Recommendations for casual West End lunches and city centre cocktails in Glasgow

[ShadyMaisy]

Four mature ladies with two days to spend in Glasgow. Excited to see the museums and parks and we have booked nice restaurants for dinners. Can anyone advise us on some nice but casual places for lunch (probably in the West End) and bars for pre-dinner drinks/cocktails (probably city centre)? Would love to hear your suggestions/experienced

*experiences that should be!

Watching this as we're in Glasgow for a few nights in a couple of weeks!

What kind of budget are you on?

Well budget is very flexible but as we've booked nice restaurants for the evenings I'm looking for fairly casual daytime options,

Cocktails in the city try Kong or The Last Bookstore. I don’t like the Alchemist or any of the busy trendy bars. Heard good things about the Spiritualist and Devil of Brooklyn but I haven’t been.

Following

Try Kember and Jones on Byres Road for a casual lunch (usually pretty busy though!).

The Absent Ear and SíSí rooftop in the merchant city are good for cocktails.

Gloriosa for pasta and cocktails? Celentanos has just reopened in the Art Hotel.

The rooftop bar at House of Gods is a lovely location if it’s a nice day for a cocktail (cocktail menu can look a bit odd but they also happily make off menu classics)

West end -
Tennents
Brel
The Ben Nevis
Lebowskis
The Finneston

City Centre -
Kong
Cuvee
Ralph & Finns
Pot Still

I second The Last Bookstore, marvellous cocktails and so atmospheric with huge bookcases!

Second this - the cakes there are great and they do a very classy bacon roll.

I also like Cottonrake Cafe for casual lunch, but again it’s busy and you may have to queue. Worth it for the pastries though.

Sonny and Vito’s or Sugo for lunch in the West End. The Last Bookstore or Absent Ear for cocktails in the city centre.

I second Member & Jones & The last bookstore. I don't like Sugo at night as it's loud & they rush you out but maybe it's different at lunch?

*Kember

Thanks all. Lots of interesting suggestions. So excited to try!

Agree with all of these apart from Tennant's, as it's a little bit rough. Go to The Curlers Rest on byres road for a nice pub.

Sebbs on Millar street in city centre is good for cocktails and the food upstairs in their sister restaurant Margo is excellent.

There's a speak easy style cocktail bar in Glasgow city centre too, Woody's plus there's also a classic of the Ivy, which is so beautiful inside and cocktails and brunch is nice.

For visits I'd go to the Glasgow cathedral and the medical museum and the oldest house museum, they are fab. There's a few nice places for lunch round there too.

I really like Ka Pao in the west end for food.

Ox and finch is good for lunch or dinner.

i know you didn’t ask for dinner options, but best restaurant in the city is Brett in my view. It is £££ but the food is fantastic and the service is great too.

Gloriosa
Eusebi
noodles and dumplings
Ka Pao
Sussi Vegan - although quite far into Partick
Cornershop is getting loads of attention just now but I haven’t been yet
Sugo

Are you on Facebook? The Glasgow Good Food page is invaluable for recommendations. On Instagram check out Glasgow Gannets

Ivy in Buchanan St does nice cocktails, or the Cortinthian.