A city known for its gritty unpretentious charm now frequently tops many a must-see city list. The Scottish gem mixes tradition and working-class roots with a good number of hip bars, interesting independent shops and restaurants with a healthy dose of culture, feistiness….and friendliness thrown in good measure.
In fact, Glasgow is packed with some of the most quirky and wonderful places to drink and hang out in the whole country from whimsical cocktail hideaways to trendy craft beer spots. And its hotels? Well, they’re equally as unique as you’ll find out below. From quirky boutiques to fun, funky and modern, here are the best cool and unusual hotels to stay in Glasgow, Scotland (in no particular order)…
1. YOTEL Glasgow, Merchant City – a new and ultra-modern hotel to stay in Glasgow perfect for partying Millennials and Gen Zs
YOTEL is one of the newest, most funky hotels in Glasgow. Located right next to the Central Station, the hotel has a fantastic range of rooms on offer in the absolute heart of the city.
Every room and public space at this cool and trendy hotel is cleverly designed using quirky colours and trendy fittings to give the illusion of space, fun, and comfort.
Unusually YOTEL Glasgow boasts a four-lane bowling alley with bar and a top-floor café cum nightclub with live DJs each weekend and some great views for breakfast. There’s also a well-equipped gym on the ground floor so you can get fit for another night in the city.
- To book, check prices or availability for YOTEL Glasgow, Merchant City
2. Moxy Glasgow, Merchant City – offering cool, funky and colourful accommodation in Glasgow great for sociable fun-loving guests
Moxy Glasgow is on the eastern edge of the city centre, very close to the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Cathedral by the High Street railway station.
Moxy is a fun and funky hotel chain from the Marriott Group that has frills and style: simple doesn’t need to be boring. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and practical, yet chic.
There’s a breakfast bar, a funky cocktail bar, workspaces and a few games; even a small fitness area. Moxy Glasgow is all about providing a cool but comfortable base from which you can freshen up, grab a beer, shoot some pool, and then get out and explore or party in the city.
- To book, check prices or availability for Moxy Glasgow, Merchant City
3. citizenM Glasgow, Townhead – a trendy, funky and creative central hotel set in a cool modular building perfect for Instagram fans
At the northern side of the city centre, between Townhead and Cowcaddens, is the inexpensive citizenM Glasgow; a modern graphite breezeblock of a building which confidently knows everything about cubes.
This is the artistic heart of Glasgow and citizenM takes every opportunity to remind you of the great local hero with its Mackintosh-inspired lines providing a surface for a full spectrum of colourful expression and stylish furnishings.
The guest rooms are trendy, clever and comfortable with big cosy beds. There’s a large designer lounge, decked out in a multitude of smart designs and a big bar for drinks or meals in the evening, and breakfast in the morning.
- To book, check prices or availability for citizenM Glasgow, Townhead
4. Virgin Hotels Glasgow – a new high-end and modern lifestyle hotel which features neighbourhood-driven design
The trendy new Virgin Hotel has landed in Glasgow’s Clyde Street, and it’s the ideal luxury base for exploring the dynamic city, close to the Buchanan Galleries, George Square and The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Guests get a red carpet welcome, literally, and panoramic views of the River Clyde.
The rooms live up to the chain’s reputation for innovative design, with sliding doors that let you separate sleeping and relaxing areas, a dressing area with a stand-alone vanity, and yoga mats in every room. Restful neutrals with bright pops of color, city views and a minibar
The Commons Club Restaurant and Bar will serve a menu with Scottish produce and creative cocktails and drinks.
- To book, check prices or availability for Virgin Hotels Glasgow
5. Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, Blythswood Hill – a chic, stylish and unique upscale boutique hotel
Dominating a classical Georgian square, close to the cultural and entertainment centres of Glasgow, the stately Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel is the very epitome of confident quality and luxury, Scottish style.
The rooms have been designed to invoke contemporary comfort whilst respecting the elegant architectural heritage with large comfortable beds, fabulous bathrooms, and lots of little luxurious touches.
If all this refinement gets too much; there’s a fully-equipped fitness centre to put wellness back in charge, and a spa with relaxation pools and a thermal suite. On the first floor is a beautiful, comfortable cocktail lounge with views over the square and on the ground floor a large modern brasserie.
