Taste the Place Glasgow: A Culinary Adventure

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Glasgow caught my eye when it turned 850 years old and celebrated its culinary scene. Through the city’s “Taste the Place” campaign, Glasgow’s chefs and restaurant owners showcased a diverse, delicious collection of local cuisines.

Having traveled to the UK several times, I was hungry to get acquainted with Glasgow and “taste the place” for myself. Global flavors and personal stories contribute to Glasgow’s heritage and future, from traditional Scottish fare to Italian, Korean and Indian-inspired dishes. This was a fantastic city for solo dining, with most restaurants an easy walking distance from my hotel.

The author was hosted.

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Korean comfort food at Gomo Kimchi

jars of kimchi, blue lids, labeled "Gomo Kimchi" — Jars of kimchi next to kimchi-rice dish at Gomo Kimchi. Photo credit: Rebecca Ricketts for Taste the Place

Seattle native Eddie Kim wanted to share his family’s story, so he learned the art of making kimchi from his gomo (aunt) as an adult. “This is what grounds me as a human being and makes me feel connected to other people,” Kim says. His three-day process involves cold-brining fermented cabbage, vegetables and spices overnight in a salt solution. For the perfect bite of fresh kimchi, Kim looks for “almost a fizziness to it.” Forking through my first-ever jar, the kimchi subtly reminded me of Southern cabbage dishes from the US.

Type of Food: Korean comfort food.
Venue Vibe: Relaxed, casual, like visiting family.
Favorite Dishes: Kimchi with a satisfying crunch, flavor and crispness that left me feeling good. Pick up a jar on the go for £7.50.
Need to Know: Gomo Kimchi is open for dinner reservations on Fridays and Saturdays, with service at 5pm, 6:30pm and 8pm. Known as “the kids’ table,” these meals are reminiscent of Kim’s childhood.

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Sweet, creamy gelato at La Gelatessa

stained glass with white and pink ice cream design — Unique stained glass ice cream art at La Gelatessa. Photo credit: Allison McClain Merrill

A sweet treat was the perfect follow-up to savory kimchi. La Gelatessa owner Chiara, whose family is from Tuscany, was initially self-taught. Then she took a course at the Carpigiani Gelato University in Italy. Chiara and her husband/co-owner David pasteurize organic dairy milk to flavor and batch-freeze. Flavors change regularly, but gluten-free and vegan options stay on the menu. Wintertime brings the shop’s famous hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff.

Type of Food: Tuscan-inspired gelato made with fresh ingredients, no paste.
Venue Vibe: Adorable spot with pastel colors, perfect for a date or afternoon pick-me-up.
Favorite Dishes: Fior di latte, “flower of the milk” in Italian, was just right for a simple, sweet flavor. Salted black sesame and honey was equally creamy and satisfying.
Need to Know: The best dessert of my entire summer. La Gelatessa is open Wednesday through Sunday (11am-7pm weekdays, 10am-6pm on weekends).

SheBuysTravel Tip: For another Scottish-Italian culinary adventure also on the city’s southside, visit Battlefield Rest. I didn’t have a chance to dine there this time, but the Italian restaurant is housed in the UK’s last remaining tram shelter building and is a local institution.

A Scottish dinner at Mharsanta

golden-brown haddock and chips (fries) — Delicious, golden-brown fish and chips at Mharsanta. Photo credit: Allison McClain Merrill

Mharsanta is a Scottish restaurant and bar owned by husband and wife Derek and Sophie Mallon. The restaurant name fittingly translates from Gaelic to mean “merchant,” as Mharsanta is located in Glasgow’s Merchant City. In a quiet booth, I devoured freshly landed Scottish fish and chips. The Peterhead haddock came out perfectly golden, quite scrumptious dipped in tartar sauce and accompanied by thick-cut fries.

Type of Food: Scottish meals with a variety of meat and seafood.
Venue Vibe: The restaurant’s wall map of Glasgow contributes to a relaxed, softly-lit dining atmosphere. Calming for a solo traveler.
Favorite Dishes: Scottish smoked salmon with oatcakes and dill crème fraiche (£9.35), freshly landed Scottish fish and chips (£17.75).
Need to Know: Mharsanta is open daily at 12pm, closing at 11pm Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Tea at Mackintosh at the Willow

blue plates holding cakes and scones — Plates of cakes and scones with jam and clotted cream at Mackintosh at the Willow. Photo credit: Allison McClain Merrill

There’s nothing I look forward to in the UK more than afternoon tea. Dating back to 1903, the tearoom was originally designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and reopened to once again serve Glaswegians in 2018. A former ladies-only salon upstairs was a “third place” owner Kate Cranston hoped would “entice people to come socialize while sober,” waiter and expert Jamie says. Come for savory quiches and sandwiches, plus cakes, tarts, macarons and scones. Stay for bottomless tea. (Lots of Mancotta Assam and Scottish chai with brown sugar for me. Pure bliss.)

