The Saints and Sinners' Guide To Glasgow

A guide to Glasgow -  for the new you?

For many, the start of the year marks a fresh beginning, a good time to better yourself, improve your lifestyle, and make healthier choices. Whether you want to try dry January, March Detox, a new fitness regime, or a month of veganism, the beginning of the year can be a good time to start. But then again, the start of the year is the coldest, darkest and most blue month of the year so if you want to indulge and continue the festive chocolate binge or enjoy a glass of wine, or beer or 2, then who are we to judge? With this in mind, we’ve put together our guide to Glasgow - perfect for the health-conscious saint, indulgent sinner or those that can be a bit of both!

A Dry Beginning or continue the party…

For those that are teetotal or carrying on from dry January, it can be difficult to know where to go and what to drink when out, but never fear, most Glasgow bars now offer great non-alcoholic options so the days of filling up on lime and soda or a coke are over. A couple of our favourite Glasgow bars are All Bar One which has a great range of mocktails, juices and low alcoholic beers, as well as the quirky Tiki Bar which has a great cocktail menu and will create them all sin-alcohol.

If you are more of a ‘wet’ January type, we don’t judge here. Gin71 is Glasgow’s original dedicated Gin bar and offers a fabulous range of gins from across the world, as well as many other popular beverages. Set in a stunning historic building you can sit back and enjoy the surroundings whilst sipping your favourite tipple. Craft beer fans should head to Brewdog/Doghouse Glasgow to sample a great range of ales, many of which are brewed locally in Scotland. Or, as mentioned earlier, the cocktail menu at Tiki Bar certainly got our mouths watering.

For the morning after...

For a healthy start to the day, make your way over to Martha’s on Vincent Street. Open from 7.30am, Martha’s specialises in healthy and hearty fast food, and their breakfast offering is no exception. Kick start your day with hearty egg pots, fresh yoghurt, dream porridge or tasty hot rolls.

If you enjoyed a few too many (not so) wee drams the night before, then a good old Glaswegian fry up could be on the cards. McCune Smith pride themselves on sourcing the best, local and sustainable produce, which is possibly the secret to them creating one of the best fry ups in the city. Breakfast is served from 8am but if you can’t handle the full ‘big meat breakfast’ there’s plenty of other lighter options too, including breakfast rolls, granola, and vegan picks.

Time to relax

Looking to relax the mind, body and soul? How about treating yourself to a spa trip - Glasgow has a great choice of spa and wellness centres, all offering a different range of treatments. One of the most popular is Pure Spa and Beauty on West Nile Street. Offering everything from beauty treatments to massages and detox packages you’re bound to come out feeling calm and refreshed.  Why not take it one step further and book a relaxing night in one of our favourite Glasgow Serviced Apartments.

If retail therapy is more your thing, Glasgow has the largest city centre retail area outside of London so it makes it the perfect place to indulge in some serious shopping. You can grab high street bargains in the January sales, browse the unique independent boutiques in the West End, or pick up some vintage relics on Ruthevn Lane. There really is something for every taste and budget.

Snack time?

Whether you’re detoxing, or just want to get more fruit and vitamins into your diet, a fresh smoothie from one of Glasgow’s Juice Bars is a good option. If you’re in central Glasgow then Fuel Juice Bar has a great choice of fresh juices and smoothies, all under £5. We also like the sound of Kcal Kitchen which specialises in healthy, fresh food, and has a varied choice of juices, protein shakes and wellness shots. All available to have in or take away.

For those who prefer more warming carbs, how about visiting one of Glasgow’s favourite bakeries? My Home Bakery offers a great range of mouth-watering fresh bakes from pastries and cakes, to bread and sandwiches. Just be warned, there are so many tasty delights on offers it can be difficult to make a decision. Any doughnut fans out there must make a visit to Tantrum Doughnuts on Gordon Street. With flavours such as vanilla crème brulee, pistachio and hibiscus ring, and chocolate millionaire these hand-crafted brioche treats are what dreams are made of!

Walking tour or whisky tour?

If you want to see more of Glasgow and keep fit at the same time then why not try a walking tour of the city. ‘Walking Tours in Glasgow’ have a range of guided tours to choose from so you can pick the one most ‘up your street’. The popular ‘City Centre Tour’ covers all the main sights of Glasgow and with a knowledgeable tour guide you can discover and learn as you go. Also at 3.5 miles long it means you’re keeping those important Fitbit steps up too!

As Scotch whisky is one of Scotland’s biggest exports, it would be rude not to try the local liquor whilst here. There are a whole host of places you can go to enjoy some samples, but to really understand the making this liquid gold, head to The Clydeside Distillery. They run some interesting Whisky tours and of course there’s a few wee drams thrown in to taste too.

Vegan or Carnivore?

Veggie, Vegan or trying Veganuary? Glasgow is one of the most Vegan friendly cities in the UK, so there is plenty of choice here. Whether you fancy Chinese-inspired food from ‘Lotus Vegetarian Cuisine’ on Bridge Street or a vegan ‘fish’ and chip supper from Mono Café Bar, there is something for every vegan taste.

If you prefer something meatier in your bap, then never fear, Glasgow totally caters for you too. Bread Meats Bread in Glasgow city centre has some of the best burgers in Scotland. With generous portions and tower high burgers it satisfies even the biggest appetites. Or head to The Butchershop Bar Grill in Kelvingrove where they serve some of the best steak in Scotland. This award winning grill is set in an old Butchershop and claims to provide the ‘ultimate dining experience’.

Culture Vulture or night owl?

For the culture vultures among us, how about a trip to the historic Theatre Royal in Glasgow’s City Centre? One of the oldest theatres in Scotland, the setting alone is very impressive. Home to both the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet it has seen some acclaimed performances over the years. It also often hosts productions from The National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as popular comedians, musicians and entertainers.

For those who prefer to dance the night away, Glasgow has an impressive and diverse club scene which attracts revellers from all over the UK. For Dance music, Sub Club has to be the place to go, especially the renowned Saturday night Subculture, which has featured residences from some leading house DJ’s. For more of an underground Warehouse vibe, head to SWG3. Set in Glasgow’s West End it hosts a whole range of different music events and club nights. Those that prefer some serious glam partying have to try Hummingbird. With opulent décor and an acclaimed VIP lounge, you might even spot a celeb or two.

So there you have it, Glasgow is such a diverse city, with so much to offer every taste, it makes the ideal city break destination whichever path you choose! And of course, whether you’re a saint, sinner or a bit of both Citybase Apartments have the perfect apartment for your trip. Browse our fantastic range of Glasgow apartments here.

Tags