Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city centre of Glasgow it’s sometimes hard to remember why it’s called the ‘Dear Green Place’. So why not follow our trail and discover the best green spaces in Merchant City and our favourite food stops for coffee, cake, take away sandwiches or a delicious meal along the way!
A. B. C. D. E. F.
George Square Rotten Row Gardens Medieval Gardens Zen Gardens Necropolis Glasgow Green
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Pinto Urban Pind Esca & E2 St Mungos Café Rose and Grants Café Gandolfi Ingram Wynd Merchant Square Café India Sapporo Teppanyaki WEST Brewery
George Square George Square was laid out in 1781, part of the innovative Georgian central grid plan that initially spanned from Stockwell Street east to Buchanan Street. This was
reflected in the growing rational influence of the Scottish Enlightenment, along with the similar development of Edinburgh's New Town. This grid iron masterplan across the lands of Meadowflats and eventually as far west as Blythswood Hill, was largely the work of the notable contemporary architects James Barry, James Craig and James Gillespie Graham. The square has often been the scene of public meetings, political gatherings, riots, protests, celebrations, ceremonies, parades and concerts. Perhaps the most famous was the 1919 Black Friday rally, when campaigners for improved working conditions (particularly protesting a 56 hour working
week in many of the city's factories) held an enormous rally, with at least 90,000 protesters filling the square and the surrounding streets.
Rottenrow Gardens The terraced Rottenrow Gardens are situated on the sight of the old Rottenrow Maternity Hospital. Here you will see
cutting edge modern landscaping techniques fused with Victorian architecture, beds filled natural bio diversity planting and relaxing green spaces. The gardens feature a 'Monument to Maternity’, a seven-metre high stainless steel sculpture in the form of a giant nappy pin. The sculpture, designed by Scottish artist George Wyllie, has previously been exhibited in New York. The garden won a commendation in the Scottish Design Awards 2004.
Medieval Garden/ St Nicholas Garden As the name suggests, this cloistered garden behind Provand's Lordship, reflects the building's possible links with the Chapel and Hospital of St Nicholas. The garden has two distinct parts. On the outer edge is a physic garden containing plants which were in common use for medical purposes in the 15th century, while at the centre is a knot parterre, based on a Celtic design, illustrating the
development of more formal gardens which occurred in the Renaissance period. The covered cloister area contains carved cloister area contains carved grotesque heads, dating from 1737, which originally formed the arch keystones of the Tontine Hotel piazza in the Trongate
Zen Garden The first Zen garden in Britain is found at St. Mungo’s Museum of Religious Art where you can discover some amazing facts about the world’s major religions, and
the story of religion in the west of Scotland. The garden is part of the museum café, which opens out into it. With its white gravel, grasses and stones it is the perfect space to rest and recuperate.
Necropolis The Glasgow Necropolis was described by James Stevens Curl as "literally a city of the dead". Based on the design of the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris; the cemetery, as most early Victorian cemeteries, is laid out as an informal park, lacking the formal grid layouts of later cemeteries. The cemetery's paths meander uphill towards the summit, where many of the larger monuments stand, clustered around the John Knox Monument. A great space to explore and discover some historic graves!
Glasgow Green The Green is oldest of the city's parks. In 1450, Bishop Turnbull gifted the common lands of Glasgow Green to the people of Glasgow. Initially it was used for washing, bleaching linen, grazing, drying fishing nets and for swimming. For centuries it functioned as the city’s only green public open space. Features to look out for are the people’s palace and winter gardens, The Doulton Fountain the largest terracotta fountain in the world, Templeton’s Carpet Factory/ WEST Brewery and the towering Lord Nelson monument.
1. Pinto This is a casual dining restaurant with 'an eclectic mix of funky and contemporary' style. It serves up freshly made burritos,
nachos, tacos and salads, to eat in or take away. The restaurant is also fully licensed and stocks beer, wine and Margaritas to get you into the Mexican mood!
2. Urban Pind The hustle and bustle of the Merchant City is what attracted Urban Pind to the area, and they thought it would be the perfect place to create their vision. Once you step inside the restaurant and sample the food you will agree with them. Urban Pind is as
pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palette.
3. Esca & E2 Offers an exciting blend of modern and traditional within its warm and comfortable surroundings. A subtle blend of classic Italian and contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, the menus and wine list will transform your meal into an unforgettable experience.
4. St Mungo’s Café The Café is situated within the award-winning museum which explores the importance of religion in people's lives and art across the world and across time. It aims to promote understanding and respect between people of different faiths and of none. Highlights include Britain's first permanent Zen garden.
5. Rose & Grants Rose and Grants is a delicatessen/coffee shop and the home of the Glasgay! Festival; which
runs from mid-October to mid-November.
6. CafÊ Gandolfi Cafe Gandolfi was opened in the old cheese market in 1979. It has built up an enviable reputation for the unique provision of Scottish cuisine at affordable prices - whilst winning awards along the way, it’s inviting, sophisticated and charming with a relaxed
atmosphere and quality cuisine.
7. Ingram Wynd Ingram Wynd offers contemporary Scottish cuisine in a great Victorian-style period dining room. The kitchen only use Scottishsourced produce, so you can tuck into Loch Duart salmon, roast Jerusalem artichoke or marinated venison and skirlie.
8. Merchant Square At the heart of the Merchant City, Merchant Square has a great range of family-friendly restaurants and cafes, all with bistro-style seating. There are regular events and markets throughout the year, all set in the beautiful, covered courtyard.
9. Café India The renowned cuisine, together with the restaurant's vibrant, opulent atmosphere, will guarantee you an unforgettable
experience at Café India.
10. Sapporo Teppanyaki Sapporo Teppanyaki prides itself in offering a unique and at times highly dramatic dining experience through the established teppanyaki chefs and their combined culinary skills. Emphasis is focused on excellent service, great food and
first class hospitality, all served against a background of stylish Japanese décor.
11. WEST Brewery WEST are a proud and passionate business and it is their mission to brew the finest beer produced in the UK, to serve all customers, as best they can.