Babbity Bowster

For our last pint before catching the train home, we headed over to Babbity Bowster, which may sound like a character from Harry Potter but is actually a lovely, secluded old boozer with a beer garden.
One of Glasgow’s beery institutions, the simply decorated former 18^th century tobacco merchant’s house was a really pleasant surprise; I was thinking it was going to be some slightly dodgy pub.
We didn’t eat here but there looked to be plenty of French influence on the menu and the décor — when we arrived there were some folk having a game of boules outside. We could have been transported over to the continent if it wasn’t for our pints of locally-​brewed ale.
If it’s a sunny day, the back terrace is the place to be. If it isn’t, there’s plenty of room inside to escape the weather and peer out through their tall windows.
A fine establishment and one I won’t leave until last the next time we visit.

One of the highlights of my trip to the uk. Went in around 2 pm for lunch and stayed til 5:30, we felt so comfortable. Eat the Cullen Skink– best fish chowder of my life. Better than the clam chowder back home in the Pacific Northwest! Great pull of Guinness, amazing bartend, definitely a locals joint. If you go to Glasgow and don’t eat or drink here, you’re crazy.

True pub. Recommended by the maths department at University of Strathclyde. Exceeded expectations.

Stumbled onto this place while looking for a nice quiet place for a drink on a Saturday night, a near impossible task. But this place was great, the atmosphere and staff were warm, had some great drinks and an overall great time. Also unexpectedly got some good food as well.

Babbitty Bowser (no I’ve no idea how they came up with that name either) is a friendly, well-​heeled pub located on a side street in Merchant City. This makes it difficult to stumble upon and so adds to the locals atmosphere.
Three real ales are available at any time, with Deuchars IPA and Fyne Jarl on permanently. The Jarl was in excellent condition, I could have drunk that all night!
There’s an open fire too, excellent for the colder months and a beer garden too, great for the summer days.

There is something great about this place. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what, as it seems quite dated and traditional in a way, but maybe that’s actually part of its charm.
I love that it’s hidden away from the rest of the Merchant City and that also gives it another plus. It seems to be a different crowd. Less passing trade and more people who actually head here as a preferred destination.
Food wise it tends to be traditional hearty fare. Last visit I had Cullen skink with crusty bread and it was a big portion that tasted brilliant. Another plus is the beer garden. If you get a sunny day in Glasgow, you can sit in the quiet garden and have a couple of pints and not really know your in the centre of town. If it is cold outside, then head in doors and you may catch some of the traditional music that is regularly getting played.
A place I should go more often and definitely worth a look if your in the area.

I’ve been to Babbity Bowster a few times over the summer — and it’s never disappointed me.
It’s quite a straightforward Scottishy type bar — with some odd French art and scripting hung up. It appeals to a really wide age range, and when it gets busy at the weekend, you can’t move. Good for a quiet midweek pint too.
There’s a pretty decent selection of beers, and they make a mean latte too.
The beer garden is a great place to hang out when the weather’s good. Come Celtic Connections time, this is one bar that’ll be full of musicians — so expect some impromptu, and eclectic gigs.

My guy and I strolled in here one night after a dinner out. I’d never been, but it’s one of his favourites. It really is a gem of a place even though the crowd is on the older side. The interior is that of an old New England house, which was cozy and warm. There wasn’t any music playing in the place, but the chat from the patrons was enough to keep the mood light and friendly. We only stayed for one drink as we had just stuffed ourselves at our new favourite restaurant, but I’m sure we’ll be back.
One thing to note, there is a hotel attached, which I very much plan on staying at one night, just to see what that’s all about. My guy isn’t convinced that we need to stay at a pub hotel in the same city that we live in, but I’ll get him convinced. :)

I knew I’d like this place from three doors down — so much so that I took a picture. I just liked the name and the look of it.
When our local Glasgow friend brought us inside, he warned that the «violins may seem a bit twee» — oh but I’m from Los Angeles and I found the violins — and flute and other instruments to be lovely. This was a group of musicians seated in the pub along with the rest of us, playing at just the right volume.
Inside, we were lucky enough to find great seats early Saturday evening. The walls are white and the pub is very convivial. Our friend bought me a half-​and-​half — half pint of ale plus a lovely whisky. I mean really lovely. Isle of Jura. Must get more.
One would be really lucky to have this as their local.

Try the haggis! It is really good here

Great bar, and nice to have a ‘quiet’ place away from the madding crowds.
That said, it’s never all that quiet as it’s definitely not the best kept secret, which isn’t surprising as they offer a good range of ales, some good hearty food, and whilst the clientele are usually on the upper range age wise, there is always a lively mix.
Relaxing, simple and comforting, this is the kind of pub in which you could happily while away the hours. They usually have a (Scottish) guest ale on tap, and the staff are knowledgeable and down to earth.
Can be a wee bit cramped when it gets busy but if you like (or play) folk music, get there on a Saturday night and take along your fiddle, bodhran, or banjo and join in (you’ll need to know your stuff though!).
I recommend Babbity Bowster to friends and visitors to Glasgow, as it’s a good example of a friendly Glasgow boozer.

A great alternative to the bigger pubs in the Merchant City, this has a great local pub feel to it which makes it nice and inviting.
For a start it looks lovely. Clean white walls, great pictures of Glasgow and its people, and a good sized bar it’s a place you can feel comfortable in pretty quickly. There wasn’t any music playing on the Saturday night we were in, which was actually really nice, and the atmosphere was great. It did look like we had missed some folk busking which would have been cool.
The beer was great, and the staff were really friendly. We didn’t get a chance to try the food, but I’d definitely come back and give it a go.
The fact that its not on the main Merchant City thoroughfares is a blessing and a curse: it’s feels good to go that little but further out to a really nice pub, but you do wish more folk would know about it.

