7 romantic restaurants in Glasgow for the best date night

Published by: BouncePosted
Romantic restaurants in Glasgow

Ah, Glasgow, the city of romance. Well, maybe not. The reputation of this rough-and-tumble working-class Scottish city may not bring hearts, flowers, and violin music to mind. It's not so long ago that a Glasgow kiss was a slang term for being headbutted rather than being shown affection.

But Glasgow is changing. Step off a train at Glasgow Central Station, and you'll see right away that this is a city on the up and up. The repurposed old industrial buildings of Glasgow are now more likely to house a Michelin-star restaurant with a fancy-tasting menu than they are a shipbuilder or ironworks. The burgeoning food scene is a huge part of Glasgow's regeneration, and with that comes some of the most romantic restaurants in Scotland.

If you're looking for ideas for a date night in Glasgow, a fancy dinner at a fine dining restaurant or a good meal at a small restaurant with an intimate feel is never a bad idea. It's absolutely worth seeking out the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow for a memorable dinner, and along the way, you'll see just how romantic the city can be.

You know what's not romantic? Dragging heavy bags around with you. Whether you're traveling through the city with luggage or you're coming from work or shopping, Glasgow's best romantic restaurants are not places where you want to show up with a load of bags on your arm. That's why you should drop off anything you don't need at a Bounce luggage storage in Glasgow so you can show up ready for your date.

Spanish food in Glasgow

The Spanish Butcher

As the name suggests, this restaurant brings a little taste of the Iberian Peninsula to Western Scotland. The cozy booths, dark wooden beams, and dim lighting all combine to make this one of the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow, with an atmosphere that is second to none. The table service is also excellent, and the intimate feel of this restaurant makes it a popular choice for courting couples in the city. But atmosphere only goes so far. To be one of the best romantic restaurants in Glasgow, you need to bring it on the menu too.

As you might expect, the menu here is meat-heavy, with several different cuts of steak prominently featured. However, you'll also find fresh seafood, burgers, and even a cauliflower steak so that if you or your date are vegetarian, you won't be completely left out. Still, this is definitely a good option for carnivores and one of the best romantic restaurants in Glasgow if you're a fan of red meat.

Our recommendation

The menu offers several different sharing plates, including Galician cuts of steak to share and a more local Scottish plate. These are great options for date night.

Location

80 Miller St, Glasgow

Price level

$$$

Best romantic restaurants in Glasgow

Bawarchi

Indian food is insanely popular in Glasgow, perhaps rivaled only by the thousands of local fish and chip shops. There's hardly a street in Glasgow that doesn't have a curry house or three, so if you're a fan of the flavors of the subcontinent, you won't go hungry. And while most of Glasgow's curry houses tend towards the cheap and cheerful, some have chosen to differentiate themselves in a crowded market by going upscale.

Bawarchi is one of them. Far from being a neighborhood takeaway curry house, this is one of the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow. It has high-end furnishings, low light, and exquisite table service at tables set close together that make this one of the most romantic places in the city. And the menu is just as appealing as the surroundings. The dishes here tend toward classic North Indian cuisine, so there's a comforting familiarity for anyone with happy memories of chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, and tandoori King prawns. The food comes at a variety of spice levels, so you can tailor your meal to your own preferences, and there are some excellent vegetarian and even vegan options on the menu, making this a great date night option for anyone who doesn't eat meat. As well as being one of the best romantic restaurants in Glasgow, this is easily one of the most delicious.

Our recommendation

Don't neglect the starters. Sharing a plate of samosas or pakora is the perfect introduction to what's sure to be a memorable meal.

Location

995 Crow Rd, Anniesland, Glasgow

Price level

$$

Date night places in Glasgow

Kelvingrove Café

If you're more of a traditionalist, the legendary Kelvingrove Café is one of the best romantic restaurants in Glasgow to visit. Occupying what was once a 19th-century tobacconist with a beautiful weatherworn façade, the interior of the café resembles a traditional Scottish pub, with its dark wood bar, plank flooring, and an entire wall of bottles. However, there are plenty of tables here, and the historic atmosphere makes this one of the best romantic restaurants in the city.

The menu here is small but diverse enough that you'll find something on it you like. The café embraces its pub-like atmosphere to provide food that, at first glance, wouldn't be out of place in any pub in Scotland. However, it's made with quality ingredients and a well-honed technique that elevates it above the usual fare. The selection of pies, including white, red, and salsiccia, provide hearty and filling meals that don't sacrifice anything when it comes to taste.

Our recommendation

Don't forget about the drinks menu here. Kelvingrove Café has an incredible selection of cocktails supplied by highly trained bartenders and mixologists, so splash out and get a fancy drink with your meal to really make an occasion of your date night.

Location

1161 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow

Price level

$$

Unalome

The recipient of one Michelin star - an honor only one other Glasgow restaurant has ever received - Unalome is one of the best places to come in the city if you want to spend your date night at a fine dining restaurant. Helmed by famed local chef Graeme Cheevers, this is certainly one of the pricier options for date night in Glasgow, but it's also one of the most elegant and luxurious experiences you can have in the city.

