Why Glasgow should be top of your list for a foodie city break this spring

This spring, Glasgow is serving up a feast for the senses! As the city celebrates its 850th birthday, Taste the Place launches in April, bringing with it a year of incredible food experiences. There are exciting new openings, vibrant cultural hotspots, and unmissable festivals too. From east end gems to Michelin-starred delights, Glasgow is a must-visit for every foodie in 2025. Remember to arrive hungry.

Taste the Place

Launching on 2 April, Taste the Place will take your taste buds on a flavour-packed adventure with free self-guided food experiences celebrating Glasgow's diverse and exciting culinary scene.

A digital map will highlight over 40 eateries across the city, offering unique experiences, captivating stories, and mouth-watering dishes.

Highlights include a 100-year-old ice cream parlour loved by local celebs, the city's oldest sweet shop, an Italian bistro housed in the UK's only remaining tram shelter, and Southeast Asian Street food served from a hole in the wall.

Top New Places to Eat and Drink

The Clarence

The Clarence is the latest opening from the restaurant group behind Glasgow favourites Cail Bruich and Brett. Based in the West End, this restaurant-pub serves delicious Sunday roasts and nostalgic puddings, such as rhubarb and custard trifle. It also offers an oyster happy hour -making it a local with a difference.

Trocadero's at Crossbasket Castle

Dine in a 17th-century castle on the outskirts of Glasgow at the new Trocadero's restaurant. Expect theatrical cuisine, live music, and creative cocktails at this unique destination restaurant, overseen by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr. Make a night of it by booking into one of their 40 decadent new rooms.

Through the House

Set to be one of the city's coolest coffee spots, Through the House has opened on one of Glasgow's oldest streets in the Trongate area. This coffee shop champions local suppliers, including Thomson's coffee, cakes from Big Bear Bakery, and delicious doughnuts from Doh!

The Noble

Close to Central Station, The Noble reimagines the classic British pub, offering an all-day dining experience and an inventive drinks list. The breakfast menu includes 'the best bacon roll in Scotland', while later in the day, the menu features pub classics made with top-quality Scottish produce.

Foodie Festivals

Glasgow always boasts an enviable calendar of events, including top food and drink festivals from spring onwards. So why not check out the below?

Glasgow Coffee Festival: 26-27 April

Calling all coffee lovers! The Glasgow Coffee Festival returns for its 11th year, offering a caffeine-filled weekend of tastings, talks, presentations, competitions, and more.

Meatopia On Fire Glasgow: 6-8 June

In June, Glasgow welcomes the famous barbecue festival Meatopia. Taking place at SWG3, the festival will see world-renowned chefs showcase specially crafted dishes cooked over open flames. Alongside this meat heaven, expect expertly paired drinks and live music from top musicians and DJs.

The Scottish Rum Festival: 6 September

Celebrate Scotland's rich rum heritage at SWG3. With masterclasses and plenty of samples, it's a must-visit for rum enthusiasts. Be sure to try Glasgow's own Banditti Club and Wester Distillery rums—Wester being the city's first rum maker in 300 years.

Glasgow Vegan Festival: 18 October

The Glasgow Vegan Festival returns for its 8th year, featuring over 80 fantastic stalls, including cooked foods, pies, cakes, chocolates, sandwiches, beauty products, and skincare items. There will also be talks, cookery demonstrations, and budget-friendly recipe ideas.

Whisky in the City: Throughout May

May is Whisky Month in Scotland—so it's the perfect time to sample the national drink.

Take a tour and learn about whisky-making at The Clydeside Distillery, where their new bar is set to open this spring.

Explore the city's strong whisky heritage with Once Upon a Whisky, which takes guests on a journey through Glasgow's best 'off the beaten track' whisky bars. Enjoy fantastic food and whisky pairings while uncovering the city's fascinating whisky stories.

Join a guided pub crawl with Scottish Rogue, where each stop includes a dram alongside captivating tales about the city's connections to Scotland's national drink.

Art Eats

Glasgow is globally renowned as a hub for cutting-edge art and award-winning galleries and was home to famed architect and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Why not combine good food with culture by dining in some of the city's most creative spaces?

Enjoy a meal in a Mackintosh-designed setting at House for an Art Lover's café, before taking a tour of the building. Or indulge in luxury afternoon tea at Mackintosh at the Willow before visiting the exhibition.

Other Mackintosh-designed buildings that now house casual eateries include the vegan café Stereo and the much-loved pasta restaurant Sugo.

The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is due to reopen soon, featuring a great bar, Third Eye, perfect for pre- or post-exhibition drinks. Meanwhile, the Briggait Clydeside Market Halls, originally a fish market inspired by Paris' Les Halles, has just undergone a £4 million renovation and will soon open its own café.

 Visit Glasgow's East End – A Foodie Paradise

Glasgow's East End is a vibrant mix of creativity, historic heritage, and a friendly community spirit, making it the perfect foodie destination.

Stay at Celentano's, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant with rooms overlooking Glasgow Cathedral and the Victorian Necropolis.

For brunch, try the award-winning café Scran, tucked behind the Barras. Sit in and enjoy delicious food, cakes, and coffee in a relaxed, friendly setting.

For coffee, head to Dennistoun and visit Zennor or La Bodega, a family-run Venezuelan café serving freshly made speciality coffee.

For lunch, explore the Barras Market, where you'll find an eclectic mix of food vendors. Highlights include The Pierogi Project, Ceylon Cartel for incredible Sri Lankan Street food, and The Pizza Cult. Nearby, Ho Lee Fook serves some of Glasgow's best East Asian cuisine—arrive early if you want to try their viral Tonkatsu Sando, as it sells out fast!

When it's time for dinner, head back to Celentano's for a Michelin-recommended Italian inspired meal or visit St Luke's, a music venue with an in-house restaurant perfect for pre-gig bites.

The city's brewery triangle in the East End offers some of the best spots for drinks. Drygate Brewing Co. and WEST have fantastic outdoor beer gardens, while The Gate, opposite the famous Barrowlands, serves exciting cocktails with a Scottish twist. Prefer American-style drinks? Van Winkle boasts Glasgow's largest selection of bourbon.

For more information on Glasgow head to visitglasgow.com and to check out Visit Glasgow's new food and drink campaign go to Visit Glasgow | LinkedIn.

ENDS

Fiona Potter

Assistant Communications Officer

fiona.potter@glasgowlife.org.uk