After hearing numerous glowing reviews about this place I decided to find out for myself what all the fuss was about. I went with my boyfriend on a Saturday night about 20:00, I don’t think we could have chosen a busier time as the place was mobbed – always a good sign. A piano player, nestled in the corner, gave the place a warm welcoming atmosphere and the room itself was bursting with personality.

The tables were very well presented; cutlery and glasses were gleaming and there were so many mouth-watering dishes on the menu it seemed impossible to choose between them. I’d recommend the Duck which my boyfriend chose – I never even liked Duck until I tried it here!

We were surprised to be served our starters by the owner, Guy Cowan, as he made his way around the restaurant chatting to his patrons. This dedication and attention to detail is rarely seen nowadays so it made us feel liked he really cared about his customers.

Guys is quite a small restaurant, it is an old shop conversion so it is very long and narrow which means the tables are quite close together. We didn’t mind this as we ended up chatting with the people at the table beside us about how delicious the food was!

If our meal wasn’t special enough, with our bill we were given a picture postcard of the restaurant by my favourite Scottish artist, Adrian McMurchie. Something I’ve kept which is a reminder of an amazing meal!

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Guy’s | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Scottish) | Main meal +/- £ 10
24 Candleriggs | +441415521114
Tue – Thu 12:00 – 22:30, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 23:30, Sun 12:30 – 22:00

La Bodega is one of my favourite finds, recommended to me by a fellow foodie, I just knew it would be something special and it didn’t disappoint.

It calls itself Glasgow’s ‘little hidden gem’ and it certainly is that. The tapas bar is located five minutes from Glasgow’s West End in an old industrial style unit, somewhere you are more than likely to miss if you didn’t know it was there!

Above the restaurant is a dance studio which means the place is usually filled with a mix of people – those wanting to relax with a drink after a hard class or simply enjoying some tapas before a night of dancing.

The tables are set around a dance floor and stage which comes to life with music and dance at weekends. The evidence of this can be seen hanging on the walls in the restaurant – photographs of their various events such as Salsa Sabrosa and the Tango Salon.

The food is exactly as described on the menu, delicious Spanish home cooking. The pork goulash and honey and chorizo salad were the highlights of my meal. For most people it is a bit out of the way, but if you can I would definitely recommend you find your way here…don’t forget your dancing shoes!

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La Bodega | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Spanish) | Tapas from £ 3
1120 South Street | +441415813401
Mon – Tue 16:00 – 23:00, Wed – Fri 12:00 – 23:45, Sat 10:30 – 23:45, Sun 12:00 – 23:00

Sloans is one of those places you could walk past every day and never have known existed. It hides itself in the heart of the city centre, its presence only known to those who stumble upon it down the lane from the main street. It claims to be the oldest bar and restaurant in Glasgow established back in 1797 and after taking the time to explore, you have no doubt that it is. The Grade A-listed Georgian building possesses a timeless charm, a result of the intact original features such as the grand wooden staircase and parquet flooring.

Sloans is spread over 3 levels, the ground floor is cosy and welcoming, home to the bar and bistro where patrons can enjoy its famous hearty pub grub and finest ales. The first floor is where you will find the more formal dining room and where Mrs Sloan serves afternoon tea in her finest china every Sunday. The third floor Grand Ballroom is a must see, it makes quite an impression with its beautiful stained glass windows and tall arched ceiling, a perfect setting for the weekly ceilidh on a Friday night.

Sloans has something to offer everyone including quiz and film nights but my favourite thing about Sloans is their weekend market. Traders pack themselves into the small courtyard and lanes outside the bar selling a variety of treasures you won’t find anywhere else in Glasgow such as handmade jewellery, homemade soaps and jams and an eclectic range of clothes for sale.

