Finnieston is bathed in the warm afterglow of gentrification, hailed as the coolest area in the city and proving to be the stomping ground of choice for Glasgow’s young creatives, or those who wish to be considered on the right side of hip. Keeping edgy boho types well nourished and supplied with organic coffee, small-batch whiskies or robust craft ales is now one of the main functions of Argyle Street.
For the most part, Finnieston lacks much of that hipster edifice of emerging neighbourhoods in other cities. There’s a higher concentration of contrived individuals than other parts of the city, but this is the West End. Hasn’t it always been thus?
Of course, the real difference is that an artsy, innovative scene has spread out into an area that was mostly regarded as bleakly post-industrial – a void between useful parts like Kelvingrove and Charing Cross, only to be approached for events at the SECC. It was hardly The Badlands, but it was largely ignored.
The opening of The Hydro, now one of the most successful venues in the world, gave a boost to a burgeoning awakening in Finnieston and led to a proliferation of new businesses in the area that collectively pack quite a punch.
In some ways much of the hyperbole about Finnieston has been overplayed. However there are some very hard-working, determined and talented people in here who are winning plaudits and deserve your attention.
The Kelvingrove Cafe was named the country’s Most Stylish Bar at the Scottish Style Awards late last year. It wears the title well.
This corner of Argyle Street was a genteel tearoom long ago before the building was abandoned, only to gain a new lease of life as a bar and bistro.
The interior features stripped-down bare brickwork and dark wood. On a Friday and Saturday night the neat downstairs bar is the ideal venue for a conspiratorial chat and a cocktail.
The ground floor room has a high ceiling, a brass bar, leather booths and banquette, vintage floor tiles and a rather funky painting of The Rolling Stones near the door.
This is a well-stocked bar with trained, enthusiastic staff so do take advantage of the situation and look beyond your generic tipple of choice. Look for unusual ingredients, colourful concoctions, elegant glassware and retro drinks menu items. A recent House Special was a tasty mix called Tempest which put Jack Daniels together with lemon, tansy, dubonnet and egg white.
While the cold weather is still upon us, we should point out they serve an excellent hot toddy, which hit the spot on our last visit. They will probably have devised something much more interesting by the time we next appear at their door.
The bar is governed by a commitment to fine flavours and this ethos extends to the kitchen. The Kelvingrove Cafe plate up proper gastro pub fare. There’s a breakfast menu that offers scones, toast with spreads and eggs done a variety of different ways. The brunch menu features the usual suspects alongside more substantial options like burgers and mac n cheese.
At lunch mix it up with some small plates like chicken wings with hot sauce and blue cheese sauce (£6) or quirky options like roast squash and goats cheese pate with grapes (£5.50) or halloumi chips with bloody mary ketchup (£6.00).
For big bites there are burgers made from Aberdeen Angus Beef direct from Hugh Grierson in Perth – all grass-fed and organic of course. Vegetarians will be well satisfied by the mushroom falafel burger with halloumi and hot sauce.
Check out the sandwich menu, we’ve tried the schnitzel with apple sauce and creme fraiche between two huge chunks of bread. It was everything you could want from a sandwich.
It’s nothing revolutionary, but the Kelvingrove Cafe has changed from a derelict corner to a supremely comfortable space to linger over a drink, have a chat and enjoy a meal.
As more and more places in Finnieston enjoy a similar journey, the area will continue to deserve your attention and cater to an eclectic crowd. It bodes well for the future and provides a template for other areas to emulate.
Glasgow, Glasgow City G3 8TB, UK