Flip The Bird

It’s not easy choosing somewhere a bit different to eat, drink and be merry over the festive season, especially when you’re trying to please a big group of friends, family or workmates. Suzy Pope and David Kirkwood take the pain out of the process, choosing some of the best spots to gather the gang that aren’t all about the ubiquitous turkey

EDINBURGH

LADY LIBERTINE

Swap traditional turkey dinners for slowcooked lamb shawarma packed with spices from the Levant. Apart from a precision menu of towering burgers inspired by Lebanese cuisine, there’s a huge array of craft cocktails at this tucked-away basement bar on the corner of St Andrew Square; the basil and orange spritz is a particular delight for the tastebuds.

• ladylibertine.co.uk

TAPA

What better way to get the troops together than with a feast of small sharing plates? The menu at Tapa covers the best of Spain, whether from land, hills or sea. There’s rich chorizo, moreish padron peppers and black pudding topped with runny quail eggs, plus litre-sized jugs of sangria are perfect for big groups.

• tapaedinburgh.co.uk

FAVA

Raw wood tables and wicker accents combine in the boho-chic interior of this new Greek restaurant on Morrison Street. There’s a mezze selection of classic dishes like lamb koftas, cooling tzatziki and crisp saganaki. Those that don’t like sharing can take their pick from the likes of flavour-packed gyros or a Greek mixed grill.

• favarestaurant.co.uk

MOTHER INDIA

Forget sage and onion: embrace coriander and turmeric. Mother India has been serving great Indian street food staples for years and is a go-to for fat malabari prawns and butter chicken. Tapas-style sharing is perfect for big groups who can’t settle on one thing plus, exposed stone walls and candle-lit tables create an intimate feel at this time of year.

• motherindia.co.uk

BONNIE & WILD

Got a big group with widely varying tastes? Packed with independent stalls (from MasterChef-winning fish and chips to Sri Lankan kotthu), Bonnie & Wild’s indoor street food market covers all kinds of dietary requirements and preferences. While one person chows down on a sourdough pizza, another can opt for salt and chilli soft-shell crab. Everyone’s a winner.

• bonnieandwildmarket.com

HARMONIUM

Since moving to bigger premises on London Street, Harmonium is the ideal spot for big group get-togethers, especially for plantbased eaters. Their menu of filling vegan dishes (like gravy-topped poutine, noriinfused ‘fish’ burger and cauliflower steak) is accompanied by a huge selection of craft beers on tap and cocktails galore.

• harmoniumbar.co.uk

GLASGOW

MURPHY’S PAKORA BAR

This much-romanticised venue of yesteryear made its triumphant return to Finnieston this spring. There are 15 types of pakora including wildcards like banana or chorizo; but other options like Goanese fish tacos or Indian fried chicken (as well as a curries section) keep the appeal broad and the vibe thoroughly fun.

• murphyspakorabar.co.uk

PHILLIES OF SHAWLANDS

High seats, low seats, booth seats, bar seats; this trendy Southside monster handles all manner of bookings and the food is way above your average bar grub, with bulgogi nachos, wagyu burgers and posh prawn toast, alongside more standard fare like pizzas. Ten craft beer lines, strong cocktail game and, if you’re a rowdy bunch, this is where the party’s at in Shawlands at the weekend.

• philliesbar.co.uk

HO WONG

Not cheap for a Chinese restaurant, but compared to the set menus and price hikes found elsewhere, maybe a bit of Cantonese fine dining at this time of year could be an interesting alternative. Soft-shell crab, butterfly king prawns and sizzling fillet of black pepper beef are all cooked with precision and served with aplomb.

• howongglasgow.com

SLOUCH

The rock’n’roll aesthetic defines everything in this city-centre bar, with a fun take on the festive menu that’s in keeping with the vibe. There’s curried parsnip soup and beef wellington if you’re playing it safe, crab empanadas and turkey gyros if you want to mix it up a bit.

• slouch-bar.co.uk

STEREO

Stereo still leads the way in Glasgow for exciting takes on plant-based eating in a cool, music-focused setting. Gochujang and togarishi tofu burgers and beer-battered banana blossom ‘chip suppers’ are two of the more guilty pleasures you’ll find here, alongside plenty of light bites and nibbles.

• stereocafebar.com