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    Chinaski's

    4.3 (44 reviews)
    ModerateBars
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Chinaski's Photos

    CHINASKI'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Chinaski's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Polenta fries & skinny fries
    Briony C.

    I was forced to admit recently that I'd never been to Chinaski's, even though I knew it was good. Charing Cross just isn't somewhere I think about going, ever. Thankfully we decided to have Yelp Glasgow's first beer club outing and started off the afternoon here. As everyone else has said - yes, Chinaski's doesn't have a sign. Thankfully Yelp reviews and photos will tell you exactly where you need to go - it's that kind of green/grey coloured building with really tall doors. Inside you'll find a good sized bar area with lots of seating, with a deck space out the back which is where we sat. The weather wasn't great but there's heaters as well as a covering so even when it started raining we only got a little bit wet. We tried some beers while we were hear but my favourite thing I had was the polenta chips (shout out to Emma D for her recommendation!). I agree, polenta chips are the future. These were absolutely amazing - super crispy and perfectly square (I don't know why that appeals to me) with a delicious home made sauce. I would go back to Chinaski's for these alone. Thanks Rocco G for the metaphorical kick up the ass to go here - it is awesome!

    Cider in the beer garden
    Roslyn S.

    I love Chinaski's, it's a hidden gem that you've probably passed many times and not realised what lay behind the tall door. I've never sat inside Chinaski's, I've always made a beeline for the beer garden. It's quite small but full of tables and it makes you feel like you're somewhere else other than right next to the motorway. It's got such a chilled out vibe and the menu is really varied. There's burgers and pizza but also seafood and salads and the prices are pretty good too. If you're out in the beer garden, look up high - you might spot the meerkats (not real ones, sorry).

    Wall of booze - loads of whisky and some tequila!
    Lex G.

    I hang my head in shame. As an American, I'm embarrassed that I'm not too entirely familiar with Charles Bukowski who is a well-known American writer. There I am... staring up at the walls, scratching my head wondering, "why are there so many books on the wall by Charles Bukowski?" Ignorance aside... Chinaskis. is. amazing. I love this place SO much. Unlike some reviewers who discount it for the lack of signage, I actually think it adds to its appeal and mystery. Despite lacking a proper sign out front, it still manages to attract people like crazy, and always be busy every night of the week. Now summer has hit, you'll find people flooding the wee beer garden out back (which has 2 levels, deck patio and downstairs). The interior is a dark sleek contemporary design, fitted with a fish tank and Bukowski books and manuscripts scattered across the walls. It's a wee space with several tables and booths. We've been lucky to snag a booth close to the entrance... however, beware when the windows are open and being approached by randoms asking you for change from the street (eek!). One of my favourite parts of Chinaskis is they serve Patrón! Mmm... tequila. Aside from that, they have an impressive array of whisky on display at the bar. As I support this fine establishment, I really wish Glasgow had more places like it. The sweet and lowdown: awesome wee bar with an impressive selection of whiskies (and Patrón tequila!), beer garden out back, no sign (but adds to the allure), gets packed on the weekends, and great atmosphere.

    The Chinaski's Burger
    Trudie M.

    This place does not get any better!! The no name above the door, the small entrance... Well if you have never heard of it you would walk by it and you would never know it exists! I think that what makes it even cooler, it's has "only cool kids allowed theme" not even a menu online.... Dimmed lights and candles we soon find that all the tables are reserved the waitress squeezed us in which was really good of her! Cool drinks menu as well. On to the best part! The menu was small which I always think is a good thing ( maybe I watch too much Gordon Ramsey) To start we shared the King prawns with a sweet chili dip!! Could these prawns get any bigger? I then I went for the Chinaski's beef Burger. Cheese! Chorizo! Jalapeño! Gherkins! Tomato and a huge onion ring all along with lettuce and mayo! This was massive... I mean huge. It came with a small portion of perfectly salted fries! And to wash it down a jokers IPA. This place is worth a visit if you think your cool enough!

    Crab stack starter
    Susan F.

