Glasgow’s Southside is an enlivening area with a lively food and drink scene and numerous top attractions, including Kelvin Walkway and The Burrell Collection.
Explore artisan bakeries and casual scran spots, as well as restaurants with creative menus such as Real Wan’s Chinese street food served in a tight shoebox space where décor takes second place to delicious food.
1. Battlefield Rest
Head south of Glasgow’s River Clyde for leafy, culturally diverse neighbourhoods boasting trendy cafes, family-run restaurants, and the city’s best food scene. Not to mention one of UK’s largest parks, two major museums, and plenty of traditional tenements teeming with character!
Strathbungo Market is an idyllic cobblestone alley filled with fresh produce, houseplants and crafty handmade goods – perfect to start off any trip to Strathbungo! After that it’s off to Burrell Collection (currently closed due to extensive refurbishment work), Bellahouston Park or any of the many other great attractions nearby.
One trip to the Southside wouldn’t be complete without tasting some of its delectable cuisine. Enjoy fresh salads and flavorful pho at Little Hoi An (26 Allison Street). Across town lies Kebabish Grill for some delectable Pakistani-Punjabi grill meats and fish dishes marinated with dark spices ground in-house into signature garam masala marinade.
2. Fish People Cafe
Southside boasts leafy streets, artisan bakeries, and low-key scran spots teeming with great food. Check out The Rum Shack (28 Strathbungo Rd) for delicious slow-cooked jerk plates or finish off your meal with their Caribbean take on Scottish classics (roasted oats with mango puree and coconut ice cream).
Fish People Cafe (2 Shields Road), one of the Southside’s stand-out attractions, stands out for its French-style seafood restaurant by day and fishmonger by night – apparently one of Scotland’s first such establishments, evident by long queues when I visited!
Little Hoi An (26 Allison Street) offers delicious Vietnamese fare with refreshing salads and satisfying pho; while Ranjit’s Kitchen (617 Pollokshaws Road), run by family, serves up authentic Punjabi vegetarian cuisine. Crate diggers will appreciate Some Great Reward’s eclectic collection while plant lovers should visit Glasgow PlantMama or Wild Gorse Pottery; whil Neighbourhood offers daily essentials and locally made homeware refills at low cost.
3. The Laurieston
At a time of rapid transformation in Toronto, The Laurieston is an iconic reminder of what once was. This historic bar boasts vestigal charm which has seen it feature prominently in many films and music videos featuring Ewan McGregor from Young Adam through to Franz Ferdinand and The Fratellis music videos.
Though its appearance is timeless, the pub remains in business with a consistent clientele of regulars ranging from students looking for a cold pint of beer and pensioners wanting a chat over drinks with friends. It’s even part of Glasgow Subcrawl!
The bar has kept with its traditional theme throughout and features paneled walls and ceilings, memorabilia from local artists, drawings from them as well as its trademark charm. Perhaps no other place captures what it means to be Glaswegian better than this place does: where alike and unlike-minded people alike drink there and conversation is considered essential; truly one of Glasgow’s gems!
4. Pollok Country Park
Glasgow Park serves as the green heart of Glasgow, providing miles of woodland walks and manicured gardens for those with more refined tastes. Home to one of National Trust for Scotland’s grandest properties – Pollok House – former residence of Maxwell family that now contains one of largest collections of Spanish art in country as well as formal gardens including greenhouse, exhibition allotments and flower borders, this sprawling park provides something for all age groups in its environs.
Park is an ideal spot for experiencing Scottish wildlife, such as herds of Highland cattle grazing on a grassy hilltop. These herds attract crowds all year long; springtime calves are particularly fluffy and adorable! After taking in nature’s sights, visit Two Eight Seven Bakery; it serves rye sea salt cookies like none other! Additionally, owner Laura knows exactly how to showcase regional ingredients with delicious meals available all day long in its cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long.
5. Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park, situated along Paisley Road West and dominated by Tait Tower, once served as the location for the 1938 Empire Exhibition. Today it only bears reminders of that event; such as a memorial stone near Bellahouston Sports Centre.
The park features many facilities designed to cater for people of all ages, such as a dry ski slope and golf course to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s House for an Art Lover. Furthermore, there are play parks, sculpture gardens and flower beds.
Bellahouston Park provides hiking enthusiasts with well-marked pathways that provide access to every corner of its area. Furthermore, this landmark hosts many sporting events like long distance races and Commonwealth Games each year.
Regular gigs take place at Cessnock Park and its many pubs such as The Park Bar and Cessnock subway station as well as Cardonald’s Parkway provide concertgoers with refreshments after attending shows. Furthermore, city centre can be reached within an easy drive after leaving your seat!
6. The Burrell Collection
Sir William Burrell amassed an extraordinary collection of works of art from shipping magnate Sir William Burrell that are considered among the UK’s premier civic museum collections. Reopened in 2022, The Burrell has helped Glasgow regain its identity as a cultural city after decades of post-industrial decline.
Head south from Glasgow city centre to find this expanse of leafy streets and culturally vibrant neighbourhoods, along with some of its most beloved attractions – such as Ibrox Stadium home to Rangers FC and Scotland Street School Museum, as well as Pollok Country Park, Rouken Glen Park and Bellahouston Park, where Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed domestic dwelling designs at House for an Art Lover.
The Southside is a hub of independent local businesses. Don’t miss Frankie (270 Allison Street) for a delicious plant-based flat white or Deanston Bakery for delicious sourdough bread; both can be found along Pollokshaws Road’s main artery, while further along that same stretch, you will discover Koelschip Yard with craft beer offerings and Ranjit’s Kitchen providing warm Punjabi hospitality.
7. The Scottish Football Museum
Glasgow’s Southside has received much acclaim recently from residents, visitors and homebuyers. But this vast area offers much more than traditional tenements and lush parks; it features excellent cafes catering to various tastes and dietary restrictions.
The Scottish Football Museum offers visitors an amazing opportunity to gain insights into Scotland’s rich football heritage. Boasting one of the world’s finest national collections of related objects and memorabilia, this museum should not be missed by both avid supporters as well as newcomers. It should not only appeal to football enthusiasts but novices too!
This leafy neighbourhood boasts an array of independent coffee shops that serve some of the finest brews around. These range from artisan bakeries to low-key cafes – everything from Bramble in Shawlands and Grain and Grind in Strathbungo to the quirky Cafe Strange Brew on Pollokshaws Road are popular choices, while Little Hoi An and Ranjit’s Kitchen provide authentic Indian fare respectively. Additionally, colourful markets hidden down picture-perfect cobblestone alleyways make this neighbourhood market an ideal destination to pick up unique gifts or interesting trinkets!
8. The Tramway
Glasgow’s Tramway has had an unusual history. Once serving as a tram depot, the building was saved from demolition in 1988 in preparation of Glasgow becoming European Capital of Culture by being converted into a multidisciplinary arts centre.
Today it has evolved into an innovative cultural venue, boasting cavernous exhibition and theatre spaces which host various performances and art projects. Renowned for commissioning innovative works by ambitious international artists and performers and boasting stunning urban green space The Hidden Gardens behind it for seating, the cafe bar provides stunning views across The Hidden Gardens to The Hidden Gardens itself.
Tramway provides an ideal opportunity to gain an appreciation of Glasgow’s industrial past, with stone arches and iron rail tracks still visible throughout many areas of the city. Furthermore, Tramway boasts an impressive collection of historic tramcars on display within its galleries; these include Glasgow 1100 (arguably one of the least typical cars due to its novelty value and fan following) and 152 Coronation cars which provided services 10, 15 and 17 until being retired in 1952.
Marcus is a journalist and urban enthusiast specializing in nightlife, food culture, and emerging creative scenes. He enjoys capturing the essence of city life through its people and places.
