Experience the Merchant City The Merchant City is an oasis of contemporary, Victorian and 17th Century architecture; laid back shopping; dining and cultural pursuits; where the well-heeled rub shoulders with the style hounds and trendsetters. Whether you are looking for a unique piece of art, a bowl of borsch, a decaf skinny latte, a diamond ring, a night of comedy or an evening savouring classical music, you’ll find it all here. Heritage It’s long been home for monks, merchants and merry makers. In medieval times, orangeries and rose gardens once scented the air. This pretty little area was once home to a multitude of markets. A few of the surviving hidden gems include: Britannia Panopticon Music Hall, the oldest music hall in the world, is where Stan Laurel made his debut. Don’t miss the architectural splendour of the magnificent 18th century St Andrew’s in the Square and Trades Hall, one of the most important historic buildings in the city. Things to do Today it’s a thriving hub for visual art with a year round diverse cultural programme. See Trongate 103, The Modern Institute, Gallery of Modern Art as well as a number of smaller galleries dotted around. Festivals play a big part in the life of the city - Celtic Connections (January); The Merchant City Festival (July); Glasgay! (October and November).The Public Art Trail takes in many of the city’s finest public art from 17th Century to the present day and includes sculpture, decorative art and contemporary installations. The Obscure History trail gives you the chance to uncover the Merchant City’s hidden social history.
Eating Out Travel across the globe and sample food from: India – Urban Pind and Café India; Italy – Esca and Italian Kitchen; Japan – Sapporo Teppanaki; Brazil – Boteco Do Brasil; Mongolia – Khublai Khan. If your tastes are a little closer to home look no further than Café Gandolfi, Ingram Wynd and Guy’s for the very best in Scottish produce. Coffee Cafe culture is big in the Merchant City. Enjoy a coffee in Trans Europe Café and Tinderbox or visit one of the nearby quality delis, Rose & Grants and Berits and Brown. Shopping There’s a cornucopia of independent shops to suit all retail fans: from designer glasses in Niche Optical Tailor, to awardwinning artisan jewellery in Brazen and vintage clothing from Mr Ben. Nightlife For everything from cocktails to real ale, head to one of the bars in the Candleriggs area: Blackfriars; Bar Square; Metropolitan and Bar 91.
Theatre lovers and classical music fans will enjoy The Tron Theatre and City Halls. Live music venues, 13th Note and Mono, feature up and coming and established bands. Where to Stay Whether you are looking for an apartment or a good old-fashioned hotel, all your accommodation needs will be met in Merchant City (see website for hotels in the area). For your definitive guide to the Merchant City log onto: http://www.merchantcityglasgow.com Find us on: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Flickr