EAST END

Stretching from the Gallowgate to Dennistoun and beyond the football stadium at Parkhead, the East End retains a rough and ready feel and a community spirit that gentrification has dulled in other parts of the city. It’s cheaper, with colour and buzz, drawing in creatives and long-time residents alike.

The Barras

The historic Barras Market (242 Gallowgate), the bustling hub of the East End, is coming back into its own with a slightly different flavour. Vendors still hawk everything from pirate DVDs to vintage clothing, but now it’s surrounded by independent shops that stick out for their uniqueness. Two of the best are Ripe (Barras Market, Moncur St), a tiny magazine shop selling high-quality independent journalism that spills out onto the street, and The Woom Room (Stall A7, Barras Market) a workspace and shop with pieces from Glasgow-based artists. There are too many great stalls to check out, and the fun is in the discovery. But do sample the hidden gems that are Fishball Revolution (self-explanatory) and Café Veera (for hot chai) on Moncur Street. Clyde Built Radio should be on air blasting tunes too.

Other Shops

Get lost in the piles of books at Good Press (2 St. Andrews St) or find something cute at The Passenger Press (24 St. Andrews St). Just off Duke Street, the Econic Shop (27 Hillfoot St) offers a sustainable way to get your groceries, and Studio Pylon (10 Hillfoot St) has a colourful array of books, cards, prints and more.

Food And Drink

Mesa (567 Duke St) has the best sandwiches – dare you not to buy the special every time it changes. An unrivalled brunch item is the scampi roll from Scran (239 London Road). Further towards town, the rustic-chic of OUTLIER (38 London Rd) is great for a rotating menu of sandwiches from the in-house bakery and for people-watching. Baked on Duke Street was the best pizza in the city, but after it recently announced its closure due to the impact of the cost of living crisis, we hope that the soon-to-open Frank’s (358 Duke St) is an ample replacement. Arancini is plentiful over here it seems, as Italian deli Celino’s (620 Alexandra Parade) has mounds of the stuff, plus cold meats and focaccia for sunny park picnics. Dennistoun Bar-B-Que (585 Duke St) is a sloppy, delicious American-style diner. For a more extravagant eating experience, head to Celentano’s (28-32 Cathedral Sq). It offers a vibey night of fine dining with wine on tap and Italian small plates with a contemporary twist.

In terms of bars, Redmond’s (304 Duke St) is the cosy neighbourhood fave for a late-night drink. Larger breweries WEST (15 Binnie Pl) and Drygate (85 Drygate) offer space for big groups. Good coffee is in abundance too: Tapa (19-21 Whitehill St), Andina (527 Duke St), Daily (160 Garthland Dr) and Zennor (354 Duke St) are the best.

Things To Do

The Glasgow Necropolis boasts the best view of the city. Glasgow Green is where TRNSMT festival takes place each summer, and is home to the former Templeton Carpet Factory, a 19th century brick impression of a Venetian palazzo. The People’s Palace gives a nice overview of Glasgow’s history. Glasgow Women’s Library (23 Landressy St) in Bridgeton is a community-driven, grassroots-established celebration of the lives and achievements of the city’s women, boasting art, archival materials and exhibitions. The Iraqi diaspora-established Listen Gallery (204 Hunter St) is an intriguing grassroots experimental sound space. Both are worth visiting. The East End’s role in Glasgow’s musical heritage is essential, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the Barrowland Ballroom on the Gallowgate (no. 244), a favourite of touring acts from all over and perhaps the best venue in the world. St Luke’s (17 Bain St) is another top smaller venue.

The Barras

The historic Barras Market (242 Gallowgate), the bustling hub of the East End, is coming back into its own with a slightly different flavour. Vendors still hawk everything from pirate DVDs to vintage clothing, but now it’s surrounded by independent shops that stick out for their uniqueness. Two of the best are Ripe (Barras Market, Moncur St), a tiny magazine shop selling high-quality independent journalism that spills out onto the street, and The Woom Room (Stall A7, Barras Market) a workspace and shop with pieces from Glasgow-based artists. There are too many great stalls to check out, and the fun is in the discovery. But do sample the hidden gems that are Fishball Revolution (self-explanatory) and Café Veera (for hot chai) on Moncur Street. Clyde Built Radio should be on air blasting tunes too.

Other Shops

Get lost in the piles of books at Good Press (2 St. Andrews St) or find something cute at The Passenger Press (24 St. Andrews St). Just off Duke Street, the Econic Shop (27 Hillfoot St) offers a sustainable way to get your groceries, and Studio Pylon (10 Hillfoot St) has a colourful array of books, cards, prints and more.

Food And Drink

Mesa (567 Duke St) has the best sandwiches – dare you not to buy the special every time it changes. An unrivalled brunch item is the scampi roll from Scran (239 London Road). Further towards town, the rustic-chic of OUTLIER (38 London Rd) is great for a rotating menu of sandwiches from the in-house bakery and for people-watching. Baked on Duke Street was the best pizza in the city, but after it recently announced its closure due to the impact of the cost of living crisis, we hope that the soon-to-open Frank’s (358 Duke St) is an ample replacement. Arancini is plentiful over here it seems, as Italian deli Celino’s (620 Alexandra Parade) has mounds of the stuff, plus cold meats and focaccia for sunny park picnics. Dennistoun Bar-B-Que (585 Duke St) is a sloppy, delicious American-style diner. For a more extravagant eating experience, head to Celentano’s (28-32 Cathedral Sq). It offers a vibey night of fine dining with wine on tap and Italian small plates with a contemporary twist.

In terms of bars, Redmond’s (304 Duke St) is the cosy neighbourhood fave for a late-night drink. Larger breweries WEST (15 Binnie Pl) and Drygate (85 Drygate) offer space for big groups. Good coffee is in abundance too: Tapa (19-21 Whitehill St), Andina (527 Duke St), Daily (160 Garthland Dr) and Zennor (354 Duke St) are the best.

Things To Do

The Glasgow Necropolis boasts the best view of the city. Glasgow Green is where TRNSMT festival takes place each summer, and is home to the former Templeton Carpet Factory, a 19th century brick impression of a Venetian palazzo. The People’s Palace gives a nice overview of Glasgow’s history. Glasgow Women’s Library (23 Landressy St) in Bridgeton is a community-driven, grassroots-established celebration of the lives and achievements of the city’s women, boasting art, archival materials and exhibitions. The Iraqi diaspora-established Listen Gallery (204 Hunter St) is an intriguing grassroots experimental sound space. Both are worth visiting. The East End’s role in Glasgow’s musical heritage is essential, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the Barrowland Ballroom on the Gallowgate (no. 244), a favourite of touring acts from all over and perhaps the best venue in the world. St Luke’s (17 Bain St) is another top smaller venue.