Emma Southside wine and cocktail bar
From the team behind Grunting Growler in Glasgow’s West end, which is heaven for craft beer lovers, is Lunar. This is not a Southside version of Grunting Growler, it is its own thing – a natural wine and cocktail bar.
Located at 72 Nithsdale Road where Nivens was (and Cookie many years before that), little has changed inside. It’s stylish and modern but also cosy and welcoming.
The menu is compact but at the same time wide-ranging. For cocktails there are floral and citrus options to complex and bolder ones. Don’t worry if you’re unsure about anything on the menu, the friendly and chatty staff can guide you and create the classics, or not-so-classic cocktails for you. Starting from £7 for alcoholic sweet tea, with most cocktails being around the £9 mark.
Round Trip – Plantation pineapple, Aperol, Falernum, Aluna Coconut and lime. Sweet but also tart and one I will be ordering again. Lasted long on the tongue.
Tip of the iceberg – Merkut infused Reyka vodka, Fair kumquat, lemongrass syrup, lime, sumac salt rim. An interesting one, sweet and sour with the sumac rim giving the cocktail an extra tang.
Moment of Clarity – Jasmine tea infused with bitter bianco, peach, sparkling wine. A refreshing one that was too easy to drink, it will be a sure-fire hit in summer.
We also sampled a few wines. Our favourite was the Austrian red, Judith Beck – Ink 2020 with a strong rhubarb aroma and stewed sour cherry taste. It actually tasted quite like fruit juice so not all that alcoholic.
We also enjoyed a Georgian red, Bedoba – Saperavi 2019. A deep purple colour, full-bodied and robust with many dark fruit flavours.
We couldn’t leave without trying the Indian red as well, Fratelli M/S Red 2017. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Syrah/Shiraz. This was pleasantly smooth and jammy (and quite sweet for a red).
Verdict
A three-paw destination here. Superb staff and a compact menu ensure a most enjoyable experience. No bookings, walk-ins only. Dogs welcome. Toilets downstairs in a very chilly basement though there is a disabled toilet at ground level.
Open Wednesday – Friday 4pm – midnight / Saturday – Sunday noon – midnight
Where
Lunar, 72 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow, G41 2AN
