There are chain restaurants, bars and fast-food outlets everywhere in Glasgow. The Glasgow city centre cubbyholes of drinking and dining activity are the Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street.

City Centre Expensive

 

Cameron's 1 William St, Tel: 2045555. In Glasgow's Hilton Hotel. Sublime Scottish cuisine. Pricey but well worth it. No smoking area. Open Mon-Fri 1200-1400, 1900-2200; Sat 1900-2200.

Groucho St Judes 190 Bath St, part of the chic small hotel but open to non residents. Very much the in-place for Glasgow's movers and shakers. Modern Scottish food with lots of char-grilled fish and meat and very good puddings.

Ho Wong 82 York St, Tel: 2213550. Tucked away just off Argyle St, this Chinese restaurant doesn't look much from the outside but inside awaits a memorable Cantonese culinary experience and the city's finest Szechuan food. Not cheap but worth every penny. You can BYOB. Open Mon-Sat 1200-1400, 1800-2330; Sun 1800-2330.

Rogano's 11 Exchange Pl, Tel: 2484055. A Glasgow culinary institution. Designed in the style of the Cunard liner, Queen Mary, and built by the same workers. Looks like the set of a Hollywood blockbuster and you'll need a similar budget to pay the bill, but the seafood is truly sensational. Open daily 1200-1430, 1830-2230. Downstairs is

Café Rogano which offers a less stylish alternative, but it's a lot easier on the pocket. Open Sun-Thu 1200-1430, 1830-2230.

Mid-range

Amber Regent, 50 West Regent St, Tel: 3311655. Plush and very upmarket restaurant serving classic Chinese cuisine. Those on a tight budget can also indulge themselves, with half price main courses before 1900 Wed-Sat and all night Mon/Tue. BYOB. Open Mon-Thu 1200-1415, 1730-2300; Fri 1200-1415, 1730-2330; Sat 1200-2400.

Axiom Lancefield Quay, 154 Hydepark St, Tel: 2212822. Wide-ranging menu featuring contemporary Scottish dishes. Superb value. Open Mon-Sat 1100-2300.

Café Cossachock 10 King St, Tel: 5530733. Near the Tron Theatre. Cosy, authentic-feeling Russian restaurant with a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Art gallery upstairs. More than just a good meal, it's an entire cultural experience. Open Mon-Sat 1030-late; Sun 1600-late.

Café Gandolfi 64 Albion St, Tel: 5526813. The first of Glasgow's style bistro/brasseries back in 1979, which almost makes it antique by today's contemporary design standards. Still comfortably continental, relaxed and soothing. Good place for a snack or a leisurely late breakfast. Open Mon-Sat 0900-2330.

City Merchant 97-99 Candleriggs, Tel: 5531577. The best of Scottish meat and game but it's the fish and seafood which shine. Absolutely superb. It's at the top end of this price range but their two- and three-course set menus are more affordable and excellent value (available 1200-1900). Very popular and a good atmosphere. BYOB. No smoking area. Open Mon-Sat 1200-2300, Sun 1700-2300.

Gordon Yuill and Company 257 West Campbell St Tel: 572 4052, Mon-Sat 0800-2230. New venture from the Rogano's former manager. Smart Pacific Rim food and chic looking interior.

Fratelli Sarti 121 Bath St, Tel: 2040440. Everything you'd expect from a great Italian restaurant, and a lot more besides. Exceptional value food washed down with the best value bottle of wine in the city. No wonder it's always busy. No smoking area. Open Mon-Sat 0800-2300; Sun 1200-2300.

The Green Room Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (see 'Entertainment'), 2 Sauchiehall St, Tel: 3323163. Much more than a good place to eat before the show. A superb restaurant in its own right where you can indulge in the finest of Scottish produce at reasonable prices. Good vegetarian selection. No smoking area. Open Mon-Sat 1200-1430, 1730-2130; also Sun (performance days only).

Le Bouchon 17 King St, Tel: 5527411. A genuine Parisian bistro offering classic French dishes at unbeatable value. Their cheap lunchtime set menu is hugely popular with local professionals. They also do a cheap 2-course pre-theatre supper. Open Mon-Thu 1200-1400, 1730-2400; Fri/Sat 1200-1430, 1700-0100.

