Now that we're enjoying some certified 'taps aff' weather, we need to get our priorities in order: where are the best spots in Glasgow to kick back with a beer or eat al fresco?
When an elusive warm and sunny day arrives, it pays to be prepared. Make sure you don't miss out on some fun in the sun by heading to one of these fantastic spots to enjoy a drink or bite to eat outside.
The Southside institution that is Church on the Hill has recently received an extensive renovation, giving the iconic concept a refreshed look and reinvigorated food and beverage offering.
You’ll find a menu crammed with classics, featuring a modern twist and a focus on nutritional, balanced cuisine. The beer garden offers outdoor seating for up to 200 guests, where you can enjoy table service and the full A La Carte menu. The newly installed picnic tables enjoy day-long sunshine when the Glasgow weather permits, making it the perfect spot to soak up those elusive rays with your favourite beverage.
A perfectly positioned TV to the front of the venue makes it easy to enjoy the best of both worlds and catch all of the summer’s World Cup action live, alongside our regular sporting schedule. Those eager to try the coldest new beer in town can take advantage of the outdoor satellite bar, pouring crisp Cold Town beer for the duration of the summer.
In late July, the outdoor offering will also benefit from a mobile food truck serving pub classics and making Church on the Hill the perfect pit stop before Hampden events. Even your pooch will be pampered at Church on the Hill. They can enjoy an X Factor moment and have their photo feature on the Dog Wall of Fame, while enjoying their own doggy beer or ‘pawsecco’ and a range of doggy treats! Summer in the Southside has never been so good.
Visit churchonthehill.co.uk/ or follow them on Facebook to find out more.
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City Merchant
There’s a reason why the City Merchant restaurant was voted ‘South West Winner Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year 2018’ at the Scottish Hospitality Awards. It’s probably the same reason why it has just been nominated in the ‘Best Eating Experience’ category 2018/19 at the Scottish Thistle Awards, all in its 30th anniversary year.
Could it be the fact that this rustic gem in Glasgow’s Merchant City has based its À la carte menu on the best use of fresh, local organic suppliers?
Using an array of dishes which celebrate Scottish seafood and game, as well as a seasonal use of vegetables complimented by an extensive wine selection, the restaurant has created a stylish dining experience.
Their success could also be down to their lunch and pre-theatre menu, which changes monthly to incorporate seasonal produce and this is further enhanced by a specials board which showcases the daily fresh fish and shellfish. Their regular customers look forward to experiencing the different dishes every time.
Or perhaps it’s that they are open seven days a week until the end of August, giving customers the chance to celebrate the Scottish summer. With the option to dine al fresco in the outside seating area, Candleriggs in Merchant City has beautiful architecture which adds to the dining experience.
The fact that they have a private dining room with exclusive access in the Gallery, seating 12-16 people & a Cellar function suite with its own bar means it has it all. The friendly welcoming staff and wonderful owner Maria, who will make you feel welcomed and relaxed the minute you step inside.
From their passion for food to the wonderful setting and the attentive staff who go above and beyond, each of these aspects of City Merchant is to thank for its awards and continued success.
Visit the website to find out more or follow them on Facebook.
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After opening the doors to the public nearly two years ago and taking their name from a momentous moment in history which has since become synonymous with ‘taking a chance’, we the team at Crossing the Rubicon have done just that, deciding to completely shake things up with a brand-new menu.
Taking inspiration from the name, they have launched an Italian/German pizza menu complete with 20 pizzas to choose from. Options range from classics such as a margarita or simple pepperoni to more obscure (yet still utterly delicious) offerings such as a bratwurst or sauerkraut pizza. Along side these are a selection of sides and bites ranging from a light salad to the ever-popular chicken pops or nduja arancini. There’s something for every taste and appetite.
Their other passion is our beer. With an ever-changing line up of 16 keg lines, 3 cask lines and a rotational beer fridge filled with cans and bottles from exciting new breweries and well-established veterans alike, you are sure to find a beer for you!
The team are avid supporters of the brewing industry and put on monthly tap takeovers as a showcase of the talent and work that goes in to creating the final product in your glass.
They are open from midday until midnight 7 days a week and boast one of the best beer gardens in the Westend, with the sun shining right up until 10pm. Every Sunday they host a famous pub quiz with the prizes ranging from biscuits to beer to a £50 bar tab!
Visit the website or Facebook page to find out more.
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Located in the heart of Glasgow, Malones has proved a popular spot to have a drink, tuck into food and enjoy a great atmosphere no matter what the weather.
Thanks to their Magners Rooftop Beer Garden – the first of its kind in Glasgow – sunny days call for a visit to Malones where people can soak up the rays in a lovely setting.
