Nice lunch Christmas shopping drinks Glasgow

[Cumbrianlass66]

Hi all
Thinking of a day trip to Glasgow by train Christmas shopping with girls, a nice lunch and a couple of drinks just somewhere where we can get a seat, have a chat and put our bags down. It’s one Friday day in December.
Any suggestions for somewhere fairly central that we can book a table for food maybe late lunch or about 4pm? The party has very diverse restaurant/food tastes;
A and B are quite pretentious both meat and fish eaters and don’t mind trekking 30 minutes walk to a ‘swanky restaurant’ after a days shopping.
C is an easy going vegetarian who also eats fish.
D & E which includes me both eat meat and fish like nice food but fairly easy going as to place i.e. the restaurant building doesn’t need to be pretentious and famed for its architecture and used to be an X something or other. Ideally we would like a fairly central location.
F is extremely fussy she doesn’t like ‘fine dining’ and doesn’t mind Italian or Mexican. Ideally she would prefer a chain but the rest of us and keen on eating at a big chain. A and B want a change from Italian.
Any recomendations or suggestions please?

The Citizen or The Anchor Line, both St Vincent Street so very central. Good cocktails!

Restaurant bar and grill in Princes square. Will be lovely and Christmassy.

Thanks AgentProvocateur do you know the name of it or is that the name of it? Thanks

That’s the name of it and if you sign up to their emails they’re always sending money off.

For a pub The Griffin does nice food.

Not the most central, but if you don't mind a little walk, the sisters at Kelvin grove is really nice and they do a fix price lunch that I think is on until 4. You'd need to book though.

Guys in Merchant City is very nice.

Anymore recommendations for any nice eateries and or bars although I don’t mind combining the two.

Chaoprya is very central with a nice bar and lovely Thai food.

I went to Steak Cattle and Roll today Merchant Square, posh burgers and lovely cocktails. I had a huge veggie burger

Hutchesons in merchant city

Loads of lovely restaurants in Merchant City. OR you can jump on the tube to Kelvinhall then wander to Ox and Finch (you'll definitely need to book there though). If you want to stay right in the city centre you should be able to find somewhere to eat in Princes Square - The Restaurant Bar and Grill is a good call, or October if you fancy staying for drinks. Round the corner in Royal Exchange Square, there are loads of places - The Western Club.

I'd second the ox & Finch!

Second Hutchesons in merchant city. I also love Alston’s which is under central station but it’s a steak place and have never tried the vegi options. But the steaks are amazing.

Anchor Line or Il Pavonne ( Princes Square)

On this type of day I always like a little bit of old school Glasgow glamour in Rogano. Ask to reserve one of the booths upstairs, not in the proper restaurant.

Agree Hutchesons also a good shout, if slightly more “restaurant-y”, rather than a mix of people, some there for just drinks and some for drinks and food.

Lots of choice in Merchant City, although I’d avoid Citation. The Brunswick might let you book a booth in the small mezzanine area, which has a great Friday after-work vibe. I wouldn’t go otherwise as it is busy and hard to get a table. City Merchant was always good, although I had a mediocre lunch there recently. Could be a one off!

Bibimbap is a newish Korean restaurant with good food, great cocktails and trendy beats at the weekend! A bit “out there” for some of your friends maybe, but just throwing it into the mix

I love Finnieston (where the Ox and Finch is, and also others I love like the Kelvingrove Cafe and Crabshakk) but I wouldn’t suggest it if you need to get out there and then back to the station with all your bags etc. It’s a taxi really because there isn’t a subway station nearby (or near enough with lots of bags and most likely the pissing rain!)

Not Il Pavone.

Thanks i’ll check all these out. Yes i’m not keen on trooping about too far either on foot or in a taxi after a day on my feet shopping, with shopping bags in tow and in December as someone said it’s likely to be cold and wet.

How about Arta in Merchant City? Spanish themed (but quite authentic - very well done!) bar restaurant with great cocktails and good food.

I'd book something sooner rather than later. We've had a hard time trying to book an office xmas lunch a Friday in December a lot of places are already booked up!

The Anchor Line fits the brief for everyone really and so central.
Gin 71 is also nice for drinks.

Ox and finch, take a taxi though as it’s a trek from kelvin hall.

Also, number 16 on byres road is brilliant, Thai Siam at finnieston is nicer than chaopyra which is overpriced imo.

Cafe andaluz for tapas and cocktails.

I would go old school Glasgow at Rogano

Definitely Princes Square - so many great places to eat, drink, shop & people watch x

Wouldn’t bother with princes square, zizzis, pizza express are chains, the tapas place isn’t a patch on cafe andaluz, October (November?) isn’t great and darceys is just ok...

I was just coming on to suggest the Rogano (or the Rogano Café) as somewhere a bit special and different to go to and which meets all your disparate needs.

Had a ladies' lunch in Guy's in the summer which was very good - eclectic and wide ranging menu (NB: "Glasgow salad" = chips ). 5pm.co.uk deal meant that we got a "free" glass of wine with our meal.

The Blythswood Hotel is also lovely at Christmas (my wee group of ladies are going back there this year for our Christmas lunch: we arrange two lunches a year) and feels quite special. Also does a 5pm.co.uk deal with a glass of wine (at least, it did last year). But although it's close enough to walk from the city centre, if you're laden with bags, I'd get a taxi.

Sarti's (Renfield, Bath, or Wellington Street) is probably too Italian for you.