The best Scottish restaurants, bars and pubs in Glasgow

Just under two decades old, Fanny Trollopes is found in Finnieston. The neighbourhood bistro is the place to come if you’re looking for a modern take on Scottish cooking, packed with ingredients from our shores and farms. You’ll find fish, seafood, Scottish beef and lamb, fowl and game taking centre stage on the small and large plate a la carte menu, plus vegan and veggie options. Wash it down with a Fanny Royale or a dram.

Celebrating its Strathbungo locale, this bar is filled with community and imbibable spirit. Locals Catherine Hardy and Jacqueline Fennessy opened it just over 10 years ago, with the intention of serving food which has travelled as short a distance as possible. Gluten-free fish suppers made using gram flour are a hit with those intolerant to wheat products. And the quirky cocktail list includes the likes of No Smoke Without Fire (Rooster Rojo smoked pineapple tequila, Scotch bonnet syrup, pineapple liqueur and juice and fresh lime) and Go Fig-ure (Edinburgh Gin, fig liqueur, rhubarb bitters and prosecco). Head down on a Tuesday night to take part in the Bungo’s weekly quiz. 

The family-owned Scottish Steakhouse is handy for shoppers and city centre workers, with a setting on Sauchiehall Street. You’ll find twists on traditional dishes like Haggis Neeps ‘N’ Tatties (haggis roll, neep puree, potato nest and Arran whisky pepper cream sauce) and black pudding chorizo Scotch duck egg with wild mushroom chorizo fricassee and beef fat hollandaise, as well as 28-day dry aged Aberdeen Black Angus steak cuts and hand-dived Scottish king scallops. Meat Joint may be in one of the busiest nooks of the city, but it provides a relaxed and peaceful escape from the rush (although you can choose to sit outside if you want to watch the world go by), with beautifully presented dishes.

This is what the Clyde used to be called in ancient times, now The Clutha is one of the most iconic and symbolic Scottish pubs in the country. Murals depicting Glasgow’s treasures are emblazoned on the exterior walls, making it an unmissable landmark. Not only will you get some Scots banter on a night out here, you’ll also enjoy some local live music, playing every single evening; the regular folk jam is particularly fun. If you feel peckish after a few swallies, you can also order some home-cooked food. 

Tucked below ground on Bath Street, this family-run venue can be easily passed by. But it’s well worth a stop, not least for its premium and ethical sourced food. Mini Grill is served by John Gilmour Butchers, whose beef has earned the restaurant awards for its burgers. Warm and friendly, the team endeavour to widen preconceptions about Glaswegian cooking, showcasing a modern meets classic style. Expect haggis, venison and scallops galore — and do sample the raspberry cranachan souffle. Visit Mini Grill on a Sunday for a great roast dinner, like your mum used to make.

Sharing its name with the country’s most famous pud, Cranachan, On Princes Square, serves breakfast and afternoon tea in addition to main meals. Order the morning fry-up, Cranachan’s signature Cullen Skink, Highland smoked salmon, a platter (house chicken liver pate, Scottish mature cheddar cheese mackerel pate, miniature Cullen Skink soup, sunblushed tomatoes, piccalilli, dressed leaves, bread, oatcakes and butter), and of course, the cranachan — be it in a cheesecake or traditional form. And it’s not just the food that champions all things Gaelic here. The decor incorporates landscapes by local artists, a deer antler chandelier and walls decorated by Glasgow’s Timorous Beasties design studio. Do pair your meal with some local gin, quaintly served in a teapot.