Eating out in the West End

The areas to look for nearby eating and drinking places include Byres Road, Ashton Lane, Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road, while Gibson Street and Woodlands Roadare slightly further afield. Below are various categories designed to help choose lunch and evening meal places. Practically all of the restaurants have vegetarian choices. For a general guide see the Web version of this document and Glasgow's West End - Guide to what's best in the West especially Pat's Guide to Eating Out in the West End of Glasgow. Further afield, the centre of Glasgow contains a vast number of diverse eateries and can easily be reached by Underground or bus along Great Western Road, University Avenue or Dumbarton Road, or by walking. See the Web Guide to Glasgow for lots more information.

Glasgow's West End is full of eateries and has a good night-life. It is generally safe, although caution should be exercised when wandering around late at night especially away from the main roads. There are numerous good pubs with excellent Scottish or other beers and malt whisky, many provide music and other entertainments.

Sit-in for lighter meals, cafés and bars

• The Bay Tree, 403 Great Western Road (334 7165). A good selection of vegetarian choices with good value and interesting food.
• Beetlenut, 142 Dumbarton Road, Partick (337 1145). Fairly new establishment is situated in an old bank building with interesting refurbishment. The menu is very varied and interesting. Extremely popular with University and Hospital staff but single diners do not feel out of place and there is plenty of reading material and friendly staff.
• Brasserie Metro, 8 Cresswell Lane, off Byres Road (338 8131). Spacious and airy self-service cafe serving light lunches, coffee, teas and baking.
• Brel, 39 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ (342 4966). Interesting cuisine and extensive selection of drinks, including Belgian beer. Selection of dishes half price between 5.00-7.00p.m.
• Café Antipasti, 337 Byres Road (337 2737). Tasty Italian food served by friendly staff, busy and fast moving. Grab a window seat and take in the Byres Road street life.
• Classic Café, 102 Dumbarton Road, Partick (576 0122). The Denobriga family café serving a good range of continental food and wines. Very friendly and popular with nearby Western Infirmary Staff and shoppers.
• Esquires Coffee House, Cresswell St. Coffee, soup, sandwiches, etc.
• Grassroots, 93 St George's Road, Woodlands (near Charing Cross) Tel. 333 0534. Wonderful vegetarian choices next to a well established wholefoods and vegetarin store.
• Grosvenor Café, 31 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ, off Byres Road (339 1848). Has a history of good valued eating. Recently undergone major refurbishment
• Insomnia 24 hour café, 38-42 Woodlands Road (near Charing Cross) (564 1700). Insomnia has been a great hit (daytime and nightime). It has an interesting and ever changing menu. An interesting place to be with its mixed clientele and a picture gallery featuring local artists. Very good value and handy for late night theorem-proving.
• Jack McPhee's, Byres Road. Fish and chips and other traditional British fare.
• La Foccaccia, 291 Byres Road (337 1642). Italian style café serving good coffee and snacks. Very popular for take away and people watching onto Byres Road.
• La Patisserie Francoise,138 Byres Road. This restaurant has expanded from its original tiny proportions responding to the demand for an impressive array of tempting pastries and gateaux. A pleasant spot for lunch or coffee. You can also buy patisserie cakes to take away.
• Le Petit Pain, 239 Byres Road (337 1118). Good place for people watching and catching a coffee and sandwich. Bright and lively it is popular with students.
• Little Italy, 205 Byres Road (339 6287). Deli cum café, freshly made pizza to go and enjoy what some would say is the best cappuccino in the West End.Very popular and lively.
• The Living Room, 5-9 Byres Road (339 8511). This restaurant/bar is rather unconventional and popular with the young set and students. You can enjoy quesediallas and fajitas throughout the day and take advantage of the drinks promotions and DJs. Prices are reasonable.
• Oblomov, 372 Great Western Road (339 9177) . Beautiful bar and restaurant which is very popular with locals, who enjoy the wonderful dishes on offer, the fabulous selection of beers and spirits (including some very unusual foreign beers on draught) and the relaxed ambience. Service is excellent, portions are generous and prices reasonable.
• Otago, Otago Street, Hillhead.
• Salsa, 184 Dumbarton Road, Partick (337 1416). Simple and welcoming small restaurant serving traditional Mexican food and complimentary nachos and margaritas. Staff are friendly and prices reasonable.
• Starbucks, Byres Road.
• Stravaigin café/bar, 28 Gibson Street, Hillhead, G12 8NX (334 2665). Provides a cheaper alternative to the main restaurant.
• Stravaig Into, 8 Ruthven Lane, G12 9BG ( 334 7165). Upgraded burgers and real cooking with good lunch deals and very large breakfasts complete with mighty mushrooms.
• Tchai-ovna, Otago Lane, off Otago Street, Hillhead. The house of tea is very innovative and offers various attractions other than a wide range of teas. On Thursday evenings there is a jam session (players get their tea free). They know their teas with a claimed 40 varieties from all over the world to choose from, popular with students looking for a 'legal high'.
• The Tea Garden, 9 Gardner Street, Partick (339 9174). Traditional bistro/tea room serves some interesting and substantial dishes. Very good value it is a popular lunch place for shoppers.
• Tinderbox, 189 Byres Road (339 3108). Very modern with that designer feel this coffee bar has made considerable impact since it opened last year. Visually striking from the outside and standing at the junction of Byres Road, University Avenue and Highborough Road it is perfect for people spotting. It has quickly become a popular meeting spot and serves a great selection of coffees, some very strong.
• The Underground Gallery, 2 Cresswell Lane. (0141 339 1111). Very popular, good for lunches, breakfasts and hanging out with your friends, interesting art work and plenty of papers to read.
• University Café, 87 Byres Road (339 5217). Great old fashioned cafe with all the traditional dishes, very big on comfort eating and brilliant for cold winter's days. Students could not survive without it. Established by the Verrecchia family in 1918 this West End institution is now run by the fourth generation (Gino and his wife Lidia). Prize winning ice cream which is made on the premises.
• Upstairs at the Ubiquitious Chip, 12 Ashton Lane G12 8SJ (334 5007) The smaller restaurant provides a cheaper option to the main part.
• West End Piano Bar, The Grosvenor Hotel, Great Western Road (337 6677). Enjoy a steak while listening to jazz (Friday and Saturday). A long standing and popular haunt for parties and family occasions. Try brunch for a really good deal.
• Whistler's Mother, 116 Byres Rd Glasgow G12 8TB (576 0528). Café/bar.
• Working Lunch, Byres Rd. Sandwiches, soups, etc.

