Is Glasgow’s Southside Scotland’s coolest foodie neighbourhood?

If you head out of town and over the River Clyde, Glasgow‘s Southside offers a hub of independent shops, bars, restaurants and bakeries. From the sell-out two.eight.seven, which sees customers queue around the block for its buttery laminated pastries, through to Errol’s Hot Pizza, which serves vast, thin-crust pizzas in a BYOB dive-bar style dining room; it’s an incubator for culinary talent on the West Coast.

In fact, the Southside has proven so popular that in 2023 alone, house prices rose seven per cent on average, against the country’s 0.2 per cent increase elsewhere, with both native Glaswegians and out-of-towners alike desperate to be near the heart of the action. Aside from the obvious draw of fashionable eateries and pretty little shops, the archetypal blonde sandstone tenement flats and terrace houses have retained their appeal over the years too, with many of them having been plotted by celebrated architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. Whether you’re one of the lucky ones to own such real estate or not, the streets still make for a pleasant wander if you’re a fan of classic Victorian design.

This guide uncovers where to eat and drink and what to do while in town.

Where to eat: The best restaurants in the Southside of Glasgow

The heart of the eating action happens between Strathbungo and Shawlands, sandwiched in between Queen’s Park to the east and Pollock Country Park to the west. It’s here you’ll find Nithsdale Road with its community of independent shops and Pollokshaws Road – a main drag with plenty of curb appeal thanks to sweet bakeries and upmarket restaurants.

two.eight.seven

The expertly crafted pastries at two.eight.seven are brought to life by Sam and Anna Luntley who are regularly cleaned out within two hours of opening the bakery each weekend. This one requires pre-planning, only being open on Saturdays and Sundays, but your organisational skills will feel well rewarded when you’re standing in the warm, butter-scented room picking between seasonal treats piled onto trays in a polished wood haberdashery unit. Everything’s vegetarian, with combinations dictated by what the team can source from nearby suppliers. Savouries might include wedges of goat’s curd and kale quiche, while sweets include crowd favourites like pain au chocolat and lunar cookies and movable feasts like bramble custard brioche buns. Aside from their bakes, two.eight.seven also sells hot drinks to be enjoyed at a handful of tables outside on warmer days, as well as a small selection of groceries and gifts.

Address: 287 Langside Road, G42 8XX
Website: twoeightseven.co.uk

Big Counter

Red plastic-topped tables and a noisy open kitchen characterise this peppy joint as one of Glasgow’s best restaurants serving stellar food while maintaining a relaxed environment. At night, wax-covered bottle candle holders paint everything in a soft, wobbly glow and the friendly front-of-house team whizzs around, making everyone feel at home with their laidback service. Dishes are constantly fluctuating, but there’s a fairly standard formula to the menu. There’s always great sourdough with creamy, tangy butter, there are always beautiful little assemblages of gildas, and there’s usually a steak too. The latter is a standout, cooked to perfection and drenched in a sauce of the day – like a Cafe de Paris butter. Sides like green beans in Caesar dressing or a simple carrot rappe salad offer some reprieve to the richness elsewhere.