Restaurants and Bistros & brasseries
- Amicus Apple
Delicious food and mouthwatering cocktails in an enchanting atmosphere - Pink Olive
Pink Olive provides honest, unfussy, real food with relaxed friendly service that will appeals to all. - Bo'Vine Meats and Wines
A delightful restaurant serving fine food and wine - Two Fat Ladies
Two Fat Ladies serve up a fresh, exciting menu with a focus on the finest seafood ingredients
The Outsider
15/16 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EE
Anyone who can weave references to Kermit, Dorothy Parker and cannibals into their wine list is not going to run a dull restaurant. The Outsider is definitely not a place for a quiet evening meal. It's upbeat and lively, but the menu works hard to…
A Room in the Town
18 Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TG
A Room in the Town resembles the well known and colourful mural lining its main wall more often than one suspects. High jinks and merriment co-exist alongside locals having a casual meal in the simply furnished and softly lit, long dining room. Staff…
Mulberry Street Bar
778 Pollokshaws Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2AE
The Southside's Mulberry St bar and bistro exudes an air of style and class, with the sleek yet casual surrounds of the bar area offering a relaxed environment in which to enjoy a plethora of high-quality beers and wines. While wholly enjoyable in…
The Apartment Bistro
7–13 Barclay Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HW
The Apartment Bistro, older sibling to the Outsider restaurant, has completed its first year since a radical overhaul of both interior and menu. Deep red walls, low hanging pendant lamps and mismatched canteen chairs create a stylish and intimate vibe.
The Grill on the Corner
21–25 Bothwell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6NL
Viewed from outside the twinkling fairly lights in the windows belie the more masculine grandeur inside this popular grill room. The long dark bar and booths of the cocktail area lead past a stretch of kitchen, with an open pass that smokes and hisses…
The Bon Vivant
55 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
The Bon Vivant is a stylish and well-stocked bar where the innovative cocktails are expertly made and the wine list is huge (44 available by the glass including 12 champagnes). Dark walls and candlelight set the scene, and amid the cosiness are decks…
Ketchup
44 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
There’s no such thing as 'just' a burger at Ketchup – maybe you want cheese, bacon and chipotle mayo with pickles, onion and salad? Or how about Portobello mushrooms, garlic parmesan aioli and balsamic onion relish? Have it without the bun, without the…
Cafezique
66 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PT
Mhairi Taylor’s informal café follows in the footsteps of her much respected neighbouring delicatessen, Delizique. Both celebrate quality produce and local suppliers while wrapped in a stylish West End chic that successfully makes buying a bag of…
A Room in the West End
26 William Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7NH
The 'Room in the…' chain has won considerable popularity in Edinburgh thanks to unpretentious surroundings, fulsome food and that rare beauty, a BYO policy. The West End branch, a snug basement beneath the frequently rowdy Teuchter’s pub on William…
57–61 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
Leave behind the tartan tat of the High Street and descend into the underground world of Monteiths for a more palatable Scotland. Here, there’s a nod to the old, a wave to the new, a splash of glamour and swirl of hipness. The menu is good friends with…
The Dogs
110 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DR
It’s no surprise the Dogs is the perfect refuge for diners in austere times. Born amid the credit crunch, its no-frills, back-to-culinary-basics formula is well-honed. Dishes rarely stray above £10, even in the evening. Beyond cost, there’s ample…
The Partners Italian Bistro
1051 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G12 0XP
Partnered – to coin a phrase – with Bearsden's Partners Bistro, Tapela and Tattie Macs, this restaurant sits in unpromising surroundings, just off Great Western Road next to Gartnavel Hospital – yet the striking former Kelvinside train station houses a…