Ever since the beginning of time (or when I first discovered this pub) I thought it was actually Babbity Bowser and it was only when I looked at the sign on Saturday night that I discovered the extra «t» in there. I’ll still call it Bowser though!
I’d visited for afternoon drinks a while back, and we headed her for an after-​dinner drink on Saturday night. While it was heaving with people at 9pm, it wasn’t hard to get a seat or a drink which was good!
This is a simple pub — classy, nicely decorated and a comfortable place for a chat over a pint. There wasn’t any music on but it was pleasantly filled with the rumble of Saturday night chat from other patrons. Prime seating options are along the wall, whereas the tables in the middle mean you’ll be perching on a small stool.
I didn’t have anything to drink (I was driving!) and was too full to even look at the food options, but I’ll definitely be back for visit # 3 when I’m in the area again.

A hidden treasure!
Such a cool little pub hidden down a back street of the Merchant City. I went here a couple of times during the summer so I got to experience their beer garden as well! It’s so nice to have a beer outside and not be served it in a plastic glass. Classy eh? Moving on inside cute décor and very spacious. Old style wooden table and chairs and on the outside the building itself is a beaut! Over to the food, the mussels with crusty bread is a must! They serve a massive portion which is great to share especially if your spending the afternoon drinking!
Over all a 4 star for me! Very cosy little place. Staff are very friendly ready waiting to give you recommendations on whiskey and beer! A fab selection all around! Great food, great beer and great atmosphere! What else could you look for?

A really nice atmospheric pub. Has a limited range of real ales but what I tried was well kept. They are a bit on the pricey side though. Get the feeling place has a split personality, pub ! Restaurant !

Something of a Glasgow institution, I’d never actually been to Babbity’s until this weekend. I don’t often go to The Merchant City.
Alas, this Friday, two friends and I decided after the Steps Bar we’d venture somewhere else. They both recommended BB’s.
First off the bat, I really liked the interior — wooden tables, benches, and I think there was a fireplace — although I may have just imagined this given my several pints beforehand. It has a really nice feel, with a traditional appearance — and gets the balance right; it comes across as homely, welcoming and traditional — rather than tacky, kitsch and like it’s trying too hard.
The selection of ales was smashing — and that always gets my thumbs up.
I was thoroughly impressed with this boozer — and whenever I am back in Merchant City, I’d most certainly pay it another visit.

Love the food, quirkiness and ambience: however, The Portonian finished his main course well before me, and his plate was cleared away while I was still eating. Please do not do this. This is not the only venue where this happens and it makes the other customer feel rushed. The Portonian was invited to order a pudding while I was still eating my main course. Please do not do this, this makes the other customer feel rushed and a tad invisible. Based on this visit, a 3 star experience.

Babbity Bowster’s manages to bridge the gap between cosy, stylish, traditional and modern. Don’t ask me how, but it seems to be successful at mixing its genres!
A traditional Scots bar set in the stylish, upmarket Merchant City, Babbity’s subtly exerts a sprinkling of Scottish heritage without being too O.T.T. It’s comfy without being cluttered with memorabilia, and its décor is simple. I couldn’t really figure out its layout but I get the impression it’s deceptively big! It has a bar loaded with booze, including a variety of whiskys, and a menu packed with cullen skink along with other tasty Scottish fayre.
I visited Babbity’s with the Unilocal squad and found it very pleasant. I must confess I was drinking tea that night (much to the disdain of my colleagues), but will definitely head back for a few drinks and a bite to eat since they seem to offer variety in both areas. One to return to, and a chilled out (but nevertheless upmarket) alternative to some of the more uptight, self consciously trendy bars that litter this area of the city.

Sometimes you walk into a bar and think to yourself ‘Wow, I’m such a dumbass’.
I shall explain. Up until recently I’d never stepped foot in this place having lived in Glasgow for almost a decade (wait, is it a decade. must ask the female one). Now in fairness to myself, the Merchant City is an area I don’t often frequent, i’ve been there two many times to have never dropped into this joint.
Things that make me go ‘yay’:
— Real fire!
Big win on this one. It was roaring away last night, taking the nip off the air and making sure my cheeks were a nice wee rosey red (nothing to do with the whisky!)
— Good beer selection, including a nice few ales.
— Nice bright interior. Fresh, warm and welcoming which is so nice on a dark scottish winter evening.
All in all this is most likely my new go to place in this area. Appears too that they also serve food. Must make a return visit (always nice to have an excuse eh?).

We stayed at one of the rooms above the Babbity Bowster for 1 night while in Glasgow. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the room was clean, and the location was great. We had a couple meals there as well and the food was good as well-​great Cullen Skink. Although breakfast wasn’t included, £60 for a double room was a fabulous deal for that location-​I would definitely return if staying in Glasgow again.

Arrivé un jour par hasard dans ce restaurant/​pub/​hôtel un jour de pénurie de haggis dans un autre pub du quartier, on m’a conseillé de me tourner vers celui-​ci.
Le haggis était, comme promis, au rendez-​vous, bon et bien présenté (nips n tatties, cela va sans dire!), mais j’ai de plus eu la joie de découvrir au fil de la carte quelques plats qui raviront tous les Français en mal de notre bonne vieille nourriture: des plats de chez nous! En effet, le chef, un Français, propose une carte alliant cuisine de pub traditionnelle et cuisine continentale. Au menu donc: navarin d’agneau et confit de canard.
Savourez votre moment, et votre repas, au coin d’un feu de cheminée, et, si le coeur vous en dit, engagez la conversation avec les propriétaires du lieu, des gens ouverts et amoureux de la France!