    Ate here on Monday night with a chum. We were in for food & the bar area was surprisingly busy for the second Monday in January. Usually a good sign. I have been in for drinks here in the past and love the dark brooding candle lit atmosphere. It does come with a hipster alert health warning though! Wall to wall beards. Candlelight is all good but it does mean that it is not easy to read the menu, which by the way had seen better days in terms of tattiness. Staff were efficient without being either friendly or rude. I had heard reasonably good things about the food and so was keen to sample. To start I had the crab stack. This was a generous portion accompanied by a parmesan crisp & Apple coleslaw, which added a refreshing crisp texture. It was nice without being anything to shout about. Nothing was screaming at me on the mains list and so I decided to play it safe & go for the old faithful haddock & chips. Although a generous portion accompanied by tartare sauce & a lemon, the battered fish was unbelievably salty - like someone had rolled it in rock salt before frying. This really spoilt it for me and to be honest, I'm kinda kicking myself now for not sending it back as it was just all wrong. The skin on fries were also greasy & under par. It would be fair to say both me and my companion were fairly underwhelmed. The meal was ok price wise coming in at £25 for two courses & wine - shame our selections were off. I do like this place for drinks but won't be rushing back for food again in a hurry.

    Vegan menu Jan 2017
    Lucy B.

    I went here for my birthday meal - it's a nice place, and they have a separate vegan menu. The vegan menu is wonderful - a lot of creativity and thought has gone into it. I remember that I had a Panko Tofy for main, which was really good, and Affogato for dessert. Unfortunately I can't remember what I had for starters, but I CAN remember that we had a bottle of really nice wine (also vegan). But actually, the best thing was the service. They are LOVELY here. Quick, polite, and friendly. Just great service.

    Logo from official website
    Gillian M.

    I'm deducting a star immediately for the fact that the name is not displayed anywhere on the outside of this pub. I'm not quite sure what is cool about that and it seems a little pretentious to me. We went here for a friend's birthday and had to get the taxi driver to drop us at Charing Cross in general as he (& we) had no idea which pub it was. We wandered in the rain for a bit before deciding to go in to this fairly nice-looking pub for a pre-drink and ask them for directions. "Could you tell us where Chinaskis is please?" "You're in it!" Rather embarrassing but at least we didn't have to go back out in the rain. It was a Saturday night and extremely busy. We ended up in the 'beer garden' trying to shelter from the worst of the rain but didn't mind so much after a few drinks. It is quite a cool little place and the bar staff were really friendly - the girl who served me had a little chat every time I ordered which was nice but the drinks were rather expensive. It made a nice difference from the bars of Sauchiehall Street but as it was so packed the difference wasn't as big as I'd imagine it would be during the week.

    The bar
    Rebecca D.

    Chinaski's is one of those bars I must have walked by a hundred times before I even realised it was there. It's a pretty unassuming Charing Cross bar and I'm pretty sure that for a long time it didn't have a name above the door. When I eventually did go in, I liked what I saw. It's Charles Bukowski themed, but not strongly. There are books and quotes displayed on the walls but it's not super in-your-face. The bar is pretty dark and it gets full quickly but you can book tables if you have a big group coming. They also have a good amount of space outside in a beer garden area through the back of the bar. I've not tried the food yet but it looks good. In terms of drinks they usually have a reasonable selection of beers, the cocktails are good and the main focus in terms of spirits is on bourbon. Bourbon isn't normally my spirit of choice but I've tried a few here that I've liked. They have a decent range of other options too.

    Chicken & Bacon sandwich
    Jen M.

    Popped into Chinaski's for an express lunch, unfortunately it didn't live up to its name :( The food took half an hour to come, considering the place was empty can't understand why the chef took so long to cook the food. However when the food arrived it was great, amazing value for £5.95. My chicken & bacon sandwich was huge so I decided to tackle one of it along with the chips and got the other half to take away in a doggy bag- waiter was more than happy to wrap this up for me. Lots of other things I would like to try on the menu to I will be back, hopefully with a more "Express Service".

    Bukowski would be proud?
    Jack V.

    Chinaski's is a darling of a bar and any review should be as short and understated as their advertising. The word of mouth following of patrons is evident over the night as I sit there, people watching. The door doesn't open and close much, it's a cold night I'd not miss it. This isnt the kind of place catering to drop in and out, this is somewhere you come to spend the night. From it's pitted sandstone walls, to it's candlelight and wood, the warmth this bar exudes touches your soul. That's it, if you want to read all about it try another review, if you want to feel a human emotion just go.

    It gets a bit atmospheric in here...
    Rob K.

    I've been told that when Chinaski's first opened, it was the cool place to be that no-one knew existed. And then the summer arrived and people discovered it has an awesome, split level beer garden, complete with overhead heating, out back. I'd never been in it until it featured on this weeks date night. It's mainly a wine bar, but has a good few beers on tap. It was really dark, lit only by candles on the tables and low lighting at the bar - but it was nice and relaxing. It was really quiet for a Tuesday night (literally 1 other couple by the time we left), but I'm looking forward to going back and seeing what it's like at the weekend.

