Bistros & brasseries, Outdoor dining, Child friendly

83 places

Sorted by popularity

Crabshakk

1114 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8TD

No place captures the energy of the Finnieston renaissance better than Crabshakk, a few years old but still packed to the rafters most evenings. At the bar and on the mezzanine, diners sit beside, opposite – practically on top of each other. Brushed…

The Roamin' Nose

14 Eyre Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5EP

Styled as a neighbourhood Mediterranean eatery, the Roamin’ Nose with its bare brickwork and whitewashed walls takes inspiration from the thousands of taverns across Spain and Italy that serve their locals from dawn till dusk. The menu is full of pastas…

Cafezique

66 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5PT

A good local eatery can be hard to find but not in Partick. Cafezique is attached to a delicatessen. Inside, simple décor and a mezzanine level is enjoyed by elegant young ladies chattering over wine with nibbles (olives and cheese fondue). And…

Urban Angel

1 Forth Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JX

Over the past few years Urban Angel has established itself as an essential part of the vibrant dining scene around Broughton Street. The uncluttered and inviting main room is well run by simultaneously enthusiastic, relaxed and efficient staff. The…

The Dhabba

44 Candleriggs, Glasgow, G1 1LE

What’s on offer in this upmarket eatery is far removed from the rustic style of cooking you’ll find in any roadside café after which it is named. The chefs have previously cooked for India’s rich and famous bringing with them a majestic, refined…

back to top

Urban Bar & Brasserie

23–25 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2DT

Once headquarters of the Bank of England, the restaurant still has a feel of money about it. With original features like wood panels and an Art Deco ceiling offering a diffused soft light. With striking paintings and leather-clad booths, the overall…

Mono

12 Kings Court, King Street, Glasgow, G1 5RB

Microbrewery appreciation starts early at Mono, where vast silver vats line one wall, piping homemade lemonades directly to the bar for a refreshing alternative to the usual drinks, which are of course also available. Young parents bring their kids to…

1901

1534 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1RF

Though a little removed from the main Shawlands dining strip the value of the food along with the decidedly relaxed and jovial atmosphere at this unassuming corner pub and bistro make it worth the venture. New owner Graham Sutherland, who also has the…

Restaurant Mark Greenaway

69 North Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3LJ

Famed for his television appearances on the Great British Menu, in 2012 Mark Greenaway relocated his restaurant to a new city-centre venue. There are grand plans afoot but for now the stylish and muted interior plays second fiddle to the main star here…

Tibo

443 Duke Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow, G31 1RY

Tibo looks as if it should be in the the city's West End. The huge glass windows, large twinkling-star ceiling lights and candles dotted about are inviting and create a warmth inside. Laid back and friendly is the vibe the owners are going for, making…

back to top

Brutti Compadres

3 Virginia Court, Glasgow, G1 1TS

With the odd Italian name Brutti Compadres, which translates into ugly friends or company, you should be careful to take only beautiful chums. The name may be Italian but food is Mediterranean in inspiration and mainly Spanish tapas in style. Tucked…

Café Grande

184 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4DF

There’s a resonance upon entering Café Grande, on the main drag of Bruntsfield, that makes it clear you have arrived in a neighbourhood institution. The easy friendliness with which the staff greet customers, the sense that diners at separate tables…

Epicures of Hyndland

159 Hyndland Road, Glasgow, G12 9JA

In the heart of chic Hyndland's shopping area, once an area devoid of a good restaurant or café, Epicures is fill a gap. It's the kind of place that changes through the day, with different menus for different times; from breakfast, morning coffee…

Firebird

1321 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8TL

While the origin of the name may have been lost in the mists of time, the team at Firebird are certainly taking the ‘fire’ part seriously. A wood-fired oven bakes the signature sourdough pizzas to a pleasing crunch, while a blazing stove keeps the…

The Italian Kitchen

64 Ingram Street, Glasgow, G1 1EX

It’s almost inconceivable that The Italian Kitchen has now been operating for a decade. Arriving to accolades – most notably for pizzas – the passage of time hasn’t brought a sense of complacency. Inside, the fortress-like wood-fired pizza oven is…

back to top

The Pantry

1-2 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6ST

Opening amid social media rumblings in December 2012, The Pantry’s young owners have done a stylish job of tapping in on things that are cool just now. Décor is quirked up with accents of farmyard wallpaper and jelly mould lightshades, and chatty paper…

Red Onion

257 West Campbell Street, Glasgow, G2 4TT

There is nothing quite like The Red Onion in Glasgow. It has an established clientèle that clearly likes its casual style, and prices. At the heart of the city it offers food with French and Far Eastern influences, using quality Scottish ingredients.

Urban Angel

121 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ

Drop down from the shoe-beaten pavement of Hanover Street into the comfortable ease of Urban Angel. The sunlight-brightened front room makes it easy to forget you’re in basement premises, while the quiet backyard courtyard, off the cosy rear dining…

Amarone

2 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow, G2 1BT

Scallops wrapped in pancetta is a good way to start in this large, airy and stylish basement dining room. The portion is generous and the scallops not overcooked. The antipasto misto is described as a signature dish, but is a little disappointing. It…

Arcaffe

7 North Claremont Street, Glasgow, G3 7NR

Relatively hidden down a side street between Kelvingrove Park and Sauchiehall Street, this friendly family owned outlet offers home cooked Italian food in a café setting. With its focus on a daytime and early evening clientele, Arcaffe attracts mainly…

back to top

The Bank Café Bar

443 Clarkston Road, Glasgow, G44 3LL

The Maclay Inns group, five of whose premises are featured in this section, tend to choose interesting buildings for their ventures that add a nice bit of character. In the case of The Bank it is, indeed, a former bank, now popular residential café/bar…

Bar 50

50 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1NE

Situated in among the pubs and clubs of the Cowgate, Bar 50 is an ideal place for students and backpackers to relax over a pint and a game of pool during the day, or kick start a great night out on a budget. With large pitchers of cocktails for under a…

The Birdcage

Stuart House, Eskmills, Station Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 7PQ

Hidden away in an unprepossessing area of Musselburgh is the impressively restored collection of Victorian buildings at Eskmills. The Birdcage is housed in an Egyptian-style administrative building for what was once a cotton and rope manufacturer. At…

The Bothy

11 Ruthven Lane, Glasgow, G12 9BG

There is no escaping the Scottish theme in G1's the Bothy, from the kilt-wearing staff to the steak and haggis burgers on the menu. A welcoming space with dark wood walls and soft lighting, it is tucked down cobbled Ruthven Lane in the heart of the…

The Brasserie at Òran Mór

731–735 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 8QX

Arts and concert based venues get their biggest numbers on event nights. So it seems for the Brasserie which is entered through a splendid stone vaulted arch at the side entrance to the old church that forms the spectacular Oran Mor. The room has an…