- To book, check prices or availability for Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel
6. Revolver – a trendy and contemporary boutique hotel housed in a stunning and historic Virginia House
The new 32-room boutique hotel has a convenient central location in Merchant City, close to the Glasgow Cathedral, George Square, Buchanan Galleries and The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
And for those seeking the exciting nightlife in the gay district, the Polo Lounge nightclub is on the ground floor of the historic listed building.
Besides the standard double and triple rooms, guests can choose Japanese-style pod rooms and dormitory rooms with bunk beds. All spaces have creative decor in contrasting colors, for the perfect mix of soothing and energizing.
Breakfast is served every morning with eclectic offerings like oats, Japanese-style pancakes and cappuccinos. A rooftop gym and sauna with hot tub will be opening soon.
- To book, check prices or availability for Revolver Glasgow
7. Dakota Glasgow – one of the best and most unique places to stay in Glasgow with a lovely outside space
An oasis of classic elegance in the heart of the city center, the Dakota Glasgow is close to major attractions like the Kelvin Grove Art Gallery & Museum, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, the Theatre Royal, Kings Theatre, Hydro, Scottish Event Campus (SEC Centre), and Hampden Park.
The hotel has been chosen as ‘Scotland’s most stylish hotel’ by the Scottish Style Awards for its sophisticated and quirky style. The rooms are elegant oases of classic luxury with sumptuous bedding, 48” Smart HDTV, media hub with bluetooth and bespoke toiletries.
Amenities include The Library lounge and access to The Gym two doors down. Eat and drink in style at the Dakota Grill, one of the finest restaurants in Glasgow known for the quality of the steaks, and Jack’s Bar with a heated outdoor terrace and dedicated Champagne Room.
- To book, check prices or availability for Dakota Glasgow
8. Boutique 50 – a casual but elegant hotel located in a hip and trendy neighbourhood perfect for a romantic break
A stay at this 4-star hotel in Glasgow’s West End is a one-of-a-kind experience. There are just 10 bedrooms, and each has its own unique design, with contemporary takes on the building’s Victorian heritage.
Tall windows with sweeping drapes, designer chandeliers, plush seating and headboards mix with quirky artwork celebrating Scotland’s wildlife.
The rooms have all the comforts including a minibar with a carefully curated selection of drinks. A buffet breakfast is served every morning, and there’s a bar and lounge for drinks and snacks.
The location puts you close to all you want to explore in Glasgow, including museums, art galleries, bars, restaurants and shops.
- To book, check prices or availability for Boutique 50
9. Hotel du Vin & Bistro, One Devonshire Gardens – a vibrant, popular and sophisticated boutique hotel with striking decor
An iconic Glasgow hotel set in a traditional tree-lined Victorian terrace in the fashionable West End, only 30 minutes from Loch Lomond. Hotel du Vin Glasgow at One Devonshire Gardens is a luxury boutique hotel with a reputation for first-class service and style.
There are 49 stunning bedrooms and suites at this Glasgow boutique hotel, each with extremely comfy hand-sprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep roll-top baths and big TVs.
There’s the excellent restaurant One Devonshire Gardens with a great wine cellar, a relaxing bar, an intriguing cigar shack and a well-stocked and comfortable whisky room. For luxury dining, breaks away, meetings and weddings in Glasgow, this is a special and unique place to stay!
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel du Vin & Bistro
10. Cathedral House Hotel, Townhead – a family-owned chic, cute and charming boutique hotel
This 19th-century baronial-style independent hotel is a 4-minute walk from Glasgow Cathedral and a 12-minute walk from Merchant City in one of the oldest districts of the city.
Despite looking like a castle on the outside the charming hotel is sumptuous and cosy on the inside, and in a great location with views of the historic Necropolis and cathedral. The rooms are stunning, each cleverly designed with a mixture of classical and modern to create a really comfortable, relaxing stay.
The restaurant, Celentano’s, serves Italian-inspired food focusing on seasonal produce to make clever and wholesome dishes.
The idea is built on a passion for sharing good food and drinks with family and friends. They serve in the main restaurant, bar and delightful garden at Cathedral House as well as a lovely upstairs dining room with views of Glasgow Cathedral.
- To book, check prices or availability for Cathedral House Hotel, Townhead
11. Malmaison Glasgow, Blythswood Hill – an upscale hotel uniquely set in a former Greek Orthodox church
This 72-room creatively designed hotel is very conveniently situated in the bustling shopping and nightlife area of Glasgow, with cultural institutions like the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall just a 10-minute walk away.