    Baked Camembert
    Jade W.

    A group of us decided to head to Chinaski's as we'd heard it had a lovely wee beer garden. And that it certainly did! It also has the addition of little heat lamps for when the temperature cools, meaning that you can stay in it all evening. Splendid! It was really busy as the sun was making a rare appearance, so seating was a bit tight. But we managed to spread across two tables to seat 8 of us outdoors. The atmosphere was great. Really chilled with a cool vibe. The girls shared bottles of prosecco whilst the guys had beer. We also decided to share some pizzas which were delightful! One was Italian sausage with sticky onions and oregano, one feta cheese with red onion and chilli and finally buffalo mozzarella with cherry tomato. The feta cheese pizza was by far the best. Absolutely mouthwatering deliciousness. The creamy cheese with the tang of red onion and sprigs of rocket were a winner. The Italian sausage was also yummy and a real hit with the table. The buffalo mozzarella not so much... it was a bit boring and nothingy compared to the others. We also shared a baked camembert. Gooey cheese heaven! Not that I even had any room for this after the pizzas. But i couldn't resist! Food, drinks and atmosphere here were spot on. My only gripe has to be the less than friendly waitress, who was verging on rude on more than one occasion. A shame really or this place might of earned 5 stars. The waiter that also served us however was great. I'll definitely be back!

    See?  No sign.

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    12 years ago

    More bourbon's than you can shake a stick at. the house burger is amazing. staff are friendly. perfect pub and a must for a bourbon lover.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Review Highlights - Chinaski's

    Charles Bukowski themed, with a wide selection of whiskeys and beer, outdoor terrace and gourmet pub grub.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    The Pot Still - 1000 whiskies

    The Pot Still

    (153 reviews)

    ££

    City Centre

    Small pub, massive whisky selection -- and I mean massive. We're talking over 1,000 whiskies on the…read moreshelves, plus a solid lineup of beers on tap. It's cozy, crowded, and buzzing with life -- often standing room only and packed shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and travelers alike. If you're a whisky fan (or even just whisky-curious), do yourself a favor and try one of their Scotland whisky flights. It's like taking a mini tour of the country's whisky regions without ever leaving your barstool -- and without worrying about driving. The bartenders really know their stuff and are happy to guide you toward something you'll love. A quick heads-up: no football colors allowed, which keeps the atmosphere friendly and relaxed no matter who you support. And speaking of friendly -- the locals here are as welcoming as they come. This is exactly the kind of place where Scotland's famous pub culture shines. Prices are surprisingly reasonable too, so you can sample a few drams without feeling guilty. Whether you're a seasoned whisky nerd or just looking to experience the local vibe, this is the spot. Pull up a stool (if you can find one) and enjoy a proper Scottish night out

    Even if you are not a whiskey fan, this place is worth visiting if you're in town. Just to see…read moretheir ginormous, or hmm, whiskey-normous, selection of bottles lining the wall, and the bartenders going up and down the ladders to fetch them. This may prompt you to feel like ordering a drink. You are in good hands and they can totally recommend something that you may like. Their selection is so huge they don't have a menu, you just have to ask for your label or take their recommendations. Naturally, most of the selection is Scottish whiskey, but if you somehow prefer otherwise, (say you are a local tired of Scotch... or just want to reaffirm nothing beats a Scotch?) they do offer whiskey from other countries, as well as beer and ciders, as well as gin, rum and the like. They do offer pies and other bar food, but we went after dinner and just couldn't stomach more food, tempting as they may sound.

    Slouch

    Slouch

    (45 reviews)

    ££

    City Centre

    Sleazy rock? Check! Dirty blues? Check! I think I'm going to like it…read more Now this was a joint I'd never heard of and only came into contact through a friends wee birthday night out. Now we're not talking heavy full pedal to metal kinda night as the participants and birthday man himself had been doing a 24 hour DJ charity gig around Glasgow the day before. So this was a Sunday night just chillin' and grabbing a few beers kinda night listening to all them dirty dirty blues. Da da da da dum! Oh and talking a whole lotta random nonsence. Da da da da dum! At the entrance it spilt into two, venue to left and the bar to the right, here I am stuck in middle..... er em. Sorry! Anyhoo we had a booth which looked like it could be closed to make a private party area. Steady! It was an all round really good night, the decor was non too shabby for a rock stylee venue with fancy wall paper and chandeliers, one girl actually blended into the wall with the top she was wearing. Nice! Drinks what you'd kinda expect to pay in the city centre but overall a fab night out and wouldn't mind swinging by again for some more of them dirty blues. Da da da da dum! Did I mention I saw The Beatles playing in the venue when we left? Very surreal!

