The Ben Nevis
1147 Argyle Street
There’s nowhere else quite like the Ben. Its interior is a modern interpretation of a Highland blackhouse, with a roaring fire, excellent folk sessions and, crucially, a carefully curated whisky list that’ll keep you coming back for more, from classics to rarer finds and indie bottlings. Beer taps are rotational, including cask ales and modern pales.

The Bon Accord
153 North Street
The Bon Accord has endured the construction of the M8 motorway and the death of its owner, Paul McDonagh, in 2023. Now in the safe hands of his son, Thomas, it remains one of the top spots to enjoy a dram in Scotland and also has one of the city’s best cask ale selections. 

The Islay Inn 
1256–1260 Argyle Street
There’s been a pub on this site since 1871 and among the 100-plus malts in its gantry there’s a focus, unsurprisingly, on the peat-laden drams of the eponymous Queen Of The Hebrides. Like all great Highland and island hostelries in Finnieston, it has a regular folk session every weekend as well as a classic pub-food menu.

The Lismore Bar
206 Dumbarton Road 
Named after the Inner Hebridean island, The Lismore has everything you could want in an old-school boozer: a fireplace, folk sessions, splendid drams, great beer, stained-glass windows and a dark-wood interior. In short, this pub is the distillation of a warm hug. Plus, it has the only urinal in Glasgow you could justifiably describe as a tourist attraction. 

The Piper Whisky Bar
57 Cochrane Street
Sure, this Merchant City bar is squarely aimed at the tourist market, but it has a lot going for it. Overlooking George Square, it’s a stone’s throw from Queen Street Station and a short walk from Central. More importantly, it has an excellent range of drams (300 malts and counting), thanks to the work of its tireless licensee, Gillian Kirkland. 

The Pot Still
14 Hope Street 
Thanks to the love and dedication of the Murphy family, this is undeniably Glasgow’s (if not Scotland’s) archetypal whisky bar par excellence. The selection is staggering, covering not only all regions of Scotland, but much of Britain, Ireland and the world. More important than the whisky, dare we say, is one of the best atmospheres to drink in anywhere in the city.

The Wee Whisky Bar
12 Ashton Lane
This teeny drinking den has just had a glow-up but still feels very much like The Wee Pub it once was, albeit with a lick of fresh paint. The selection isn’t quite what it was, but it remains a wonderfully cosy spot to while away an evening.

Also try... Òran Mór across the road from the Botanic Gardens, while The Gate on Gallowgate, though specialising in cocktails, also boasts one of the best whisky-focused back bars in the city.

This TipList is taken from Eat & Drink 365 Glasgow, our sister mag recommending the best in restaurants, bars, cafés and more. Want a copy? It’s available online or across all good stockists in Glasgow.