A former church, from the outside Malmaison Glasgow resembles an austere Egyptian stone temple – a sphinx would be right at home on the doorstep – you would expect the interior to be refined and mysterious, yet it’s a riot of no-holes-barred design ideas linked together with houndstooth tweed.
A full assault on the visual senses with colours, shapes, and textures that really shouldn’t be seen together but work brilliantly.
Head down to the old church vaults for the slightly more restful French brasserie or grab afternoon tea or a cocktail in the comforting bar.
- To book, check prices or availability for Malmaison Glasgow
12. Native Glasgow, Merchant City – a chic boutique hotel housed in a beautiful Art Deco building offering fabulous views
Found in an Edwardian building this hotel in Glasgow city centre draws on the opulence of a 1920s ocean liner. Throughout the 64 apartments, you’ll see original 1906 features kept intact with terrazzo flooring, timber wall panelling, stunning fireplaces and the original safes. With two on-site restaurants, it’s the perfect base to explore Glasgow.
Whilst the apartments at Native Glasgow Merchant City themselves are simply, but comfortably furnished, downstairs is the Anchor Line Bar and Restaurant, a venue with grandiose decoration serving the best of Scottish produce with influences from both sides of the Atlantic.
Start the day with a deliciously hearty breakfast or book a table for dinner with a menu offering locally sourced food. Before you leave, make sure you take in the fascinating memorabilia hung on the walls.
It showcases the Anchor Line building in its heyday as the infamous Anchor Line Shipping company headquarters in 1906.
- To book, check prices or availability for Native Glasgow Merchant City
13. Motel One Glasgow, Merchant City – a reasonably priced design hotel and a great place to stay in Glasgow
A modern hotel, adjacent to Glasgow Central Station, with refined rooms and a good bar. It is smack in the beating heart of this city with famous shops, restaurants and nightlife less than a 10-minute walk.
A nice, clean, modern, friendly hotel, not over-expensive, next door to the railway station but well sound-proofed, not a whisper of station or street noise. There’s effective but quiet air-con, comfortable beds, and an impressive cityscape view from some rooms.
Motel One specialises in organic and fair-trade foods for breakfast and snacks in the lounge, surrounded by stylish Scotland-inspired interiors purposely taking influences from the railway and colours of the Highlands.
Everything in this trendy hotel is thought through and executed perfectly, and backed up with some of the best service standards around.
- To book, check prices or availability for Motel One Glasgow
14. voco Grand Central Glasgow, Merchant City – a hip eco-friendly hotel set in a landmark Victorian building
A superimposing Victorian-built monolithic railway hotel attached to Glasgow Central Station. Rather than mimic the past, voco Grand Central has created an interior of fun using the original shapes and inspirations as a backdrop for contemporary art and strong modern design.
The hip guest rooms are cosy, cool and calm, public areas are dramatic and glamorous. High ceilings, chandeliers and wood panelling embody the elegance that makes this place special.
The rather magnificent, marble-clad champagne bar is open all day for sharing menus and afternoon tea served with glasses of fizz or artisan cocktails, while the Tempus Restaurant offers the best of Scottish cuisine. There’s even a grand ballroom if you’re planning a special, memorable celebration.
- To book, check prices or availability for voco Grand Central Glasgow
15. Radisson RED Hotel, Finnieston Quay – a bright, fun, modern and very Instagrammable boutique Glasgow hotel
Down on the banks of the River Clyde is the slick, boutique Radisson RED Hotel with its rooftop bar grabbing great views of the city.
They say this hotel reflects Glasgow’s personality; brutal at first glance, yet combining urban style, modern comforts, a love for the arts and a truly warm welcome. The modern hotel is close to major local attractions like Glasgow Science Centre, SSE Hydro and nightlife that just has to be sampled.
There’s a full choice of spacious, comfortable rooms. Casual dining whenever you want it in the OUIBar, with cool designs and comfy settings, and a range of tasty dishes with a few little twists.
The crowning glory is watching the sunset over the Clyde from the Red Sky Bar as you sip on expertly designed cocktails, or even spend an afternoon people-watching through the floor-to-ceiling windows over a delicious afternoon tea.
With panoramic views of both the city and the River Clyde, Red Sky Bar is the perfect setting to enjoy a drink and share food with friends or family.
- To book, check prices or availability for Radisson RED Hotel
16. ABode Glasgow, Blythswood Hill – a classic 19th-century townhouse hotel with individually designed rooms
The curiously named ABode Glasgow is a chic, upscale hotel that, at first glance, could easily be mistaken for a bank with its imposing stone façade.
