From national dish haggis to smoked haddock soup Cullen Skink, Scottish cooking reflects the surrounding seas and countryside. Expect to find Aberdeen Angus beef, grilled North Sea seafood, and warming venison stews.
City Centre
Around Glasgow Central Station the streets feed off into the surrounding areas and are lined with some of the city’s best eating spots as well as many of the chain restaurants. The Mussel Inn on Hope Street specialises in large bowls of freshly cooked Scottish mussels farmed in the crystal clear lochs of northern Scotland. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, head around the corner to the rustic Italian joint Sarti. Here you can savour a range of vibrant, meaty pasta dishes and bubbling pizzas in the opulent surroundings of what was once an 1890’s banking hall.
• The Mussel Inn, 157 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 2UQ; • Sarti, 42 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 1NE;
Merchant City
Merchant City is the historic heart of Glasgow, known as the city’s epicentre of independently run bars, restaurants and craft stores. Arisaig serves food inspired by childhood trips to the resort of the same name, and prides itself on offering the freshest Scottish produce, from venison steak with parsnip purée to Scottish lobster with thermidor sauce. There's also the Beer Café around the corner, serving over 90 beers from around the world as well as a variety of speciality pies – from venison to chicken and leek – which are perfect for soaking up the booze.
• Arisaig, 1 Merchant Square, Glasgow G1 1LE; • Beer Café, 78 Candleriggs, Glasgow G1 1NP;
Ashton Lane
Ashton Lane, a picturesque and historic side street in the heart of Glasgow’s West End, is home to the famous Glasgow Curry Shop. With a range of authentic spicy dishes, it's an intimate and cosy place to enjoy the wonders of Indian cookery. If curry isn’t for you, The Ubiquitous Chip just down the lane has become something of a Glasgow icon. Serving traditional Scottish cuisine including Shetland Island cod and Galloway roe deer with wild mushrooms, you can dine while overlooking the quaint buildings and brick streets bathed by the street lights outside.
• The Glasgow Curry Shop, 29 Ashton Lane, Glasgow G12 8SJ; • The Ubiquitous Chip, 12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow G12 8SJ;
Finnieston
Finnieston and its main thoroughfare of Argyle Street is where many of Glasgow’s hippest restaurants stand. The cosy Crabshakk serves up the freshest seafood treats including Scottish oysters, langoustine from the North Sea, and home-cured salmon Gravlax. The Gannet is another of Glasgow’s trendy eateries. Styled with wooden walls and eclectic oil paintings, the Gannet serves seasonal Scottish fare cooked with European style, from slow cooked pork with potato terrine to fried scallops with cauliflower and curry oil.
• Crabshakk, 1114 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TD; • The Gannet, 1155 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8TB; Tel: +44 (0) 141 204 2081