It’s not only a favoured pub for those elusive, sun-soaked day however. With TVs and large projector screens found inside, sports fans can head along to watch all major live events. Customers can enjoy sporting games with a drink and order food from the menu, which is served seven days a week. From pizzas, burgers and sides to nachos, Fish Friday’s and Sunday Roasts, there is plenty of choice. Malones’ quality pub grub has even won Irish Pubs Global’s Gastro Pub Food of the Year.
Everyone is welcome at Malones, with helpful staff on hand to make everyone’s experience an enjoyable one. They are the first bar in Glasgow City Centre to be autism friendly and are part of Glasgow City Council’s Autism Friendly City Centre initiative.
Find them on 57-59 Sauchiehall Lane, which has benefited from a revamp thanks to Glasgow City Council’s regeneration scheme. Open until 3am every night, the pub also hosts live music seven nights a week.
For more information call 0141 332 8899, visit the website or follow them on Facebook.
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With three outdoor areas, McPhabbs on Sandyford Place is the ideal spot to enjoy the much promised warm summer ahead. The pub is located in Charing Cross, which is quickly becoming the new hotspot of the Glasgow social scene thanks to the selection of fantastic venues in close quarters and is a great alternative to the intensity of Finnieston, yet still benefits from being strolling distance from the Hydro and Concert Hall as well as many other attractions.
The main beer Garden is set out in a very sociable manner with Bavarian bierhalle-style high benches as well as large tables with padded seats which are perfect for a relaxed session in the sun.
To the rear there is lounge-style terrace which is enclosed with windows that offer superb wind protection meaning you can enjoy both the summery days and nights without being chilled down with the Glasgow breeze.
For those who are more into al fresco rather than solar rays, McPhabbs basement garden area is a fantastic spot to soak up the outdoors without reaching sun cream every hour. The parasols add an extra snugness to the already cosy outdoor space.
Once you have chosen your preferred garden spot, there is a great food menu to choose including daily specials - with something for everyone, including children. (Special dietary requirements catered for upon request if there is not a suitable offering on display) There is even a secret doggy menu which can be requested at the bar. Food is served daily between 12pm – 9pm.
If liquid refreshment is more your mission, McPhabbs doesn’t disappoint thanks to a wide selection of world beers, a bulging back bar of fine spirits & liqueurs and vibrant wine list. Fizz lovers are well catered too including the much-loved ‘Aperol Spritz’ for £5. Beyond this there is cocktail choice a plenty – all the usual suspects catered for as well as staff specials. There are even frozen cocktails on offer to help make it all a little more jolly.
Visit www.mcphabbsglasgow.com to find out more or head to the Facebook page.
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Innis & Gunn Beer Kitchen
Located in the thriving west end of Glasgow lies Innis & Gunn’s flagship Beer Kitchen on Ashton Lane, a three-storey temple to craft beer, cocktails and seasonal food.
On the ground floor bar, there is an on-site craft brewery which serves up fresh unpasteurised beer served straight from the tanks and where they run weekly Brew Schools where customers learn how to brew their own beer. On the next floor up, there is an expansive bar and restaurant with an open kitchen serving up wonderful flavour packed dishes, and on the top floor there is a speakeasy style Attic Bar, complete with vintage décor and a fantastic range of cocktails and ‘hoptails’.
Their brand new spring and summer menu launched this week, focusing on classic, fresh and seasonal dishes with an Innis & Gunn twist – anyone for Scottish salmon cured with beer porter malt and beetroot, pan seared scallops with a black pudding crumb & beer barrel smoked cauliflower puree, or perhaps a Munich malt buttermilk chicken burger with barrel aged pickle and beer gravy? For those with a sweet tooth, they’ve even got an Innis & Gunn salted caramel chocolate brownie for dessert, made with a coffee infused porter wort syrup.
There are lots of delicious options for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike, with recommended beer pairings highlighted on the menu. There is a real focus on seasonal, local produce, with all their meat sourced from Shaws Fine Meats. The rib eye steak is 35 day dry aged for tenderness and the chicken is free range.
For those looking for something light, they also offer great lunch and brunch deals. Grab a salmon & Crowdie cream cheese bagel or a slow cooked barrel smoked beef ciabatta sandwich for only £4.95. On Sundays, get two brunch dishes and 2 drinks for £15 per person.
Plan at trip to the Beer Kitchen Ashton Lane this summer and sample the countless craft beers, cocktails and delicious food for yourself, you won’t be disappointed!
Visit www.innisandgunn.com/bars/glasgow to find out more.
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