The best restaurants in Glasgow for 2026

What’s the vibe? Cail Bruich’s cooler little sibling, Brett pairs exceptional cooking with unbeatable service. 

Why we love it: After a subtle yet effective revamp and the launch of a new chef’s menu, Brett is better than ever. Among other tweaks, the counter that wraps around the open kitchen has been lowered, giving diners a better view of the team at work. This decision suggests a confidence in the team’s abilities, one which turns out to be entirely justified. Chef director Colin Anderson’s dishes are elevated and satisfying, with highlights including aged raw beef with foie gras, lapsang souchong, olive oil, apple and nasturtium and a standout vegetarian main of white asparagus, morels, wild garlic and hen’s egg. Brett is currently listed in the Michelin Guide, but if standards remain this high, a star cannot be far off. 

Time Out tip: Get stuck into the wine. It’s a beautifully curated selection (with particular emphasis on Australian wine, reflecting the chef’s time down under) and the knowledgeable team is on hand to guide you through it with ease. 

Address: 321 Great Western Road, Kelvinbridge, G4 9HR

Price: Set lunch from £32, 3-course dinner £68, tasting menu £98 (individual small plates £12-17, mains £23-38)

Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday 6-11pm, Friday-Saturday 12-2pm, 5-11pm, closed Sunday-Monday

What’s the vibe? Fresh Mediterranean flavours from the chef who brought us Alchemilla. 

Why we love it: Chef Rosie Healey – whose CV includes training with Ottolenghi and stints at London’s Quo Vadis and Rochelle Canteen at the ICA – serves some of the city’s finest scran at this Finnieston favourite. Dishes are designed to be shared family-style and the menu changes often, but you can expect fresh, impeccably balanced plates that celebrate the best of the season. The pillowy focaccia has become something of a Glasgow celebrity in its own right and the lunch deal – £12 for a pasta and a side salad – is a steal. 

Address: 1321 Argyle Street, G3 8TL

Price: Bites £6-9, plates £13-28, desserts £8-14 

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 12pm-12am, Sunday 12-11pm

What’s the vibe? Très delicious Franco-Scottish cooking. 

Why we love it: One of Glasgow’s two Michelin-starred restaurants, Cail Bruich’s attention to detail is exemplary, from the consideration given to dietary requirements to the cooking and some exuberant advice from the sommelier. The trim seasonal or tasting menu strives for flawlessness as it works its way up through the gears using the finest of Scottish fish, meat, game and vegetables, some of which come from the restaurant’s own garden.

Address: 725 Great Western Road, G12 8QX

Price: Lunch tasting menu £100, dinner tasting menu £125-140

Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday 6.30-11.30pm, Friday-Saturday 12-4.30pm, 6.30-11.30pm, closed Sunday-Monday

What’s the vibe? An exceptional neighbourhood restaurant that lets the food do the talking.

Why we love it: Big Counter doesn’t mess around: there’s no signage, a limited internet presence (there’s an Instagram account, but nothing so prosaic as a website) and the food tends towards hearty, recognisable dishes from across Europe. But what they do, they do impeccably well. The grilled mussels are a favourite among those in the know, as is the green salad, which is covered in a truly stonking amount of parmesan, but it’s the steak that steals the show. The space itself manages to come across as both no-frills and perfectly curated: think red Formica tabletops, pendant lights and an eclectic stack of cook books. 

Address: 76 Victoria Road, G42 7AA

Price: Snacks/sides £5-12, plates £13-35, sharing cuts/steaks £50-65

Opening hours: Thursday 6-11pm, Friday-Saturday 5-11pm, Sunday 4-11pm, closed Monday-Wednesday

What’s the vibe? A day-to-night gem and one of Glasgow’s most stylish spaces.

Why we love it: Outlier has a rare alchemy: it manages to be just as exciting as a daytime bakery and coffee shop as it is when night falls and evening service starts. Since opening in 2022, the team has moved slowly, developing the space bit by bit. The result is immaculately designed interiors and a food offering that has quietly become one of the strongest in the city. The fried chicken sandwich is among the best lunch options Glasgow has and the frequently changing dinner menu never disappoints, but burger nights are a highlight.

Time Out tip: For now, the space is BYOB, but a bar and beer garden are set to launch in summer 2026.

Address: 38 London Road, G1 5NB

Price: Pastries and cakes £3-6, breakfast/brunch plates £8-15 (dinner plates £12-25)

Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 8am-4pm, Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 9am-5pm (BYOB dinner service Friday-Saturday evenings)

What’s the vibe? The city’s go-to date night spot where the cocktails are just as considered as the dishes.