    With an hour to kill before dinner, I needed a cocktail. Or two. And some chips. Thankfully Slouch…read morehas all these things on the menu PLUS seating so that meant it was the perfect stop for Saturday afternoon drinks. My first cocktail was the Personality Crisis £5.95. Made from "Smirnoff Green Apple Vodka & Xante Pear Cognac, shaken with lemons and apple juice. Finished with a splash of lemonade and a drizzle of grenadine, served in a chilled wine glass." There's no denying this cocktail had an apple zing to it - quite sweet but not too over the top and pretty easy drinking. I'd ordered the twice cooked fries (£2.95) and they arrived pretty quickly and were piping hot. They weren't amazing fries, a little greasy but overall they were pretty decent and we demolished them without any trouble. I then opted to get into a second cocktail - it was a Saturday afternoon, after all. The Black Magic Woman (£6.50) is an espresso martini with "Illy Espresso, Smirnoff Red, Patron XO & brown sugar shaken over ice, strained into a martini glass and dusted with chocolate." Woah. This was GOOD. I mean, really good. A bit addictive, even. Thankfully I wouldn't be able to tolerate two espresso martinis so that wasn't really an option. I loved the chocolate dusting and it was one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had. I'd even go so far as to say I would go back to Slouch just for this cocktail, it was that good.

    The Finnieston

    The Finnieston

    (62 reviews)

    ££

    Finnieston, West End

    We ordered lunch special for mussels @ 10 pounds each. Delicious and good potions for price. Would…read moredefinitely eat here again. Server was friendly and attentive.

    When my better half wants something she usually gets it. Since we were going to Glasgow Scotland…read moreshe insisted that we go to dinner at The Finnieston Sea food and Pub. It is not located in the hip touristy area next to Planet Hollywood. It is a small unassuming pub in a working class neighborhood. We walked from Glasgow University (looks like Hogwarts) which turned out to be a longer walk than Google made it seem. It was cold and drizzly just like Scotland should be so when we got there we were ready. We didn't have reservations but they were extremely nice and sat us down. This is a Pub. Just what you are picturing in your head right now. Dark, lots of dark wood, old crumbling bricks. I love this decor. We started with a couple of appetizers I ordered the Salmon Tartar and my wife ordered the smoked duck breast. I ordered a cold pint my wife had a glass of white wine. We decided to also have a half dozen local oysters. The waitress asked if we were expecting someone else. I guess 3 appetizers is not normal for 2. We were just getting started. Once we demolished all 3 appetizers I followed up with the Pan Seared Gigha Halibut my wife had the steamed Shetland Mussels. What a treat. All the seafood is local and very fresh. All of our dishes from beginning to end were tops. A truly historic dining experience from a historic eatery. In Glasgow then GO...... to The Finnieston. See what I did there. BTW we also had dessert.

    The Brass Monkey - Craft Beer menu

    The Brass Monkey

    (24 reviews)

    ££

    Finnieston, West End

    If you are into craft beer and chill vibe this is a great spot. They carry Overtone Brewing line in…read morecans and it is as good as any US NEIPA including Trillium, Treehouse, Singlecut, Other Half and Tired Hands. Come early or it will be crowded.

    Great pub to stop and have a drink after walking around town. Located within about walking distance…read morefrom hotels. Appearance/Location: corner bar located on Argyle street. Good location to stop on your way back from Kelvingrove's Art Gallery and Museum. We walked from the museum to the pub without any problems. It's nice on the inside. There are some tables and the bar is at the center with a nice display of alcohol both on tap and on the walls. Beer: there was large selection of beer and liquor to choose from. I was looking for a good stout and the bartender, Andrew gave me some really good recommendations. I settled on the Overtone Milk that he recommended and it did not disappoint. It was smooth, full bodied, and flavorful. Nice chocolate flavor with a hint of smokiness to it. My husband got the Drygate IPA and it was crisp and hoppy. Service: I always look for good conversation, attentiveness, kindness, and whether or not the server and or bartender was knowledgeable about what they're serving. Our bartender Andrew was all of the above. He was so welcoming, and my husband and I enjoyed the great conversation With him. He knew a lot about the selection of beers and whiskey, where it came from, and who it came from, so that was wonderful! Thank you Andrew for a great experience. We hope we can stop by again while we're still in Glasgow.

    Chinaski's - bars - Updated May 2026

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