138 Battlefield Road,
Glasgow,
G42 9JT
The interior may be a bit ramshackle, and the vibe, laid-back, but service is friendly and efficient. Along with the large menu comes a dish of delicious home salted almonds which set the taste buds going in anticipation of the tapas to follow. Mussels…
Chinaski's
239 North Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7DL
Even if Charles Bukowski – whose biographical alter-ego Chinaski’s is named after – mostly lived off a liquid diet, this dark, discreet hipster haunt just off the main drag of Sauchiehall Street is as much about its food as it is its drink. A huge…
Blue Moon Café
36 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SB
It's hard to believe, but Broughton Street's Blue Moon Café, located in the heart of Edinburgh’s gay scene, has been a lively social hub for over 30 years. A few things have altered over time. The Broughton Street wing is now a separate diner…
A Room in Leith
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
If you pitch up here late or without booking, it may be wise to have a plan B. On sunny days, the waterside tables outside fill up fast with people enjoying a platter of mussels and a well chosen glass, while for chillier occasions, there’s candle…
Browns Restaurant and Bar
131–133 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JS
Browns is the only Scottish branch of a well-established chain that installs its popular brasserie template in historic buildings around the UK. Their mission, from conception in the 1970s, was to offer 'classic food, well-delivered in a stylish…
Spoon Café Bistro
6a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Spoon sprawls like a loft apartment, fancifully furnished and decorated in a joyful jamboree of kitsch. Divided by screens into rambling room sets, students slouch over soup or tea, in easy conjecture over tutorial topics. In another corner a child is…
La Vallée Blanche
360 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8AY
For La Vallée Blanche, first impressions count and there’s nothing like deep red, dark wood and candlelight to seduce the hungry visitor. As a teaser, soft warm rolls and tasty amuse-bouches are served without delay. The menu is mostly meat-based, with…
The Bothy
11 Ruthven Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 9BG
Tucked away from the bustle of Byres Road down Ruthven Lane in a fittingly old stone building lies the Bothy. Friendly and efficient kilted waiting staff give diners welcome diners into the relaxed atmosphere. The menu offers traditional dishes such as…
Epicures of Hyndland
159 Hyndland Road,
Glasgow,
G12 9JA
This latest addition to the cluster of eateries around Hyndland Road is not easily missed since its frontage is almost entirely windows. Epicure’s light and spacious interior is divided into two levels with the industrial chic of metal steps, exposed…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HH
The name Iglu suggests a frostiness that couldn’t be further from reality in this warm and welcoming eatery. Iglu’s ethical approach to food and drink is worn large and its daily-changing menu of locally sourced, seasonal and welfare-rich food is…
Crabshakk
1114 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TD
Tiny Crabshakk packs people in, rather appropriately, like sardines. There’s room for around 50 folk, and that includes stools at the bar and odd little tables where you have to sit side-by-side rather than facing your date. But limited space isn’t the…
The Drake
1 Lynedoch Street,
Glasgow,
G3 6EF
Climb the side steps from the busy bar below to be greeted with the most unusual restaurant – what was once the upper floor of a large Victorian town house, has been transformed into two separate dining rooms with a corridor connecting each one – both…
The Honours
58a North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3LU
In a city packed with restaurants and a respectable array of upmarket and glitzy places to eat, The Honours brings something new to Edinburgh. It is not fine dining, nor fine-dining lite, nor pastiche French. Rather, it's a classic metropolitain…
The Square
1 Golden Square,
Aberdeen,
AB10 1RD
A spacious, popular, centrally located café-bistro with options ranging from smart-casual lunches through to full evening dining, including a pre-theatre menu from 5–6pm.
