Restaurants, Round the world

Pivo Pivo is a cutting edge live music venue in the heart of Glasgow, home to both emerging and established home-grown talent as well as touring acts from further afield. Live music shakes the walls seven nights a week, all genres catered for and…

This new Persian and Middle Eastern venture sits with an Indian curry house to its left and an Egyptian restaurant to the right – which sort of makes sense in world terms. It's nothing fancy inside – clean, crisp lines and tables hugging the walls on…

Chic and contemporary, The Brasserie at Mercure London Bloomsbury is a superb eatery in the centre of the city. Serving international cuisine 7 days a week, a relaxed ambience is always present. The adjacent bar at the Mercure London Bloomsbury…

This is the sort of place people imagine when they think of a Greek restaurant. All the favourites are on the menu, while rustic bric-a-brac and cozy seating go some way to reaffirming the ‘old-fashioned neighbourhood restaurant’ vibe – which is exactly…

Cosy little Indaba is tucked around the corner from the Cameo Cinema in Tollcross, providing tapas with a difference and truly something for everyone. People with gluten and wheat intolerances will be particularly delighted with a menu that, somewhat…

The Left Bank has a truly varied clientele; from families to students and even the odd dog. Chunky wooden tables, big glass windows and a smattering of fairy lights make it feel warm and intimate both downstairs or on the mezzanine. Thanks to a cracking…

Big brother to its recently opened sister restaurant Pomegranate, Hanam’s is a class act. No-charge BYOB keeps spirits high across a well-appointed dining room and lower-level overspill. Décor and lighting are warm and inviting with just enough…

Despite the fact that there are some familiar pizzas and kebabs on offer at Istanbul, don't expect this to be particularly fast fast food. Everything is made from scratch so orders can take 20 minutes to prepare, particularly at peak weekend times.

Located in the beautifully restored and sophisticated Princes Square, The Restaurant Bar and Grill in Glasgow adds to the shopping centre's position as a premier eating and drinking destination. The decor is warm, chic and sophisticated, whilst the…

Billing itself as Edinburgh's new home of 'soul food' this Afro-Caribbean take away in Meadowbank has big plans: lunchtime opening starts in May 2012 and they are scouting sites for a dedicated restaurant. These are bold moves for a tiny site with just…

Chef Ali Hammudah may be the only Egyptian restaurant owner to lose his kitchen to a Scottish hurricane (Bawbag) but the reopened Nur is well worth the weathering of a storm. You can taste the passion for food when tucking into fava beans in garlic and…

Despite its celebratory name, the décor and atmosphere at Viva Brazil are quite restrained – perhaps a reaction against the excessive ‘carnival’ vibe that some Americas restaurants reach for. Here, it’s all about the meat. For this is a churrascaria, a…

Circus has a relaxed, hangout vibe with original art hanging on whitewashed walls, chunky wooden furniture and colourful Turkish lamps. Food serving hours run from breakfast right the way through to dinner, making this a popular place with folk staying…

Brel has been a trusted sport on Glasgow's most famous cobbled lane for as long as most West Enders can remember. Lately it’s moved with the times with a more flexible menu, away from the bistro market and towards being an upmarket bar. There is still a…

You can now pop in for the same Café Truva Mediterranean menu at three branches across Edinburgh. Leith, Lady Lawson Street and Canongate are all serving Turkish plates, a wide range of cakes and your usual café panini list against a varyingly elaborate…

Opened by Kenyan owners in 2011, Scotland’s first pan-African bar and restaurant is a unique experience. It’s a great venue for people watching: diners from Glasgow’s African community create a welcoming atmosphere with sharp fashion and animated…

It would be easy to wander past the narrow St Mary’s Street frontage of Empires. However, an inquisitive peer inside reveals a compact dark-wood interior that comes to life when illuminated by candles and coloured lanterns. A handful of ground-level…

Nile Valley has remained almost completely unchanged for years. The posters wallpapering the stairs down to the dingy basement dining area rotate, advertising new club nights and student drama productions. It’s a Sudanese restaurant, with popular Middle…

Smollensky's on The Strand is a stylish North American basement restaurant and cocktail bar on one of London's most famous streets. The menu is modern American, but also has a few Mediterranean and Oriental twists to it. It is designed to appeal to all…

Conveniently situated in the Russell Square Park Inn Hotel, Waterfalls Restaurant serves fresh dishes complemented with gourmet wines in a modern, fresh atmosphere with direct street access. The location makes Waterfalls Restaurant an ideal dining venue…

Bibi’s Cantina feels like a friendly, casual neighbourhood bistro geared towards passing Partick and Broomhill locals, but with only 35 covers and some terrific online reviews, getting a table may require a little planning (or at least a phone call).