If you’ve ever rushed through Central Station in Glasgow without realising there’s a gorgeous restaurant hidden beneath your feet, you’re not alone. But once you’ve found Alston Bar & Beef, you’ll wonder how you ever missed it. Named after Alston Street, a long-gone street that used to run under the station until the 1870s, this spot is steeped in history and character. Since opening in 2014, they have prided themselves on serving both premium gins and only the finest dry-aged Scottish beef, locally sourced from the Tweed Valley - and this is a key part of one of the best Sunday roasts in town. This is what we were here to get our hands on.
This hidden Glasgow gem can be found in a tunnel under Central Station.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Alston Bar & Beef Glasgow Sunday Roasts
You’ll
find this restaurant
tucked under the station arches, in a space that feels both
dramatic and welcoming. Think exposed stone walls, soft mood
lighting and soaring curved ceilings that make you feel like
you've
stepped into a
secret, very sleek underground hideaway. There’s even a digital
departure board
showing train times from Central Station - a fun and clever nod to its
location. The
vibe is relaxed, classic and just the right amount of cool, with a
playlist that knows when to blend in and when to lift the
mood.
Now, let’s talk drinks, because Alston takes their cocktails seriously. I kicked things off with the Maracuya Fizz (£11.50), a zingy, sparkling number made with gin, orange marmalade, prosecco, and passionfruit. It was fruity, refreshing, and the perfect start to the afternoon. If you’re a fan of something a bit more herbaceous, the Lemon Thyme Martini (£10) with citrus vodka, Cointreau, and their own lemon thyme cordial is an absolute winner. It’s sharp, fragrant, and goes down very easily.
The focaccia (pictured on the left) makes for a great start to any Sunday lunch.
We ordered the Focaccia and Sea Salt Butter (£6) to start, which arrived warm, soft and delightfully salty, the kind of bread you instantly regret offering to share. Then came the main event: the Sunday roast (£30 for two courses). We tried both the Roast Chicken Breast and the Dry Aged Rump, and honestly? Both could be the reason you book a table again next weekend.
Each roast is served with a full-on plate of comfort: roast potatoes, mashed potato, savoy cabbage and broccoli in tarragon butter, honey and thyme roasted carrots, Yorkshire pudding, and a proper pour of rich, glossy gravy. The chicken was perfectly cooked, juicy inside with crisp, golden skin. And the beef? Deeply flavourful, tender, and exactly what you hope for when you read “dry aged rump” on a menu. The Yorkshire pudding stood tall and proud, and the two types of potatoes (always a win) made sure no bite was boring.
Cocktails and Sunday roasts are just two of the things that the Alston Bar & Beef menu does well.
We finished our cocktails as the restaurant buzzed with the quiet hum of happy diners, and we could’ve stayed for hours. The service, led by manager Nikki Wright, was warm, attentive, and full of those thoughtful touches that make you feel looked after without being hovered over.
Overall: Sunday Roast At Alston Bar & Beef
Alston Bar & Beef isn’t just another place to grab a roast; it’s
an experience. From the underground setting to the history, the
cocktails to the quality of the meat, there’s a lot here to love.
It’s stylish without being stuffy, and the team clearly knows their
stuff. The Dry Aged
Rump was the
standout dish for me, and I’d come back for that in a heartbeat,
especially with a lemon thyme martini in hand. If you’re after a Sunday lunch that delivers on
flavour, atmosphere, and a little bit of theatre, this is the
one.
|
💰 Price: 2 courses for £30 or 3 courses for £35 on their Sunday menu. 📍 Address: Unit 19, Central Station, 79 Gordon Street, Glasgow G1 3SQ. 👌 Perfect for: wholesome, delicious Sunday roasts and speciality cocktails. ⭐ Need to
know: the entrance is off Gordon Street, within Glasgow Central Train Station. |
If this sounds up your street, then book a table at Alston Bar & Beef to try for yourself.