Carry-out = Take-away

• Burger King, Byres Road. Burgers, etc.
• La Foccaccia, 291 Byres Road (337 1642). Interesting sandwiches, etc.
• La Patisserie Francoise - 138 Byres Road. Impressive array of tempting pastries and gateaux.
• Little Italy, 205 Byres Road. (339 6287). Freshly made pizza to go and enjoy "the best cappuccino in the West End", deli-cum-café.
• Naked Soup, Byres Road. Soups, sandwiches and coffee.
• O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar, Byres Road. Green sandwiches.
• Peckhams, Byres Road. Local branch of Glasgow wide-deli. Excellent foods and drinks.
• Starbucks, Byres Road. What can I say?
• Subway, Byres Road. Sandwiches, etc

Sit-in for more substantial meals

• Air Organic, 36 Kelvingrove Street G3 7RZ (564 5200). Designer chic restaurant bringing organic ingredients into the catering world. Plenty of vegetarian and other adventurous ideas.
• Amber Restaurant, 130 Byres Road, G12 8TD (339 6121). Long established and very popular Cantonese restaurant with an informal atmosphere and impressive selection of dishes. Portions are very generous and the sea food is a particular favourite. Very reasonable with great lunch deals. Half price 5 - 7 pm, Monday-Thursday.
• Ashoka, 19 Ashton Lane, off Byres Road (337 1115). One of the popular and long established Glasgow Ashoka chain. A very busy restaurant with all the favourite Indian dishes.
• Mr India (formerly Balbir's), 11-13 Hyndland Street, Partick (334 0084). Interesting small restaurant serving traditional home made Indian dishes with good vegetarian selection and reasonable prices.
• Brel, 39 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ (342 4966). Interesting cuisine and extensive selection of drinks, including Belgian beer. Selection of dishes half price between 5.00 - 7.00p.m.
• 16 Byres Road, 16 Byres Road, G11 5JY (339 2544A). A little gem of a restaurant with very friendly staff and ever changing impressive menu, receiving rave reviews in the press. Two-course meal £10 until 7.00 p.m.
• Chandigarh, 28 Vinicombe Street, off Byres Road (334 4483). Small Indian restaurant serving some interesting dishes. Popular with both locals and the BBC crowd. Pre-theatre very good value.
• Chow, 98 Byres Road, G12 8TB (334 9818). Rescently opened, Chinese cooking with some Japanese influence, no smoking with reasonable prices. Three course lunch time special £6.50.
• Cul de sac, 44 Ashton Lane G12 8SJ (334 4749). This creperie has been popular with students and locals for many years. Pasta, crepes and pizzas are the mainstay with some more upmarket choices available. Relaxed atmosphere and attractive surroundings. Half price options between 5.00 - 7.00 p.m.
• Dierfiuracha (pronounced DRE-FOR-GA), 29 Ashton Lane (337 3636). Small restaurant which is building a big reputation. Booking is essential, and with good food, friendly atmosphere and efficient service. Pre-theatre meals are a good deal.
• Di Maggio's, 61 Ruthven Lane (334 6000) Tucked away at the end of the lane, with extensive menu to choose from and portions are very generous. The restaurant is spacious and relaxing and it is popular with groups and families.
• Fusion, 41 Byres Road (339 3666). Recently opened sushi bar and proving very popular with extensive selection of Japanese food.
• Koh-I-Noor, North Road (near Charing Cross). Good Indian restaurant.
• La Parmagiani, 443 Great Western Road (334 0686). Small classy restaurant with a reputation to uphold. Surroundings are elegant and the range of dishes is impressive. Pre-theatre and set lunches are good value.
• La Riviera, 147 Dumbarton Road, Partick (334 8494). Lovely restaurant with good food and a lively atmosphere. A good choice for those who like seafood and also great for large groups. Good value lunch and pre-theatre deals.
