My top five tastiest spots ... in Glasgow city centre

I’M not sure whether it’s whether easy or difficult to choose five favourite restaurants in a city centre. Easier, because of breadth of choice., but more difficult because of the quality and the potential for so many restaurants to be in that top five. These are my current favourites in Glasgow city centre, which offer completely different types of culinary experiences for different occasions.

Celentano’s, 28-32 Cathedral Square

Celentano’s has been hot on the lips of anyone talking about where to eat in Glasgow since it opened in 2021. Situated next to Glasgow Cathedral, its decor is bistro chic with a rustic feel and a distinctly laid-back vibe.

The menu is versatile – come for snacks and cocktails and float into food heaven with light bites such as the lasagne fritti with porcini and Corra Linn sheep’s cheese or do it Italian style: antipasti, primi, secondi and dessert.

I’ve yet to make it through all four courses but would heartily recommend the pappardelle with Dexter beef and Bonnington

Linn, a perfect combination of al dente pasta with a melt-in-themouth ragu and a generous scattering of grated hard goat’s cheese.

Cafe Gandolfi 64 Albion Street

My 92-year-old father-in-law’s favourite restaurant – he’s been going since it opened in 1979 – Gandolfi spans generations with so many people having a fond foodie tale to tell. Beneath the stainedglass windows, adorned with the masterpiece A Flock Of Fishes by John Clark, you’ll find people from all walks of life, shooting the breeze and enjoying great food.

There’s always a happy cloud of good conversation floating above the extraordinary hand-sculpted tables and chairs. It feels special to walk into a place which is unchanged by both time and trends in its aesthetic and ethos.

The menu focuses on Scotland’s culinary heritage, featuring high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast has always been a highlight, but it’s also known for its exceptional sea food – the cullen skink is a menu signature.

A treasure in Glasgow’s food story and one of the city’s enduring culinary and cultural institutions.

Paesano 94 Miller Street

It was love at first visit, almost 10 years ago, thanks to the level of

authenticity with every aspect of the Paesano experience. Everything is sourced from Italy, from the San Marzano tomatoes to the wood-fired ovens from Napoli, which cook the pizzas in just over a minute at 500C.

The fundamental secret to creating a good pizza is in the dough, of course. Paesano leaves its dough to rise in the fridge for two days, breaking down the gluten