Back with another ready-made date so you don’t have to spend the first twenty minutes of it going “I don’t know, where do you want to go.” The Date Edit is our running series of pre-planned days out for queer women and the allies who love them – all you have to do is show up.
This week: Finnieston. One street, everything you need, no faff.
Vibe: Argyle Street from one end to the other
Area: Finnieston, Glasgow
Best For: Third date and beyond
Budget: ££
Length: 5-7 hours
The Day Thing
Kelvingrove Café
Start at Kelvingrove Café on Argyle Street. It’s been on this stretch since 1896 – originally an ice-cream parlour, now a brunch spot and cocktail bar with wood-panelled walls, exposed brick and leather booths. It opens at 10am and does coffee and a full brunch menu through the morning. Get a table, order something to eat, and use it as a proper base for the start of the day rather than a quick stop.
Price: £
The Afternoon Thing
Derby Lane
Walk Argyle Street. Finnieston has a good run of independent shops, a few galleries and enough on either side of the road to fill a couple of hours without really trying. When you want to stop, Derby Lane is a solid option – it’s a cafe-bar that operates across most of the day, serving coffee, food and cocktails. It has a light, open interior and sits on one of the quieter stretches of the street. Works as a late lunch stop or just a sit-down with a drink before the evening.
Price: £-££
If It Goes Well
Ox and Finch
Dinner at Ox and Finch. It’s a small plates restaurant on Argyle Street with a seasonal menu that changes regularly. The room is on the smaller side with tables fairly close together, and it gets busy – book ahead, especially at weekends. Order a few things at a time and go back for more. It’s set up for a long dinner rather than a quick one.
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After dinner, The Ben Nevis Bar for a nightcap. It’s a traditional Scottish pub with a whisky list that covers a lot of ground – over 100 malts – and a straightforward, no-nonsense atmosphere. One of the older spots on the strip and worth finishing on.
Price: ££ (dinner) / £ (drinks)
Wrap up / bonus
Boutique 50
If you’re staying over, Boutique 50 is a ten-room independently run hotel on a quiet residential street in the West End, a short walk from Argyle Street. Each room is designed by a local interior designer and continental breakfast is included. Small,trendy, and a better option than most of what’s in the area.
Price: £££ (if staying)
You may also like: The Date Edit: Cambridge – punting, pubs, bars and craft cocktails
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Babs heads up Logistics and Product here at Nonchalant Magazine.