Why we love it: Creating a genuinely sexy space without tipping into cheese is no mean feat, but Sebb’s – with its moody lighting, red accented décor and selectors playing vinyl – pulls it off convincingly. Menu highlights include chalkstream trout ceviche with mango, habanero and tequila and the jumbo-sized DC’s Texan hotlink, served with gold sauce and pickles. From the dedicated cocktail kitchen come some of the city’s best drinks; the miso and malt and the white linen are two standouts.  

Address: 68 Miller Street, G1 1DT

Price: Olives and dips £4-7.50, small plates £7.50-22, desserts £6.50 (cocktails £9-11)

Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 12pm-12am (kitchen 12-9.45pm)

What’s the vibe? Ambitious Italian-inspired dishes in a new space.

Why we love it: In its previous incarnation at Cathedral House, Celentano’s was a go-to for Glasgow’s foodie set. After closing in that location at the end of 2025, Anna and Dean Parker (managing director and chef respectively) have brought their concept to the city’s brand-new Arthouse Hotel. On the menu, new dishes including crispy chicken skins with turnip and kombu ketchup sit alongside unmissable old favourites like the lasagne fritte and affogato. Drinks are also taken seriously here: before diving into the wine list, start with a marianito, a less boozy (but still delicious) cousin of a negroni.

Address: 129 Bath Street, G2 2SZ

Price: Snacks £4.50-8.50, small pasta £14, mains and large pasta £20-29, desserts £6-13

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 12-11pm (kitchen break 3-5pm), Friday-Saturday 12-11pm, Sunday 12-8pm

What’s the vibe: Another exciting member of Scoop Restaurants’ stable of Glasgow dining spots.

Why we love it: Margo continues a phenomenal run from Scoop Restaurants Group, owners of Glasgow favourites Ox and Finch, Ka Pao and Sebb’s. Set in a commanding, double height space in the Merchant City, it’s as good for a special occasion as it is to catch up with friends. The menu seems blind to minor things like international borders, demonstrated in dishes like the confit lamb shoulder with apricot koshō, aubergine puée and ras el hanout, which poaches from both Japanese and North African culinary traditions. Desserts are essential, particularly the Bare Bones chocolate nemesis with vanilla ice cream.

Time Out tip: Dining with the little ones? Good news: there’s a full kids menu – a rare sight for restaurants of this calibre. 

Address: 68 Miller Street, G1 1DT

Price: Snacks £4-9.50, plates £9-19.50, sharing dishes £38-52.50, desserts £6-8.50

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 12-3pm, 5-10pm, Friday-Sunday 12-10pm

What’s the vibe? An if-you-know-you-know favourite, specialising in traditional fare from southwest China

Why we love it: There’s a time and a place for a good old-fashioned British-Chinese restaurant, but when you want to try something less familiar, the Real Wan is the place to do it. Chef-owner Lea brings the lipsmackingly sour and spiced flavours of her hometown Guiyang to Glasgow’s southside, serving chewy flat noodles, crispy pot sticker dumplings and remarkably tasty pearl rice dishes.

Time Out tip: It’s BYOB (corkage is £2.50 per person), so you can bring a couple of your favourite cans to wash it all down. 

Address: 10 Clincart Road, G42 9DJ

Price: Snacks and small plates £4-14, mains and noodles £12.50-18

Opening hours: Thursday-Friday 2-10.30pm, Saturday-Sunday 12-10.30pm, closed Monday-Wednesday

What’s the vibe? A beloved neighbourhood joint serving unusually generous Mediterranean small plates.

Why we love it: It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Strathbungo –Glasgow’s coolest neighbourhood – and it’s places like Lobo that keep us coming back for more. It’s the kind of neighbourhood spot where one table could be celebrating a graduation while another simply wants a night off from doing the dishes. Whichever camp you fall into, you’re guaranteed delicious, comforting food (special mention to the vegetarian dishes, which feel every bit as considered as their meaty counterparts) and a warm welcome from the outstanding front of house team, who are some of Glasgow’s finest purveyors of patter.

Time Out tip: On a sunny day, there’s no better plan than picking up a colossal sandwich from Boca (a nearby sandwich shop run by the same team) and enjoying it in Queens Park.

Address: 758 Pollokshaws Road, G41 2AE

Price: Bread and snacks £4-7, small plates £8-14, desserts £6-8

Opening hours: Wednesday 5-10pm, Thursday-Sunday 12-10pm, closed Monday-Tuesday