The Buttery
One of the oldest restaurants in Glasgow, The Buttery’s been doing special occasion bookings since before you were born. Cosy coves and corners can become private spaces, where attentive tartan-clad pros bring out elegant plates of food with Scottish dishes the focus.

Crabshakk Botanics
If enough of your crowd enjoy seafood, nowhere else in town rivals this bustling space of high ceilings, low lighting and cooking that’s honest, modern and stylish in equal measure. For a small group of up to eight, consider private dining in the green room.

House of gods
Sometimes you just want a bougie cocktail to start or end the evening, and House Of Gods’ festive list delivers in spades. Their Orient Express-inspired lounge screams decadent glamour and they take their shaking seriously, but at the same time it’s fun.

Malocchio
This impressive recent opening puts a trendy spin on modern Italian dining, with an open-plan kitchen slinging out regional pastas and signature pizzette, with all the hustle and bustle of the Merchant City whizzing by outside. Group bookings for up to 16.

Margo
Ox And Finch’s bigger, younger sibling has been the success story of 2025. There’s a cracking booth for groups at the front, and they’ll take up to 20 elsewhere. Michelin-recommended small plates gloriously update classic flavour combos: confit lamb with merguez, cavolo nero and anchovy, anyone?

Royâ
Sultry Persian small plates served amid rich tones of burnt gold and petrol blue. The meat is halal and the staff well-versed at dealing with big tables. This year’s festive menu standouts include turkey shawarma croquettes and braised short rib with sticky date jus and chestnut crumble.

Swadish By Ajay Kumar
Diners flock to this split-level converted fire station on the fringe of the Merchant City for high-calibre fine dining, Indian-style. Spices from the subcontinent merge with local ingredients in dishes like roe deer Chettinad, or roast turkey, jeera aloo and cumin-spiced Yorkshire pudding.

Ubiquitous Chip
The newly refurbished Chip has spaces for most nights out, from its chirpy brasserie to the whisky bar. Most majestic is the legendary main dining space, favoured for graduations, weddings and everything in-between: foliage spills over the balcony and there’s 50 years of history in every corner. The Scottish, ingredient-led cooking is always more than solid.

This article comes from WishList 2025, our guide dedicated to making your festive season a little more special. Pick up your copy now from wherever you get your copy of The List.