Housed in what was Glasgow’s legendary Strathmore Bar, this new destination pays homage to the city’s Maryhill district (once a boarding point for prisoners en route to Botany Bay) but also gives the nod to the nearby Botanical Gardens. The old glasshouse/conservatory setting chimes well with the restaurant’s liking for local and seasonal produce, while the kitchen takes and eclectic approach to things, happily mixing ideas and riffs from far and wide.
Small plates, large plates and salads are the mainstays (with sandwiches added at lunchtime), so expect a trendy mash-up ranging from Cajun jackfruit tacos, haggis bonbons and pressed duck terrine with sloe gin to crab linguine, Botany burgers, rib-eye and chips or Sri Lankan monkfish curry. Brunch specials feature at the weekend, with plenty of Bloody Marys and Mimosas to keep things lively. If you’re holed up in the bar, there are also snacks such as hummus, tempura veg and BBQ chicken wings to go with your chosen tipple – perhaps a seasonal botanical cocktail or something from the wide-ranging wine list.