Bar Soba

The most recent Bar Soba branch has a remarkable setting on the corner of historic Merchant Square for its range of Pan Asian fusion food and cocktails.

The 2019 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

With outlets across in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds, Bar Soba captures the clean, corporate precision of a successful franchise without losing a sense of place and intimacy. Situated on the edge of the Merchant Square – with seating in the lively indoor courtyard – it is as much a bustling bar as a restaurant, and its self-consciously hip décor reflects the menu’s willingness to ‘remix’ familiar Asian dishes. The fries are given a Thai or Japanese twist, spring rolls meet beefburgers and their Bangkok Burger is a riot of curry, noodles and premium beef. Despite this fusion energy, their nasi goreng has a classic flavour – a relatively sober version compared to the mash-up of traditions elsewhere on the menu, it has a taut, familiar quality, but holds to the high standard. With amiable staff, the division between the bar and the restaurant is well managed, making it possible to begin with a quiet meal before moving on to the more robust atmosphere of the bar.