Brel
39–43 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SG
Namesake Jacques Brel would definitely recognise this informal wood-filled bar as a distinctly European approach to dining and beer. The former stables at the end of Ashton Lane has the air of a Gallic tavern with its oak-lined walls, wooden floors and…
Firebird
1321 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TL
This well-established neighbourhood bar and bistro makes sense whatever the occasion. The intelligent, free-flowing layout means you can dine more formally at the rear, sip a cool microbrewery pint perched at the curved wooden bar, or snack and watch…
OKO Express
78 Queen Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3DN
Now under new ownership OKO has raised its game, with all dishes being fresher and better presented than ever, and when it comes to Japanese food that is imperative. The setting is typical for a sushi bar with cafeteria style bench seating that is good…
Wildfire Restaurant and Grill
192 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4AZ
Some restaurants promise more than they deliver. Wildfire does it the other way round. The stone frontage with its 'Scottish Steak and Seafood Bistro' signage disappears into the old-style pubs and bars which still define Rose Street, but step through…
Big Slope
36a Kelvingrove Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7SA
It would be interesting to know how many folk come into Big Slope for a drink, but end up having something to eat. That's what makes a good bar food menu: perched on the table, teasing and appetising. Here we have pub favourites with lovely twists…
The Italian Kitchen
64 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1EX
High ceilings, exposed sandstone walls, big windows, red leather seats and fast moving waiters characterise this Merchant City success story. It is advisable to book as this large restaurant always seems to be busy, probably due to the exquisite food…
The Jam House
5 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JE
Dusky purple lights cast romantic shadows on the walls of this funky, jazz-centric venue once occupied by BBC Scotland. Guests dine on the balcony above the main stage where soulful musicians entertain throughout the evening. A fixed-price set menu…
La Lanterna
35 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6AE
Descend the stairs to La Lanterna and step back in time. This place has survived credit crunches, food fads, and fast foods. The owner, Christopher Martinolli, was born the year his father opened the restaurant in 1970 and nothing much has changed…
The Living Room
150 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5NE
Stylish moody interiors with dark leather booths and glowing red shades create an urban clubby atmosphere that accommodates plenty of diners but is cleverly zoned to maintain an intimate mood. The busy menu takes its themes from across the globe and…
The Two Figs
5 and 9 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G11 5RD
Situated at the tricky end of Byres Road, the Two Figs has justifiably consolidated its appeal over the past couple of years. This is a place to relax – with cheery staff, cosy booths, warm lighting, exposed wood and a smattering of fig-themed motifs.
Amicus Apple
17 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EY
For five years now, Amicus Apple has been the preferred venue of many for after-work cocktails. The bar, which also has outdoor seating, is decked out with comfortable sofas and bright lighting to help overcome its subterranean feel without detracting…
Crabby Macs Seafood Café
61 Otago Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8PQ
With wild wallpaper, wines stacked high on the walls, a wall of mirrors, and a tree covered in bright blue LED lights outside, Tattie Macs is both eccentric and stylish. This, combined with the reasonable prices and its prime West End location, might…
La Fiorentina
2 Paisley Road West,
Glasgow,
G51 1LE
Although dark and slightly forbidding from the outside, hinting that the dining experience beyond these doors may be a serious and formal affair, inside it is relaxed and cosy with a fun, kitschy bent to the décor, reminiscent of the best tourist…
The Italian Caffè
92 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
As chic and contemporary as Italian eateries get in Glasgow, this shiny, glass-fronted enoteca puts a designer twist on the concept of tapas. Why settle for boring old patatas bravas when you can have a bottle of gavi di gavi and some fresh sardines…
Peter's West End
39 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5QF
Run by dynamic husband and wife team Brian and Victoria Dunn, Peter’s is very much a neighbourhood bistro. With a short but changing menu, conscientious service and a casual atmosphere, it’s clear that many of the clientele are local and regular…
Sannino Pizzeria
61 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2DG
More than 20 years after it was established, this handsome pizzeria continues to lure customers into its underground chamber of dark wooden booths, chrome railings and Tiffany-style lamps. Regulars appreciate the reasonably priced set lunch and…
Baby Grand
3–7 Elmbank Gardens,
Glasgow,
G2 4NQ
Just a few short steps from Charing Cross station, the Baby Grand is by day mainly filled with office workers and commuters who do lunch and coffee in the long thin room, but by night the mood changes to a more leisurely vibe as the pianist takes over.
The Boat House
22 High Street,
South Queensferry,
City of Edinburgh,
EH30 9PP
There is much to enjoy in this waterfront South Queensferry gem. Ambitious owner and head chef Paul Steward has conjured up a bijou cocktail bar that tempts at street level. Downstairs, floor to ceiling windows offer views of the dramatic iron sweep of…
Canasta Bistro
1102 Cathcart Road, Mount Florida,
Glasgow,
G42 9EG
Within a pizza throw of Hampden stadium, Canasta has become a celebrated restaurant in Glasgow's Mount Florida – an area not known for great dining options. It's cosy inside, with chequered tablecloths and scatter cushions contributing to an informal…
113–115 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
Tucked behind the Living Room’s contemporary piano bar, the restaurant’s dark wood and potted palms create a welcoming, informal ambience, while the vanilla leather booths are ideal for romantic liaisons or conspiratorial office gossip. The lengthy…
Stravaigin 2
8 Ruthven Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 9BG
Smuggled into the calm oasis of Ruthven Lane, Stravaigin 2 transplants the spirit and ethos of its older sister to a cosy, low-roofed tavern with cream walls, wooden floors and candle-light adding rustic charm. New chef Chris McAdie upholds the…
Urban Angel
121 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
Despite being a growing empire itself with a recently opened juice bar on Broughton Street, Urban Angel eschews multinational brands in favour of local, organic and fairly traded produce. The Hanover Street branch is a warren of basement rooms with…
19a West Register Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AA
Any time is cocktail time in the Voodoo Rooms, with its feel of a cabaret club oozing somewhat faded, slightly sleazy glamour. On evenings when there’s live entertainment, the bar is usually bulging. Gastropub grub is served in a small dining room…
The Basement Bar and Restaurant
10–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
While the bustle of city life proceeds at street level, down below, and largely hidden from view, drinkers in this traditional bar sip beers from around the world, whether it’s the local Innis & Gunn or far-travelled favourites Corona and Tiger.
