If it’s nightlife you seek, then Glasgow’s city centre will deliver, whatever your taste or inclination. Music is at the heart of many venues. Nice N Sleazy has been rocking Sauchiehall Street since 1991. The bar and club is regularly jumping until 3am, with open mic, trad music sessions, karaoke and club nights. A few blocks away is the venerable King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, where Oasis were famously signed to Creation. Primarily a gig venue, it’s a welcoming, indie-vibe bar in its own right. For daily free live gigs try old-school MacSorley’s close to the river, which has been refreshing Glaswegians since 1892.

Don’t ignore the city centre’s many back lanes, which can conceal top bars such as Stereo, an important player in Glasgow’s vegan-friendly rep, housed in a Charles Rennie Mackintosh building. Opposite another CRM building on Mitchell Lane is Tabac, a long-standing favourite for great cocktails and pre-club warm-ups. Whisky fans need look no further than The Pot Still for its beguiling back bar of seemingly endless (over 1000) whiskies and ultra-knowledgeable staff. For cocktails, check out The Last Bookstore for a literary-themed concoction (a Tolkien or a Chandler, perhaps) and Med-inspired small plates amid their shelves of thousands of tomes.

Bath Street has the monopoly on great basement-bar hangouts. The Butterfly And The Pig has live music most nights on its wee stage and serves great Scottish-leaning food in the bar and separate restaurant. Moskito puts on plenty of events alongside great cocktails and top East Asian food, from gyoza and bao buns to donburi bowls. For something even more exotic, descend into the Polynesian den that is The Tiki Bar for cocktails in ceramic skulls. Further down the road is Slouch who not only have regular live music but also open until 3am every night, serving pizzas and burgers until 2am.

Also try… Bloc for more indie-minded music in a Bath Street basement or Buck’s Bar for their menu specialising in fried chicken. For a serious feed, head to The Duke’s Umbrella for upscale Scottish food.

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; main picture: Michael C Hunter.