Glasgow’s social scene excels and overflows with undiscovered bars, pubs and clubs, so we’ve got Rebecca O’Malley from DesignMyNight.com to line up her favourite spots. These Glasgow bars all have a hefty dose of character, alongside an impressive drinks menu and entertainment line-up to ensure you make the most of your time in Scotland’s nightlife capital. Cheers!
1. Hillhead Bookclub
Quirk heavy and full to the brim with antiques and vintage oddities (including an old school Nintendo and ping pong table), Hillhead Bookclub boasts something of a cult following among Glasgow’s pleasure seekers. Their BYOB nights are the stuff of legends, and they host an heady roster of DJs and clubnights. Find it: 17 Vinicombe Street, Glasgow G12 8BQ
2. The Berkeley Suite
Kept hidden from the outside world, The Berkeley Suite sits quietly behind a pawnbroker frontage. Step inside and find yourself immersed in a sea of plush booths, velvet upholstered furnishings and deep hues. A good-looking clientele sup away on expertly crafted cocktails and shimmy their way through a diverse and eclectic soundtrack until late. Find it: 237 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DL
3. The Pot Still
Scotland is famed for its whisky, so be sure to drop by The Pot Still, a watering hole that offers the largest collection of malt whiskies in Scotland (more than 560 blends). Steeped in tradition, this rickety pub is decked out in weathered Chesterfields, and dark wood panelling. It’s an atmospheric bar in Glasgow, and a top spot to sample Scotland’s top tipple. Find it: 154 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 2TH
4. Chinaskis
Dark and brooding, Chinaskis excels in dark wood, hushed conversations and romance. Taking its namesake from Charles Burkowski’s alter ego, this West End wonder holds a special place in its heart for debauchery, Bourbon and cigars. No wonder it demands dark cult status among Glasgow’s watering holes. Find it: 293 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DL
5. Flat 0/1
About as kitsch as they come, Flat 0/1 models itself on the ultimate student house party: filled with 70s-style orange cabinets, mismatched furniture and frilly lampshades. Pair this menagerie of antique furnishings with their nostalgic drinks menu (£1 servings of supermarket cider, cocktails of red wine and coke, or a glass of Cherry Lambrini), and you’ve got yourself the ultimate off-campus party house. Find it: 162 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4SQ
6. Nice N Sleazy
An infamous party bar on the Sauchiehall Street strip, Nice N Sleazy’s caters to the weird and wonderful tastes of Glasgow’s young revelers. The downstairs dive bar offers space for a dance floor doozie, whilst the upstairs room serves White Russians and glasses of Buckfast in a 1960s-style casino setting. Sleazy’s is open until 3am every night of the week and regularly hosts both resident and guest DJs. Find it: 421 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3LG
7. King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
Famed for an impressive live music roster and their long-standing pedigree of live musicians to have graced their stage, King Tut’s is a city-centre hangout with a big reputation. Showcasing some of the best new and emerging talent in the UK, King Tut’s is both intimate and friendly; no questions then why this is a must visit for music fans in Glasgow. Find it: 272a St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5RL
8. Oran Mor
A wonderfully versatile spot in Glasgow’s West End, Oran Mor opens as two bars, two restaurants, a live music venue, a nightclub and a beautiful auditorium. Occupying a converted church, Oran Mor retains many of its original features: old stone walls, iron columns, church bells and stained glass, making this a charming spot for any occasion. Find it: Byres Road, Glasgow G12 8QX
9. The Flying Duck
Offering something of a double personality, The Flying Duck maintains a debaucherous dance floor alongside a ‘Free Toast Policy’ and an all veggie menu. Drawing in a crowd of cool kids throughout the week, this bar and club on Renfield Street is a bunting clad wonderland of quaint, with wildly raucous undertones that are only enriched by their cheap drinks and downstairs clubbing space. Find it: 142 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3AU
10. Ubiquitous Chip
Make it a priority to wander down Ashton Lane, a cobbled backstreet in the West End that boasts some of the most charming watering holes in the city. Here you'll find Ubiquitous Chip, a pub that excels in traditional Scottish chow, real ale and offers an impressive roof terrace. Ubiquitous Chip also incorporates the smallest pub in Scotland, fittingly known as ‘The Wee Pub’ - a lovely spot to enjoy a wee dram. Find it: 12 Ashton Lane, Glasgow G12 8SJ
