Smoked by AI · Glasgow · people

Paul Trainer

Chef · Journalist · Broadcaster · Author — Glasgow dining, bars and openings; the city's institutional memory. Broad rather than cuisine-specialist.

Listed with the critics and writers in Glasgow.

Paul Trainer is founder and editor of Glasgowist, Glasgow's longest-running independent food and drink title; co-host of the Glasgow Food Chat podcast; also writes for The Scotsman and runs the GlasgowWorld food desk's Glasgow Food Stories visits, which carry chef interviews on the record.

Their own reviews and picks.

Their own judgment, in their own words, by the piece it appeared in.

• GlasgowWorld (Paul Trainer, 26 June 2026) ↗their review · 2026-06
  • The ClarenceGlasgow

    “It has the spirit of a Glasgow neighbourhood pub while still serving some of the best food you will find in the city.”

  • The ClarenceGlasgow

    “The cooking here is impressive.”

• GlasgowWorld (his headline) ↗their review · 2024-07-02
  • Ho Lee FookEast End

    “Ho Lee Fook: I found the best street food in Glasgow at The Barras”

• Glasgowist ↗their review · 2024-01-08
  • The Sparkle HorsePartick

    “A good local is difficult to engineer. It has to form over the years, building up in overlapping layers that add character.”

• Glasgowist, 'Weekends at Kothel on Crow Road' ↗their review · 2018-08-19
  • KothelPartick

    “The counter is laden with cakes and brownies and slices and all kinds of other eye-catching treats. There's an opportunity to pick your way through the Mediterranean menu: order a salad, sandwich or deli plate. Just definitely save space for cake, to be accompanied by strong coffee.”

• Glasgowist, 'Quick Bite: Lunch at The Citizen' ↗their review · 2018-06-13
  • The Citizen GlasgowCity Centre

    “At first it might feel a bit fancy but generic, a bright, shiny recreation of a drinking salon from another undefined time and place, but there are clear signs that Glasgow is shining through, both in the room and on the menu.”

• Glasgowist ↗their review · 2018-01-18
  • The Duck ClubPartick

    “exactly the type of comfortable and accomplished restaurant everyone would like to have at the end of their street”

• Glasgowist, Best of Glasgow ↗their review
  • University CafeHillhead

    “The display is a Glasgow cultural artifact”

Pieces they wrote about these places.

Reporting, openings and roundups. Kept for the trail, and not read as their endorsement — a writer relaying someone else's award is not recommending it.

• GlasgowWorld, 'Glasgow hospitality group goes into liquidation' ↗opening coverage · 2023-02-21
  • The FinniestonFinnieston

    “Kained Holdings operated Lebowskis bars, The Finnieston seafood restaurant and gin garden alongside Porter & Rye steak resaurant and cocktail bar.”

• Glasgowist ↗opening coverage · 2022-12-24
  • Malo- Wine & Negroni BarCity Centre

    “over 100 different wines, an extensive cocktail list alongside charcuterie boards and platters of George Mewes' cheese”

• Glasgowist, on the Independent Coffee Guide Scotland 6th edition (quoted text is the guide's, not his) ↗reporting · 2022-12-02
  • Hinba Specialty CoffeeWest End

    no verbatim line captured from this piece

  • Perch & Rest CafeKelvinbridge

    “a bright and airy Aladdin's cave of speciality coffee delights, it's packed with all manner of kit to help visitors recreate the magic at home”

• Glasgowist, relaying Time Out's World's Coolest Neighbourhoods 2022 entry naming Godshot (no Trainer line of his own to quote) ↗reporting · 2022-10-11
  • Godshot studioShawlands

    no verbatim line captured from this piece

• Glasgowist, 'The Gate to open new morning roll cafe at The Barras' ↗opening coverage · 2022-07-20
  • Hutch GlasgowCalton

    “The original kitsch red and white tiling has been retained, the backdrop to a glorious new selection of filled morning rolls.”

• Glasgowist opening piece, naming his picks off the launch menu (no evaluative line to quote) ↗opening coverage · 2022-04-08
  • Murphy’s Pakora BarFinnieston

    no verbatim line captured from this piece

• Glasgowist, 'Talk of the Town: Glasgow's 20 Best Coffee Places' ↗roundup · 2021-02-11
  • Gordon Street CoffeeCity Centre

    “Popular with travellers on the go at Central Station, they'll also organise you a breakfast roll in the morning.”

• Glasgowist relaunch report (scale and history, no evaluative line to quote) ↗opening coverage · 2020-11-02
  • Ralph & FinnsCity Centre

    no verbatim line captured from this piece

• Glasgowist ↗reporting · 2020-01-18
  • Kaf CoffeePartick

    “cited by the New York Times travel section as one of the places making Glasgow a more interesting destination for tourists”

• Glasgowist, 'The Locale Bar to Open on North Street' ↗opening coverage · 2019-06-15
  • The LocaleFinnieston

    “Now work is underway on The Locale Bar Diner and Beer Yard. Expect craft beer, sweet or savoury brunch options, free range fried chicken, Aberdeen Angus beef burgers and Basque pintxos bar snacks.”

• Glasgowist ↗opening coverage · 2019-06-09
  • The Mackintosh TearoomsCity Centre

    “one of only two south facing terraces in Glasgow”

• Glasgowist ↗reporting · 2018-05-21
  • Lychee OrientalCity Centre

    “prides itself on traditional Chinese cooking techniques and natural, fresh ingredients”

Also tagged to them.

• Red Onion