Art & Design

GLASGOW – Although damaged by fire in 2014, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s greatest building still fulfilsits original function and remains Glasgow’s most astounding architectural show piece. Visits are by 45 – minute guided tour; the same folks also run recommended Glasgow walking tours.

KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY & MUSEUM – In a magnificent stone building, the Kelvingrove has an excellent room of Scottish art, a room of fine French Impressionist works, and quality Renaissance paintings. Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross is also here.The nearby Hunterian Art Gallery holds more Scottish works.

GALLERY OF MODERN ART – Scotland’s most popular contemporary- art gallery houses modem international works in a graceful Neoclassical building. The ornate original interior contrasts with the daring, inventive art. The statue of the Duke of Wellington is usually cheekily crowned with a traffic cone.

Performance

CITIZENS THEATRE – Orchestral rock, serious theatre, musical dramas – the Citizens Theatre is one of Scotland’s top performance venues. The theatre is firmly entrenched in Glasgow life and engaged in education and community work. It’s well worth trying to catch a gig here, or book an entertaining guided backstage tour through the Victorian theatre space.

KING TUT’S WAH WAH HUT – Glasgow is the king of Scotland’s live-music scene. Year after year, touring musicians and travellers alike name Glasgow one of their favourite cities in the world to enjoy live music. One of the city’s premier music pubs is King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, a 300-capacity grassroots venue hosting bands every night of the week. Oasis were signed after playing here. It also has a bar and kitchen.

SHARMANKA KINETIC THEATRE – This extraordinary mechanical theatre is the brainchild of Russian sculptor and mechanic Eduard Bersudsky. Large, wondrous figures, created from bits of scrap and elaborate carvings, perform humorous and tragic stories to haunting music. It’s inspirational and macabre, but always clever and thought-provoking.

Creative dining

SARAMAGO CAFE BAR

In the tall atrium of the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Saramago does a great line in eclectic vegan fusion food, combining flavours from around the globe. The upstairs bar has a great deck on steep Scott St and packs out inside with a friendly crowd enjoying DJ sets and quality tap beers; ortry Sunday brunch.

ORAN MOR BRASSERIE – This temple to Scottish dining and drinking is set in an old church. Giving new meaning to the word ‘conversion’, the brasserie pumps out high-quality bar meals in a dark, Mackintosh-inspired space as well as in the pub area. Come for the ‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint’ lunchtime theatre deal.