Travel Writer, Rhona McKenzie, reflects on her short visit to Glasgow, praising the city’s beautiful streets and swathes of culinary delights
Before term fully started up again, I spent a long weekend up in Glasgow visiting my siblings who are at university there. I got the train from Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central on Thursday evening and stayed until Sunday afternoon. Here’s what I got up to and some things I recommend you do if you visit this vibrant city!
Thursday:
When I got off my train after a four-and-a-half-hour journey, it’s safe to say that I needed a wholesome dinner to revive me after my travels. If you are a fan of Japanese food like me, you need to visit this amazing restaurant which is a 10-minute walk from Glasgow Central, recommended to me by my sister.
Mikaku is known as a little piece of Tokyo in the heart of Glasgow, and it lived up to my expectations. With beautiful cherry blossom trees, glowing lanterns, and TVs scattered throughout playing Japanese adverts, you feel as though you’ve momentarily left Glasgow. The menu contained an extensive selection of authentic Japanese meals, from curries, donburis, to ramens and even Japanese sandwiches – there certainly was a vast selection to choose from.
The ramen was perfect and revived me after my long journey – it was even nicer washed down with one of their speciality drinks, a wasabi margarita.
After paying the bill, I went home and watched a couple of episodes of Gossip Girl before going to sleep. Even though I didn’t see much of the city on this day, I enjoyed the walk around the city centre before heading to my sister’s flat.
With beautiful cherry blossom trees, glowing lanterns, and TVs scattered throughout playing Japanese adverts, you feel as though you’ve momentarily left Glasgow
Friday:
I started the day off with a walk around Glasgow’s West End, where it amazes me every time how this is Glasgow University’s equivalent of Selly Oak. Instead of the terraced houses, students tend to live in red sandstone tenement buildings above shops and cafés – rather glamorous in comparison! My sister and I strolled through the lovely Kelvingrove Park, and then past a building which she told me she had politics lectures in last year. It only looked slightly different to Muirhead tower!
We met up with a couple of friends and then headed to Golf It, a driving range similar to Top Golf, which is located about a 20-minute drive out of the city centre. It is easily accessible as it’s a short uber journey out of the city, and I recommend it if you want a fun afternoon out with friends. Though it’s an amusing way to spend a Friday afternoon, it reinforced that golf is not my forte, as balls hit the fence more than the direction in which I was aiming.
We finished the evening by having a fajita night with our brother and then going to the local pub. It doesn’t get much better than finishing off a busy day with some quality sibling time over a pint and a large portion of fajitas. Overall, it was a fun day with a balance of being busy playing golf mixed with peaceful walks through the lovely and picturesque Kelvingrove Park.
My sister and I strolled through the lovely Kelvingrove Park, and then past a building which she told me she had politics lectures in last year. It only looked slightly different to Muirhead tower!
Saturday:
Despite the slow start to the day, the pints from the night before did not stop us from heading off to a gem in Glasgow’s West End, Ashton Lane. For those who are unfamiliar, it’s one of Glasgow’s most iconic streets with restaurants, bars, and even a cinema. I’d recommend coming here in the evening, as there are fairy lights between all the buildings which looks beautiful when all lit up. The place that we got lunch at was called Ramen Dayo, a Japanese restaurant dedicated to all things ramen. I have to say, it lived up to this expectation. I opted for the shiitake and porcini ramen with a side of bean sprouts, and not only was it delicious, but was reasonably priced for the quality.
After strolling through the West End for a couple more hours, my sister and I ended the day off by going to another pub and catching up with a few of her friends.
Despite the slow start to the day, the pints from the night before did not stop us from heading off to a gem in Glasgow’s West End, Ashton Lane
Sunday:
As I was sad to be leaving Glasgow, I wanted to make sure I got the most out of my last morning in this lovely city. My sister proposed the idea of a brunch with my brother and his girlfriend at a place called Left Bank. The only way I can describe it is that the interior is similar to Cafe Face on Bristol Road, only Left Bank was slightly larger, and inevitably sold breakfasts with tattie scones and haggis balls. After brunch I went to collect my suitcase and went back to Glasgow Central train station where I would head back home to Birmingham.
Overall, I had a lovely weekend. I hope this article has not only inspired you to take a trip to this wonderful city but also given you some recommendations of places to go if you decide to visit. If you want to go to a city which has Instagram worthy streets and restaurants, combined with a bustling nightlife scene, I’d say it’s the place for you.
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