You won’t find much better service in Scotland than Glaswegian hospitality, but just how did Glasgow’s unique hospitality scene come about? That’s something we hope to find out today by looking at 15 landmark Glasgow restaurants that were definite milestones in defining the modern Glasgow hospitality scene.
The Glasgow hospitality scene didn’t just pop up over night, it was built up over the last 150 years or so - expanded upon and developed by each subsequent opening. Whether it was a restaurant that was open for just a few years in the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s, or a restaurant with a history dating back to 1870 - each and every new opening tries to bring something new to the scene, to varying success.
Glasgow hospitality is unique compared to the rest of the country, and even England, Wales and Ireland too. Expect some of the friendliest quickest service you can find coupled with some of the most talented Scottish chefs running kitchens at peak efficiency.
Glasgow restaurants are some of the finest in the country, with international flavours combined with Scotland’s best produce. Over the last few decades the city’s reputation has grown as a food and drink destination with a strong independent restaurant scene. This all culminated earlier this year with the Michelin Guide hosting their awards ceremony for 2025 at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Given Glasgow is such a multi-cultural city, you can expect a wide range of different cuisines from all over the globe to be sold in restaurants in our fair city - whether you want Nepalese, Ethiopian, Spanish, Italian or Indian; Glasgow caters for all palettes. A fact many outsiders might consider surprising given the stereotypical idea of the Glaswegian diet is deep fried pizza and crisps.
That’s why today we’re looking back at Glasgow’s hospitality history, documenting those restaurants that changed Glaswegian hospitality forever.
5. Two Fat Ladies @ The Buttery
The Buttery, or Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery as of 2007, is believed to be Glasgow’s oldest culinary institution, established in 1870 - over 150 years ago. | Contributed
6. Shish Mahal
Opened by Ali Ahmed Aslam, Shish Mahal is a historic Glaswegian restaurant. It was one of the very first to introduce Glaswegians to food from the sub-continent, and in the 70s, proprietor Mr. Aslam created the Chicken Tikka Masala when a customer asked for his Chicken Tikka to be 'less dry'. This would go on to quickly become Britain's National Dish. | OpenTable
7. Creme de la creme
There wasn’t much fine dining to be found in Finnieston in the 1990s but there was the Crème de la Crème. One of the biggest Indian restaurants in Europe, they could seat 1,000 diners in the former Kelvin Cinema on Argyle Street. | Old Glasgow
8. Paesano
Paesano really elevated pizza when it came to Glasgow in 2015. Before then most folk in Glasgow seen pizza as a greasy takeaway option to be ate while stumbling home from the pub. To this day if you ask a Glaswegian what the best pizza in Glasgow is they'll more than likely answer Paesano. It wasn't just the Neapolitan-style pizza that made it popular, the atmosphere was relaxed but the service and the kitchen were ultra-efficient, making it super-quick to sit down for a meal. This was perfected with the opening of Sugo in 2019 which did the same thing for pasta that Paesano did for pizza. | Paesano