Scottish people are known for their reserved attitude toward drinking so finding a pub in Glasgow can be a challenge. To assist with this we have put together a list of places where you might be able to find a drink or two. We've also compiled a list of places to eat if you want to go for lunch or dinner outwith the meeting times (or if you deserve a break).
Drink
Craft Beer
The Beer Kitchen (1)
One of the West Ends newest locations, this pub and restaurant is run by the Innis and Gunn brewery from Edinburgh. They serve a range of craft beer, whisky and cocktails with a small brewery at the back of the pub where they produce up to three unique beers at a time. We would recommend trying their original ale which is brewed with whisky barrel chips. The Beer Kitchen can be found on Ashton Lane.
BrewDog (2)
Serving craft beer from Aberdeen, this bar can be found on Argyle Street directly across from the Kelvingrove Art Gallery. They are known for their strong and occasionally controversial beers such as Tactical Nuclear Penguin (at 32%) up to The End of History (at 55%). Like The Beer Kitchen, they serve an ever changing array of beers from themselves and other small breweries and often have a tap where they infuse one of their beers with other ingredients such as fruit and/or spices. This is located very close to the collaboration dinner.
BrewDog's second bar in Glasgow, the Dog House (2a), is like the first and can be found in Merchant City in the city centre.
WEST on the Corner (3)
CLOSED - West was established a few years ago as a rival to Tennents in Glasgow. Their beers can be found in many pubs around the city with their lager, St Mungos (named after the patron saint of Glasgow), being a good beer to try. They opened their own bar on Woodlands road which serves their whole range from lagers to stouts.
Whisky
The Pot Still (4)
With over 700 whiskies to try, the Pot Still claims to have the largest collection in Scotland. If you want to try Scotland's national drink then they have a "Malt of the Moment" that rotates frequently or if you're looking for something a little more special they have a glass cabinet in the centre of the bar with some of the rarest whiskies around (call in advance for some of them). The Pot Still is in the city centre, an easy ten minute walk from Central and Queen Street stations.
Oran Mor (5)
This converted church can be found at the corner of Byres Road and Great Western Road and has over 280 single malts on offer. Open until 3am (with food until 2am) you will likely find the last of the collaboration celebrating in one of the alcoves taking in the impressive art collection.
Dram (6)
Located on Woodlands Road just down from the Old School House, this large pub has over 60 single malts to try with a rotating Malt of the Moment as well. They also have an impressive range of gins and beers so there should be something to suit all.
Gin
Gin 71 (7)
Gin 71 can be found in the city centre, round the corner from the Pot Still and on the way to Queen Street station. The building used to be a Bank of India in Victorian times and it's walls, floors and columns built from mosaics along with its comfortable chairs make this one of the more relaxing Glaswegian venues. They had 71 gins to try which rotate frequently but we would recommend their gin flight where you get three gins paired with homemade syrups (that you dilute with seltzer to make tonic) and tonic water ice cubes with garnishes frozen in them.
beGin (8)
Across the road from Oran Mor is where you'll find beGin which has over 60 different gins on offer.
Traditional Pubs
Curlers Rest (9)
A comfortable pub where you can find good ales or decent G&Ts then relax on a sofa. It's located right by the Hillhead subway on Byres Road and is a frequent haunt of the particle physics groups in Glasgow.
Jinty McGuintys (10)
They claim to be an Irish bar but it's hard to tell in Scotland, smaller than Curlers but with the advantage of having a beer garden, what more could you ask for in January in Glasgow? You can find this place in Ashton Lane (behind Hillhead subway station) which we would recommend everyone see at least once as it is one of the prettiest streets in Scotland.
Tennents (11)
A Wetherspoons that is not owned by Wetherspoons would be the best way to describe this pub. They serve a wide range of drinks at cheap prices and can be found on Byres Road at the end of University Avenue (the main road that the university is on near the physics department).
Three Judges (12)
This pub prides themselves in their selection of real ales and can be found on Dumbarton Road, at the end of Byres Road. One of the closer pubs to the dinner.
The Old School House (13)
As the name suggests, The Old School House is an old school house. Much like Tennents it is priced like a Wetherspoons and can be found on Woodlands Road.
