Glasgow

Glasgow's busy nightlife scene is impressive and varied. Bars and pubs often close at midnight on weekends, but nightclubs often stay open until 3 or 4 am. Traditional ceilidh (a mix of country dancing, music, and song; pronounced kay-lee) is not as popular with locals as it used to be (except at weddings), but you can still find it at many more tourist-oriented establishments.

Glasgow's pubs were once hangouts for serious drinkers who demanded few comforts. Today many of these gritty establishments have been transformed into trendy cocktail bars or cavernous spaces with video monitors, though a few traditional bars survive. Bars and pubs vary according to location; many in the City Centre cater to business types, while those in the West End and Finnieston draw in the younger crowd.

As elsewhere in Britain, electronic music—from house to techno to drum and bass—is par for the course in Glasgow's dance clubs. Much of the scene revolves around the City Centre, as a late-night walk down Sauchiehall Street on Friday or Saturday will reveal.

Sort by: 25 Recommendations {{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }} 0 Recommendations
CLEAR ALL Area Search CLEAR ALL
Loading...
Loading...
  • 1. Kelvingrove Cafe

    Finnieston

    At this very inventive cocktail bar in the heart of Finniston, the chic vintage interior feels a bit like a Gatsby party, attracting a well-heeled crowd.

    1161 Argyle St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G3 8TB, Scotland
    0141-221–8988
  • 2. Scotia Bar

    This place is a survivor of a different, older city, but it offers a taste of an authentic Glasgow pub, with traditional folk music performances happening regularly. Dark wood, a wood-beamed ceiling, and a classic L-shaped bar set the mood.

    112 Stockwell St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 4LW, Scotland
    0141-552–8681
  • 3. Sloans

    One of Glasgow's oldest and most iconic pubs, the wood-paneled Sloans is always lively and welcoming; it serves traditional pub food like fish-and-chips throughout the day. The upstairs ballroom is a magnificent mirrored affair, and on the floor above there's dancing and a ceilidh—traditional music and dancing—every Friday night (booking essential). The pub has a good selection of beers and spirits, and the outdoor area is always lively when the weather cooperates.

    108 Argyle St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 8BG, Scotland
    0141-221–8886
  • 4. The Horseshoe Bar

    This iconic Glasgow boozer is tucked away on a hidden alleyway not far from Central Station. The wood-paneled traditional pub is a lively and upbeat Glasgow institution. If you're feeling brave, head upstairs and participate in their legendary public karaoke on the weekends.

    17–19 Drury St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 5AE, Scotland
    0141-248–6368
  • 5. Argyle Street Arches

    City Centre

    As the name suggests, this enormous and endlessly flexible space occupies the railway arches beneath Glasgow Central station. Most nights it's a popular music venue, but on weekends it becomes a street food market called Platform. Despite its appearance, this industrial space and its glass roof can be a surprisingly intimate place to see a show.

    253 Argyle St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 8DL, Scotland
    1345-6253
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Arta

    Built on the site of Glasgow's traditional cheese market, Arta has transformed the place into what feels and looks like a Spanish hacienda. It is a labyrinth of different spaces and unexpected rooms on the ground and basement levels, where a live DJ, a salsa night, or a live band might be in action. You can also stay with the cocktails and tapas on the ground floor.

    62 Albion St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 1PA, Scotland
    0141-552–2101
  • 7. Bloc+

    City Centre

    Step behind a curious version of the Iron Curtain where burgers and Tex-Mex diner food mix with an eclectic musical mash of DJs and live rock and folk bands.

    117 Bath St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 2SZ, Scotland
    0141-574–6066
  • 8. Boteco do Brasil

    Merchant City

    Glasgow's only Brazilian bar-restaurant-club has salsa nights Wednesdays and Latin music to dance to on weekends until 3 am.

    62 Trongate, Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 5EP, Scotland
    0141-548–1330
  • 9. Delmonicas

    Merchant City

    Known as "Dels" by locals, this is a lively and upbeat LGBTQ bar and club in the heart of the city's gay quarter. Karaoke, DJs, quiz nights, and an always busy dance floor set the tone for a place where the drinks are cheap and the crowd is warm and friendly.

    68 Virginia St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 1TX, Scotland
  • 10. Dram!

    With mismatched furnishings and the odd stag's head on the wall, the four large rooms here are decorated in a style that can only be described as "ultra eclectic." It's no place for a quiet, intimate evening, but Dram feels like a traditional bar while being brashly youthful and up-to-the-minute. There's a wide range of beers, and the place takes special pride in the 75 whiskies. On Thursday and Sunday, musicians gather in an informal jam session. Food is served every night until 9.

