Dog-Friendly Dining in Glasgow West End
Weekend plans in the West End usually start with food, involve a lot of walking, and end up being organised around one non-negotiable factor – Wallace. Find these spots on the Westender App.
By Isla McGraw
Don’t get me wrong, there are certain events in the diary that don’t accommodate a dog being your plus one and I’m pretty sure Wallace would rather stay home for those anyway. But for the random Thursday night dinner or the Sunday morning breakfast stop, it’s nice to wander around the West End as a three knowing there’s plenty of places we can stop in.
The Brunch Club
Well, the name doesn’t lie – this is a perfect go-to brunch spot. It’s busy without being chaotic and relaxed enough that our boisterous dog doesn’t cause anyone to blink.
I usually opt for my favourite, the breakfast burrito – sausage, scrambled egg, avocado, hash brown, cheese, house ketchup – and a blueberry matcha. My partner Josh sticks to the T.B.C breakfast – Lorne sausage, bacon, egg, potato scone, beans, tomato, and sourdough toast. They say why fix what’s not broken, and that certainly applies to our orders here. All it took was one lucky pitstop after a long dog walk years ago for us to stumble across one of our all-time favourites in the West End. It’s became somewhat of a ritual and our four-legged friend is just as much of a fan… if not more.
Wallace tends to position himself strategically under the table with the quiet confidence of a dog who knows food will fall eventually. He’s not wrong. Extra bacon tends to appear at his paws, then comes sausage followed by anything we’ve pushed to the side of our plates knowing he’ll appreciate.
It’s an easy place to settle into and you never feel rushed out the door. The best bit of course is that the fantastic hospitality extends past us humans to the most important customer – our pups.
67 Old Dumbarton Road, G3 8RF
The Drake
This is where dining turns into a longer than intended visit. It’s nothing short of a classic West End pub – great live music and food that holds its own.
I ordered the mac and cheese with skinny fries and Josh went for the Philly cheesesteak pizza with cheese sauce, slow-cooked beef, charred onions and grilled peppers. We shared pakora loaded fries – veg pakora, cheese, sauce, spring onions – and without a doubt this dish will now be added to our food order every time. But we weren’t the only ones that dined well…
Wallace’s mouth watered and tail wagged as he spotted a dog bowl full of roast beef, vegetables, and gravy from their pup menu. And just as it was placed down in front of him, it was gone just as quick. A guaranteed five stars from the Chow Chow.
There is certainly no difference made between the dishes from the main menu and the ones for our furry pals. The Drake works for dog owners because it doesn’t feel like your pups are being accommodated, it feels like they were already expected.
1 Lynedoch Street, G3 6EF
Gael and Grain Scottish Pub and Kitchen
Gael and Grain is the perfect laid-back spot for both dogs and their owners – especially if you sit outside.
We could hear the music before we reached the venue, which felt like a good sign. We chose alfresco dining, although ‘chose’ might be generous – Wallace had already decided that was the plan. As every dog owner knows, it’s a dog’s world, we’re just along for the walk. Luckily, the relaxed outdoor setting suited us all perfectly.
I was in the mood for a traditional dinner and of course there’s no better place for that than Gael and Grain. The food here is the sort that feels like it’s come straight from someone’s kitchen rather than a commercial one: classic comfort food done properly.
It’s safe to say the haggis, neeps and tatties with whisky cream sauce is a must-have dish. Josh ordered the steak and sausage pie with thick-cut chips and veg – both were just what we were after on a Sunday evening. Although it’s hard to say who enjoyed their dinner best…
Wallace has never been quieter in his life and that may have had something to do with the chicken, rice, and veg that he was devouring. For their pooch, owners can choose the protein (chicken, beef, or white fish) and pair it with rice or pasta, which is a small detail but makes it feel like an actual dog menu rather than an afterthought.
At Gael and Grain Scottish Pub and Kitchen, no family member needs to be left at home – especially the four-legged kind. There’s a seat and a dish for everyone.
23 Sandyford Place, G3 7NG
The common thread with these three spots is that you don’t need to justify the dog by your side. They have great food, a lot of space and staff who treat a large, confident Chow Chow like one of their expected diners.
Read through our other dog friendly venues in Glasgow West End throughout the website!
