Babbity Bowster

The falafel burger was perfect with chips and a touch of greens. This is a comfortable place for good food and a cold Guinness.

A simple pub that seems to be visited frequently by locals, but I was attracted here for dinner by the funny name. The atmosphere inside is homely but quiet, and there is an outdoor space where people can gather for a drink. A single waiter zipped around taking care of everyone but he was very attentive to everything.

I ordered the featured ale (Fyne Ales Jarl) and a plate of their haggis with neeps and tatties. Everything was delicious and the service was great. If you are looking for a quiet place for a pint and dinner, this would be a great choice!

Ever since the beginning of time (or when I first discovered this pub) I thought it was actually Babbity Bowser and it was only when I looked at the sign on Saturday night that I discovered the extra "t" in there. I'll still call it Bowser though!

I'd visited for afternoon drinks a while back, and we headed her for an after-dinner drink on Saturday night. While it was heaving with people at 9pm, it wasn't hard to get a seat or a drink which was good!

This is a simple pub - classy, nicely decorated and a comfortable place for a chat over a pint. There wasn't any music on but it was pleasantly filled with the rumble of Saturday night chat from other patrons. Prime seating options are along the wall, whereas the tables in the middle mean you'll be perching on a small stool.

I didn't have anything to drink (I was driving!) and was too full to even look at the food options, but I'll definitely be back for visit # 3 when I'm in the area again.

Over in Merchant City on Blackfriars Street the Babbity Bowster has the feeling of a friendly neighbourhood bar in the city. They have regular traditional music sessions including and especially on Sundays when its pretty packed out and standing room only. As much as I love the music I prefer the quieter times when it's not so busy and I can while away a few hours over a few beers or a few drams of whisky.

Drinks prices are on the higher side when compared with some nearby drinking spots but the presence of some great food on the menu more than makes up for it. Vegetarians are well looked after with specials changing through the week and some regular staples such as veggie haggis or veggie moussaka. Check out their website for menus and gig listings. Dogs welcome outside in the patio seating area.

My guy and I strolled in here one night after a dinner out. I'd never been, but it's one of his favourites. It really is a gem of a place even though the crowd is on the older side. The interior is that of an old New England house, which was cozy and warm. There wasn't any music playing in the place, but the chat from the patrons was enough to keep the mood light and friendly. We only stayed for one drink as we had just stuffed ourselves at our new favourite restaurant, but I'm sure we'll be back.

One thing to note, there is a hotel attached, which I very much plan on staying at one night, just to see what that's all about. My guy isn't convinced that we need to stay at a pub hotel in the same city that we live in, but I'll get him convinced. :)

Babbity's is probably the definition of the Merchant City.

The bar itself is quite cold - there's a great atmosphere about the place, even if it is quite quiet at times (ok, very quiet), but as Jamie points out, the beer garden saves it, even if it is raining...

A little on the expensive side, it's home to some of the most high quality traditional food in Glasgow - stovies, cullen skink, haggis... mmm! Be prepared to pay a high price for the high quality though...eeep! I paid £6 for a slab of chocolate mousse once. To say I was unimpressed doesn't cover it. It was tasty yes, but £6 for chocolate mousse. No thanks, I'll go to Tesco's next time.

For our last pint before catching the train home, we headed over to Babbity Bowster, which may sound like a character from Harry Potter but is actually a lovely, secluded old boozer with a beer garden.

One of Glasgow's beery institutions, the simply decorated former 18th century tobacco merchant's house was a really pleasant surprise; I was thinking it was going to be some slightly dodgy pub.

We didn't eat here but there looked to be plenty of French influence on the menu and the décor - when we arrived there were some folk having a game of boules outside. We could have been transported over to the continent if it wasn't for our pints of locally-brewed ale.

If it's a sunny day, the back terrace is the place to be. If it isn't, there's plenty of room inside to escape the weather and peer out through their tall windows.

A fine establishment and one I won't leave until last the next time we visit.

Babbitty Bowser (no I've no idea how they came up with that name either) is a friendly, well-heeled pub located on a side street in Merchant City. This makes it difficult to stumble upon and so adds to the locals atmosphere.

Three real ales are available at any time, with Deuchars IPA and Fyne Jarl on permanently. The Jarl was in excellent condition, I could have drunk that all night!

There's an open fire too, excellent for the colder months and a beer garden too, great for the summer days.

One of the highlights of my trip to the uk. Went in around 2 pm for lunch and stayed til 5:30, we felt so comfortable. Eat the Cullen Skink- best fish chowder of my life. Better than the clam chowder back home in the Pacific Northwest! Great pull of Guinness, amazing bartend, definitely a locals joint. If you go to Glasgow and don't eat or drink here, you're crazy.

There is something great about this place. It's hard to put your finger on exactly what, as it seems quite dated and traditional in a way, but maybe that's actually part of its charm.

I love that it's hidden away from the rest of the Merchant City and that also gives it another plus. It seems to be a different crowd. Less passing trade and more people who actually head here as a preferred destination.

Food wise it tends to be traditional hearty fare. Last visit I had Cullen skink with crusty bread and it was a big portion that tasted brilliant. Another plus is the beer garden. If you get a sunny day in Glasgow, you can sit in the quiet garden and have a couple of pints and not really know your in the centre of town. If it is cold outside, then head in doors and you may catch some of the traditional music that is regularly getting played.

A place I should go more often and definitely worth a look if your in the area.