Quick answer: The best rooftop bars in Glasgow are Red Sky Bar at the Radisson RED in Finnieston for Clyde views, Kong on Royal Exchange Square for an all-season heated roof garden, SíSí above the Social Hub in Merchant City for sunset and small plates, and the new Guinness rooftop at Malones. For a proper beer garden, head to WEST On The Green for big groups, Brel and Inn Deep in the West End, Drygate in the East End, or Koelschip Yard and Clockwork on the Southside. Most run daily from noon. The weather’s the only real gamble, though a fair few terraces are covered and heated so they still work in a drizzle.
Glasgow gets maybe a dozen genuinely warm days a year, and the second the sun shows its face the whole city pours outside. Beer gardens fill by 1pm, rooftop tables vanish, and folk start texting “where are you, save us a seat”. Below are twenty real, currently-open spots, all checked for 2026, split between true rooftops and proper beer gardens and grouped by area so there’s something near wherever you land. Last updated June 2026.
How we picked, and what you’ll pay
We went for places that are genuinely good in the sun, not just any pub with three tables on the pavement. Every venue here is open in 2026, sits inside Glasgow proper, and has a real outdoor space or a covered terrace. A rooftop is more of an occasion, often with a dress code and cocktails. A beer garden is pints, sun and a bit of carry-on.
On price, a pint of craft or lager runs about £5.50 to £7 across the city in 2026, with the West End and Finnieston at the top end. Rooftop cocktails sit around £11 to £15, so a round adds up fast. Beer gardens are kinder on the wallet, and a few still do cheap pints (Vodka Wodka’s famous for it). Budget roughly £25 to £35 a head for a decent session with a bite, more if you’re on cocktails up high. If money’s tight, read our Glasgow cost of living guide.
Glasgow rooftop bars and beer gardens at a glance
| Venue | Area | Type | Typical spend (per head) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sky Bar | Finnieston | Rooftop terrace | £30 to £45 | Clyde and Crane views |
| Kong Bar & Roof Garden | City centre | Covered roof garden | £30 to £45 | Cocktails, all year |
| SíSí Rooftop | Merchant City | Rooftop terrace | £35 to £50 | Sunset and small plates |
| Sacred Garden | Merchant City | Covered roof garden | £35 to £55 | A dressed-up occasion |
| Malones Guinness Rooftop | City centre | Roof terrace | £20 to £35 | Pints of stout and sport |
| Ubiquitous Chip Rooftop | West End | Covered roof terrace | £35 to £55 | Food with the drinks |
| WEST On The Green | East End | Beer garden | £25 to £40 | Big groups, German beer |
| Drygate | East End | Terrace and yard | £25 to £40 | Craft beer fans |
| Brel | West End | Covered beer garden | £25 to £40 | Year-round, mussels |
| Inn Deep | Kelvinbridge | Riverside terrace | £20 to £35 | A pint by the water |
| Vodka Wodka | West End | Beer garden | £20 to £35 | Cheap pints and cocktails |
| West Side Tavern | Partick | Beer garden | £25 to £40 | New York pizza in the sun |
| Lebowskis | Finnieston | Outdoor seating | £25 to £40 | Burgers and White Russians |
| The Belle | West End | Small beer garden | £20 to £30 | A quiet local pint |
| Bier Halle | City centre | Street terrace | £20 to £35 | People-watching |
| The Ark | City centre | Large beer garden | £20 to £35 | Live sport outdoors |
| The Howgait | Townhead | Big beer garden | £20 to £30 | Space and value |
| Slouch | City centre | Beer garden | £20 to £35 | Live music with a pint |
| Koelschip Yard | Southside | Yard | £20 to £35 | Serious craft beer |
| Clockwork Beer Co | Southside | Beer garden | £20 to £35 | Pre-Hampden pints |
The best rooftop bars in Glasgow
Red Sky Bar, Finnieston
Sat on the ninth floor of the Radisson RED at Finnieston Quay (25 Tunnel Street, G3 8HL), Red Sky Bar is the one most folk mean when they say rooftop bar. You get the river, the Squinty Bridge, the Finnieston Crane and the Armadillo in one sweep, and it’s ranked among the world’s top fifty rooftops. Order a cocktail (around £12 to £14) and a few small plates, or come for the afternoon tea. There’s a covered indoor lounge plus an open terrace, so it works rain or shine, with international DJs at weekends. Open daily from noon to late. Book a terrace table for a guaranteed spot. It suits a special night or a pre-Hydro drink, and it’s a short walk from the rest of Finnieston.
