It's not quite the West End and it's not quite Glasgow City Centre, but Finnieston is one inbetween area in Glasgow that's on the up. From the Finnieston Crane, Squinty Bridge and SECC, Clydeside, right up along the West side of the M8, to Kelvingrove and Great Western Road, great new bars have been cropping up offering Glaswegians an alternative night out in their city.
The Finnieston, a cracking restaurant bar on Argyle Street.
With the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow next year, the area's influence is only set to increase as the world's media will base themselves in the SECC. But before the takeover, get in their first with our picks of some of the best bars in Finnieston.
The Finnieston Crane, one of Glasgow's most iconic features.
Of course we couldn't leave out the area's namesake The Finnieston; a cracking gastro bar with incredible seafood, blinding cocktails and a neat little beer garden out back. Sister-bar Lebowski's up the road on Argyle Street also does great eats and drinks with burgers and White Russians house specialties after The Dude himself. Continuing with the foodie havens, The Butchershop Bar and Grill on the Kelvingrove end of Sauchiehalle Street dishes up some of the best food in Glasgow, along with impeccable concoctions that taste straight out of a Manhattan cocktail bar.
The Finnieston's cosy interior
For beer buffs, Munro's and Inn Deep have all manner of niche beers and cask ales for the sampling up on Great Western Road, while BrewDog, right opposite the museum makes a fine art out of craft beer. Back down on Argyle Street, The Ben Nevis is a whiskey drinker's dream with well versed staff on hand to help you navigate the extensive choice of malts. After dark Distill pours some cracking cocktails (rum is a specialty there) along with banging tunes and chilled vibes.
The Berkeley Suite; is it a pawn shop or is it a club?
And on the fringes of Finnieston, a trio of hidden gems on North Street offer some of the coolest nights out in Glasgow. Black Sparrow is a cracking pub with beautiful decor and a great spot for date nights or after work drinks. Next door, Chinaski's is a signless bar and restaurant that attracts a more refined Glasgow drinker (aka not the sort falling about Sauchiehall Street come 3am). And last but most definitely not least, Berkeley Suite, the party pad within a pawn shop is home to some stomping club nights and quirky events.
It may not be as busy as the city or as bustling as The West End, but Glasgow's Finnieston area is an inbetweener punching well above its weight.
