City Drinking | Glasgow
Where to drink in Glasgow?
By the late 18th century in Glasgow, there were so many pubs that the hanging signs had to be taken down as they were darkening the streets! Now it feels in this cosmopolitan city that it is getting that way again. There is such a variety of bars to choose from in so many different districts, that it is difficult to know where to begin!
The West End
Yet perhaps the best-known and liveliest area for drinking is the West End, particularly around Byres Rd and the adjoining Ashton Lane, a cobbled and atmospheric ‘pub mile’ where all sorts of ages from all kinds of backgrounds congregate outside G1 superpubs and old, traditional favourites to sink a pint or two. In summertime, crowds of people gather in the street, talking, laughing and drinking.
The Attic, Ashton Lane
The Big Blue, 445 Great Western Rd
Curlers, 256 Byres Rd
The Loft, Ashton Lane
Tennent’s, 191 Byres Rd
Oran Mor, Great Western Rd
Liquid Ship, 171 Great Western Rd
The Merchant City
The Merchant City (once the haunt of the wealthy during the textile boom) is also a trendy place to eat and drink. Lying west of High Street and north of Trongate, this district has seen some award-winning regeneration in recent years with exemplary conservation work to preserve its many stunning pre-Victorian buildings. The architectural improvements have attracted a blossoming range of new pubs and restaurants, without completely losing the historic feel of the area, especially in the atmospheric Old Fruitmarket. When the sun does shine, you’ll find tables aplenty outdoors.
Arta, 13 Walls St
Corinthian, 191 Ingram St
Blackfriar’s, 36 Bell St
Rab Ha’s, 83 Hutcheson St
The Tron Bar, 63 Trongate
The Steps Bar, 62 Glassford St
City Centre
Glasgow, being ‘no mean city’, is fairly spread out and you’d need much more stamina to make a pub crawl around all the watering holes on offer in its busy centre. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a go…and if you’re determined to party into the wee sma’ hours, then you’ll find plenty of clubs in this part of town, too, including on the infamous Sauchiehall St, which for some reason visitors find as hard to pronounce as locals do to spell. While superpubs are now housed in spectacular buildings such as once much more sober banks, Glasgow’s answer to café culture come rain or shine can be found in the stylish indoor Princes Square, filled with pubs, cafes, restaurants, shops and glass elevators.
The Cask and Still, 154 Hope St
The Griffin, 266 Bath St
The Rogano, 11 Exchange Place
The Living Room, St Vincent St
Scotia Bar, 112 Stockwell St
The Butterfly and the Pig, 153 Bath St
The Station Bar, 55 Port Dundas Rd
Zinc Bar & Grill, Princes Sq
South Side
Since districts such as Pollokshaws were among the richest in the city, the suburbs to the south of the Clyde have their own fair share of elegant architecture. This large area is again becoming more prosperous with a growing number of pubs and brasseries to save the local residents a taxi fare to the centre if they want a good night out.
Alphabet Yard, 15 Millbrae Rd
Church on the Hill, 16 Aigle St
The Granary, 10 Kilmarnock Rd
Jam, 28 – 30 Kilmarnock Rd
The Waverley Tea Room, 18 Moss Side
Urban Grill, 61 Kilmarnock Rd