Glasgow West Hotel by Compass Hospitality

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.

In the West End suburb of Partick, this brightly painted restaurant offers an enjoyable slice of Southeast Asian cuisine. One side is a former butcher’s shop with the original glazed tiles on the walls, whilst the other is more rustic with colourful pot plants dotted around. Grab one of the booths if you can and start with a cocktail, then dive right into the menu of vibrantly flavoured dishes that take inspiration from Malaysia, Thailand and beyond. Lively, delicious and great value, GaGa has all the ingredients for a fun night out.

An angeethi is a type of grill traditionally used in rural Indian households, and now it lends its name to this charmingly run restaurant in a Glasgow suburb. It’s a simple-looking place where the focus is on the joyously flavoursome food and the warm, caring service. Massey’s menu sticks to traditional, regional Indian dishes which are both well-spiced and generous, such as the ‘Old Delhi Murgh Makhani’, a fabulous version of the classic butter chicken. Ensure you leave some room for dessert, as the ‘Rabdi Faluda’ provides a beautiful balance of flavours.

The team from Cail Bruich are behind this likeable neighbourhood spot decked out with cool modern décor and boasting a large bar – start with the well-priced house negroni or something creative from the extensive cocktail list. The cooking is led by the top-quality ingredients, be they seasonal girolles or super-fresh Loch Fyne mackerel, and the charcoal grill plays a key role in proceedings too. The best value comes via the set menu or sharing dishes from the à la carte. Knowledgeable and attentive service adds to the appeal.

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.

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