Cafe and Bar Gandolfi

Café Gandolfi, housed in the historic Merchant City area of Glasgow, was formerly the old cheese market. Famous for its beautiful stained-glass windows, it now offers authentic Scottish fare to locals and tourists alike. It was recently named by The Observer as one of the £50 Hippest Places in the World', firmly putting it on Glasgow's gastronomic map. The café's laid-back ambience and eclectic menu - which sees smoked venison alongside chickpea daal and Stornoway white pudding - has attracted many loyal customers for years. Following the café's success, proprietor Seumas McInnes opened Bar Gandolfi seven years ago. Located in the airy attic space above the café, it serves quality food and a wide-ranging selection of drinks. The bar has already acquired many accolades - it was voted 'Best New Bar in Scotland 2002' by Theme magazine in its first year. Following on quickly from this success, it won the Scottish Licensing Trade News 'Wine Award' three times; and, to put the icing on the cake, the bar came seventh out of 100 in The Observer list of the 'coolest bars in the UK'. Gandolfi Fish on Albion Street is the most recent addition to the Gandolfi empire, specialising in delivering mouth-watering fish and seafood dishes. This Glasgow institution celebrated its 30th year of business last year, so happy birthday Gandolfi, and long may you continue to provide Glaswegians with such excellent Scottish drinking and dining experiences.