Merchant City is a great pocket of Glasgow. From George Square to Merchant Square, cobbled streets to stunning architecture, it's a chic area with some awesome nightlife. There's stylish cafe bars for street side people watching and glam party bars to dance until dawn, with gay bars, cocktail bars and restaurants too, if you're looking for a drinking den in Merchant City, you won't have far to wander.
Last edited by Marcus Sanigar
Last updated on 2nd December 2025
Bar 91 has been a much-loved part of Glasgow for over twenty years and is one of Merchant City's go-to drinking destinations. It boasts a homely interior with fairy lights scattered above and large windows, ideal for people watching opposite the Old Fruitmarkter. Visit for whiskey tastings, fabulous gin pairings and live music in the form of jazz, blues and more. You'll find 2-4-1 pizzas on Wednesdays and a delicious brunch menu featuring hearty Scottish fry-ups come the weekend.
Bringing a slice of Nashville to Merchant City, Maggie's is a dive bar-inspired spot that boasts a calendar packed full of fun events. Not only have they got a mechanical rodeo bull, but you'll also find everything from line dancing lessons to hoedown karaoke and a cowboy-themed ceilidh here on a regular basis. What's more, their delicious American menu features the likes of buttermilk chicken burgers, chilli nachos and huge sharing pizzas.
A popular sports bar in Merchant City, The Ark is a fun spot that's bound to be abuzz with people catching the latest match or enjoying delicious scran. It's also got a wicked beer garden, perfect for those summer months.
Bar HOME manages to be sophisticated and a party joint in Merchant city. Their food menu is packed with tasty favourites, such as burgers or their stone-baked pizzas, while the all-purpose bar switches between an intimate, candlelit haven to a place where their resident DJs bring the tunes.
Located on Merchant Square, NQ64 is one of the quirkiest bars around. The unique venue is filled with dark decor that's splattered in neon graffiti, with more than 40 different retro arcade machines, video games consoles and pinball machines to choose from - offering the likes of Dance Dance Revolution, Mortal Kombat and Mario Kart, to name a few. You can also get your hands on delicious themed cocktails while you're here - we'd recommend the Power Star martini.
Browns is a chic bar and restaurant, perched in a prime location on Georges Square. This historic building is an upmarket venue to dine and drink in Glasgow, with good eats and and an ample wine selection, plus plenty of cocktails for after work drinking sessions.
Known for its super creative cocktails, Vodka Wodka is one of Merchant City's most lively, loud and loved bars. It brings in a diverse crowd of locals and tourists looking to tuck into the famous Jolly Rancher, Bee's Baws and plenty more signature serves.
Open 'til 12, it's the perfect place to kickstart your night or bust a move on the dancefloor until your taxi home. If you need a little spring in your step to go the distance, there's Mexican street food calling your name.
Boteco do Brasil is a fun and vibrant party bar in Glasgow with wild nights, salsa dancers, sensational food and wonderful cocktails. Come along for a rocking multi-cultural Jam Night every Thursday, Latin beats on Saturdays, or simply just dinner and drinks with a fiery South American flavour - think fried plantain fritters, pan-fried chilli prawns and fresh pork sausages.
A cool pub in Merchant City, Blackfriars is a restaurant bar upstairs and a thumping little mod club below. With great music and a laid-back atmosphere, this is a neat spot if you're looking for something a little different in Glasgow.
Do you have a special affection for beer? Well, your boxes are ticked at the Beer Café, the place to go in Merchant City for all your hoppy needs. They boast over 93 beers on their taps and in their fridges, meaning even the biggest connoisseur can find something new.
Rab Ha's is a cosy pub in Merchant City that takes its name from a 19th Century citizen known as the Glasgow Glutton. Taking this heritage to heart, they pride themselves on delicious, locally sourced Scottish food and a wonderful selection of drinks to wet the whistle.
A cool bar hidden above its sister Café, Bar Gandolfi is the ideal place to steal away from the busy streets for dinner or drinks. The menu boasts wonderful wines and whiskies to accompany their seasonal food menu, that features prized specials of seafood, pasta and salad.
A cool and quirky bar in the Trongate area of Merchant City, Mono is one fun hangout. With all manner of eclectic gigs as well as a built-in record store and a ping pong table, there's little wonder this friendly joint is a popular spot among Glasgow's cool kids.
A cool speakeasy bar hidden behind a secret door, Absent Ear is a top spot for drinks in the heart of Merchant City. This space combines surrealism with low lighting and lots of whimsical, artistic touches, with a fantastic cocktail menu to boot.
Their quirky concoctions feature high-quality ingredients and pretty garnishes, served in unique containers. Having earned itself 25th place in the UK Top 50 Cocktail Bars, you know they'll be pretty good too.
Babbity Bowster is a beloved bar and eatery that happens to boast one of the most popular beer gardens in the city. Come for the friendly atmosphere, historic building and delicious Scottish food, stay for the garden with picnic tables, umbrellas and heaters when the sun's hiding.
This gastro gay bar is a all-kinds-of-fabulous addition to Glasgow's gay bar scene, as a chilled out cafe bar by day and an all-singing party bar by night. The wonderful Nancy Clench leads the way with a roster of show-stopping entertainment.