• Leonardos, 4/10 Byres Road (400 9732). Good food with cut price deals for early eaters. Booking is essential. Check out the designer toilets.
• The Living Room, 5-9 Byres Road. 339 8511). This restaurant/bar is rather unconventional and popular with the young set and students. You can enjoy quesediallas and fajitas throughout the day and take advantage of the drinks promotions and DJs. Prices are reasonable.
• Lux, 1051 Great Western Road G12 0XP. Clean cut lines and a mellow atmosphere create the mood for enjoying the fine food with friendly and attentive staff. (See also Statzione.)
• Mitchell's West End, 35 Ashton Lane G12 8SJ (339 2220). Small intimate restaurant serving Scottish dishes with French influence. A bright interior and pleasant service. Only open evenings.
• Oblomov, 372 Great Western Road (339 9177). Beautiful bar and restaurant which is very popular with locals, who enjoy the wonderful dishes on offer, the fabulous selection of beers and spirits (including some very unusual foreign beers on draught) and the relaxed ambience. Service is excellent, portions are generous and prices reasonable.
• One Devonshire Gardens, 1 Devonshire Gardens G12 0UX Great Western Road (339 2001). Highly acclaimed prestigious and luxurious establishment with an extensive choice of dishes. Lunch (£21 two courses) and afternoon tea (£12.00).
• Parthenon, 725 Great Western Road (334 6265). West End favourite with typical Greek food, friendly service. You can also have a dance and let your hair down.
• Puppet Theatre, 11 Ruthven Lane, G12 9BG (339 8444). Beautiful, both inside and out, this restaurant has the added attraction of a lovely conservatory. The food is delicious with an emphasis on Scottish fare. Offers pre-theatre and a la carte.
• Sal e Pepe, 18 Gibson Street, Hillhead (341 0999). A popular restaurant which is attractive and serves delicious food. Interesting menu and a pleasant meeting place with good half price deals.
• Shish Mahal, 66 Park Rd Glasgow G4 9JF (334 7899) off Gibson Street (near Kelvinbridge). Good Indian restaurant.
• Statzione, 1051 Great Western Road G12 0XP. Italian bistro. (See also Lux.)
• Stravaigin, 28 Gibson Street, Hillhead, G12 8NX (334 2665). Top City Restaurant in the Macallan Taste of Scotland Award - October, 1999. Friendly restaurant offering good Scottish Food with interesting gastronomic flavours from far flung corners. The cafe/bar provides a cheaper alternative.
• Stravaig Into, 8 Ruthven Lane, G12 9BG, ( 334 7165). Upgraded burgers and real cooking with good lunch deals and very large breakfasts complete with mighty mushrooms.
• Two Fat Ladies, 88 Dumbarton Road, Partick, G11 6NX (339 1944). Small and inviting restaurant combining high quality and interesting fare, with an emphasis on fish and seafood dishes and delightful desserts. Friendly service in an intimate setting.
• The Ubiquitious Chip, 12 Ashton Lane G12 8SJ (334 5007). The Chip spearheaded the rise of fine Scottish restaurants in the West End and has remained popular over almost three decades and has many awards to its credit. Standards remain high and the menu grows increasingly interesting. The smaller upstairs restaurant provides a cheaper option and you can choose from its menu while eating downstairs.

Pubs

There are many good pubs nearby, here are some of the best, particularly for beers and atmosphere. Watch out for the local authors and artists.

Ashton Lane

• Brel Belgian beers, some very strong.
• Cul de Sac. Two bars upstairs.
• Jinty McGuiny's Irish pub, with Guiness, whiskey and music.

Byres Road

• Aragon Great cask beers.
• Bonhams
• Curlers Live music some evenings.
• Rubaiyat Trendy.
• Tennents Huge selection of great beers, very popular but lots of space.

Dumbarton Road

• The Three Judges Good beer.