Nestled in the heart of Glasgow City Centre is Merchant City. It is home to cool bars, stylish boutiques and some of the best fine dining establishments in Scotland. The stunning architecture of Merchant City harks back to its trading heydey. The mansions, halls and warehouses now house exclusive accommodations, galleries, bars and restaurants.
Enjoy walking through lively Merchant City with its buzzing cafe culture, restaurants, chic bars and designer stores. Visit the beautiful Neoclassical building housing the Gallery of Modern Art. It displays a vast range of contemporary artwork by Scottish and International artists. Nearby, City Halls is Glasgow’s premier performance space dating to 1841. The halls are renowned for their world-class acoustics and are residence to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Another entertainment space for a more edgy crowd is the Old Fruitmarket. The venue regularly hosts live jazz, pop and rock concerts, or visitors can partake in some traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing. The sheer volume of bars and restaurants in Merchant City is impressive. Dimly lit Scottish whisky bars sit side by side with Asian Fusion restaurants and exclusive clubs housed in 18th century mansions. For designer shopping, head to Ingram Street, and to discover Merchant City’s independent creative community walk to Trongate. It has a myriad of galleries, vintage clothing stores, cafes and record shops.
Walking is the best way to get around Merchant City, as there are arcades and lanes no visitor will want to miss. The city is home to several pedestrianised areas, so buses tend to stop along the perimeter. Buchanan Bus Station is a 10-minute walk. Visitors arriving from other areas of the UK or Scotland by rail will find Glasgow Queen Street or Argyle Street Stations close to Merchant Square. Those travelling by car will discover plenty of parking options close by. Taxis and Uber are also in service throughout the city.
Merchant City was developed from the mid-1700s when it became home to wealthy merchant tobacco lords who shipped their wares in and out of the busy port. The shipments, in addition to tobacco, included sugar and tea from exotic territories. These days, the wealthy merchant’s residences still exist, although now they are popular entertainment and dining venues for everyone to appreciate.