It's a short taxi ride or about a 20-minute walk from Merchant City, easily combined with a stroll through the city centre on the way there.
Discover Authentic Glasgow: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Glasgow, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Botanic Gardens, the Barras Market and the Barrowland Ballroom, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Glasgow
Finnieston
A former industrial dockland turned into Glasgow's premier dining district, where restaurants source seafood daily from ports as far as Oban or Shetland. Crabshakk is the standout for fresh seafood, its tight bar-and-mezzanine seating spilling onto the pavement in summer.
Ox and Finch
A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner in Finnieston serving creative sharing plates, the kind of place locals bring visitors when they want to show off the city's food scene without going full fine-dining formal.
Buchanan Street
Glasgow's main shopping thoroughfare, pedestrianised and lined with everything from high street chains to independent boutiques. It's a five-minute walk from the hotel and a natural link between Merchant City and the wider centre.
Willow Tea Rooms
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this is one of Glasgow's most distinctive historic interiors, worth a stop for afternoon tea as much as the architecture. It sits close to the hotel, an easy five-minute walk.
West End
A more bohemian counterpoint to Finnieston's polish, with independent cafés and a slower pace where chatting with the owner over coffee tells you more about Glasgow than any museum plaque. Many spots here close early on Sundays, unlike Finnieston's later hours.
Explore Glasgow's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Glasgow
We've mapped local spots in Glasgow, from glasshouses to legendary gig venues.
Culture & nightlife
Barrowland Ballroom
A music venue since the 1930s under its huge neon sign. Simple Minds, David Bowie, Oasis and U2 have all played the Barrowland, and its crowd is famous across the UK. Catch a gig.
East End · Live music venue · Perfect for gigs
Glasgow Film Theatre
Leading the way in specialist cinema for over 40 years, behind an Art Deco façade on Rose Street: three screens of indie and international films, plus festivals.
Rose Street, city centre · Cinema · Great for film lovers
Glasgow street art tour
A walking tour of Glasgow's murals in alleys and under bridges, from political statements to colourful abstracts, including work by Smug and Rogue One.
City centre · Walking tour · Made for street art
Gardens, heritage & markets
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Rose gardens and the Kibble Palace, a glasshouse sheltering plants from around the world, including the national collection of tree ferns. Your refuge on a rainy day.
West End · Botanic garden · Ideal for a peaceful break
Finnieston Crane
Built in 1931 and 53 metres tall, the largest of Glasgow's surviving cantilever cranes once loaded locomotives onto ships – a landmark of the Clyde's shipbuilding past.
River Clyde, Finnieston · Industrial landmark · Perfect for history
Barras Market
Every weekend, makers and traders fill the Barras with fresh produce, crafts, vintage finds and street food, often to live music. Rummage away.
East End · Weekend market · Great for bargains and street food
Food & drink
The Hug and Pint
A bar, vegan-friendly kitchen and one of the West End's most loved intimate music venues.
West End · Bar and music venue · Perfect for live music
Kimchi Cult
Started as a London street-food stall, serving bold Korean flavours in the West End since 2015.
West End · Korean restaurant · Made for casual food
Bilson Eleven
A Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant in a historic Dennistoun tenement, known for tasting menus of Scottish seafood and game.
Dennistoun · Fine dining · Ideal for a special dinner
FAQ
For weekends, yes, book ahead or call directly, since the district fills up quickly with both locals and visitors.
Yes, it's about a 5-minute walk from Glasgow Central and similarly close to Queen Street station, making onward travel straightforward.
The Barrowland Ballroom in the East End, a venue since the 1930s, is one of the UK's most iconic, where Simple Minds, David Bowie and Oasis have played.
Visit the Kibble Palace glasshouse at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, or catch a film at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Rose Street.
The Barras Market in the East End opens every Saturday and Sunday, with crafts, vintage finds, fresh produce and street food.
Where to Sleep in Glasgow
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Glasgow City Hotel