The Neighbourhood @ Alea
Whether you’re new to Glasgow or simply looking for a spot of romantic inspiration, here’s hoping you’ll uncover a dreamy date idea
Whether you’re new to Glasgow or looking for a spot of romantic inspiration, here’s hoping you’ll uncover a dreamy date idea that will sweep your special someone off their feet.
OK, so it might not be known as ‘the city of love’, but in my eyes, Glasgow has to be one of the most romantic locations going. With a wealth of cosy nooks to nestle in, not to mention the gorgeous grassy parks, beautiful historical buildings, and iconic landmarks to explore, love birds are spoiled for choice when it comes to date ideas in the heart of the city.
Whether you’re new to Glasgow or looking for a spot of romantic inspiration, here’s hoping you’ll uncover a dreamy date idea that will sweep your special someone off their feet.
The tallest fully rotating freestanding structure in the world, Glasgow Science Centre’s magnificent tower has got to be a go-to destination for loved-up couples looking to scope out the city. Standing at 127 feet tall (the equivalent of 30 double-decker buses), this impressive structure overlooks Glasgow itself, including the iconic River Clyde, and beyond to the city’s surrounding landscapes. Reached by a short 2.5-minute elevator journey, once within the tower’s viewing cabin you can even use Geo-located Augmented Reality technology to see a panoramic view of the city, zooming into city-centre hotspots and comparing past and present images from the centre’s archives. For just £6.50 a ticket, this date with a difference is sure to set your love soaring…
Fancy making a night of it? Located just a hop, skip and a jump along the river, Alea Glasgow’s beautiful Waterfront Restaurant is the perfect place to finish off your date in style. Boasting a brand new menu, you can wine and dine with a gorgeous city backdrop, tucking into two courses for just £19.95 or three for £23.95. With floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Clyde, and indeed the very tower you visited earlier, this beautiful spot makes for the perfect end to the perfect date.
With a range of comedy nights throughout the week, an evening spent at The Stand is sure to have you in fits of giggles with your other half. The club’s flagship Saturday Show has got to be one of the best, and with tickets for less than £20, it’s pretty easy on the purse too. Head along and take a pew around the intimate stage, enjoy a chilled drink from the bar, and prepare to spend the night in hysterics as a host of top comedy acts deliver jokes late into the evening. Even the likes of famed comedian Frankie Boyle has been known to stop by for impromptu gigs, so you never know, you might get more than you bargained for with a date night spent here!
Glasgow’s biggest indoor street food event, the Big Feed visits Govan Road twice a month for an all-out and totally epic food fest. Everyone knows the way to the heart is through the stomach and with stands from incredible vendors like Nomad Pizza, Shrimp Wreck and The Prosecco Chaps, I’m pretty sure the journey there will be a smooth one! At just £2 entry, you and your loved one can spend the day strolling stalls, tucking into delicious delicacies and making special memories at this legendary indoor do.
One of Glasgow’s most recognisable landmarks, the beautiful Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is certainly a sight for love-struck eyes. Entry is free and you can stroll hand in hand through 22 galleries, count the famous floating heads, look out for Dali’s much-loved Christ of St John of the Cross painting, step back in time at one of the many exhibitions, or simply spend your day staring in awe at the magnificent main hall (and each other!).
Once you’ve explored the museum, enjoy a meander through the neighbouring Kelvingrove Park, taking in the beautiful rhododendron borders and enjoying riverside walks and maybe even a spot of bowls if you fancy hitting up the green. Don’t mind if we do!
Undoubtedly Glasgow’s coolest neighbourhood, the bustling Finnieston strip is lined with an array of hipster bars, cosy cafes, and award-winning restaurants just asking for you and your special someone to visit.
Why not turn it into a crawl and kick start your night sampling artisan gins in The Finnieston, home to the finest and freshest seafood dishes as well as creative gin cocktails made with juniper gems from near and far. Then move on to try something a little stronger at The Ben Nevis, a cosy stone-walled pub popular with locals for its impressive whisky collection and contemporary bothy feel. Next, make your way to the Grunting Growler, a small but intimate beer paradise where you’ll be able to try, and buy, as many beers as you fancy. Don’t forget to grab a bite en route, with a number of Michelin Guide-featured spots to choose from. I’d definitely recommend Rioja so you and your partner can get cosy over traditional tapas plates. Then finish up with a hop across the water and a tipple or two in Alea’s riverside Sports Bar, complete with an outdoor terrace to soak up the stunning Clyde views.
A date you won’t forget in a hurry for all the right reasons! Spend an evening at this legendary Merchant City location and be dazzled by an eccentric mix of theatrical performances, musical comedy, and aerial acts as you and your other half experience all the razzmatazz of Wild Cabaret. With a fantastic menu on offer as well as some fab dining deals including a two-course dinner and cabaret act for just £35 per person, this makes for the perfect all-singing, all-dancing night out – literally!
The mother of all date nights, a trip to the cinema is a must if you’re planning on wooing your special someone. Word of advice: if you’re gonna do it, make sure you do it in style at Springfield Quay’s Odeon Luxe. Kitted out with luxury leather recliners, flawless 4K projection, and intimate screens with bags more personal space, plus a fabulous bar serving up super special cinema snacks and top tipples, a trip here will change your cinema game for good.
When the film ends and you’re feeling suitably loved up, make sure you pop over to Alea’s glamorous Long Bar to swoon over fabulous £5 cocktails. Grab a cosy booth and wrap your lips around the bartender’s choice of three creative concoctions, all for just a fiver each, while you soak up the buzz of the bar with live entertainment on every weekend.
One of the quaintest and cutest streets in the city, Ashton Lane makes for the perfect romantic destination. Lined with cosy bars and casual restaurants, you’ll be spoiled for choice at this West End hotspot as you spend the day strolling hand in hand down the cobbles. Make it a daytime date and pop into the Innis & Gunn Beer Kitchen for some top scran and a sample of their incredible beer selection, or visit in the evening and gaze up at the lane’s canopy of twinkling lights before popping into Brel for a cuddle around one of their outdoor fire pits.
Arguably the most beautiful garden in the whole of Glasgow, a trip to the Botanic Gardens is sure to leave you feeling loved-up and lustful. Brimming with gorgeous plant collections, grassy stretches and glorious glasshouses, including the mesmerising Kibble Palace, the gardens are a wonderful place to while away an afternoon together. Try kicking off your date on an extra sweet note by popping into Great Western Road’s Loop & Scoop for a luxury ice cream cone (or churros – yum!) and enjoy as you meander around the beautiful Botanic Garden. Bliss!
Set hearts racing as you and your special someone spin one another across the ballroom at Sloans’ Friday night ceilidh. For just £15 a ticket, this is one date night not to be missed. Expect bags of atmosphere, all the favourites including Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow, fantastic live music from the in-house ceilidh band and caller, and of course, an evening of fast-paced and flirtatious fun.
Once you’ve danced yourselves dizzy, head to Alea’s Long Bar and keep the party going with a fab cocktail masterclass. Enjoy some much-needed refreshment in the form of a scrumptious cocktail made by your very own hands, learning how to shake it til’ you make it with your choice of bevvy. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour before sipping on an additional cocktail of your choice and playing a free table bet to on the gaming floor – all for just £20!
