Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

Forget Edinburgh, Glasgow is the best Scottish city. While the millions of Americans stock-up with whiskey, tartan and haggis, 46 miles west you’ll find throngs of trendy bars, clubs and hangouts and some of the coolest Scots around.

Here are a few of the best places where all the cool kids hang out.

1. Nice n Sleazy

Just behind Charing Cross Station at 421 Sauchiehall Street lives one of the most arty boozers in Glasgow and certainly one that has to best taste in music. If you try to imagine all the albums you’ve ever wanted on a pub jukebox then you’ll likely to be overwhelmed with the one here. The décor is as random as the jukebox setting and you’re likely to think you’re sat in Del Trotter’s flat from Only Fools and Horses with the sheer variety of styles. If you wander downstairs you’re likely to walk into an early performance from the next Franz Ferdinand or The View so look out and if you fancy a go yourself then sign up for acoustic jam sessions on a Monday night. If you’re peckish then this is the place for you. The food might sound like a school dinner but if only they were this good back in the day. It’s cheap and it’s hearty and you won’t go away hungry, even if you’re veggie or gluten free. It’s quite a late night on the weekend for Nice n Sleazy too so pace yourselves. You won’t get better in Glasgow if you like booze and music.

2. BeLo

In complete contrast to the above, if you fancy an expensive glamorous cocktail and some gorgeous looking people then look no further than this basement bar on Royal Exchange Square. The seating is so comfortable you won’t want to leave or even head to the bar. The cocktails are some of the best in the entire city and certainly something to show off to people or to a certain special someone on a date. The people are a mix but mostly sharp-dresser with lots of flair to them. Unlike some of the other bars of this type in the city though, BeLo doesn’t seem to suffer too much with pretence. It knows it’s cool so it doesn’t need to force it on you, but it still will.

3. Bar Ten

If you’ve read the above and thought you’re a bit of both then Bar Ten on Mithcell Lane near Princes Square might well be the coolest one for you. You’re as equally likely to find a bunch of students out for a special night out as you are the after-work types wanting to let their hair down and have a dance to the great music from the house DJs, who play live every weekend and some weeknights. It won’t break the bank at the bar but you’ll feel like you’re worthy of dressing up a bit. A good middle ground.

Photo of Nice n Sleazy, Glasgow originally posted by Xabier Cid