Kong Bar & Roof Garden, city centre
Kong sits in a 19th-century building at 23 Royal Exchange Square (G1 3AJ), across from the Gallery of Modern Art. The roof garden is heated and covered, so it’s an all-year spot rather than a fair-weather gamble, with three open-air terraces besides. The all-day menu runs from a fish finger sandwich to steak frites, the cocktails are sharp, and Club Kong keeps going until 3am. Open daily from noon, a couple of minutes from Buchanan Street on the Subway. It suits a long afternoon that turns into a night out.
SíSí Rooftop, Merchant City
Up on the eighth floor of the Social Hub at 15 Candleriggs (G1 1NP), SíSí opened in 2025 and quickly became one of the better sunset spots in town. The terrace looks across the Merchant City rooftops, and the kitchen leans Mexican sharing plates: scallop ceviche verde, steak tartare tostada, elotes and panko hake tacos, with cocktails to match. A proper feed with drinks lands around £40 a head, and there are bookable terrace tables for the weekend. It’s a date-night or birthday kind of place, handy for the rest of Merchant City.
Sacred Garden, House of Gods
On the roof of the House of Gods hotel at 65 Glassford Street (G1 1UP), Sacred Garden is the most dressed-up option on this list. The theme is the Garden of Eden: thousands of flowers, mirrored tables and floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which means it’s covered for when the heavens open. Cocktails sit around £12 to £14 with champagne if you’re pushing the boat out, so it’s more occasion than casual pint. Dress code is smart casual, it’s open through the day and late, and you don’t need to be a hotel guest. Best for a date, a birthday or a hen do.
Malones Guinness Rooftop, city centre
The Irish bar on Sauchiehall Lane (57 to 59, G2 3LB) has put in Glasgow’s first Guinness rooftop bar, done with the Guinness brand. It’s the cheapest rooftop on this list, pints rather than £14 cocktails, plus three big HD screens for the football, rugby and GAA. There’s deep leather seating, trad sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays, and late DJ sets at the weekend. Order a properly poured pint of the black stuff and settle in. It suits a sports crowd or a low-key catch-up, a minute from Sauchiehall Street.
The Rooftop Terrace, Ubiquitous Chip
Glasgow’s most famous restaurant reopened on Ashton Lane after a multi-million-pound revamp, and the Ubiquitous Chip rooftop terrace (12 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ) is the West End’s only proper rooftop. It’s covered, fairy-lit and leafy, so it shrugs off the weather, and the menu runs Scottish sharing boards and small plates alongside a long cocktail list. Open daily from noon to late, with spend around £40 to £50 a head if you’re eating. Best when you want the food to match the view, and you’re right beside Hillhead Subway.
The best beer gardens in Glasgow
WEST On The Green, Glasgow Green
WEST brews its own lagers and ales in the old Templeton Building, that mad Venetian-looking pile on the edge of Glasgow Green. It’s the only UK brewery brewing everything to the German Purity Law of 1516, and the beer garden has over forty tables, one of the biggest outdoor spaces in the city, so it’s the go-to for big groups. Food is German and Scottish: currywurst, schnitzel, pretzels and WEST Wings next to fish and chips. It’s dog friendly, the garden’s first come first served from noon, and a pint and a plate runs about £20. A short bus or a decent walk from the East End.
Drygate, East End
Just up the hill from WEST at 85 Drygate (G4 0UT), in a converted box factory beside Tennent’s Wellpark, Drygate was Glasgow’s first experiential craft brewery. There’s a raised beer garden and an upstairs terrace with a relaxed communal feel, twenty-four rotating taps and a menu of pub classics and pizzas. The outdoor areas are walk-in, so just turn up. It’s about ten minutes from George Square, kids are welcome during the day, and it suits a long afternoon for craft beer fans who want plenty on tap.
Brel, Ashton Lane
Tucked into the cobbles of Ashton Lane (39 to 43, G12 8SJ), Brel has one of the best beer gardens in the city, and it’s covered and heated so it works all year. Moules frites is the house dish, with fondue, poutine and sharing boards besides, and the beer list runs deep on Belgian brews. There are firepits for toasting marshmallows, plus weekly deals like Moules Monday. A feed with drinks is around £30 to £35 a head. It’s beside Hillhead Subway, and it suits a group dinner that doesn’t mind the cold.
