One of my favorite things about traveling is getting a taste of different cultures. And let me tell you, drinking is a big part of a lot of different cultures, especially in Europe. Scotland is no exception, and Glasgow, one of its biggest cities, is a great place to sample their best cocktails. So, after visiting the city myself, it’s only right that I make a comprehensive list on some of the most authentic and interesting cocktail bars in Glasgow.
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Where To Stay in Glasgow
Since the topic of the day is cocktail bars, it’s only fitting that we recommend a hotel with a great bar. And Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel just happens to be home to BeGIN, one of the best bars in Glasgow (more on that below). While some might criticize it for being a bit old and worn around the edges, the staff is friendly and know how to keep the place clean.
PHOTO CREDITS: GLASGOW GROSVENOR HOTEL VIA HOTELS.COM
PLANNING A TRIP TO GLASGOW SOON?
Below are some of the best tours, hotels, and more to kickstart your plans!
Popular Tours & Activities in Glasgow:
- Pubs & History Walking Tour with Beer Tasting
- Glasgow Ghouls, Ghosts and Gruesome Tales Tour
- City Sightseeing Glasgow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Top Places to Stay in Glasgow:
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- One of the Most Far-Out Scotland Itineraries Youโll Ever See (Coming soon!)
- 9 Best Places to Taste Test Whisky in Edinburgh (Coming soon!)
Cocktail Bars in Glasgow Worth Drinking Your Way Through
Glasgow knows how to do nightlife properly, and thankfully it isn’t all whisky and pints. What are you after – classy gin bars or drinks paired with ridiculously good food? this city has plenty of options worth stumbling into.
I’ve rounded up some of the best cocktail bars in Glasgow worth drinking your way through, and I’ve mapped them below so you can plot your own boozy adventure.
iasg for Unique Mixology
Pronounced “ee-usk,” this unconventionally-named bar has some unconventional drinks to match. They’ve got Oyster Shell Martini featuring vermouth and oyster gin and a unique smoked peach puree and tequila combo in their Once Upon a Thyme.
They also sell plenty of classics if you’re not in an adventurous mood once you arrive at their door, plus a nice lunch and dinner menu – for both adults and kids. Also good to note, it’s a beautifully renovated space set in Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel.
- Open everyday from noon until 11 pm. (Food service stops at 9 pm.)
- Address: 11 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4AD, United Kingdom
beGIN for High-End Cocktails in Glasgow
beGIN strikes a nice balance between feeling polished without crossing over into “everyone in here definitely owns a yacht” territory. Sitting on Byres Road in Glasgow’s West End, it leans into a relaxed neighborhood vibe where you can settle in for a quick drink and accidentally turn it into a full evening out.
Along with cocktails, they serve premium spirits, local beers, wine, and food throughout the day, so it’s the kind of place where “I’ll just stop for one” becomes the sort of lie we all tell ourselves. The stylish dรฉcor and friendly atmosphere make it an easy addition to any Glasgow bar crawl.
- Open Sun-Fri 3:30 pm until midnight; Sat 12:30 pm until 1 am.
- Address: 383 Byres Rd, Glasgow G12 8AU, United Kingdom
Get a Little Whimsical at The Spiritualist
This cocktail bar knows how to have fun with its drinks. They have a wide variety of creative, tasty drinks, topped with pretty much any assortment under the sun, including red velvet cake pops for their Red Velvet Martini and cotton candy for their Up in the Air concoction.
Overall, there’s a lot of creativity with a mystical flair at the Spiritualist. The dark walls and marble countertops only serve to add to the air of mystery and magic, making it a fun stop if you want a few pleasant goosebumps during your boozy brunch, which is one of their specialties.
- Closed Mon-Tue.
- Open Wed 4 pm until midnight; Thur-Sun noon until midnight.
- Address: 62 Miller St, Glasgow G1 1DT, United Kingdom
The Citizen – A Classic Cocktail Bar near George Square
This bar is as classic as they get, from the row of barstools at the polished wooden countertop to a name that harkens back to the buildingโs days as one of Glasgowโs foremost newspapers. The century-old building that houses the bar lends it that smoky, speakeasy kind of feel that makes The Citizen feel like youโre part of a grand conspiracy as youโre sipping cocktails.
- Open Sun-Tue noon until 10 pm; Wed-Thur noon until 11 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am until 11 pm.
- Address: 24 St Vincent Pl, Glasgow G1 2EU, United Kingdom
All Bar One for Cocktails and Finger-Lickin’ Good Food
All Bar One has it all: hearty food, delicious cocktails, and Pad Thai, of all things.
It might look like an ordinary pub from the outside, but the variation in both the food and drink selection is pretty damn impressive. They have wines, ales, martinis, and of course, some very tasty cocktails. They’re nothing super over-the-top, just good, solid drinks, combined with a friendly atmosphere and servers reviewers all rave about.
- Open Mon-Sat from 9 am until midnight; Sun from 9 am until 11 pm.
- Address: 56-72 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5TS, United Kingdom
Top-Notch Seafood and Themed Drinks at the Finnieston
The Finnieston is another place where you can find great food, but this one specializes in seafood. In terms of drinks, they’re best known for their gin and gin cocktails, and update their cocktail menu seasonally.
One reviewer talked about a marine-inspired method of categorization, but it looks like they’ve moved onto something else since then. I’ve gotta say, though, their Zombie cocktail looks mighty promising. If they still have that one when you go,
- Open Sun-Thur from noon until midnight; Fri-Sat from noon until 1 am.
- Address: 1125 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8ND, United Kingdom
Porter & Rye for Cocktails and Steaks
While most noted for its sumptuous steaks and fab service, Porter & Rye knows how to mix a mean cocktail. I quite like the flavor profile provided on the menu, which gives you a solid idea of what each cocktail is like. Things like, โherbaceous, bubbly, freshโ for their grapefruit and tequila Meloney, or โclean, umami, fruityโ for their vodka and sake Ikigai.
Itโs especially great if youโre more of a beginner to liqueurs and need some help on figuring out what might suit your palate best. Lucky you, because it’s right next door to The Finnieston!
- Open everyday noon until midnight
- Address: 1131 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow G3 8ND, United Kingdom
Which Cocktail Bars in Glasgow Should You Try First?
From hidden gems tucked into historic spaces to spots pouring creative concoctions with mystical flair, Glasgow makes bar hopping dangerously easy for anyone willing to sacrifice tomorrow morning for a good night out. If you’re squeezing the city into one short, boozy trip, pair your night out with a few drinks with a view at Glasgow rooftop spots worth visiting.
Don’t stop at cocktails and call it cultural immersion, though. Hungover or not, scope out some budget-friendly Glasgow attractions and other fun things to do around Glasgow city centre.
Start plotting a wider Scotland adventure with Scotland’s whisky islands and wild coastal escapes, because once Glasgow gets its claws in you, one cheeky cocktail somehow turns into “well, I suppose I should explore the rest of Scotland too.” Funny how that happens.
