s cheese croquettes, Moroccan crispy cauliflower, soup, lemon calamari with salsa verde and loaded fries — great for sharing alongside their 29 taps including six in-house, 19 guest keg lines, three guest casks and more than 100 bottled beer varieties.