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Sloans | Bars, Restaurants (Pub grub) | Afternoon tea £ 10.95
108 Argyle Street/62 Argyll Arcade, G2 8BG | +441412218886
Mon – Thu 11:30 – 00:00, Fri 11:30 – 01:00, Sat 11:00 – 01:00, Sun 11:00 – 00:00

Despite being a stone’s throw from Glasgow’s bustling West End, I’m always surprised at how few people have heard of this quaint eatery – especially when you consider its peculiar name.

The restaurant is located on the quieter end of Argyll Street, beneath a smart art deco sign. To say the place is small is an understatement, tables are very close together and the last time I was there I was almost sitting in the kitchen! That isn’t a negative though – for me the compact seating just added to the cosy, intimate feel of the place.

From the very plain and unassuming interior you would not expect the exciting and unusual Scottish themed menu you are presented with. From my many visits I can recommend the Glenfarg lamb and frangipane tart for dessert. I don’t even know what frangipane is but it tasted amazing! The restaurant also has an optional BYOB policy so you can bring along your favourite tipple for a small corkage charge.

The only slight downside to this place is you need to book your table well in advance as it is always very busy with regulars. Booking an early dinner will also give you the best pick on the menu and specials before they run out. Fanny’s also don’t accept card payments at the moment so I would bring a pocket full of cash unless you want to go for a walk to the nearest cash machine on a full tummy!

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Fanny Trollopes | Restaurants (Scottish) | 3 course meal £ 25
1066 Argyle Street | +441415646464
Thu 17:00 – 21:30, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 14:30 & 17:00 – 22:00, Sun 17:00 – 21:00

Dinner at Cafe Source is always a treat. Even though I love trying new places, this is somewhere I return to again and again and have never been disappointed! If you are looking for great quality modern Scottish food, this is the place to go.

The restaurant is hidden beneath the beautiful 18th Century St Andrews Church, which is located between the Saltmarket and the Barras. Cafe Source, a former auditorium has been dramatically renovated to a sleek and contemporary finish which complements its historic surroundings.

As the name suggests, Cafe Source’s focus is to serve first-class fayre using only the finest local ingredients. Notable suppliers on their menu include Ramsay’s of Carluke & Taylor’s of Strathaven which means the basis of their cooking is Scottish.

On the menu you will find homely favourites such as scotch pies and stovies (just like your granny used to make) but you will also notice some dishes with an international influence like the croque monsieur and haggis pakora, which is to die for!

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Cafe Source | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Trad/Scottish) | Dinner from £ 15
1 St Andrew’s Square, G1 5PP | +441415486020
Mon – Tue 11:00 – 23:00, Wed – Sat 11:00 – 00:00, Sun 12:30 – 23:00

The Butterfly and Pig is not like any other restaurant or bar you will find on the busy Bath St. It’s a quirky gem that is a must visit, not only for the cosy and warm atmosphere and great food, but for the most amusing menu I have ever seen in a restaurant.

The interior is what I can only describe as shabby-chic, the furniture and crockery are old and mismatched – it’s like having your dinner in a vintage living room. My favourite dish on the imaginatively described menu is ‘Steak pie for meat lovers everywhere the size of Desperate Dan with poofy puff pastry and token baby tatties and veg on the side’. The meals are served in hearty portions so you won’t be leaving on an empty belly!

The best part about eating here is after finishing my Desperate Dan sized steak pie I can walk through to the bar and find a nice big armchair to sink into and enjoy whatever is going on, whether it’s the weekly pub quiz or a live band.

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The Butterfly & Pig | Bars, Restaurants (Scottish) | Main course +/- £ 10
153 Bath Street | +441412217711
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 02:00, Sun 12:30 – 00:00

This picturesque little bistro, neighboured by newsagents and bookmakers on Dumbarton Road, looks almost out of place in its surroundings – like a little piece of Italy, lifted straight from a cosmopolitan strada and blended with the rough and tumble of Glasgow.

The pretty lights and hanging baskets outside combined with the candlelit tables and soft background music inside give this place an air of class and the atmosphere inside is always buzzing.