Type of Food: Scottish tea service.
Venue Vibe: Vintage, stylish. Purple and pink flowers of willow trees inspire purple highback chairs.
Favorite Dishes: Tuna and cucumber sandwich; scones with jam and clotted cream.
Need to Know: The tearoom is open daily from 9am to 5pm on bustling Sauchiehall Street. An exhibit in-house reveals more about the history.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you’re looking for a dinner spot in this same area, the new restaurant Grilled By Ajay Kumar just opened, only a three-minute walk away. Barbecued dishes with traditional Indian techniques meet global flavors—I tasted an explosion of flavor in a chicken biryani skewer when previewing the restaurant.

Whiskey and chocolate at The Clydeside Distillery

Five chocolates and an empty whiskey dram — Five chocolates and an empty dram of whiskey at The Clydeside Distillery. Photo credit: Allison McClain Merrill

I don’t drink alcohol, so I abstained from single-malt whiskey samples when I visited The Clydeside Distillery. I did, however, enjoy the distillery’s family history and whiskey-making process. Tim Morrison opened Clydeside in 2017 “to revive distilling single-malt whisky once more in Glasgow. Through the process, he also helped restore the dock his great-grandfather built, bringing the family’s legacy full circle,” the distillery website notes. My tour, thankfully, paired the drams with chocolates.

Type of Food: Scottish whiskey paired with chocolates by local artisan chocolatier Sugarsnap.
Venue Vibe: Clean, comfortable aesthetic with oaty smell of whiskey permeating the tour areas.
Favorite Dishes: Fig and honey chocolate.
Need to Know: Clydeside is open for daily tours at 4:40pm for £39 per person with a capacity of 18 people. Additional whiskies and gifts may be purchased in their shop.

A relaxed evening with Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery

Scotch beef fillet, polenta cake, vegetables at Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery. Photo credit: Allison McClain Merrill

The Buttery on Argyle Street began in 1870 and keeps the spirit of a local haunt in its current form. Walking through the stained glass door and cozying up on a seat of tartan fabric, I enjoyed a lovely meal with a friend. Tantalizing onion rolls came first, then Scottish salmon in pea pannacotta with caviar, lemon and dill crème fraiche and crostinis (£14). West Coast Scallops with carrot and orange puree, roasted hazelnuts and artichoke crisps for another starter (£18), then for me, Scotch beef fillet, polenta cake, braised baby leek and king oyster (£45). Abundance, ambiance and fresh flavors all around.

Type of Food: Scottish fare with creative combinations.
Venue Vibe: Coziest spot I visited in the UK, with plaid and brass notes warming up the evening.
Favorite Dishes: West Coast Scallops with carrot and orange puree, roasted hazelnuts and artichoke crisps.
Need to Know: Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery is a warm, comforting spot for friends and family or solo dining, open Tuesday through Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.

Breakfast and a comfortable stay at The Address Glasgow

sunlight streams into twin-bed room at The Address Glasgow, funky curtain pattern and gold chairs in frame — Twin beds in a relaxing room at The Address Glasgow. Photo credit: Allison McClain Merrill

I stayed at The Address Glasgow on Renfield Street and ate breakfast there each morning. A sweet caffe latte was just right for my caffeine fix. On the same level as breakfast are a small fitness center and a miniature spa. I loved everything about the spa’s lounging area, salt sauna and small cold plunge pool.

Guests relax in comfy robes and may take their slippers home. (My room featured a box of Irish chocolates, too.)

Type of Food: Breakfast options both hot (eggs, bacon, toast) and cold (cereal, yogurt).
Venue Vibe: Comfortable rooms featuring designs sourced from and crafted in Scotland.
Favorite Dishes: Gluten-free berry granola and yoghurt with compote.
Need to Know: Rates depend on date and room type but could be as low as the £100 to £200 range on certain nights. Speak with the front desk about how to take advantage of the spa.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The Address Glasgow is close to two train stations, making it fairly easy to walk directly there with luggage. Glasgow’s stunning cathedral—full of stained glass—is just over 20 minutes to walk to from the hotel and is near free museums (Provand’s Lordship, St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art).