The Grosvenor Café
The Grosvenor Theatre, Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
With its filmic décor and location above the cinema, the recently rebranded Grosvenor Café offers a great opportunity for a movie and a meal night-out. The striking and cavernous venue, lit by spotlights adorning the walls, has silent movie clips…
Mother India
28 Westminster Terrace, Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7RU
The stretch from Charing Cross to Kelvingrove is punctuated with top Indian restaurants, including this popular place which has been winning praise for two decades. Complimentary cups of haddock and potato soup are a lovely introduction, indicating the…
One Ten Bar and Grill at Marks Hotel
110 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2EN
The One Ten Bar and Grill offers a calm and classy escape from the more jumping bars and restaurants that populate Glasgow's Bath Street. While there's nothing strikingly distinctive about this establishment in comparison to any other hotel restaurant…
Babbity Bowster
16–18 Blackfriars Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1PE
This Merchant City institution wears its historical robes lightly. Babbity Bowster, named after a Scottish country dance, is sited in a late 18th-century tobacco merchant’s townhouse – all that remains of an entire street built by renowned architect…
Ivory Lounge
126–128 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
For an after-work drink and bite to eat the Ivory Lounge is a comfortable option. A flamboyant entrance with patterned mirrors and upholstered seating gives way to a large bar and dining area. Part of a chain of similar bars, the interior is a…
The Magnum Restaurant & Bar
1 Albany Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3PY
Over thirty years The Magnum has become a sound New Town institution, providing a warm welcome in a cosy setting. Dark wood, soft fairy lights and simple décor (including some ancient skis), gently wash away the day’s worries alongside a pre-dinner…
Mussel Inn
157 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2UQ
Delicious, healthy and environmentally responsible, rope-grown mussels from Scotland's West Coast are currently enjoying plenty of positive media coverage, and the rather single-minded Mussel Inn is well placed to benefit from an increase in demand.
Amarone
2 Nelson Mandela Place,
Glasgow,
G2 1BT
Another popular eatery from the ever-expanding Di Maggios chain – the interior and menu give a more slick and grown-up feel to this restaurant compared to their other outfits that populate the city, and with price tags to match. Descending from the…
The Bank Café Bar
443 Clarkston Road,
Glasgow,
G44 3LL
Part of the Maclay Inn’s chain, this former bank has been nicely refurbished with solid wood and leather furnishings and a chrome-topped bar. Crane your neck to see the detailed cornicing and dramatic domed rooflight. There’s a good selection of draft…
725 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8QX
The dining area in Cail Bruich is unassuming yet sophisticated – large, black prints of fine food are set off with deep, rich reds, dark wood and laid-back jazz. Exceptional waiting staff are more than keen to discuss the food. Luxurious touches such…
Chez Jules
109 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
It's twenty years since the plain but distinctive red-and-yellow colour scheme of Pierre Victoire off-shoot Chez Jules first appeared in Edinburgh. Its comeback over the last couple of years – first on Hanover Street then, towards the end of 2010, a…
E:S:I - Englishman, Scotsman and an Irishman
46 Queen Charlotte Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 7EX
E:S:I’s multi-level dining room in an old Leith building mixes contemporary fittings with a healthy dose of character. The service is a masterclass in easygoing charm, though it can be tricky to catch a waiter’s attention from tables on the mezzanine.
