Claremont House B&B

As a sister restaurant to Ox and Finch and Ka Pao, you can probably guess what you’re getting with Margo: a bustling, efficiently run restaurant that’s deservedly popular thanks to its great buzz and flavour-packed, generously priced dishes. It’s a cavernous place spread over two floors, with a semi-industrial feel and its lively atmosphere enhanced by the open kitchen. The sharing plates are a satisfying synthesis of Mediterranean cooking and Scottish produce, borne out in dishes like red prawn agnolotti and ham hough croquettes. Below, you’ll find Sebb’s – a cocktail bar with wood-fired gril

In the lively hub of Finnieston, this elegant spot in a period building represents local chef Graeme Cheevers' desire to create a restaurant for all occasions. His considerable culinary skills are evident in dishes that pay their respects to the finest of Scottish produce from Orkney scallops to North Sea cod – the latter of which might come with peas, asparagus and subtle hints of mint and wasabi, providing a fine example of the precision and sophistication you can expect here. It's well worth going for the full tasting menu and the thoughtfully considered wine pairings.

Cail Bruich means ‘to eat well’ and this smart restaurant certainly lives up to its name. Experienced Head Chef Lorna McNee has the utmost respect for the quality of her ingredients and a great understanding of how to use them without overcomplicating things. Sauces are a particular highlight – be it a creamy truffle and brown butter emulsion or a rich bisque enhance by XO and chilli – and perfectly demonstrate the classical technique that underpins cooking which also shows a degree of creativity. The kitchen table is ideal if you want to get in on the action.

Now in its second decade, this hugely likeable bistro is becoming something of a Glasgow institution – the first in a small group of restaurants offering brilliant value and a buzzing atmosphere. After a refurbishment in early 2025, it's got a fresh new look and menu, but the ethos remains: Mediterranean dishes that are ideal for sharing, showcasing skilful use of simple ingredients so that their flavours really shine through – such as cod cheeks with chorizo, tomato and morcilla. The attentive service team run the place like a well-oiled machine.

A few streets from the Botanical Gardens is this fun, buzzy basement restaurant situated in a former garage dating back to the 1900s. Sister to Ox and Finch, it has a similar ethos of laid-back dining and affordable pricing, but here the cooking comes with a distinctly Southeast Asian flavour. The chefs blend sweet and spicy elements with great skill, in colourful sharing plates ranging from corn ribs to stir-fried ox tongue so satisfying you'll be considering a second helping. Another branch is located in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter.

Located along Glasgow's thriving Great Western Road is this small, long-standing restaurant with a compact terrace. The dining room features a large counter wrapped around the kitchen where chefs are busy cooking on the open grills. The menu comprises around 15 simply cooked dishes which showcase the breadth of Scotland’s larder; if you get the chance, the mushroom XO linguine is a must. Natural wines accompany, and there's a relaxed, welcoming feel to the place. The set menu offers the opportunity to dine for less.

Their motto here is ‘think global, eat local’ and this clear to see from the menu, where their homemade haggis sits alongside an array of ingredients from multiple Asian cuisines – be it furikake from Japan, tom yum from Thailand or lentil dahl from India. A pleasingly unfussy quality runs throughout these dishes, which are tasty and carefully prepared. The ground floor has a shabby-chic café-bar style, while The Cellar is a more intimate affair.