26 Best Bars in Glasgow, Scotland

This iconic Glasgow boozer is tucked away on a hidden alleyway not far from Central Station. The wood-paneled traditional pub is a lively and upbeat Glasgow institution. If you're feeling brave, head upstairs and participate in their legendary public karaoke on the weekends.

At this very inventive cocktail bar in the heart of Finnieston, the chic vintage interior feels a bit like a Gatsby party, attracting a well-heeled crowd.

This place is a survivor of a different, older city, but it offers a taste of an authentic Glasgow pub, with traditional folk music performances happening regularly. Dark wood, a wood-beamed ceiling, and a classic L-shaped bar set the mood.

One of Glasgow's oldest and most iconic pubs, the wood-paneled Sloans is always lively and welcoming; it serves traditional pub food like fish-and-chips throughout the day. The upstairs ballroom is a magnificent mirrored affair, and on the floor above there's dancing and a ceilidh—traditional music and dancing—every Friday night (booking essential). The pub has a good selection of beers and spirits, and the outdoor area is always lively when the weather cooperates.

Enjoy cozy sofas, a real coal fire, and tasty vegan food throughout the day here. There's live music every night, with jazz on Sunday.

As the name suggests, this enormous and endlessly flexible space occupies the railway arches beneath Glasgow Central station. Most nights it's a popular music venue, but on weekends it becomes a street food market called Platform. Despite its appearance, this industrial space and its glass roof can be a surprisingly intimate place to see a show.

Built on the site of Glasgow's traditional cheese market, Arta has transformed the place into what feels and looks like a Spanish hacienda. It is a labyrinth of different spaces and unexpected rooms on the ground and basement levels, where a live DJ, a salsa night, or a live band might be in action. You can also stay with the cocktails and tapas on the ground floor.

A traditional pub still holding its own on the trendy Finnieston strip, this eccentric spot is full of Highland artifacts. There are more than 180 whiskies from which to choose and traditional live music on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

Step behind a curious version of the Iron Curtain where burgers and Tex-Mex diner food mix with an eclectic musical mash of DJs and live rock and folk bands.

Glasgow's only Brazilian bar-restaurant-club has salsa nights Wednesdays and Latin music to dance to on weekends until 3 am.

Known as "Dels" by locals, this is a lively and upbeat LGBTQ bar and club in the heart of the city's gay quarter. Karaoke, DJs, quiz nights, and an always busy dance floor set the tone for a place where the drinks are cheap and the crowd is warm and friendly.

With mismatched furnishings and the odd stag's head on the wall, the four large rooms here are decorated in a style that can only be described as "ultra eclectic." It's no place for a quiet, intimate evening, but Dram feels like a traditional bar while being brashly youthful and up-to-the-minute. There's a wide range of beers, and the place takes special pride in the 75 whiskies. On Thursday and Sunday, musicians gather in an informal jam session. Food is served every night until 9.

A bit of a hidden gem in the West End bar scene, Inn Deep doesn't look like much from its street entrance on Great Western Road, built into the arches of the Great Western Bridge (also known as Kelvinbridge). But inside, craft beers, regular live music, and the friendly staff make this place popular with locals of all ages. The quirky, cool pub also has a terrific beer garden on the banks of the River Kelvin, which means it's always busy during the summer.

An intimate venue showcasing up-and-coming independent bands since 1990, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut was the venue where the U.K. Brit-pop band Oasis was discovered. Indeed, the list of those who have played here reads like a catalog of indie music history. It's a favorite with students and hosts live music most nights, but the cozy and traditional pub setting draws people of all ages, and the refurbished bar is a pleasant and comfortable place for a drink or a meal.

A tiny club in the basement of Max's Bar, La Cheetah is popular precisely because it's small and intimate. It plays a variety of dance and electronic music, with some surprising well-known guests who just like the atmosphere.

A classic dive bar on Sauchiehall Street, drinks here are reasonably priced, and their tiny downstairs gig space has played host to many terrific bands and DJs over the years. It's popular with an eclectic crowd of musicians and artists, so if you head in after attending a show, there's a high chance the band you saw that night will be drinking there too. 

A wonderful venue for almost every type of music, this was once the city's fruit and vegetable market. The first-floor balcony, with its intricate iron railings, still carries some of the original merchants' names. It's adjacent to City Halls in the heart of the Merchant City.

At the top of Byres Road, Òran Mór has established itself as the heart of West End nightlife. Located in what was once a church, it still has beautiful stained-glass windows and a lovely nave gloriously decorated by outstanding Glasgow artist Alasdair Gray. The bar fills with different types of people at different times of day, but its late license means crowds surge Friday and Saturday nights. In the basement, the hugely successful lunchtime theater series "A Play, a Pie, and a Pint" plays to capacity crowds. It also houses a busy bistro, a brasserie, and an evening music venue, as well as a late-night club. The small beer garden fills up quickly in good weather.

Oozing with Edwardian style, the Polo Lounge is Glasgow's largest gay club. Upstairs is a bar that resembles an old-fashioned gentlemen's club. On the two dance floors downstairs, the DJs spin something for everyone.

This traditional pub has the biggest whisky library in the city, with over 700 libations to choose from. It's popular with locals and tourists alike, and a must for whisky fans.

The newest addition to Glasgow's club scene, Slay hosts a variety of after-hours events for all ages. A mix of pop nights, drag shows, and themed album listening parties make up the bulk of the venue's repertoire but it's also a space that regularly hosts small gigs and live music nights. 

This high-end luxury cocktail bar is hidden away on a surprisingly peaceful alley just minutes from George Square. Creative mixologists can make the drink of your dreams.

In the basement of a former school, the Stand Comedy Club has live shows every night of the week and is most popular on Thursday and Friday. Prices vary according to who is appearing, and the doors open at 7:30. Tuesday nights are reserved for up-and-coming comedians with tickets priced at just £5. 

The small downstairs music venue gets crowded quickly when bands play Sunday to Thursday night, but that only adds to the electric atmosphere at Stereo. There's also a hopping nightclub where DJs spin on Friday and Saturday nights until the wee hours of the morning. Upstairs, the café-bar serves tasty vegan food and organic drinks.

This atmospheric underground venue has staged cutting-edge music events since its jazz club days in the 1950s. Legendary favorites like Saturday's SubCulture (House) and the Optimo (a truly eclectic mix for musical hedonists) pack in friendly and sweaty crowds on its large dance floor. Open since the 1980s as a nightclub, it is the longest running underground dance club in the world.

A spacious corner bar, Tennents is a typical Glaswegian pub that prides itself on its comprehensive selection of beers. You can expect lively conversation, as there's a refreshing lack of loud music. Television screens regularly show live sporting events, making the place busy on weekends when football or rugby is on.