Restaurants and Bistros & brasseries
- La Vallée Blanche
La Vallée Blanche serves delightful French- Scottish cuisine in Glasgow - The Living Room
The Living Room offers an abundance of choice with a wide range of high quality food - Tron Theatre
Fantastic food and drink - and a fabulous night out - 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…
Monteiths
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…
Tinto Tapas Bar
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…
The Living Room
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…
