Five Glasgow hotels for every kind of traveller
From solo stays to glamourous packages, here are five Glasgow hotels and accommodations that suit the needs of any traveller.
For a glam getaway …
House of Gods
The first thing you notice when you enter the House of Gods is the giant, sparkling disco ball above your head. This glam-themed hotel opened in Glasgow’s Merchant City earlier this year and offers various “Rockstar” packages that spoil guests with welcoming Prosecco bottles, chocolate boxes (courtesy of Hotel Chocolat), complimentary bar tabs, late check-ins and even an emergency, late-night milk-and-cookies service. Because why the hell not?
Aside from the warm-gold chandeliers and light sneaking through the wooden window shutters, the lobby’s lighting is quite dim. On the right is a small bar, home of the hotel’s ‘Millionaire’ cocktails, and on the left is a cosy lounge, decorated with shiny, patterned-cushioned furniture, Greek-like statues and a fireplace.
As for the rooms, expect Oriental-Express vibes with more wooden paneling, gold accents and grand florals. The beds are exquisitely comfortable and glam – to the point of almost gaudy – with animal print pillows and gold trimming. If you’re lucky, they’ll book you in the only room with a balcony, with third-floor views of tiny tourists and Glasweigians making their way on Glassford Street. And don’t forget to test out the bold, red nightlight when it’s time to rest – or not rest.
When hunger strikes, the hotel’s Sacred Garden rooftop bar and restaurant is decorated with hanging flora, mythical statues and mirrored tables that reflect the ethereal beauty of the space. It’s a fun contrast from the house music playing in the background, bringing more life into the place. Savour views of the block while dipping into cheesy plates like a creamy camembert served with toasted bread, or a stunning burrata that pops and oozes open like a perfectly poached egg. Add a round of cocktails (the margs passed the Mexican test – a test where I drink them and decide if I like them), and a steaming bowl of mussels or hot croquettes, and even the gods will envy this rooftop feast.
www.houseofgodshotel.com/glasgow
For reliability and all the basics …
The Holiday Inn – City Centre Riverside
Listen…. hate on the Holiday all you want, but don’t you dare tell me this chain isn’t consistent. No matter the city, the Holiday Inn provides, and this Glasgow location is pretty damn decent, sitting near the riverside in Merchant City.
Beds are comfortable. Service is friendly. Staff are kind, and there’s even a bar. Get a couple of drinks in, then walk to Shawarma King – only 10 minutes away. Get your shawarma and fries for takeaway. Walk back towards the hotel, but veer towards the riverwalk, instead. Find a spot in the grass or sit on the steps and enjoy a glorious, hassle-free dinner al fresco before calling it a night.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Glasgow – City Ctr Riverside (ihg.com)
For solo travellers and meeting new people …
The Social Hub
The name says it all. For an affordable, modern stay with all the necessary amenities, The Social Hub is a part-hotel, part-dorm, part-long-term accommodation that’s smack dab in the city centre. Its amenities range from free laundry facilities and coworking spaces, to a fitness centre, billiards table, and bar and restaurant.
The lobby feels like a university student union. Self-check-in screens are on the left, with work and study spaces on the right. Pass the comfortable lounge, pool table and vinyl record shelf until you reach the elevators – average on the outside, but bright and rainbow-hued within – a small, but memorable quirk.
I booked a single room, which had more than enough space for the average solo traveller. It’s what an ideal dorm room would look like – what I dreamt of having in my uni years – without the weird smell, broken aircon or messy, drunk dorm mate. This is the room students (and travellers) deserve.
When hunger strikes The Social Hub’s groundfloor bar and restaurant is open all day and offers an extensive menu and cocktail list. Order the chicken caesar salad and you’ll receive a flying saucer of a plate that could feed at least two.
For your own space …
George’s ‘Stunning Central’ Airbnb
Listen, I’ll book hotels and support local as much as I can, but sometimes, I’ll sell a small piece of my soul to Airbnb.
On a quiet block in East Glasgow, on London Road, George’s Airbnb is a minimal one-bed flat fit for two and just 10 minutes from Merchant City. You have all your basic amenities, a whole kitchen and great lighting from the large windows, but if there’s anything you need, George is one text message away.
The independent coffee shop, OUTLIER, is only a block away, and perfect for a morning bite or if you’re tired from working from the flat. There’s not much in the immediate area, but a 10-minute walk west will take you back to the city centre, and 10 minutes east is Glasgow Green, a gloriously green space that’s home to Glasgow’s 2014 Olympic monument, Doulton Fountain and the People’s Palace.
If the first four are fully booked …
Sandman Hotel
While the sleek facade and contemporary interior catch your eye, the final result of the Sandman Hotel is, coincidentally, kind of a snooze, but I have hope in this Canadian-rooted company still.
I left my luggage in the hotel office while I explored the area until my room was ready. Before leaving, I checked the hotel’s refreshment area for a bottle of still water. Only sparkling. No problem. I asked the receptionist if the hotel offered still water. She said “no”, then walked off… Very hospitable…
Its location, though not entirely out of the way, is not the best – yet. Currently, the hotel is in the middle of multiple construction sites, just west of the city centre – too west for Merchant City, but too east for Glasgow’s West End. Thankfully, bus stops can be found near the hotel, and the West End is only about a 20-minute walk away.
Chop, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, specialises in steaks and burgers, with some seafood plates and fun starters like fried haggis bon bons. I figured a margarita and some haggis balls won’t hurt. The margarita was okay, but sadly, my American palate couldn’t handle the bonbons. That, or this haggis just tasted different as I had just tried fried haggis at Merchant City Chippie the day before and loved it. (Take this food review with a grain of salt, as I am haggis newbie.)
While I currently recommend the other accommodations before the Sandman Hotel, I think this place could thrive once they polish up from their opening and the surrounding construction finishes.
Though I’d stick with the first four accommodations for now (don’t give up on the Sandman yet), all five spots have the essentials for an exceptional time in Glasgow.
