Glasgow hotels

Original features such as fireplaces and terrazzo flooring have been carefully restored, along with the facade of sailors and seaweed etched into Carrara marble above the entrance. It’s a history that flows all around, with decor inspired by 1920s cruise ships, and posters from the Anchor Line decorating the restaurant, where the menu includes Scottish scallops and truffle tortellini.
The Atlantic Bar & Brasserie, meanwhile, serves up French-accented dishes. It’s one of my favourites for the sense of independence: these are serviced apartments rather than traditional hotel rooms, which always makes me feel I’m a proper local for a night or two – though a concierge is available 24 hours to assist.
The blue-painted, open-plan bedrooms range in sizes – choose a penthouse for the balcony – making this a versatile space for all comers, within easy reach of the Gallery of Modern Art and Buchanan Street shops.

The walls of this centrally-located hotel are adorned with paintings by students from the Glasgow School of Art along with photographs of the city’s architecture and industrial heritage. Set on a quiet street close to the Riverside Museum and SSE Hydro venue, the building itself was one of Glasgow’s first power stations, in the days when power stations were beautiful Italianate creations.
Inside, ornate marble interiors are contrasted with neon-style lighting and vivid floral fabrics. Bedrooms have high ceilings and large windows offering cinematic views over the city.
When I chose to dine at Turbine 75, the onsite restaurant, I discovered that there’s plenty of Scottish produce on the menu, and the personable staff are a fount of local knowledge. One of the best value-for-money boutique hotels in Glasgow, with some of the best accessibility credentials in town.

This hotel opened in 1883 adjoining the station, and its guest book reads like a Who’s Who of the 20th century, featuring everyone from The Beatles to Nat King Cole, Mae West to Frank Sinatra. Over the decades its reputation faded, but in 2021 it reopened after a much-needed makeover.
Original details such as marble columns, wood paneling, and gold leaf remain, but bedrooms are now fresh and contemporary, with a blue-and-yellow color scheme and abstract artwork. Those famous guests, meanwhile, can be spotted in the stairwell, where the hotel’s portrait collection is located.
For a location with real character right at the heart of city life look no further: my favourite spot is the Champagne Bar, where I like to people-watch on the station concourse below while enjoying a platter of brioche sliders and a glass of fizz.