Where to celebrate an anniversary in Glasgow

111 by Modou describes itself as a “new and exciting venture” that offers an “eclectic mix of contemporary food with a new menu prepared every week”. The food is seasonal, expertly prepared and presented beautifully. Options include duck leg ragu with pickled turnip and Parmesan espuma, gorgonzola agnolotti pasta with celeriac and walnut ketchup, and coley served with a chicken wing, hazelnut, kale and mushroom duxelle. Wow! The decor is just as stunning as the plates of food: all dark wooden beams, soft lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows. The service is impeccable too — if you’re looking for somewhere special to celebrate an anniversary, look no further.

Low-key doesn’t have to mean boring. Cafe Gandolfi is a gorgeous Scottish restaurant located in the heart of Merchant City. Adored by locals and visitors alike, the team has successfully been serving hearty but refined food in the restaurant’s beautiful settings since 1979, and there’s no signs of this stopping. The dining room is adorned with beautiful art – including stained glass windows and hand crafted furniture – and the staff (many of whom have been working at this Scottish institution for several decades) are warm and friendly. The menu shines a spotlight on traditional Scottish fare (like Cullen Skink and Haggis), but each plate is elevated using modern cooking techniques. The restaurant’s own take on Cullen Skink, for instance, is super refined, made with Arbroath smokies cream and served with a potato terrine and chive oil. Finish off your meal with one of the homemade desserts (we particularly liked the Baron Bigot — caramelised brioche, topped with spiced walnuts, apricot and black pepper), and thank us later!

Brett has established itself as one of Scotland’s most exciting places to drink low intervention, natural wines and dine. At the heart of this modern wine bar and barbecue restaurant is an open kitchen with a custom elevation ox-grill. The chefs create new menus as and when things come and go seasonally. Real highlights include the monkfish poached in brown butter, the smoky BBQ heirloom squash served with grilled fig, and the aged raw beef accompanied by yuzu crème, salted cured egg yolk, and puffed barley. The atmosphere is chic and sophisticated, and the tall bar stools are perfect to perch upon and enjoy a glass of fizz, wine or craft beer. We can’t think of a classier spot to celebrate an anniversary.

If heading to Paris for a romantic anniversary celebration is out of the question, head to Wee Paree – a neighbourhood bistro specialising in French-inspired food and drink. With rattan chairs, tiled flooring and an outdoor terrace, Wee Paree certainly has a sense of … je ne sais quoi. The menu is designed for sharing, with small plates served from 4pm until late. The recommendation is two to three plates to begin with, but trust us, you might well end up ordering more! Go full French and begin your meal with a baked Camembert, filled with thyme and onion chutney, and served with toasted bread. Follow this up with the Steak au Poivre, served with a creamy peppercorn sauce, or even the beef bourguignon (slow cooked and served with smoked bacon and chestnut mushroom), and you’ve got yourself a veritable French feast. Lighter options include fragrant corn fritters, seared sea bass, and king prawns topped with garlic, chilli and red pepper. Wee Paree is also home to a killer cocktail menu – filled with both classic options and more contemporary mixes – making it an ideal spot to get the party started.

If you’re really looking to push the boat out celebration-wise, it doesn’t get much fancier than Brian Maule at Le Chardon d’Or. Located inside a converted Victorian townhouse, this restaurant is all about mouthwatering food and impeccable service. The main dining room is decked out with polished oak floors, crisp white linen table cloths, and stunning flower arrangements. By evening, the lights are dimmed and the candles are lit, affording the restaurant a sublimely romantic and glamorous feel: perfect for special occasions. The kitchen team enjoys a long-standing relationship with the fresh produce suppliers, the majority of which span Brian Maule’s (the restaurant’s head chef) 21 years of trading. We can’t recommend the tasting menu enough — composed of six of the restaurant’s finest plates of food, if you’re looking to impress, this is where it’s at. From game terrines, pan-fried scallops and French and Scottish cheeses, to confit beetroot and fillet of duck, the offerings are extensive, and most importantly, exceptionally tasty. For an anniversary to remember, book a table at Le Chardon d’Or.