Grand buildings, trendy cafes and airy modern bars are typical of Glasgow City Centre. A bar crawl through the city centre of "the greatest Victorian City in the world" can be easily done on foot.

The Arches Café Bar 253 Argyle St. Part of the legendary club, this stylish basement bar is the perfect place to linger over a Belgian beer or enjoy their food. Open daily 1200-2000; bar open 1100-2400.

Babbity Bowster 16-18 Blackfriars St. Prime Merchant City pub that has everything; lively atmosphere, wide selection of real ales and good food (see also 'Eating').

Bar 10 10 Mitchell St. This converted warehouse is Glasgow's original style bar and still as cool as ever. Good food on offer and a popular pre-club meeting place at weekends with regular DJs.

Bar 91 91 Candleriggs. Another cool style bar, but comfortable and relaxed and a good place to eat. Happy hour specials 1700-2000.

Bargo 80 Albion St (see also 'Eating'). Stylish and spacious Merchant City bar/bistro with surprisingly good food and a high posing quotient.

Blackfriars 36 Bell St. Merchant city favourite which pulls in the punters with its vast range of international beers and lagers. Also a wide range of excellent grub, live music and comedy at weekends and that inimitable Glasgow atmosphere (see also 'Comedy' and 'Live music venues' below).

The Cask and Still 154 Hope St. Formerly the Pot Still and famous for its massive range of malts (around 500 of them). They also have a selection of cask ales and decent pub grub. Closed Sun.

The Gate 408 Sauchiehall St. New addition to the long list of style bars and another popular pre-club place. Cool and intimate at the same time and great value for lunch. Happy hour is 1200-2000 (!) and DJs pump up the volume Thur-Sat.

Havana 50 Hope St, Tel: 2484466. Is it a bar, is it a restaurant, or is it a club? All three, in fact. Latin grooves, Latin food and Latin spirit, all rolled into one. Coming here is like stepping into a Bacardi advert. Ay, Caramba! (See also 'Nightclubs'). Open Mon-Wed and Sun 1200-2400; Thur-Sat 1200-0100.

The Horse Shoe Bar 17 Drury La, between Mitchell St and Renfield St, near the station. Classic Victorian Gin Palace that is still one of the city's favourites. Its much-copied island bar is the longest continuous bar in the UK, so it shouldn't take long to get served, which is fortunate as it gets very busy. Incredibly good-value lunch served till 1430, then all day till 1900 upstairs and perhaps the cheapest pint in town. If you only visit one pub during your stay, then make sure it's this one.

The Lounge 142 West Regent St. Stylish, yet comfortable basement bar that's very popular with city suits due to its great value lunch specials.

The Mitre Bar 12-16 Brunswick St. A great traditional Glasgow pub in the midst of the Merchant City's cool designer bars. Good craic, cheap grub and fine ales.

Mojo 158a Bath St. One of Glasgow's funkiest bars with cool sounds for that pre-club drink. Good food served through the back in a more intimate atmosphere (see 'Eating').

Rab Ha's 83 Hutcheson St. This old Merchant City stalwart still packs 'em in. It has an enviable reputation for its food and is above the restaurant of the same name.

The Scotia Bar 112 Stockwell St. This old East End pub also claims to be the oldest in town, and its low ceilings and wooden beams support a convincing argument. Its also the best place in town for folk music (see 'Live music venues' below), and much-frequented by writers, poets and drinking thinkers (or thinking drinkers).