10 Best Restaurants For A Great Meal In Glasgow, Scotland

places to eat in glasgow
Elena
Elena 
Updated
| 4 min read
Sumit Passary
Endorsed by a Glasgow Local Expert
|
Sumit Passary

If you’ve got some new clothes you’ve been dying to show off, a date you’re trying to impress, or are just trying to kill an hour before your show at the cinema, why not try a nice restaurant? Glasgow has amazing food in general, but it’s also well known for having some really lovely places to eat. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood or burgers, taking someone on a date or just trying to convince your friend from out of town you know your way around, these restaurants won’t disappoint.

1. Ubiquitous Chip

Ubiquitous Chip, Glasgow
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ben Sutherland used under CC BY 2.0

It’s not often you see an award winning restaurant decorated to look like a rainforest, but this unique Scottish cuisine will wow you with more than just the decor. The food is absolutely delicious and the menu changes every season!

Ubiquitous Chip

Address: 12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G12 8SJ, UK

Price Range: $$$

Opening Hours: Restaurant Lunch, Mon–Sat noon–2.30pm, Sun 12.30–3pm; Restaurant Dinner, Sun–Wed 5.30–10pm, Thu–Sat 5.30–11pm. Brasserie Lunch, Mon–Fri 12–4.30pm, Sat & Sun 11am–4.30pm. Brasserie Dinner, Sun–Wed 5–10pm, Thu–Sat 5–11pm.

Website: Ubiquitous Chip

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2. Fanny Trollopes



For some seafood or Scottish game, head over to this retro bistro. Plus, if you’re not in the mood to cook but still need to take your Granny out for dinner during the holidays, it’s even open on Christmas!

Fanny Trollopes

Address: 1066 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8LY, UK

Price Range: $$

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 5pm – 9pm, Friday - Saturday, 12pm – 10pm, Sunday, 12pm – 9pm

Website: Fanny Trollopes

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3. Number 16




This restaurant is a local favorite, probably because of its upscale feel and downscale prices. This place is not so nice that it will break the bank, but upscale enough that the lovely food and plating will make you feel like you’re at a Gordon Ramsey restaurant. Take your parents out to a nice lunch or dinner and be sure to save room for one of their creative desserts!

Number 16

Address: 16 Byres Road, Glasgow, G11 5JY, UK

Price Range: $

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday Lunch 12:00pm - 2.30pm, Dinner 5:30pm - 9.00pm. Sunday Lunch 1:00pm - 2.30pm, Dinner 5:30pm - 8.30pm

Website: Number 16

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4. Cottiers



This cozy and beautiful restaurant houses a theater and a bar! Don’t bother having to drag your date out into the rain, and instead book dinner and a show and relax underneath the high ceilings and beautiful lights. This cathedral-like restaurant is great for families as well!

Cottiers

Address: 93 Hyndland Street, Glasgow G11 5PU, Scotland, UK

Price Range: $$

Opening Hours: 5pm - 10pm

Website:Cottiers

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5. Dakota Bar and Grill

Shirley Temple & Cosmopolitan cocktails
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user cbgrfx123 used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Dakota’s also owns a hotel, but unlike most hotel bars, this one stands out on its own. 5 star service and a champagne bar are key aspects of fine dining, but they’re just two of the reasons this restaurant is great for special occasions. It also has a great atmosphere and it’s vegetarian friendly!

Dakota Bar and Grill

Address: 179 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4DP, Scotland, UK

Price Range: $$$

Opening Hours: Sun 7:30 am - 9:30 pm. Mon - Fri 6:30 am - 10 pm. Sat 7:30 am - 10 pm

Website: Dakota Bar and Grill

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6. Two Fat Ladies

places to eat in glasgow | two fat ladies
Source: instagram

For an amazing and inventive take on seafood check out the Two Fat Ladies! Upscale and conveniently located, this restaurant is the perfect place to check out a variety of seafood influences, from France to the Middle East!

Two Fat Ladies

Address: 88 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, G11 6NX, UK

Price Range: $$$

Opening Hours: Lunch, Wednesday to Saturday 12pm – 3pm. Dinner, Wednesday & Thursday 5:30pm – 10pm. Friday & Saturday 5:30pm – 10:30pm. Sunday 1pm – 9pm

Website: Two Fat Ladies

Tip from Trip101 local expert

Sumit

Sumit
Glasgow

Veggie Haggis is worth trying while dining here.

