8 of the best seafood restaurants in Glasgow

Seafood has been part of Scotland's national cuisine for as long as there have been people inhabiting the land.

Published 21st Apr 2015
Updated 18 th Sep 2023

A perfect natural larder, Scotland's lochs, rivers and seas have provided its inhabitants with some of the best seafood available anywhere in the world.

It's no surprise then to find that Scotland also has some amazing seafood restaurants, here are eight of the best to be found in Glasgow:

The Mussel Inn  

(157 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 2UQ)

Picture: Mussel Inn Facebook

Picture: Mussel Inn Facebook

The first thing to note about the Mussel Inn is that it is aptly named, it offers some of the best mussels around, all served in a delicious range of sauces and they come in kilo pots no less!

Centrally located on Hope Street, the Mussel Inn offers a relaxed, family and kids friendly atmosphere to indulge in some truly amazing seafood.

Dishes include creamy seafood chowder, grilled king and queen scallops and Scottish oysters. They also serve fresh salads, vegetarian dishes and delicious sweets to ensure that everybody has a choice, no matter their preference.

Best of all, the Mussel Inn serves all of the above and more at prices that will leave you wondering how they manage to make any profits.

The Fish People Café  

(350 Scotland Street, Glasgow, Glasgow City G5 8QF)

Picture: The Fish People Café Facebook

Picture: The Fish People Café Facebook

Tucked away just to the south of the city centre, the Fish People Café is the hidden gem of Glaswegian seafood dining. Located right by the entrance to Shield's Road underground and close to the M8, you'll have no excuse for not visiting or coming back again and again.

The Fish People aim to create 'stunning dishes at affordable prices, show casing the freshest fish and shellfish Scotland has to offer' and they do just that, serving everything from Cullen skink to Shetland cod and Loch Fyne smoked salmon. We recommend you check out the battered haddock and chips too, a classic dish, brilliantly done.

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Should you be inspired to create your own seafood dishes based on what you've tried, then the Fish People offer a fishmongers right next door, with experts on hand to offer advice on the best way to prepare the freshest produce around.

Gamba 

(225A West George Street, Glasgow G2 2ND)

Picture: Gamba Facebook

Picture: Gamba Facebook

If you're looking for something a bit more upmarket, then look no further than the city centre and Derek Marshall's Gamba. This two AA rosette award-winning restaurant offers a menu that is updated every six weeks and regularly includes locally sourced produce such as Isle of Gigha halibut, Scottish lobster and Scottish smoked salmon from Marrbury.

The cosy, basement destination has been described as one of "Glasgow’s culinary standard bearers" and with 16 years of serving customers some of the best seafood around, you'll be hard pushed to find a better seafood restaurant anywhere in Scotland.

While you are there be sure to check out chef Derek Marshall's signature fish soup, customers and reviewers alike regularly rave about it, and rightly so.

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The Rogano 

(11 Exchange Place, Glasgow,  G1 3AN)

Picture: Rogano Facebook

Picture: Rogano Facebook

If any of the of the restaurants on this list deserve the appellation of 'the original Glasgow seafood restaurant' then it's the Rogano.

Should Jay Gatsby ever step out of the pages of fiction and visit Glasgow, this is where he would go. Opened in 1935, this art deco themed restaurant has been serving the best of Scottish seafood to locals and visitors alike for over 75 years.

Situated just off of Glasgow's chic royal exchange square, the Rogano is a must visit for those looking to sample a little bit of Glasgow's rich history, all while sampling some amazing seafood.

Two Fat Ladies 

(88 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow and 118A Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EG)

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Opened in 1989, the original Two Fat Ladies was set up on 88 (an obvious nod to its creators if ever there was one) Dumbarton Road with the intent of serving dishes created using the best of Scottish produce and influenced by France, Italy, the Middle East and beyond. Quickly gaining popularity, a second more accessible restaurant was opened in the city centre, closely following the ethos of its predecessor.

The Two Fat Ladies offers everything from seabream to trout through to the wonderful sounding curry & peanut crusted monkfish. You'll be spoiled for choice and there's plenty of non-fish based dishes for those who want something a little different.

Crabshakk 

(1114 Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow, G3 8TD)

Picture: Crabshakk Facebook

Picture: Crabshakk Facebook

One of the forebears of the now thriving Finnieston bar and restaurant scene, the Crabshakk is the younger, hipper cousin to the older, more established Glaswegian seafood venues.

The Crabshakk specialises in food to spoil yourself with, from the luxurious lobster through to tempura squid and the wonderfully named fruits de mer (seafood platter), this restaurant offers a great selection of Scottish seafood with a modern twist.

Fancy trying something a little different? Order the home cured gravadlax, we promise you won't regret it.

The Finnieston

(1125 Argyle St, City Centre, Glasgow G3 8ND)

Picture: The Finnieston Facebook

Picture: The Finnieston Facebook

The Finnieston's wooden beams and cosy booths give the feel of a seafront tavern making for the ideal location to try the best Scottish seas have to offer including trout, scallops and salmon.

To wash it all down is a selection of 60 types of gin, cocktails and wines. If you’ve not had your fill of seafood quite yet, try the Seafarer – a cocktail made with seafood infused sherry, giving it a savoury edge.

Catch

(186, Fenwick Rd, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6XF telephone:0141 638 9169 and 570 Clarkston Rd, Glasgow, G44 3SQ)

Picture: Catch Facebook

Picture: Catch Facebook

For those of you looking for something a little more easy going, say like a fish tea, then Glasgow has several new stylish fish and chip shops.

Not to be outdone by Shawlands and those southside areas closer to town, Giffnock is holding its own in terms of quality eateries and local fish and chip shop Catch is another raising the game for fish and chips.

Serving food that you’d expect in a high end restaurant, the humble fish and chips that is their staple dish hasn’t been forgotten about as it’s also been elevated to gourmet status.

Huge pieces of the freshest haddock, cod and halibut – and we mean fresh, they source and cook to order only fish from sustainable Scottish coastal fisheries – side by side with the chunkiest twice cooked chips, trust us, you’ll not be disappointed.

Best of all, they've just opened up a second shop in Netherlee giving even more southside residents the chance to indulge in some of their delightful dishes.

 

 

Driven by a passion for all things drinks-related, Sean writes for The Scotsman extensively on the subject. He can also sometimes be found behind the bar at the world famous Potstill bar in Glasgow where he continues to enhance his whisky knowledge built up over 10 years advising customers from all over the world on the wonders of our national drink. Recently, his first book was published. Dubbed Gin Galore, it explores Scotland's best gins and the stories behind those that make them.
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