Glasgow venues round-up: July 2021

Akara Bakery

Akara Bakery on Dennistoun’s Duke Street is a glass-fronted takeaway bakery selling a changing menu of miniature baked goods that are almost Parisian in their delicateness. Vegan options, savoury pastries, donuts, layer cakes - there truly is nothing this place can’t do, and they do it all extremely well. Open until sell-out each day (which can often be very early indeed), it is worth taking the trip to Duke Street to join the excitable queue. Their vanilla, passionfruit and yuzu cheesecake lives long in the memory, as do all of their cheesecakes. With new flavours popping up to try each month, they have truly become the stuff of local legend. 537 Duke St, G31 1DL

Moskito 2.0

Legendary bar Moskito shut up shop over two years ago, to the shock of many Glasgow drinkers who had come to rely on its laid-back New York-esque brand of basement cool. Moskito offered a cosier alternative on a stretch of Bath Street that was becoming increasingly showy. During its two year hiatus, the place has had a full facelift, and re-emerged as something new - but not so new as to be unrecognisable. OG fans of Moskito can take comfort in the fact that the bar is keeping the same name, and much of the same DNA. The team behind the Moskito rennaissance are keen to retain Moskito’s alternative spirit, with nods to the world of art and fashion, but still sure of its identity as the quirky non-conforming kid brother of Bath Street. And, best of all, they still have great beer on tap at a reasonable price. 196-200 Bath St, G2 4HG 

Fearless Space

Fearless Space on Dennistoun’s Sword Street is principally a yoga studio, but also serves as a multi-functional community hub for creatives in Glasgow’s East End. The brainchild of yoga instructor and all-round lovely person Carrie Wilde, who wanted a place to teach yoga classes that could also be used to support local artists and makers who might not have the funds for a spot of their own yet, the space has been used for craft workshops, small gigs, as a barber and a pop-up shop. Carrie plans to create a booking system where local creatives can reserve studio space to rehearse, work on projects or showcase their work. The possibilities really are endless. A great idea that gets to the heart of community and understands that sometimes all people really need is space and time, who knows which East End talents might pass through the doors of Fearless in the near future. 116 Sword St, G31 1SG

Unalome

Unalome arrived loudly and proudly, announcing their intention to get the Glasgow culinary scene another Michelin star. The accolade is rare in the Glasgow, with Cail Bruich finally securing the city’s only one just earlier this year. But Unalome’s head chef Graeme Cheevers has previous experience in this area, having led the line at both Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond and the Ilse of Eriska Hotel when they won their stars under his leadership. Unalome is his first solo venture – a modern European take on fine dining with a definite nod to Japanese tradition. Located among fine competition in Finnieston, time will tell on the awards front but as far as the food goes, for what its worth, it gets five stars from us. 36 Kelvingrove St, G3 7RZ

The Beresford Lounge

The Beresford Lounge has taken over the former home of the Art School Union, in the ground floor of the gorgeous Art Deco Beresford Building on Sauchiehall Street. A massive space, sprawling over three levels, it consists of a bar/restaurant, basement venue and mezzanine level pool hall, which is free to use. The bar also offers an outdoor beer garden, in which you can kick back and enjoy some shisha – a suntrap on those rare sunny days, and electrically heated for the rest of the year.

A jam-packed schedule of live music ensures entertainment every night of the week, including open mic and session evenings. Food is served until 9pm every night, there’s a choice of 18 beers on draught, from Tennent’s to Oranjeboom, and cocktails are as cheap as chips. Happy days. 468 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3LW