Unmissable places during a long weekend in Glasgow

Let’s start things off with brunch, shall we? You’ll need a hearty meal to set you up for a weekend of exploring, and Cafe Gandolfi – open for over 40 years – is the perfect spot to enjoy one. Specialising in local Scottish produce, Cafe Gandolfi is well loved by locals and tourists alike. It’s not difficult to see why. The interiors are beautiful: all hand-crafted wood and stained-glass windows, the vibe is always relaxed but sophisticated, and the waiting staff are some of the best you’ll find in the city. Cafe Gandolfi does lunch and dinner well, but its brunch menu is, and always has been, out of this world. From bacon flatbread with cream cheese and chilli jam, to brioche French toast with banana and candied walnuts, you won’t be disappointed. Wash your tasty plate down with a glass of fresh orange juice (squeezed each morning) and relax into your charming surroundings. 

You can’t mention brunch in Glasgow without mentioning Singl-end. The portion sizes here are generous, so make sure you arrive hungry. Classics like porridge, granola, and eggs royale rub shoulders with more intriguing plates, not least ‘The Beefy Betty’ (sirloin steak, avocado smash, fried duck egg, cashew and pumpkin seed pesto on top of homemade sourdough). There’s ‘something for the bairns’ too – that’s kids in Glaswegian if you aren’t familiar – including a miniature platter, comprised of home baked ham, cheddar cheese, apple, and sourdough toast. Prices are reasonable, with most dishes hovering around the £11 mark, and the atmosphere is super chilled. A great one for all the family.

Glasgow is lucky to be home to quite a sizeable Vietnamese community and a visit to the city isn’t complete without a stop-off at the Hanoi Bike Shop. With bicycles and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and canteen-like interiors, there’s no other place like it. The food is packed with flavour and never fails to disappoint. The organic tofu (made in-house) is some of the finest you’ll find in the city. Glazed in a sticky and sweet black pepper and soy sauce, and accompanied with pickled mushrooms and crispy shallots; one bite will win-over even the biggest tofu-sceptic. The street food plates are equally tasty and dynamic, and they’re great for sharing. There’s coconut caramel monkfish scampi (topped with plantain and coconut caramel), vegan crab cakes, and hot and sour chicken skewers. For lunch, we highly recommend the ‘build your own pho’, a warming dish that’s bound to leave you satisfied. 

If you are looking for somewhere fancy to celebrate your trip to Glasgow, then look no further. The Ubiquitous Chip is an award-winning brasserie and restaurant located in the West-End. Half of the fun is marvelling at the spectacular interiors: with flowers, water features, and pretty fairy lights everywhere, this place feels other worldly. Downstairs you can experience the restaurant, which, decked out in white linen tablecloths, is perfect for a romantic dinner for two. There’s a tasting menu for £65 per person, which includes dishes like pea and wild garlic mousse with ham hough and cured Loch Melfort sea trout with kohlrabi. Upstairs is a more relaxed affair with tasty crowd pleasers and Scottish staples like steak, haggis, neeps and tatties, and seafood stew. Veggies fear not – there are vegetarian tasting and brasserie menus too; we love the aubergine schnitzel with confit tomato and parmesan. Yum!

What’s a long weekend without an indulgent Italian feast? Eusebi’s is the finest Italian in town (yes, we said it!), and it’s a great spot for brunch, lunch, and dinner alike. The menu is simple, but perfectly curated. From fermented, 72-hour Roman sourdough pizzas, and ‘yesterday’s lasagne’ – which is wonderfully rich and flavourful – to homemade pasta and fresh salads, there’s something to suit all tastes. The staff are friendly and the restaurant is child friendly. If you can, leave room for dessert and sample the homemade tiramisu, a ‘classic Italian pick me up’.

This eatery might only serve veggie and vegan food, but we can promise you that no meat-eater would turn down their nose up at a plate of food from Sylvan. Creative, quirky, and moreish is how we’d describe the dishes at this Charing Cross gem. All the plates are designed for sharing, and with several large tables, it’s a great place to relax with groups. Real highlights include the hot and sour aubergine, deep-fried halloumi with salsa verde, and the ‘potato porridge’ (trust us, it’s amazing). Sylvan also offers a fantastic selection of natural wines, and the staff are more than happy to advise you on pairings if you wish.

Ashton Lane is well worth a visit just to have a peek at how pretty it is, with its sparkling lights and quaint independent cinema. But if you’re peckish, then head to Ramen Dayo, where you’ll find some of the finest ramen in the city. Beginning as a pop-up in a traditional Yatai Ramen Cart, Ramen Dayo was the first dedicated ramen shop in Glasgow. The mission here is to create an authentic ramen dining experience, using only high-quality ingredients. This the team does with aplomb. The chefs take pride in following traditional methods of preparing ramen. Their rich, creamy tonkotsu broth is made by simmering pork and chicken bones overnight to extract every bit of flavour; the mayu burnt garlic oil is created during a slow process of frying the garlic slices over and over until they undergo the maillard reaction – resulting in a complex, aromatic flavour. There’s plenty in the way of meat-free dishes, but we do recommend that you book ahead. This place is super popular, and with good reason!

Since opening, Mother India has gained lots of attention for its high-quality, reasonably-priced Indian tapas-style dishes. The biggest problem here is trying to choose what to eat. The menu is extensive, and everything sounds tempting. Lamb chops with apple chutney and potato? Smoked aubergines with green beans? Tamarind monkish? One of each, please! The butter chicken is to die for – unctuous and rich, you won’t find better in the city – and the appetisers (we’re looking at you veg samosa) are incredibly hard to stop eating. A must-visit!

It’s not a trip to Glasgow without a cocktail (or two!), and Bauhaus is a great place to unwind and get the party started. Located in trendy Partick, just a stone’s throw away from the subway, this bar/restaurant is always full of life. Expect live music, an epic beer garden, and an eclectic food menu that serves up street food from around the globe. On Sundays and Mondays all the cocktails are just £6, bottles of wine are £12, and spirits with a mixer will only set you back £3.50! Bauhaus also plays host to a range of different events, like open mic nights, comedy nights, and weekly quizzes. For guaranteed fun with a side of Glasgow charm, this is the place to be.

Looking for a sophisticated to start to an evening out? Brett has you covered! Chic and modern, this wine bar is the brainchild of Lorna McNee, owner of the Michelin-starred Cail Bruich located nearby. As you’d expect from a Michelin-starred chef, the food (small plates, designed to accompany your drinks) is exquisite, and we were particularly wowed by the curried fish croquettes served with raisin ketchup. There’s an extensive range of wines on offer, from natural and biodynamic options to bottles sourced from very small producers. If you’re a bit out of your depth, don’t worry, the expert waiters and sommeliers will help you choose your pick.