I first discovered this place on a walk with my boyfriend one night around the West End and it was not only the charming exterior but the mouth watering smell which enticed us inside.

It is best to visit the bistro at weekends as they always have a number of delectable specials in addition to their reasonably priced a la carte menu, which has a decidedly Italian influence with a generous selection of pizza’s and pastas. I have yet to find a carbonara which compares to the one I was served here, top class!

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279 Bistro | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Italian) | Main course +/- £ 10
279 Dumbarton Road | +441413372859
Mon – Wed 11:00 – 17:00, Thu – Sat 11:00 – late

I discovered this gem in my previous job and visited it on an almost daily basis for a yummy lunch. Downstairs in the basement of an office building the cafe’s menu offers something a bit more exciting and refined in comparison to your usual greasy spoon type cafes.

They use the most amazing ‘Little Doone’ sweet balsamic dressing on all of their salads which makes eating healthier so much easier and luckily it is available to buy at the counter! But if you are looking for something sweet, Cafe Wander also has a range of irresistible homemade cakes available everyday which are great with a mug of their delicious coffee.

The walls are adorned with the work of local artists as well as post cards from across the world, sent from ‘wanderers’ who are fans of the cosy cafe.

Despite moving offices, I still try and pop into this place when I can, their all day breakfast on a Saturday can be a great hangover cure. It has a sister cafe with the same name in the West End, I’ve not had a chance to try this one yet but if it is as good as this you won’t be disappointed!

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Cafe Wander | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Snacks) | Lunch from £ 4
110 West George St | +441413533968
Mon – Fri 07:30 – 17:00, Sat 07:00 – 17:00

If you are looking for a good night out in Glasgow, this is one of the best places to go.

The ABC is a laid back alternative to some of the more lively places on the Glasgow club scene. Whether you enjoy indie, dance or rock and roll the ABC seems to do the impossible and cater for everyone’s music tastes.

In the last few years, the ABC has been able to carve itself out as a major music venue and is now one of the best places in Glasgow to see live bands, second to the infamous Barrowlands. Resident DJ’s play tunes until 03:00 on their themed club nights Thursday to Saturday and the rest of the week you will find the latest indie bands selling out the two main rooms, ABC1 and ABC2.

The ABC was originally opened as a cinema in 1929 and if you take a closer look, you can still see some of the old features today despite renovations through the years. The tiered floor and balcony in the ABC1 would have held hundreds of seats and the cinema boards above the main entrance would have once shown which films were playing. Nowadays the high ceiling of the main room is home to the world’s largest rotating mirrored disco ball and below is the biggest dance floor of anywhere in Glasgow.

The queue’s can be long to get inside so I’d suggest registering online and getting yourself on the guest list to skip the queue!

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ABC | Bars, Music | Entry from £ 4
300 Sauchiehall Street | +441413322232
Sun – Wed 18:00 – 00:00, Thu – Sat 23:00 – 03:00

Merchant City is my favourite part of Glasgow, known for its stylish bars and fine dining. At the heart of the area, Merchant Square is a renovated Victorian courtyard which is home to some of the city’s best cocktail bars and eateries.

Originally built as part of Glasgow’s Fruit Market in the 1800′s, the charming building has always been a focal point in the Merchant City. Inside the courtyard, you will find cobbled pavements and wooden benches and the tall arched ceiling above is draped in small fairy lights which illuminate at night.

It is packed at weekends and there is a great buzz in the place which spills out into the courtyard from its restaurants and bars. If you are sitting in the bistro style seats of one of the trendy cocktail bars at night you could be forgiven for thinking you are sitting outside, underneath the stars.

During the day, the Square adopts a more family friendly feel and also holds weekly craft fairs with traders selling hand crafted goods such as cards, photography, candles and boutique cupcakes.

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Merchant Square | Art & culture, Bars, Restaurants (Various) | Main meal +/- £ 15
71 Albion Street | +441415523038
11:00 – 02:00 daily