Ardnamurchan Scottish Restaurant & Bar 
325 Hope Street
Close to Theatre Royal and the Pavilion, enjoy Scottish cuisine with modern twists, big flavours and a market menu until 5.45pm. This changes frequently; expect seafood stews that zing with fennel and chilli, venison stew using meat from Ardnamurchan Estate, or lighter choices like pea and broccoli risotto. 

Kelp Restaurant 
114 Cowcaddens Road
Another Theatre Royal/Pavilion spot. Small plates and seafood are the vibe and two dishes and a side are just over £20. The cooking is skillful: scorched mackerel stands up to a tikka masala sauce, and Shetland coley with warm tartare is a delicate wee hit of fish and chips without overreaching or overfilling. Market menu until 5.45pm.

Masala Twist 
261–263 Hope Street
Ever-reliable Indian which has moved with the times and now has more ‘street-food shack’ energy. On the pre-theatre, there’s a Mumbai beach puffed rice and potato starter, as well as haggis pakora, rolling into an impressive choice of ten different curries. Handy for Theatre Royal and the Pavilion, pre-theatre runs until 6pm. 

Royâ 
59 Elmbank Street 
King’s Theatre-adjacent sultry Middle-Eastern spot, with a nice take on the early evening: choose one small plate, one dip and one larger grilled/baked option. Lemons, tomatoes and aromatic spices dominate, meats are charred and hold their flavour, and the beetroot and burrata salad is one you’ll tell your friends about. There’s a cocktail bar downstairs too. 

Sannio 
61a Elmbank Street
The Glasgow-Italian pre-theatre deal is on the endangered list, but Sannio ticks the boxes. Foliage and fairy lights are the backdrop for unfussy Italian faves (pasta, bruschetta, pizza): tagliatelle Siciliana bounces with juicy capers and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s a one-minute walk to the King’s and the pre-theatre runs until 7.30 if you like cutting it fine.