    232–246 Woodlands Rd., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G3 6ND, Scotland
    0141-332–1622
  • 11. Inn Deep

    West End

    A bit of a hidden gem in the West End bar scene, Inn Deep doesn't look like much from its street entrance on Great Western Road, built into the arches of the Great Western Bridge (also known as Kelvinbridge). But inside, craft beers, regular live music, and the friendly staff make this place popular with locals of all ages. The quirky, cool pub also has a terrific beer garden on the banks of the River Kelvin, which means it's always busy during the summer.

    445 Great Western Rd., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G12 8HH, Scotland
    0141-264–2777
  • 12. King Tut's Wah Wah Hut

    An intimate venue showcasing up-and-coming independent bands since 1990, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut was the venue where the U.K. britpop band Oasis was discovered. Indeed, the list of those who have played here reads like a catalog of indie music history. It's a favorite with students and hosts live music most nights, but the cozy and traditional pub setting draws people of all ages, and the refurbished bar is a pleasant and comfortable place for a drink or a meal.

    227A St. Vincent St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 5RL, Scotland
    0141-846–4034
  • 13. La Cheetah

    A tiny club in the basement of Max's Bar, La Cheetah is popular precisely because it's small and intimate. It plays a variety of dance and electronic music, with some surprising well-known guests who just like the atmosphere.

    73 Queen St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 8BZ, Scotland
    0141-221–1379
  • 14. Nice N Sleazy

    City Centre

    A classic dive bar on Sauchiehall Street, drinks here are reasonably priced, and their tiny downstairs gig space has played host to many terrific bands and DJs over the years. It's popular with an eclectic crowd of musicians and artists, so if you head in after attending a show, there's a high chance the band you saw that night will be drinking there too. 

    421 Sauchiehall St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 3LG, Scotland
    0414-333–0900
  • 15. Old Fruitmarket

    A wonderful venue for almost every type of music, this was once the city's fruit and vegetable market. The first-floor balcony, with its intricate iron railings, still carries some of the original merchants' names. It's adjacent to City Halls in the heart of the Merchant City.

    Candleriggs, Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 1NQ, Scotland
    0141-353–8000
  • 16. Òran Mór

    At the top of Byres Road, Òran Mór has estabished itself as the heart of West End nightlife. Located in what was once a church, it still has beautiful stained-glass windows and a lovely nave gloriously decorated by outstanding Glasgow artist Alasdair Gray. The bar fills with different types of people at different times of day, but its late license means crowds surge Friday and Saturday nights. In the basement, the hugely successful lunchtime theater series "A Play, a Pie, and a Pint" plays to capacity crowds. It also houses a busy bistro, a brasserie, and an evening music venue, as well as a late-night club. The small beer garden fills up quickly in good weather.

    Top of Byres Rd., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G12 8QX, Scotland
    0141-357–6200
  • 17. Polo Lounge

    Oozing with Edwardian style, the Polo Lounge is Glasgow's largest gay club. Upstairs is a bar that resembles an old-fashioned gentlemen's club. On the two dance floors downstairs, the DJs spin something for everyone.

    84 Wilson St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 1UZ, Scotland
    0141-559–6593
  • 18. Stand Comedy Club

    West End

    In the basement of a former school, the Stand Comedy Club has live shows every night of the week and is most popular on Thursday and Friday. Prices vary according to who is appearing, and the doors open at 7:30.

    333 Woodlands Rd., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G3 6NG, Scotland
    0141-212–3389
  • 19. Stereo

    The small downstairs music venue gets crowded quickly when bands play Sunday to Thursday night, but that only adds to the electric atmosphere at Stereo. There's also a hopping nightclub where DJs spin on Friday and Saturday nights until the wee hours of the morning. Upstairs, the café-bar serves tasty vegan food and organic drinks.

    20–28 Renfield La., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G2 5AR, Scotland
    0141-222–2254
  • 20. Sub Club

    This atmospheric underground venue has staged cutting-edge music events since its jazz club days in the '50s. Legendary favorites like Saturday's SubCulture (House) and Sunday's Optimo (a truly eclectic mix for musical hedonists) pack in friendly and sweaty crowds on its large dance floor. Open since the 1980s as a nightclub, it is the longest running underground dance club in the world.

    22 Jamaica St., Glasgow, Glasgow City, G1 4QD, Scotland
    0141-248–4600

No nightlife Results

Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:

There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Nightlife in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:

Recommended Fodor’s Video