Inn Deep, Kelvinbridge
Inn Deep sits in the railway arches at 445 Great Western Road (G12 8HH), with seating spilling onto the walkway right above the River Kelvin. On a warm day you can take a pint down to the riverside path, and it’s one of the nicest spots in town for it. Thirty-three rotating taps, Sub Rosa pizza in the kitchen, a Sunday quiz and live music. It’s dog, student and child friendly, a minute from Kelvinbridge Subway. Pints around £5.50 to £6.50, so an easy, good-value afternoon by the water.
Vodka Wodka, Ashton Lane
One of Glasgow’s original cocktail bars, Vodka Wodka (31 to 35 Ashton Lane, G12 8SJ) has a famous beer garden, floral in summer and chalet-style come winter, that fills up fast on a sunny weekend. The 30-year-old Jolly Rancher cocktail is the order here, made with vodka, Midori, Malibu, fresh lime and cranberry, and there are usually £4 pints knocking about, which is rare these days. It’s a few doors from Brel, so the two make an easy West End double. Best for a cheap, cheerful session with a group.
West Side Tavern, Partick
A New York dive-bar tribute at 162 Dumbarton Road (G11 6XE), West Side Tavern does some of the best New York-style pizza in the city alongside cocktails and craft beer, and it’s got one of the biggest beer gardens in the West End. Lewis Capaldi and James McAvoy are said to be fans. A pizza and a couple of drinks is around £25 to £30. The vibe’s laid-back and a bit rock and roll, the garden’s a suntrap, and it suits a relaxed feed in Partick with mates.
Lebowskis, Finnieston
Named after the Coen Brothers film, Lebowskis at 1008 Argyle Street (G3 8LX) is an easy, chic bar in the thick of Finnieston, with outdoor seating, a canopy and heaters for when the weather turns. The speciality is White Russians, with over twenty-five variations of The Dude’s drink, and the burgers are the thing to eat. A burger and a couple of cocktails lands around £30. It’s a good shout before or after dinner on the Finnieston strip.
The Belle, West End
The Belle at 617 Great Western Road (G12 8HX) is the proper local on this list. The beer garden out back is tiny, more of a leafy nook than a sprawl, and there are tables out front for a street-side pint too. It’s a craft beer and wine sort of place with good no-alcohol options, an open fire inside for the cold, and dogs welcome until 7pm. Pints are around £5.50 and it’s quieter than the Ashton Lane crowd, so it suits a calm afternoon when you want a chat rather than a scene.
Bier Halle, Gordon Street
The underground beer hall at 9 Gordon Street (G1 3PL) keeps a run of outdoor seating along the pavement right beside Central Station. Republic Bier Halle has been a Glasgow institution since 1999 and pours one of the biggest international and craft beer ranges in the centre, with Czech and German leanings. Food is bratwurst hot dogs, pizzas, tapas and ciabattas. The terrace is prime for watching the world go by, pints are around £6, and it suits a quick one in town or killing time before a train.
The Ark, city centre
At 42 to 46 North Frederick Street (G1 2BS), near George Square, The Ark reckons it has the largest beer garden in the city centre, plus the most screens for live sport. So if you want to watch the football or the rugby outside with a pint and a pizza, this is your spot. The menu runs burgers, subs, platters and vegan options, pints are around £5.50, and it’s a budget-friendly choice for a big group on a match day.
The Howgait, Townhead
A standalone pub at 100 St James Road (G4 0PS), near the Royal Infirmary, The Howgait has a big beer garden with loads of greenery that feels more like a country pub than a city boozer. There’s plenty of space, food, live music from 8pm on Fridays, and a student-friendly crowd off the nearby halls. Good value, pints around £5, and it suits a big sunny session where you want room to spread out.
Slouch, Bath Street
Slouch at 203 to 205 Bath Street (G2 4HZ) is a stalwart of the Glasgow beer garden scene, a laid-back basement bar with comfy couches and live music seven nights a week, from jazz to blues. There’s whisky, rum, pizzas and burgers, and the outdoor area is a city-centre suntrap on the rare good day. A pizza and a couple of drinks is around £25. It suits an afternoon that drifts into the evening with a band on.
Koelschip Yard, Southside
The Southside’s beer geek HQ, Koelschip Yard at 686 to 688 Pollokshaws Road (G41 2QB) has fourteen keg lines and three cask, one of the widest and most carefully chosen beer selections in the city. There’s no kitchen, but they bring in cracking scotch eggs and charcuterie, and the yard out back is the draw on a warm day. Open from noon at the weekend with shorter weekday hours, so check first. A couple of serious beers runs around £15 to £20. Best for folk who want to talk about what they’re drinking.
