Eating and drinking at Wappinshaw

Eating and drinking at Wappinshaw

Today we have a guest post from Roy Beers - expert on the local flora and fauna of the West End of Glasgow.

You won’t find any food on the premises at Wappinshaw – but never fear, because it so happens the Kelvin Hall is at the centre of Glasgow’s premier dining circuit, with everything from award-winning cafes and top Indian restaurants to choose from within a five minute walk of the venue.

Probably the closest source of ready food and soft drinks, etc, is immediately across the road in the famous Kelvingrove gallery (where it’s worth taking a few minutes to peruse the magnificent collection of High Medieval arms and armour).

Kelvingrove has a formal downstairs restaurant, but for a quick bite the ground level main hall has a cafe with all the usual sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee, etc. However both during and after the show, chances are you may want to try one of the many pub, restaurant, cafe and takeaway options in the immediate local area.

Staying on the same side of the road as the venue, all you have to do is turn left and head towards Partick Cross and Dumbarton Road; or (again staying on the same side of the road) turn right and head “towards town” – in either case a walk of five to ten minutes will give you many different options.

Towards Partick – Around Partick Cross (intersection with Byres Road) you will find, in no particular order, a good Indian takeaway, then The Three Judges cask ale pub (does toasties), and next to that the recently relaunched pub The Inn at the Cross (which generally runs a two for one offer on burgers).

On the other side of the road there’s Rasoi Indian restaurant, Gallus pub, Tribeca New York cafe (pretty much like the real thing), www.tribecacafe.com  then – beside Kelvinhall subway station – Cafe JJ’s (full bistro menu; licensed); Cafe Siempre, www.veloveritas.co.uk/2012/12/24/siempre-bicycle-cafe aimed at cycling fanatics; and the famous Lismore Bar (with one of the most distinctive pub interiors in the city). 

Wander up Hyndland Street (turn right at The Lismore) and you might fancy The Rio Cafe pub-bistro, decked out like a retro cafe and offering well above-average dining fare. Worth checking out, too (also from this side of the road) is the Sparkle Horse pub in Dowanhill Street (another right turn), a contemporary bar with an above-average food offer which includes, for example, home-made steak pie cooked in Krusovice beer. Right on Partick Cross, at the bottom of Byres Road, there’s Assagini, www.tonymacaroni.co.uk an Italian bistro which offers a vast assortment of light-bite “tapas” style dishes, and immediately next door Toni Macaroni Italian restaurant.

If you like Indian food – but maybe have someone with you who doesn’t – Papa Gill’s  Indian cafe-diner on the other side of the road, a little farther on, covers all bases (including the notorious full Scottish breakfast).

On a strictly practical note, for those addicted to “everyday fast food”, this area also has a branch of the ubiquitous Gregg’s the bakers.

Towards town – Staying on the same side of the road, again, you’ll find popular cafe Beanscene a couple of minutes from the hall, then the critically-rated Pelican Cafe bistro, followed by two sister venue Indian restaurants – Mother India’s Cafe, and Dining In at Mother India, www.motherindia.co.uk  These charge mainstream prices yet are easily among the best Indian restaurants in Scotland, invariably winning rave reviews from critics and dining guides.

Beside Dining In is a garage, marking an intersection leading (keep heading towards town) into west end Argyle Street – and in the space of less than half a mile there are literally too many options in this area to list in detail.

Closest venues include Che Que Bo, a Spanish cafe-bar themed to Spanish football, then across the road there’s Firebird, www.firebirdglasgow.com – another cheerful contemporary bar with a full food offer, which usually has a special deal on pizza.

Very highly recommended in this area is Montgomery’s Cafe, Radnor Street (more or less directly opposite Che Que Bo’s corner site), www.montgomeryscafe.co.uk which has an incredible assortment of “special” coffees and other drinks, and a fantastic choice of food covering everything from toasties to full meals.

Turn right instead, and there’s The 78 bar-restaurant in Kelvinhaugh Street, www.the78cafebar.com with great food, an eclectic selection of quality beers, and – if there’s any sunshine – outdoor tables.

Walk a little further down Argyle Street (heading for Finnieston) and you’ll find several more cafes and some terrific pubs, for example The Kelvingrove Cafe (a bar-diner), The Ben Nevis (another place with a stunning interior, created by the same designer as The Lismore), Lebowski’s, and The Brass Monkey – all recommended.