Gandolfi Fish
84 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
A fishy sister to the much-loved Café and Bar a few doors down Albion Street, this smartly turned-out member of the Gandolfi family makes great sense. By concentrating almost exclusively on the produce of Scotland's waters, and with a chef in Jamie…
Hellers Kitchen
15 Salisbury Place,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1SL
Richard and Michelle Heller, the husband-and-wife team behind the long-popular New Bell, are well on their way to replicating the success of their original venture. Whether it is office workers perching with coffee and a sandwich, or locals enjoying…
Indigo Yard
7 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
Tucked away up a cobbled street in the West End, Indigo Yard is a regular haunt for a mixed clientele, whether it’s workers seeking refreshment after a hard day’s graft or diners drawn by its well-earned reputation for a consistently high standard of…
The Left Bank
33–35 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NU
It is hard to categorise this bistro / bar, mainly because it is so successful in all its guises – as a lazy brunch hangout, for drinks by the window or a relaxed evening meal. The atmosphere is casual but the kitchen works hard, handling flavours…
60 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5EP
Just through a velvet curtain from the busy bar and gig venue is a quiet corner of Maggie May’s given over to dining. Dark wood and candles manage to create a subdued atmosphere despite the hubbub bubbling through from the bar next door. An extensive…
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…
20 North Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1YT
Once you have flattened-out the rather fussy rolled-up menu, there is plenty of rewarding reading here for lunch or a night out. This brasserie in the former printing hall of The Scotsman newspaper is ideal for large groups, though there's plenty of…
O Sole Mio
34–36 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1HG
Having changed hands and been given a new lease of life in early 2011, this City Centre Italian is already proving hard to beat due to the combination of excellent food and charming service. The modern rectangular dining area gleams with sparkling…
Olive Branch Bistro
91 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RX
This Broughton Street neighbourhood bistro is adept at being most things to most people. From brunch till dinner, there’s a seasonally-influenced menu mixing Scottish ingredients with one or two mostly-Mediterranean influences. So, roast aubergine…
Porto & Fi on the Mound
9 North Bank Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2LP
It's a nice spot – for a former mortgage office of the Bank of Scotland. Just off the Royal Mile, with its views over the New Town and beyond, you can imagine over-stretched buyers being given a tantalising vision of Edinburgh below, Last Temptation…
The Secret Garden at the Gate
62 Trongate, Merchant City,
Glasgow,
G1 5EP
This is something different from the team behind both the Dhabba and Dakhin Indian restaurants - a bar with a small dining room to the rear that features Asia Pacific cuisine of an Indo-Chinese inclination. As we go to press, however, keys had just…
Tigerlily
125 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
From the outside, Tigerlily looks remarkably like a den of iniquity, with pavement to penthouse red-lit windows illuminating the boutique hotel and restaurant’s façade. Inside, things are equally lurid. Among the chandeliers and magnums of champagne…
Barça Tapas and Cava Bar
Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
Eating at Barca Tapas and Cava bar, situated in the upmarket Princes Square mall, is a classy experience. If you can, grab a table on the terrace which overlooks the light and bright shopping centre and browse the impressive menu. The calamari with…
Battlefield Rest
55 Battlefield Road,
Glasgow,
G42 9JL
From outside this tardis-like attractive former tram shelter, has more tables than you'd imagine, and a cosy atmosphere when busy, which it frequently is. The ambitious menu is large and starters include crêpes, salads and bruschettas as well as…
Bia Bistrot
19 Colinton Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 5DP
Bia Bistrot is the brainchild of Franco-Irish couple Matthias and Roisin Llorente, who bring their experience of cooking in top flight (including Michelin-starred) kitchens around the world to this cosy but classic Edinburgh bistro. Their passion and…
Bibi's Cantina
599 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6HY
Tucked away at the end of Dumbarton Road is a little casa of good food. The candlelit interior reminds diners of Cantina’s culinary origins – the walls are covered with prints of cacti and poncho-wearing vaqueros. There’s also very attractive, brightly…
Darcy's
The Courtyard, Princes Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
Darcy’s occupies a prime spot in the corner of the basement food court at swanky high-end retail temple Princes Square, offering weary shoppers the option of taking a load off over mixed Scottish and world cuisine, cocktails, champagne or traditional…
Forth Floor Brasserie