The beautifully decorated dining room is enough all by itself to make this one of the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow. The well-spaced tables and luxurious furnishings all add to the intimate feel and make this one of the most romantic places in the city. Plus, you don't get one Michelin star without having an impressive wine list, so you can try delicious vintages from around the world at this exclusive establishment.

The menu here is unapologetically Scottish, taking advantage of the incredible produce of the region to provide fresh food made with exquisite technique. Order à la carte and feast on saddle of Borders roe deer or Scottish blue lobster. Or put yourself in the hands of the chef and enjoy the well-thought-out tasting menu. Unusually for many Michelin-star restaurants, Unalome provides a regular tasting menu and a vegetarian-only tasting menu, so not eating meat doesn't mean you're shut out of one of the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow. That's enough by itself to make this place worth a visit, even if it is on the pricier side.

Our recommendation

When you have the option of a tasting menu - especially when you can make a tasting menu meat-free - you should take it. This will allow you to try whatever's best in season and really experience the creativity and skill of the chefs here.

Location

36 Kelvingrove St, Finnieston, Glasgow

Price level

$$$

Glasgow's most romantic restaurants

Santa Lucia

Located in the thriving Merchant City area, this is not only one of the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow but also one of the very best Italian places. So if you're craving pasta on your date night just as much as you are a romantic atmosphere, this is a place where you'll find both.

The stained glass, frescoed walls, and indoor lemon tree will make you feel like you've been transported to the Italian peninsula, even on the coldest Glasgow night. The comfy leather couches by the window are perfect places to sink into and enjoy a leisurely meal, and there's also a mezzanine at the back of the restaurant that gives you a great view over the always-busy dining room. The atmosphere here is relaxed, but the Italian charm means it's still one of the most romantic places in the city to get an incredible meal.

You can order by the dish and choose from pasta meals like orecchiette arrabbiata, spaghettoni e vongole, and lasagna. There are also classic meat dishes like Milanese chicken and sliced beef fillet, and a good selection of fish. They also offer pizza baked in a stone oven that makes a great option to share.

Our recommendation

If you really want to push the boat out, take advantage of the set menu. You can choose two courses for £13 or three courses for £16 if you dine a little earlier (before 5 pm), letting you sample the very best of what this romantic restaurant has to offer.

Location

68 Ingram St, Merchant City, Glasgow

Price level

$$

Places to take a date in Glasgow

Sarti

Another popular Italian restaurant in Glasgow, Sarti has two locations close to the city center, which is a testament to how well-loved this Glasgow institution is by locals and travelers alike. Sarti offers more of a lively café vibe, and in the summer, the tables set up on the pavement are a lovely place to enjoy the fleeting sunshine along with some incredible Italian food.

Handmade pasta is one of the best things on the menu here, and you'll find a satisfying array of different options to choose from. There's also an extensive pizza list, all of them handcrafted with the freshest local ingredients. A great option for a more casual date night, this restaurant has plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options that make it a good choice for anyone with dietary restrictions.

Our recommendation

Get coffee after your meal. Not only will it prolong your date night and give you one last chance to impress, but the coffee here is excellent, with highly trained baristas keeping Italian coffee-making traditions alive.

Location

133 Wellington St, Glasgow

Price level

$$

Romantic bars in Glasgow

Fanny Trollopes

The name of this restaurant may not sound particularly promising, especially if you're familiar with British slang. However, jokey name aside, this is easily one of the most romantic restaurants in Glasgow. The candlelit dining room is a wonderfully intimate place to enjoy a date night, and the cozy padded leather bench seats will make you want to linger over your meal and enjoy your significant other.

The focus here is on fresh, seasonal food that will take your taste buds on a tour of the region. That doesn't mean the chefs here are immune to outside influences, though. Expect a fusion between Scottish tradition and international flavors like mac & cheese with black pudding and chicken liver parfait. The menu here is small, and it's always changing according to what's in season, but no matter when you visit, you'll be able to find something tasty and fresh. Depending on when you visit, you're also likely to find vegetarian and even vegan options on the menu, so this is another of Glasgow's best romantic restaurants for those on a particular diet.

Our recommendation

The menu here changes too often to focus on any one specific dish. Just ask your server what's best that day, and you're pretty much guaranteed something exceptional.

Location

1066 Argyle St, Finnieston, Glasgow

Price level

$$

Conclusion

Reputations can be slow to change, but the image of Glasgow as a hardscrabble working-class town is completely out of date with what the modern city has become. Take a look around, and you'll have no problem finding romantic places to eat. Plus, thanks to the city's exciting and ever-evolving culinary scene, the best street food in Glasgow also makes a great option for a more casual date night.

But if you'd rather dine in one of the city's many romantic restaurants, you're in luck. Glasgow has plenty of those, along with some of the best rooftop bars in the city to make the perfect place for after-dinner drinks or an aperitif with your partner. With all these romantic restaurants at your disposal, it's easy to plan an unforgettable date night in Glasgow, so leave your bags behind and treat yourself and your partner to something special.

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