Glasgow’s coolest pubs and bars

Looking for somewhere cool and trendy to enjoy a drink? Look no further than Bananamoon: oozingly contemporary and almost always buzzing with people, this Great Western Road joint is sure to impress. The pub is hard to miss – you’ll be greeted with a bright green neon sign and long outdoor benches. With wood-panelling, vintage tables and a funky 1960s bar, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Berlin, not Glasgow. With a huge variety of drinks on offer – think Norwegian beers, fruity cocktails and tasty wine – you’d be daft not to swing by!

Another one for all you cool hipster types: Renfield Street’s ‘Flying Duck’ is an eclectic venue where you’ll find electro, rock and hip-hop music aplenty. More broadly, the pub is a multi-platform arts and culture gathering spot, where weekly pub quizzes, film nights and life-drawing classes are just some of the goings on. It’s also the perfect place if you’re feeling a bit peckish; at super low prices you’ll find comforting dishes like quarter pounders, Berlin-style kebabs and loaded fries (which, incidentally, are all 100% vegan). Drink prices are also cheap, so why not head out for one of the most diverse nights out that the city has to offer?

The Bell Jar (sister to the Sparkle Horse – another great pub) is a contemporary, but extremely welcoming pub, boasting quality beer and quality – yet inexpensive – food. Why not help yourself to one of their (veggie heavy) ‘sharing plates’, like the Jerk Spiced Baked Aubergine, or Vegan Sausage and Sauerkraut Casserole as you enjoy a cold glass of one of their organic ciders? The outside might look a wee bit rough-and-ready, but the staff are friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Prices are low and everything is good value for money. A welcome addition to Glasgow’s South Side.

For a cool, relaxed afternoon, head to The Big Slope – a large, industrial-feeling pub with plenty of open space, not too far from trendy Finnieston. There’s a cosy and pretty beer garden (which fills up quite quickly in the summertime) and being close to Kelvingrove Park, it’s frequented by dogs and dog walkers regularly. Cocktails are cheap during the week – only £4.50 for a mojito – and the food is truly top notch. Help yourselves to some classic favourites like fish and chips and thin crust pizzas or even something less conventional, like their Soft-Shell Tacos with Fresh Shrimp and Mango Salsa.

There’s lots more to this Glasgow institution than its fine-dining restaurant (though that is well worth a visit!). The Big Pub upstairs – complete with a roaring open fire, broad drinks selection and old-school charm – is definitely not a place to miss. Elsewhere in the building you’ll also find the Wee Pub (Scotland’s smallest pub) and rooftop terrace located at the top of the stairs, perfect for sunny afternoons. In all of the restaurant’s pubs, you’ll be greeted with impeccable service and a relaxed and cool atmosphere that’s hard to beat. With a 1am license – later than all of its surrounding venues – an evening at the Chip is guaranteed to be a lively one.

Make your local watering hole one of the coolest spots in Glasgow city. Platform is notorious for immaculate vibes, unreal global food, and being an inner-city city-escape. Between a curated beer garden with their very own microbrewery and theatrical artists, live music and DJ nights, Platform perfectly segues you from a day-drinking catch-up to a full-blown night out on the town. Let us tell you exactly what makes Platform so special.

Located underneath one of Glasgow’s most well-known and recognised buildings, the city’s Central Station – Platform adds to the bustling space by bringing the good vibes to the heart of the city. Utilising the famous underground arches, Platform has turned the historic spot into a contemporary venue for eating, drinking, and socialising. Relax by day and party hard by night, this really is the perfect third space to bring everyone together. Never mind a classic pub, the venue has set out to reinvent the wheel when it comes to bar and pub culture. Divided into different areas, you can hop between a street food haven, outdoor beer garden, and a dance floor with live music and DJ sets.

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?!

With 29 taps including six in-house, 19 guest keg lines, three guest casks and more than 100 bottled varieties, you may be a while at the bar trying to decide. The house beer (William Bros) is a good place to start or if you’re a regular, switch up your usual and sample one of the exclusives, the beer of the week and the monthly tap takeover. And if you think you’ve tried everything, opt for one of the rare kegs that the venue imports from across the globe.

Inspired by the classical poetry work of Charles Bukowski, Chinaskis was born – a compact, candle-lit bar celebrating the life, work, and impact left by the late poet. Curated, well-made cocktails, thoughtful plates, and a divine atmosphere, Chinaskis is for those who enjoy the finer things in life, and those manifesting them.

The beer garden and terrace following the cosy indoor space are filled with sun and picnic tables, making the perfect hosting spaces for a couple of cocktails or beers during the warmer months. The sun-soaked courtyard and cosy indoor dining make Chinaskis perfect for both summer and winter, all year round. The cherry on top of Chinaksi’s ultra-cool vibe is their love for music ringing through the restaurant. A fixture of the venue, you’re guaranteed a good time with both underground and beloved tunes playing at all times of the day and well into the evening, leaving no chance of an awkward silence.

Livening up the suburb of Shawlands, G41 Bar is a triple threat of bespoke cocktails, delicious tapas, and crowd-pleasing music all night long. G41’s cocktails have all been carefully put together to create classics and unique concoctions for the menu. Enjoy your favourite drink on the rocks, your favourite summer spritz, or venture out and try a lesser-known cocktail, specially selected by the G41 team. Of course on the menu, they also have a variety of wines, beers, ciders, and sodas to keep everyone happy and quenched.

The music is always loud and proud at G41, creating a lively atmosphere any day of the week. The food is hearty comfort food, with favourites such as Buffalo chicken wings and Mexican loaded fries. Eat, drink, and be merry at G41!