BARGUIDE 2009 HANGOUTS
Bar 10
Spitting distance from some of Glasgow finest night spots – literally just down the road from both The Arches and Sub Club – MacSorley's combination of a spacious bar and mezzanine, DJs, live acts and exceptional pub grub make it a perfect stop to sip a few casual pre-club bevvies. CHINASKI’S 239 North Street, 221 0061. www.chinaskis.com Mon–Sun 11am–midnight; Basic pint: £3.20
Named after literary icon Charles Bukowski’s alter- ego, Chinaski’s no-frills exterior belies the welcoming and charming atmosphere within. Seemingly satisfied by its relative anonymity, the few that are in the loop are able to enjoy relaxing (if a little expensive) drinks in its cosy, laid-back surroundings. High point: fantastic beer garden
THE BELLE 617 Great Western Rd, 339 2299. Mon–Sun noon–midnight. Basic pint: £2.90
Once a less-than-savoury spit-and-sawdust boozer called The Western, The Belle has been re-branded and spruced-up in recent years into a snug, worldly and welcoming West End favourite. Low-lit, tastefully rustic in décor, no bigger than a large living room and with a roaring open fire, it’s one of Glasgow’s cosiest pubs, and the steamy windows always make it look enticing from the outside on cold days. The Belle draws in a mixture of students and
professionals of all ages and stripes. A Tunnock’s tea cake or bowl of cashew nuts is the best you’ll do for food, but Bei & Nannini coffees are only 99p, and the range of beers and lagers – Krusovice, Amstel, Heineken and Anchor Steam on tap plus more bottled varieties in the fridge – is great considering the bar’s only about three metres long. Busy during evenings and weekends, the pub’s compact size ensures some lively interaction between drinkers. High point: the open fire
VARIETY 401 Sauchiehall Street, 332 4449. Mon–Sat 11am–midnight, Sun noon–midnight. Basic pint: £2.50
Variety’s cool art deco facade is inspired by the adjacent Beresford building. The name says it all – situated on the busy drag of Sauchiehall Street, the bar’s low lights and dark alcoves pull in a diverse mix of drinkers, from students to scenesters, weekend revelers and folks just in to watch a football match. High point: good mixture of punters
LEBOWSKI’S 1008 Argyle Street, 564 7988. www.lebowskis.co.uk Mon–Sat 11am–midnight; Sun noon-midnight. Basic pint: £2.60 RIO CAFÉ 27 Hyndland Street, 334 9909. www.myspace.com/theriocafe Mon–Sun 9am–midnight. Basic pint: £3.20
Sleek, classy surroundings complement a menu boasting some of the best locally sourced produce, as well as an entire section dedicated to white Russians. A little bit out of the way, Lebowski’s is for anyone truly wanting to make a night of it. High point: the white Russian menu SPECIAL MENTIONS Polo Lounge for being a LGBT institution.
Since inhabiting the premises that once housed cult Partick drinking den the Spirit of Islay three years ago, the retro, cosmopolitan and family friendly Rio Café has been warmly taken to heart by locals. It’s a fantastically versatile place, serving food, milkshakes, coffees and sweeties by day, and by night becoming a quirky bar with regular entertainment ranging from live jazz to DJs, poker and cabaret sessions. High point: its retro Scots-Italian café style
PRE-CLUB BAR 10 10 Mitchell Lane, 572 1448. Mon–Sat 10am– midnight; Sun noon–midnight. Basic pint: £2.90
At the tail end of Mitchell Lane, just off Buchanan Street, Bar 10 is the perfect location for pre-club festivities; cut off from the immediate bustle of the city centre, yet no less vibrant. The black-lit bar area, with it’s oh-so- trendy decor immediately strikes a rather clinical note. However, when complemented with great food and a music policy that covers everything from dub to Latin-American beats, the elements combine to make an incredibly relaxed yet quietly colourful sensory environment – the perfect arena for a chilled pint or, more adventurously, some start-of-the- night cocktails. The addition of themed nights and poker competitions has helped Bar 10 to cast its net wider, attracting a non-exclusive array of clientele, from sharply-dressed business types to arty students, all looking to take it easy and kick off their nights in style. High point: the perfect location THE IVY BAR 1102-1106 Argyle Street, 337 3006. www.ivybar.co.uk Mon–Sat noon–midnight; Sun 12.30pm-midnight.Basic pint: £2.90
Since shifting location to what was formerly 54 Below earlier this year, the Ivy has seemingly suffered no loss in momentum or popularity. Still working hard to meet its commitments to great local food and live entertainment, there is a swanky, yet affordable menu as well as live bands and DJs every week. High point: perfect pre-club ambience MACSORLEY’S 42 Jamaica Street. 0141 248 8581. www.macsorleys.com Mon–Sat 11am–midnight, Sun 12.30pm–midnight. Closed until Thu 26 Nov.
20 THE LIST 19 Nov–3 Dec 2009