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7. Crossbasket Castle




Go for the venue, stay for the food. This restaurant is quite literally a castle, and it looks like it came straight out of Beauty and the Beast. Although I’m sure Crossbasket wouldn’t mind your being their guest, the Castle is a retreat in itself, it also is a magical spot to grab afternoon tea or a romantic dinner. In fact, if you’re looking to impress, the Crossbasket Castle also has a number of rooms available for more private dining.

Crossbasket Castle

Address: 12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G12 8SJ, UK

Price Range: $$$

Opening Hours: Wednesday - Sunday: Lunch served 12 noon to 2pm, Dinner served 7pm to 9.30pm

Website: Crossbasket Castle

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8. Qua Italian Restaurant, Where Food Is the Star


If you must have Italian food then you must come and try Glasgow’s top-rated Italian restaurant. Qua offers the full Italian dining experience, from Primi Piatti – appetizers to start – to a selection of Zuppi (soups) and Insalate (salads). Get your carbo fix from Pasta or Risotti made from real arborio rice. If it’s pizza you crave for then you can choose from a wide selection of stone-baked 11-inch Roman style pizza flavors. For the main course you can have fish and seafood combinations or an assortment of meat dishes served with seasonal mixed vegetables and potatoes. If you are dining with kids under 10 years old Qua offers a kids’ menu. On weekdays they also offer a workers’ lunch specials designed to cater to nearby office workers who are in a hurry to get done with their lunch. If given enough advance notice, Qua can also accommodate large groups – this is an Italian restaurant, after all, where la famiglia is king! The restaurant is spacious and comfortable with a modern Tuscan vibe. You might forget that you’re on holiday in Glasgow!


Qua Italian Restaurant

Address: 68 Ingram Street, Glasgow

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9. Wee Lochan: An Excellent Experience From Start to Finish


From the minute you step in until the time you leave, the friendly and capable staff at Wee Lochan work hard to give you an incomparable dining experience. And we haven’t even touched on the food yet! The ambience is laid back yet not oppressively quiet, and the staff are friendly and accommodating. Right off the bat you’ll agree that this is the perfect place to kick your feet up and just chill with some friends over some coffee and cake. The immaculate white walls are relaxing and the perfect display media for the contemporary art that adorn them, that along with the furniture give off an unmistakable European vibe.


Now let’s talk about the food. There is an a la carte lunch menu that include such local favorites as potted hay smoked salmon terrine or cullen skink for starters, tartlet of asparagus and gruyere and rump steak for mains and vanilla panna cotta for dessert. But don’t let the laid back atmosphere of this family-run restaurant fool you. The food is carefully prepared and meticulously presented.


Wee Lochan

Address: 340 Crow Rd Glasgow

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday Lunch served 12:00pm - 3:00pm / Monday - Saturday Dinner served 5:00pm - 10:00pm / All Day Sunday Roast 12:00pm - 7:00pm

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10. The Grosvenor Cafe

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Grosvenor Cafe on Wednesday, April 10, 2019

All these restaurants are wonderful ways to spend an evening, but a night out doesn’t have to mean ties and 5 star restaurants. Perhaps you’re looking for a nice dinner before a movie, but want it to be a bit more laid back? This award-winning cafe is conveniently located right next to the cinema and has an elegant yet homey feel that is absolutely perfect for a dinner date. And if that’s not reason enough to go, it’s also quite inexpensive.

The Grosvenor Cafe

Address: 24 Ashton Lane, Hillhead, Glasgow West End, G12 8SJ, UK

Price Range: $

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 11am - 12am, Saturday - Sunday 10am - 12am

Website: The Grosvenor Cafe

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All that's left is to go to town!

Glasgow
Source: Pixabay

So if you’re looking for some fine dining for the family, a romantic dinner in a castle, or a laid back night of theater and drinks, grab your best outfit and go out for a night on the town. Glasgow and its tons of beautiful and delicious restaurants will be waiting for you to try.

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Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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This article has been endorsed by Glasgow local expert Sumit Passary

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Elena Aguirre is a travel writer with Trip101 and a student at UC Berkeley. In the past she has worked on technical, marketing, and creative writing. Favorite pastimes include traveling (of...Read more

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