Clockwork Beer Co, Southside
Glasgow’s oldest brewpub, Clockwork Beer Company at 1153 to 1155 Cathcart Road (G42 9HB) brews its own ales and lagers and has an award-winning beer garden out back, recognised by the Incorporation of Gardeners of Glasgow for its floral displays. There’s a full menu all day, including handmade pizzas and sizzling fajitas, and it’s a goal kick from Hampden Park, so it’s the natural pre-match pint. Pints around £5, food keeps it affordable, and it suits a Southside session or a pre-Hampden warm-up.
Best Glasgow rooftop and beer garden picks for…
- Best for views: Red Sky Bar, for the Clyde, the Crane and the Squinty Bridge in one go.
- Best value: The Howgait or Vodka Wodka, cheap pints and room for the whole crew.
- Best for a date: SíSí for the sunset, or Sacred Garden if you want to go all out.
- Best for big groups: WEST On The Green, the biggest lawn in the city.
- Best all-year (covered and heated): Kong, Brel and Sacred Garden.
- Best for craft beer: Koelschip Yard, then Drygate and Inn Deep for the taps.
- Best for food with the drinks: Ubiquitous Chip’s rooftop or West Side Tavern.
- Best for a pint by the water: Inn Deep, on the bank of the River Kelvin.
- Best for live sport: The Ark for the screens, or Malones with a Guinness up high.
- Best pre-Hampden: Clockwork Beer Co, a goal kick from the stadium.
Getting there and other Glasgow guides
Most of these are an easy walk from the centre or a short hop on transport. The Subway drops you near the West End venues at Hillhead and Kelvinbridge, with single fares from around £1.80 and contactless at all stations, though fares can change so check spt.co.uk first. The Southside spots are a short bus or train away. If you’re driving, leave the car once you’ve had a few and grab the bus home.
If you want more than a drink, see our guides to the best pubs in Glasgow and the best cocktail bars in Glasgow, line your stomach first with the best brunch spots or the best cheap eats, or turn it into a full day with the best restaurants in Glasgow. Heading Southside? The Shawlands guide has more on that end of town.
FAQ
What is the best rooftop bar in Glasgow?
Red Sky Bar at the Radisson RED in Finnieston is the most popular for views, taking in the Clyde, the Squinty Bridge and the Finnieston Crane, and it’s been ranked among the world’s top fifty rooftop bars. Kong on Royal Exchange Square is the best bet for an all-season covered roof garden in the city centre.
Are Glasgow rooftop bars open in winter?
Some are. Kong’s roof garden, Brel’s beer garden, Sacred Garden and the Ubiquitous Chip rooftop are all covered and heated, so they run year-round. Open-air terraces like SíSí and Red Sky’s outdoor section depend on the weather, though Red Sky also has an indoor lounge so the trip’s never wasted.
Do I need to book a table?
For weekend evenings at the rooftops, yes. Red Sky, Kong, SíSí and Sacred Garden all take bookings and fill up fast on sunny days. Beer gardens like WEST, Drygate, Inn Deep and Koelschip Yard are mostly walk-in, so just turn up early and grab a spot before 1pm if the sun’s out.
Which beer garden is best for big groups?
WEST On The Green has the biggest outdoor lawn in the city with over forty tables, and The Ark claims the largest beer garden in the centre with screens for live sport. Both handle big groups well, and The Howgait has space to spare too.
Where can I drink outside near the Subway?
Inn Deep is about a minute from Kelvinbridge, and Brel, Vodka Wodka and the Ubiquitous Chip rooftop are all beside Hillhead on Ashton Lane. See our Subway guide for routes and fares.
Which rooftop bar is cheapest?
The Malones Guinness rooftop on Sauchiehall Lane is the most wallet-friendly, since it’s pints rather than £14 cocktails. For value with a view, it beats the dressier rooftops hands down.
Are there good beer gardens on the Southside?
Yes. Koelschip Yard on Pollokshaws Road is the pick for serious craft beer, and Clockwork Beer Co on Cathcart Road has an award-winning floral beer garden a goal kick from Hampden. Both are easy to reach from the centre by bus or train.
Which beer gardens are dog friendly?
Plenty. WEST On The Green, Inn Deep and The Belle all welcome dogs, with The Belle taking them until 7pm. Most Glasgow beer gardens are relaxed about a well-behaved dog, but it’s worth a quick check on the day.
Venues, opening hours and prices can change. We’ve linked each bar’s own website and the official source for transport fares so you can double-check before heading out. Last updated June 2026.
