Bar 91

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

Not quite Glasgow's original style bar, but certainly at the forefront of the Merchant City regeneration, Bar 91 has remained steadfastly popular with young local professionals for 15 years with its friendly, laid-back, neighbourhood vibe. Like the tardis, it's much bigger on the inside, with strange brass sculptures installed into nooks and crannies of the warm red main space. At night, DJs and chatter brighten things up a bit; lunchtimes and late afternoons, when the food menu runs, are rather more relaxed, and even placing your order is a bit of a drawn-out affair. The food, when it comes though, is much healthier than the sort you'd usually find propping up a bar menu - fine, fresh, leafy salads, not clagged up with compulsory dressing, accompany almost every dish. The chefs don't seem to feel the need to fry everything, either, which is refreshing. Instead there's a choice of well-put together open sandwiches topped with interesting options like crispily barbequed duck and chilli or falafel and citrus salad, a good selection of pastas, and the specials, which feature dishes like crisp, gummily good crab cakes, are always worth a look. In the evening, things get even more straightforward, with a cheap selection of handmade pizzas on offer.

• High point: Soaking up the old-school cool
• Low point: Service a bit sometimes