Harvey Nichols, 30–34 St Andrew Square,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AD
Press four in Harvey Nicks’ lift and you’ll be elevated to a whole floor dedicated to foodie delights. Among these, the Forth Floor Brasserie is slick and sophisticated, from the voice taking bookings to the delivery of the bill. In-between, there’s a…
225a West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2ND
Since opening for business in 1998, Gamba has received regular fulsome praise and more than a few awards for Derek Marshall’s fish-focused cooking. Until a makeover in January 2011 though, the décor failed to live up to the restaurant’s exacting…
Home Bistro
41 West Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DB
Home is both the name and theme of this lovely little bistro close to the University. Tongue gently in cheek, its neat 'front room' is graced with a flight of flying ducks and handsome pair of china dogs. The domestic kitsch concept extends to a…
Monster Mash
20 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QN
In April 2010, Monster Mash relocates a grand total of 15m up the road. But fans need not fear: the biggest change will simply be more space to spend your money. As 20 Forrest Road will see restaurant seating for 65, private dining for 25 and outdoor…
Montpeliers
159–161 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DG
Bruntsfield institution Montpeliers describes itself as ‘the ideal local’, but this slick, style-conscious bar-brasserie would not be out of place in George Street. A refit has divided the place into distinct bar and brasserie spaces. There is a nod to…
Nanakusa
441 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3LG
A cool bar area with booths in the shop front gives onto open views of a steaming, sizzling kitchen and then into a glorious hall with an arched roof punctuated by skylights. Italianate cornicing contrasts with walls of contemporary wooden walls and…
Negociants
45–47 Lothian Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HB
Negociants celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year as one of the most popular bars among Edinburgh’s student population. Year-round the place bustles, particularly at weekends, while the Edinburgh Festival brings a tourist clientele attracted by…
The Shore Bar & Restaurant
3 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QW
Dark wood panelling, red brocade banquettes and twinkling candles give a timeless feel to this classic Leith bar and restaurant. The closely-spaced tables and dim lighting can feel either wonderfully romantic or perhaps a little too intimate, depending…
Boaters Café
Rouken Glen Park,
Glasgow,
G46 7UG
Boaters Café is well known to the residents of Giffnock and Newton Mearns but less so to those outside Glasgow's southern suburbs. Situated by the boating pond at the edge of the rolling green expanses of Rouken Glen Park, it's an especially popular…
The Brasserie at The Menzies Glasgow Hotel
27 Washington Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8AZ
It's hard to imagine how you might stumble across the Menzies hotel while searching for fine dining. Set in a rather unpromising post-industrial landscape at the edge of the city centre, it's an oddly unplaceable building – you could be essentially…
Café Andaluz
2 Cresswell Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8AA
Tucked down a flight of stairs off cobbled Cresswell Lane, everything about Cafe Andaluz from the warm decor and soft, twinkling lights to the impressively varied menu, is welcoming. Diners can sit at dark wood and tiled tables or at the bar, which is…
Café Gandolfi
64 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
Few can claim to be Glasgow foodies without having sampled the wares of Cafe Gandolfi – for over 30 years this bohemian restaurant has been at the front of Glasgow's culinary revolution. Inside is dark and rustic – deep mahogany-coloured tables and a…
Café Hula
321 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3PT
Across the road from Theatre Royal and within spitting distance of both the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Glasgow School of Art, Café Hula attracts a young, creative crowd. With its appealing, unpolished interior, friendly, laid-back…
The Cellar Door
44–46 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EJ
Located on the Old Town's busy George IV Bridge, the Cellar Door dishes up sweet treats and coffee in a small street-level patisserie, while hidden from view downstairs is the restaurant. The unassuming interior has high ceilings, warm beige walls and…
Fanny Trollopes
1066 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8LY
Owner and chief chef Gary Bayless brings a wealth of experience from the kitchens of top French restaurants to this small but feisty enterprise that specialises in creative fusions and quality sourcing. A small frontage leads to a slightly larger room…
Fifi and Ally
51–52 Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
Tucked away from the frantic buzz of Buchanan Street on the top floor of Princes Square is this fabulous café that serves seriously good food. The French-inspired black and white chic interior is open, airy, yet cosy and comfortable. For lunch there…