Pattaya 437 Sauchiehall St, Tel: 5720071. Top-class, well-presented Thai cuisine in calm, casual surroundings. Good value. Open Mon-Thu 1200-1400, 1730-2330; Fri/Sat 1200-1400, 1730-2400; Sun 1800-2330.

Schottische 16-18 Blackfriars St, Tel: 5527774. Upstairs from the legendary Babbity Bowsters (see below). The best of Scottish food at very affordable prices. Leave room for their diet-busting puddings. Open Mon-Sat 1230-1530, 1830-2100.

Tron Theatre Chisholm St, Tel: 5528587. Refurbished restaurant offers a dining experience that's worth applauding. The 2-course set lunch is exceptional value. No smoking area. The effortlessly stylish bar is perfect for that pre-prandial tipple. Open Mon-Sat 1200-2200; Sun 1030-1600, 1800-2200. Favela Favela combines food and music from around the world, with dining and clubbing in the heart of Glasgow, with it's two restaurants and club. more details about Favela

Cheap

Babbity Bowster 16-18 Blackfriars St, Tel: 5525055. You can't get away from this place, and why would you want to? Buzzing café-bar housed in a magnificent 18th century building in the heart of the Merchant City. Traditional Scottish and French dishes served with flair. Outrageously good value. The bar is one of the city's perennial favourites (see 'Bars'). Open Mon-Sat 0800-2400; Sun 0900-2400.

Bargo 80 Albion St, Tel: 5534771. Impressively stylish designer bar serving excellent value bar snacks and meals of superior quality. Definitely a place to be seen in (see 'Bars'). Open Mon-Sat 1100-2400; Sun 1200-2400.

Café Clear 51 Greendyke St Tel: 5526454 Tue-Sun noon-midnight. Part of the Homes for the Future innovative complex of buildings by Glasgow Green, this bar/café serves Mediterranean dishes, sandwiches and soups.

Café Source 1 St Andrews Sq (in the church) Tel: 5486020, Mon-Fri 1100-2300, Sat 1100-midnight, Sun noon-2300. Great contemporary café offering everything from fishcakes to savoury vegetarian tart. Or just chill out with a latter and read the papers. Live music every Wed from 2000.

Canton Express 407 Sauchiehall St, Tel: 3320145. No-frills, cheap and filling Chinese fast food at any hour of the day or night. Open daily 1200-0500.

Glasgow Noodle Bar 482 Sauchiehall St, Tel: 3331883. Oriental fast food eaten from disposable containers with plastic chopsticks or forks. Very cheap chow and great after a heavy night on the town. Open daily 1200-0500.

The Granary 82 Howard St, Tel: 2263770. Behind the St Enoch Centre. Serves good, honest and wholesome vegetarian food. Big portions, big value, fast counter service. Popular with office workers and shoppers at lunchtimes. No smoking area. Open Mon-Sat 0900-1730; Sun 1100-1700.

Ichiban Japanese Noodle Café 50 Queen St, Tel: 2044200. Excellent value, healthy Japanese specialities in cool, modern surroundings. BYOB. No smoking. Open Mon-Fri 1200-1600, 1730-2300; Sat 1200-2300; Sun 1300-2200.

Tempus at the CCA 350 Sauchiehall St, Tel: 3327959. Set in the recently refurbished Centre for Contemporary Arts this café/restaurant serves contemporary Scottish dishes. The menu is flexible and you can just drop in for a coffee and a snack if you don't want lunch. Upstairs (also reached via Scott St) is the

CCA Bar which serves sandwiches and coffees. It is notable for its décor, designed by artist Jorge Pardo, which is a psychedelic creation with lots of bright colours and carved wood. Daily 1100-midnight (last order for food 2130).

Wee Curry Shop 7 Buccleuch St, Tel: 3530777. Son of Mother India (see below). Small in every sense except flavour and value. Quite simply the best cheap curry this side of Bombay, in a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. Good vegetarian options and incredible value 3-course buffet lunch. BYOB. Open Mon-Sat 1200-1430, 1730-2300; Sun 1730-2300.