Everyone talks about Edinburgh as being the place to be in Scotland. While they aren’t wrong about the many things to do there, majority of people over look the busy city of Glasgow.
Besides the cultural aspect of Glasgow, the city boasts some of the best and liveliest bars and clubs of the country. There are a variety of places for different moods; from casual to glam clubbing.
Below is a list of some of the many places to visit for a night out based on different moods and vibes.
Relaxed
Sloan’s is considered to be one of the oldest pubs in the city. It’s hidden along Argyle St in between some shops, but it’s a definite place to be Thurs-Saturday nights for the locals. Inside is a traditional pub that looks like it hasn’t changed since it’s opening in 1782, while the outside is decorated to fit the modern chic vibes of Glasgow with their outdoor tables.
Gin71 is a more Instaworthy place to be, and perfect for date/girls night! They are known for their flights of gin (hence the name) but they do serve cocktails without gin if that’s not your thing. I definitely recommend this place for anyone visiting Glasgow as it perfectly encompasses the vibes of Glasgow.
If you visit Glasgow and do not visit Oran Mor during your trip, what are you doing?! One of the many churches turned pubs, Oran Mor is a popular local destination. You will find this place packed almost every night, and more so Thursday-Saturday.
Cool Vibes
Despite the name, Hillhead Book Club has nothing to do with books (I learned this the hard way lol). A popular night out destination for those between 20-32, this place is filled with character and a fun environment. The bar has a ping pong table, a couple of arcade games and plenty of tables and booths for those in large groups or on a date.
Insta Worthy
Hummingbird is very much a place you go for cute pics! They have an amazing interior design, filled with swinging chairs, neon lights with cute sayings and an even cooler top floor for private events.
Tip: Most clubs require a £5 cash entry fee so make sure that you have plenty of cash on you (some places even require a minimum amount to put on a card, so if you order a £3 shot and the minimum is £5 then you might as well order another shot). Also, if you do attend school in the UK – or possibly the EU even – you can get a discount on the entry fee (depends on the place), so make sure to keep your Student ID on you!
Glam Clubs
Kokomo is where all the newly 18 year olds and other Uni students go for a night out. There are 3 different rooms each with a different music theme (Current Pop, 2000s/Pop Rock, and Rap). The DJs are alright. I found that they changed the music too quickly for my taste so it never felt like a blended well into another song.
Bamboo is right next door to Kokomo and is owned by the same people. They have a similar theme and layout as Kokomo, but basically has better DJs. Same 3 different rooms/music, and is typically packed with the same crowd as Kokomo. If given the choice, choose Bamboo and go at 11:30 before the line gets too long.
Lola’s is below Hummingbird, but is another nice club that has good music and a pretty nice environment. This is another place that is popular for the recently legal people, so it can get out of hand fairly quickly. I would mostly recommend this place for those who are 18-24 and enjoy the latest pop and rap music.
Mango is an interesting blend of casual club vibes but glam people. This is definitely for those who want to dance and not be surrounded by a bunch of young Uni students. The basement has two dance floors; Latin music and Pop Rock, while the main floor has Current Pop/Rap. The DJs are usually pretty good, so you can never go wrong with Mango. They usually get pretty busy by 11:45pm, so try to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier.
Garage has a more edgy vibe and they have 3 different rooms (Current Pop/Rap, Rock, and 2000s Pop), but the main dance floor is much bigger than you’ll find at any other club in Glasgow. Still has a very young crowd (17-20) but you can actually move around without bumping into a bunch of people everywhere you go. Drinks are relatively cheap, and they have promos all the time.
Casual Clubs
Oran Mor Club – This is on the side of the Oran Mor building facing Great Western Rd. The club has one main dance floor and plays mostly 2000s Pop Rock with some new music. It generally doesn’t get too crowded so you have a little more leniency on when you want to go, and is great for those with old school music taste and those who enjoy a relaxing dance club.
Buff Club is hidden down an alley on Bath Lane (behind The Butterfly and The Pig) and typically composes of people from different generations. The main pub on the ground level is very casual and usually is best for just chilling with a pint of beer and chatting with friends. The upstairs level plays a variety of music, from the 70s to current songs, and even has some booths to sit in on above the dance floor (so the 3rd level for Americans, and the 2nd level for others).
Sub Club is near St. Enoch’s Mall and Argyle Street. It primarily plays more EDM/techno music, and there is a £15 entrance fee. This is by far the most expensive entrance fee I’ve ever experience, and the reason why I try to avoid going there. Overall, I’ve heard good things about it from my friends who like that music (Unfortunately I am not one of those people :/). The environment is pretty casual, diverse groups of people, drinks are good, and you’ll likely have a lot of fun!
Tip: Most people do not show up to the clubs until close to 12am, so if you don’t want to be stuck in a long line then I recommend arriving around 11:30pm if not a little earlier. Most places close by 2 or 3am, so I recommend having a back-up or two of places you want to go if your first choice doesn’t work out.
There are obviously other great pubs and clubs in Glasgow, these are the ones that I went to and found to be some of the best personally. The experience may change depending on the environment on the night, but usually you can never go wrong with a Saturday night arriving around 11:30pm.
If you want more ideas on where to go out in Glasgow, check out designmynight.com for all things Glasgow (and the rest of the UK & Ireland)! They identify different places based on mood and price, along with type of environment. This is an essential resource if you plan on going out anywhere in the UK and Ireland, so make sure to check it out!
Overall, have fun partying in Glasgow!
Check out my post about things to do in Glasgow during the day!