Waxy O'Connor's (14)
An Irish pub in the city centre with some aMAZEing features. This pub has 6 bars over 3 floors tucked into different corners. It took its design from a church and with its stairs going up down and around corners can become very disorientating after a few drinks.
All The Rest
Brel (15)
This Belgian bar can be found on Aston Lane and serves a wide range of continental beers if that's what you're looking for. They also have a beer garden out back.
Record Factory (16)
Just around the corner from dinner, you can find the Record Factory. What looks like a hole in the wall from the front opens out to a large bar which often has live music and is normally open until 2am.
The 78 (17)
Located on Kelvinhaugh Street in Finnieston this vegetarian bar often has a fire on in the back and open mic nights going on with all the furniture having been bought secondhand. The beer selection is excellent as well.
The Drugstore Social (18)
This Finnieston cocktail bar was recently named one of the best new bars in the world. This old chemists can be found behind BrewDog.
The Howlin' Wolf (19)
Named after blues legend Howlin' Wolf, this bar plays live music until 1am (and stays open until 3am). This is a great place to go if you want a night out but don't want to dance. Entry is free and food is served until 2am. The Howlin' Wolf can be found in the city centre on Bath Street, just below the main night club street of Sauchiehall Street.
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Food
The West End is home to the usual shops and fast food place such as Tescos, Marks & Spencers, Greggs and Subway if you're looking for something quick. We've put together a list of places to give a wide range of cuisines from American to Italian to Vietnamese so if you arrive early or stay later then you should be able to find something that suits you.
Stravaigin (A)
This Scottish restaurant can be found on Gibson street just east of the university and before the Old School House. They are famed for their breakfasts and for sourcing local Scottish produce
Bread Meats Bread (B)
Just down from Oran Mor on Great Western Road is where you'll find Bread Meat Bread. They do a wide range of excellent burgers, sandwiches and poutine with plenty of veggie and vegan options. If you haven't tried seitan we would recommend the Angry Vegan which is a brined and buttermilk fried burger dipped in buffalo sauce.
Kember and Jones (C)
Located near the Kelvin building on Byres Road, this cafe makes homemade sandwiches and a variety of cheese and sausage platters with very good coffee.
Tchai Ovna (D)
On Otago Lane behind Stravaigin is Tchai Ovna with over 100 different teas on offer along with vegetarian and vegan food of Middle Eastern and North African style.
Mono (E)
Mono is 50% vegan restaurant, 50% record shop and is found behind St Enochs in the city centre. Very popular with the locals, while you wait for your food you can browse the vast collection of CDs and vinyl records for something rare.
Flying Duck (F)
Another city centre vegan restaurant located underground next to the Herald newspaper offices by Renfrew Street. They offer 20% discount to students and people with a cinema ticket for the Cineworld across the road (the tallest cinema in the world).
Taco Mazama (G)
If you fancy a haggis burrito you can go to this Byres Road Mexican cafe (they have other options beyond burritos, don't worry). Plenty of choice from chicken quesadillas, pulled pork fajitas and vegetarian nachos.
Hanoi Bike Shop (H)
This Vietnamese cafe can be hard to find off of Byres Road but their selection of Pho makes it worth hunting out.
Kimchi Cult (I)
This Korean cafe is on Chancellors Street just off Byres Road. They have lunch deals on Bao and Bibimbap but space is limited so you might want to take out.
Dumpling Monkey (J)
Dumpling Monkey is a Chinese street food cafe on Dumbarton Road (near dinner) with cheap bao (£1.50), dumplings, soups and main courses. Service is quick and the food is tasty.
Baffo (K)
Located a few doors down from BrewDog, this Italian restaurant has plenty of pizza with a good selection of bruschetta and pasta as well.
Little Curry House (L)
If you feel like more Indian food, this small restaurant is located near the Record Factory on Byres Road. They have a very reasonable pre-theatre menu and their peshwari naan is phenomenal.
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Coffee
If anyone wants to sit down with a nice coffee to get some work done or have a chat then we can recommend Tinderbox (M), S'mug where any large coffee to takeaway is £2 for students (N), Artisan Roast (O) or Offshore (P)
