Five March was the only dining reservation I made in Glasgow, and it was absolutely outstanding. The vibe is fancy but laid back, conducive to a relaxing date night. The menu is filled with small plate options that are meant to be shared. The recommended order is for five plates between two people, we found this to be the perfect amount. Literally every plate was delicious. The stand outs were the bass in caviar butter, fried spuds with aioli, and the beef burger. The burger in particular was so unique. Loaded with spices, the patty was bright and a little chewy with a flavor similar to a hot dog. The spuds were fried to perfection and extremely decadent. The bass was light and tangy with a lovely amount of fat added from the butter. After all was said and done, five dishes between 2 people were £50. Amazing deal. Five March is the perfect place for a big night out. Fantastic wine selection, friendly service, mellow atmosphere. 

I don’t often seek out Chinese food and Opium had me kicking myself for that. The gorgeous restaurant serves a variety of dim sum and Chinese fusion items. The staff are incredibly friendly and personable. But the food is beautifully presented and delicious. We were seated right away on a Saturday night. The dining room was bustling and full of energy. The menu is a good balance of small dishes and large all separated in to categories such as seafood, vegan, and meat based. We ordered a few dim sum items as well as a side of fried noodles and the massaman curry. Everything stood out there really wasn’t a weak dish. The butternut squash dumplings and chicken gyoza were the best representation of either dish as a whole. The duck fried rolls were sweet and decadent with tender meat that wasn’t too chewy. The lotus sticky rice was delicately textured with rich flavor. But the beef massaman curry was to die for. Absolutely perfect depth in the curry sauce with fall apart roast beef and soft vegetables. Spooned atop the noodles it was a match made in heaven. For a special occasion or any night out I’d highly recommend Opium (the drug or the restaurant, your choice). It’s a perfect place to dine with a group or on a date. 

The amount of gorgeous coffee shops across the UK is overwhelming. Each typically having a unique in house baking program, kitchen, and of course great coffee. But one of my favorites was Willow Grove. The small space offers great drinks as well as brunch and lunch options. The latte was fantastic and smooth. But the beetroot toast with poached eggs was truly something to write home about. It arrives to the table beautiful adorned with heirloom tomato, guacamole, beetroot hummus, and eggs with amber yolks. The bread is perfectly soft with great crust. But none of the flavors are overpowering against the others. Combine their culinary prowess with wonderful customer service. This cafe is worth a stop before your morning exploration. Take an Instagram photo, too. Or else you weren’t really there.

This is apparently one of the most sought after bakeries in all of Glasgow. After my visit I am not surprised. The tiny space located in Kelvingrove is home to some of the most beautiful bread and pastries I’ve seen in a long time. I had a hell of a time choosing my weapon. But I have a soft spot for carrot cake and that’s always going to be my first choice. I paired this delicious sweet with a hot latte and I was a happy camper. The cake was tender and moist with a very light cream cheese frosting. The spice flavor was not too intrusive but it was present. It was just a well balanced cake. The latte was perfect as well. Very smooth espresso with a perfectly steamed milk cap. The first visit was so fantastic that it prompted a second. The morning of my last day in Glasgow I returned for a chocolate croissant. It was perhaps the best I’ve ever eaten. It was flaky but still soft and the chocolate was rich and well distributed. Something about great bread really just makes life that much sweeter.

Falafel was made by god. Deep fried chickpea patties stuffed in to soft middle eastern bread and topped with tahini? Fuck me up. At Mrs. Falafel they make this middle eastern delicacy so well. Stepping up the normal iteration with additions like chili sauce, halloumi cheese, and grilled Aubergine. I opted for the Aubergine and chili sauce (they’ll say it’s spicy, it’s not but it’s delicious). Rather than a traditional pita these falafel are wrapped in lavash bread which I actually prefer. There is a nice chew but the bread is soft enough to pull away with one chomp. The pickles and Aubergine make for a great balance of textures. But the nuttiness of the falafel and tahini together with that slight tanginess? Perfection. It’s not the best falafel I’ve ever had. But it’s a damn good one.