Set in a coveted spot in the heart of the vibrant city, this classic 19th-century townhouse is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries, making it the ideal base for a city break.
Individually designed bedrooms and contemporary bathrooms exploit the formal features of this grand mansion whilst beautifully styling a luxurious, relaxing ambience. It’s incredibly well executed with an amazing eye for detail and high standards of service.
There is an excellent restaurant in Brasserie ABode with top chefs producing a good range of Scottish fayre and occasional themed evenings or just an afternoon tea – if that’s what you fancy.
- To book, check prices or availability for ABode Glasgow
17. Village Hotel Glasgow, Pacific Quay – a polished, contemporary hotel
Set in the media district of Glasgow this polished, contemporary hotel is an 8-minute walk from the SSE Hydro music venue and just 2 miles from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
The Village Hotel Glasgow is designed in a standard corporate style, what really distinguishes this cool hotel from the others is the massive private fitness centre, probably the biggest in the city.
There’s a state-of-the-art gym, the latest cardio and resistance training equipment, a 20m heated swimming pool, whirlpool spa, steam room, sauna, spin studio with 40 bikes and spacious changing rooms all fully air-conditioned.
After all this exercise or relaxation, head to the hotel’s Pub & Grill for a great range of beers and wines, as well as burger stacks and hot wings. Or pop into Starbucks – yes, weirdly, there’s one of those too.
- To book, check prices or availability for Village Hotel Glasgow
18. The Z Hotel Glasgow, Merchant City – a trendy minimalist hotel to stay in Glasgow
A funky hotel housed in an old printworks with 104 bedrooms arranged round a beautiful central lightwell, just steps away from historic George Square and close to the shops of the style mile and the restaurants and bars of Merchant City.
With the River Clyde a short walk as well as Glasgow Green with its People’s Palace, this is the perfect base to explore all of the city’s eclectic attractions.
The rooms are small but very cleverly designed so every inch of space is properly used and stylish. Sumptuous, handcrafted beds, beautiful linen, high-quality shower rooms, plenty of hanging space, under-bed storage and in-room tea and coffee making, and you’ve got compact luxury at its best.
This is a lovely little hotel to get your head down after a hard day’s shopping or an evening on the town. No fuss, clean, modern. With genuinely friendly, helpful staff.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Z Hotel Glasgow
19. Hotel Indigo Glasgow, Blythswood Hill – creative upscale Glasgow accommodation
A rather grandiose sandstone exterior hides a welcoming colourful, fun interior inspired by the area’s 19th-century architecture.
The 94 rooms are spread over 5 floors, each designed with rich fabrics and panelled walls to reflect the grandeur of the past, whilst marble bathrooms ensure 21st-century comforts, all presented in a style you would expect from an IHG hotel.
There’s a restaurant and cocktail lounge on the ground floor as well as a small fitness centre to work off the calories. The location of this hotel is excellent, being perfectly located for all the different districts of this culturally rich and diverse city.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Indigo Glasgow
20. Sherbrooke Castle Hotel, Pollokshields – a charming, romantic and unique place to stay in Glasgow housed in a striking historic building
In the leafy suburbs, but less than 15 minutes by taxi from Merchant City is Sherbrooke Castle. A genuine arts and crafts baronial castle of traditional red stone on a small hill with turrets and gardens – straight out of a storybook.
There are just 18 comfortable bedrooms, supported by two bars, 52 staff and a respected restaurant offering local, fresh, Scottish produce prepared to the highest standards, complemented by an interesting wine and whisky list.
At the very least you should take afternoon tea on the terrace overlooking the gardens and wonder why you don’t have a castle of your own, or just get married here – it would be perfect. All this for almost the same as you pay in the city centre, but with the tranquillity and style of a peer.
- To book, check prices or availability for Sherbrooke Castle Hotel
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Scott started his travelling life back in 1999, when he headed off on a solo jaunt to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia with just a backpack, a camera and a spirit for adventure. After that, the travel bug bit hard and now he is always seeking to head off somewhere new. Over the years he has lived in Italy, Qatar, Ireland, UK and the US but his spiritual home will always be Rome as this is the city which most satisfies his unrelenting craving for culture, good food and great football. Scott loves nothing better than to be behind the camera and also runs his own blog and Instagram page. He also counts Melbourne, Cape Town and Tel Aviv among his favourite places. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @scottbalaam