Where to eat out this autumn in Glasgow

One of Glasgow’s cosiest restaurants, Stravaigin is a traditional Scottish restaurant located in the heart of Glasgow’s west end, which has been serving the city since 1994. This unique name comes from the old Scot’s word meaning ‘to wander aimlessly with intent’. Stravaigin’s motto is ‘Think Global, Eat Local’, so you can expect sustainable produce that is packed with daring flavours and delicious ingredients. This culinary curiosity has even been awarded the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand in 2012, 2013 and 2014!

The a la carte menu is served Tuesday to Sunday in the Café Bar, Mezzanine and The Cellar until late and is designed specifically for sharing, which is perfect for crisp autumnal days. A sample of what you can expect from the small plates include fried squid, chorizo, charred corn and crispy chickpeas or tenderstem broccoli, shallot, salsa, almond puree and basil oil. For those wanting to sample the Stravaigin staples, try the haggis, neeps and tatties or the Shetland mussels.

There are few things better on a cold autumn afternoon than tucking into a delicious hearty Sunday roast, especially one at Chateaux-X. This luxurious chateaubriand restaurant was born out of lockdown and has served top-quality British-sourced meat and incredible Sunday roasts to Glaswegians since.

The Sunday roast is priced at £50 for two people and includes a 550g aged chateaubriand. The roast is served with beef dripping roast potatoes, honey and mustard glazed vegetables, creamed mash potatoes and red wine gravy. You can also expect an unlimited supply of Yorkshire puddings! As well as the iconic Sunday roast menu, Chateaux-X also has a unique ‘F-Mondays’ menu, which will help you banish any Monday blues. Enjoy a 250g aged beef flat iron served with roast tomato, mushroom and watercress before choosing your sauce and sides. Sides include mac and cheese, skinny fries and caesar salad with aged parmesan and anchovy.

If you’re looking for an inviting venue to take refuge from the cold autumnal weather, then look no further than The Butterfly and the Pig located on Bath Street in Glasgow’s city centre. The shabby-chic décor and mismatched chairs are quirky and inviting, plus dogs are welcome at the bar too. 

Choose from enjoying a hearty meal and drink in the bar and restaurant or an indulgent afternoon tea in the Tea Rooms located upstairs. The restaurant serves delights such as fish and chips, macaroni cheese and roast dinners with all the trimmings. If afternoon tea is more your thing, then you can expect an array of home-baked treats, sandwiches and iconic pickled cucumbers. Make sure to add a delicious cocktail to your meal. 

JM Bistro is a top pick for food lovers seeking a cosy yet refined dining experience this autumn. The bistro’s intimate atmosphere, with its warm lighting and elegant decor, sets the stage for a memorable meal. The menu offers a diverse selection ranging from pasta to burgers and grilled main options. Dessert lovers and families too won’t be disappointed as there’s an impressive offering of puddings as well as a dedicated kids’ menu. To ensure you don’t miss out on this delightful dining experience, book your table via the button below.

Loks Bar and Kitchen is a cosy restaurant and bar located in Shawlands on the south side of Glasgow. The restaurant prides itself on serving locally sourced Scottish produce alongside a range of craft beers. A market menu is available, which offers a two-course lunch for only £14.95. Starters include fried buttermilk chicken tenders and freshly prepared soup served with a mini loaf of bread and butter. Mains offer traditional paella, pan-seared seabass, mac and cheese, and beef cheek ragu served with linguini. 

For those looking for a light lunch, soft flour tortilla wraps loaded with Asian slaw, shredded lettuce and micro coriander are available for £6.95. Loks is also renowned for its delicious artisan pizzas with options ranging from pepperoni and chorizo to spicy Hawaiian.

The twinkling lights and glossy mahogany walls of the Kelvingrove Cafe make this cocktail bar the perfect spot to relax with friends in the autumnal evenings. Choose from margaritas, daiquiris and mojitos or if you are feeling in the mood to celebrate, cheer with wine or a glass of fizz. Small plates are also served Monday to Sunday from 5pm with options including olives, prawn crackers, chicken satay doughnuts and Loch Fyne oysters.  

If you fancy paying a visit during the day, why not cosy up with a hot chocolate and scone filled with jam and Chantilly cream in the afternoon after a trip to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum?

Saffron by Paradise is a vibrant dining destination this autumn, offering a modern twist on traditional Persian cuisine in a chic and welcoming setting. The restaurant’s warm, contemporary decor creates the perfect backdrop for an evening of culinary exploration. The menu features an array of delicious dishes that highlight the richness of Persian spices, such as the succulent Chenjeh Kebab – a skewer of tender charcoal grilled lamb fillet kebab. Vegetarians, meanwhile, will love the Green Bean ‘Loobia’ Stew – fresh green beans cooked in a tomato, turmeric and saffron sauce, perfect with some fluffy saffron rice. To experience this flavourful journey this autumn, be sure to book your table via the button below.

Book an autumn-themed afternoon tea at Mackintosh at the Willow. This, the only surviving tearoom of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald, is an A-listed building, where you can indulge in seasonal menus celebrating the quintessential British tradition of fancy cakes, scones and sarnies. Each season the artfully presented treats found on the multi-tiered stands change to fit the season. As such, you can expect Halloween styling and plenty of autumnal Scottish ingredients in a feast that’s made for Instagramming. 

And you can enjoy your afternoon tea al fresco — yes, even at this time of year — as the tearoom provides heaters and blankets on its cute terrace. So just because those temperatures have dipped doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little fresh air before the winter sets in. Pair your tea with some whisky and you’ll be extra cosy.

Want to dine at the newly-crowned Sushi Restaurant of the Year? Sapporo Teppanyaki received the gong at the Scottish Restaurant Awards this summer, making it the hottest haunt for Japanese fare this autumn. Take a seat at the sushi bar and tuck into a Caterpillar Roll (salmon, with avocado and tobiko), a Tokyo Roll (smoked salmon and cream cheese, with rice rolled in flying fish roe), a Spider Roll (soft shell crab, cucumber and avocado, with tobiko sauce), or a mixed sushi platter, if you can’t decide on a specific roll. 

A visit to this venue is pure theatre too — you can watch the thrilling flames soaring from the hot plate, as the masterful chefs whip up the traditional teppanyaki dishes before your eyes. And sip on colourful beverages like the Eager Ninja cocktail, containing 18-year-old Yamazaki whisky and Sake.

Eat in harmony with the season at Cafe Gandolfi. Although this restaurant is an evergreen, with many decades of heritage, it’s fully committed to using seasonal local ingredients and produce. The menus are littered with items from native makers and producers, such as Freedom Bakery, Macleod and MacLeod of Stornoway and Caffe Carraro. And they change according to availability, so you’ll spy lots of autumn-specific Scottish produce in there. 

The dining room, with its rustic wood panelling, farm-house feel furniture and dried flower arrangements, adds a super snug and homey ambience that’ll help you embrace the step-change from summer into autumn. Add to this sense of coorie (the Scottish answer to hygge) by ordering a warming fish stew and a glass of something strong.