Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city centre of Glasgow it’s sometimes hard to remember why

it’s called the ‘Dear Green Place’. So why not follow our trail and discover the best green spaces

in Merchant City and our favourite food stops for coffee, cake, take away sandwiches or a

delicious meal along the way!

A. George Square

B. Rotten Row Gardens

C. Medieval Gardens

D. Zen Gardens

E. Necropolis

F. Glasgow Green

1. Pinto

2. Urban Pind

3. Esca & E2

4. St Mungos Café

5. Rose and Grants

6. Café Gandolfi

7. Ingram Wynd

8. Merchant Square

9. Café India

10. Sapporo Teppanyaki

11. WEST Brewery

George Square

George Square was laid out in 1781, part

of the innovative Georgian central grid

plan that initially spanned from Stockwell

Street east to Buchanan Street. This was

reflected in the growing rational influence of

the Scottish Enlightenment, along with the

similar development of Edinburgh's New

Town. This grid iron masterplan across the

lands of Meadowflats and eventually as far

west as Blythswood Hill, was largely the

work of the notable contemporary architects James Barry, James Craig and James Gillespie Graham.

The square has often been the scene of public meetings, political gatherings, riots, protests,

celebrations, ceremonies, parades and concerts. Perhaps the most famous was the 1919 Black Friday

rally, when campaigners for improved working conditions (particularly protesting a 56 hour working

week in many of the city's factories) held an enormous rally, with at least 90,000 protesters filling the

square and the surrounding streets.

Rottenrow Gardens

The terraced Rottenrow Gardens are situated on the sight

of the old Rottenrow Maternity Hospital. Here you will see

cutting edge modern landscaping techniques fused with

Victorian architecture, beds filled natural bio diversity

planting and relaxing green spaces. The gardens feature

a 'Monument to Maternity’, a seven-metre high stainless

steel sculpture in the form of a giant nappy pin. The

sculpture, designed by Scottish artist George Wyllie, has

previously been exhibited in New York. The garden won

a commendation in the Scottish Design Awards 2004.

Medieval Garden/ St Nicholas Garden

As the name suggests, this cloistered garden behind Provand's

Lordship, reflects the building's possible links with the Chapel and

Hospital of St Nicholas. The garden has two distinct parts. On the

outer edge is a physic garden containing plants which were in

common use for medical purposes in the 15th century, while at the

centre is a knot parterre, based on a Celtic design, illustrating the

development of more formal gardens which occurred in the

Renaissance period. The covered cloister area contains carved Renaissance period. The covered

cloister area contains carved grotesque

heads, dating from 1737, which

originally formed the arch keystones of

the Tontine Hotel piazza in the Trongate

Zen Garden

The first Zen garden in Britain is found at St. Mungo’s

Museum of Religious Art where you can discover some

amazing facts about the world’s major religions, and

the story of religion in the west of Scotland. The garden

is part of the museum café, which opens out into it.

With its white gravel, grasses and stones it is the perfect

space to rest and recuperate.

Necropolis

The Glasgow Necropolis was described by James Stevens

Curl as "literally a city of the dead". Based on the design of

the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris; the cemetery, as most

early Victorian cemeteries, is laid out as an informal park,

lacking the formal grid layouts of later cemeteries. The

cemetery's paths meander uphill towards the summit, where

many of the larger monuments stand, clustered around the

John Knox Monument. A great space to explore and discover

some historic graves!

Glasgow Green

The Green is oldest of the city's parks. In 1450, Bishop

Turnbull gifted the common lands of Glasgow Green to the

people of Glasgow. Initially it was used for washing,

bleaching linen, grazing, drying fishing nets and for

swimming. For centuries it functioned as the city’s only

green public open space. Features to look out for are the

people’s palace and winter gardens, The Doulton Fountain

the largest terracotta fountain in the world, Templeton’s

Carpet Factory/ WEST Brewery and the towering Lord

Nelson monument.

1. Pinto

This is a casual dining restaurant with 'an eclectic mix of funky

and contemporary' style. It serves up freshly made burritos,

nachos, tacos and salads, to eat in or take away. The restaurant

is also fully licensed and stocks beer, wine and Margaritas to

get you into the Mexican mood!

2. Urban Pind

The hustle and bustle of the Merchant City is what attracted Urban

Pind to the area, and they thought it would be the perfect place to

create their vision. Once you step inside the restaurant and

sample the food you will agree with them. Urban Pind is as

pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palette.

3. Esca & E2

Offers an exciting blend of modern and traditional within its

warm and comfortable surroundings. A subtle blend of classic

Italian and contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, the menus and

wine list will transform your meal into an unforgettable

experience.

4. St Mungo’s Café

The Café is situated within the award-winning museum which

explores the importance of religion in people's lives and art across

the world and across time. It aims to promote understanding and

respect between people of different faiths and of none. Highlights

include Britain's first permanent Zen garden.

5. Rose & Grants

Rose and Grants is a delicatessen/coffee shop

and the home of the Glasgay! Festival; which

runs from mid-October to mid-November.

6. Café Gandolfi

Cafe Gandolfi was opened in the old cheese market in 1979. It

has built up an enviable reputation for the unique provision of

Scottish cuisine at affordable prices - whilst winning awards along

the way, it’s inviting, sophisticated and charming with a relaxed

atmosphere and quality cuisine.

7. Ingram Wynd

Ingram Wynd offers contemporary Scottish cuisine in a great

Victorian-style period dining room. The kitchen only use Scottish-

sourced produce, so you can tuck into Loch Duart salmon, roast

Jerusalem artichoke or marinated venison and skirlie.

8. Merchant Square

At the heart of the Merchant City, Merchant Square has a great

range of family-friendly restaurants and cafes, all with bistro-style

seating. There are regular events and markets throughout the year,

all set in the beautiful, covered courtyard.

9. Café India

The renowned cuisine, together with the restaurant's vibrant,

opulent atmosphere, will guarantee you an unforgettable

experience at Café India.

10. Sapporo Teppanyaki

Sapporo Teppanyaki prides itself in offering a unique and at

times highly dramatic dining experience through the

established teppanyaki chefs and their combined culinary

skills. Emphasis is focused on excellent service, great food and

first class hospitality, all served against a background of stylish

Japanese décor.

11. WEST Brewery

WEST are a proud and passionate business and it is their

mission to brew the finest beer produced in the UK, to serve

all customers, as best they can.