Went with family for a birthday/small scale reunion. Fantastic wine suggestions, highly suggest the Sicilian white. Actual food was incredible - best mussels in Glasgow. The menu changes and we’re very excited for the next one :). We had a chat with the owner who is just the nicest guy, and had three cocktails made, all of which beyond hit perfectly, from dessert drinks to a gorgeous mix between a margarita and a paloma! Also, a really lovely music choice with great volume - could appreciate the tunes and still chat. Great prices, great people, great environment, and a really nice sense of community. You will love them if you love good seafood and good cocktails :)!
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Before you go
- Chef / owner
- Stefano Azzaro
- Opened
- 2024
- Style
- Seafood small plates and sea-inspired cocktails in a converted historic chippy; menus rotated every ~6 weeks
- Setting
- Shawlands, Coustonholm Road just off Kilmarnock Road; former Guido’s chippy in a Victorian unit
- Known for
- tiny Shawlands seafood bar, owner-chef service, rotating menus
- Signature dishes
- Mussels (when on the rotating menu), £29 tasting menu (snack, small plate, side, dessert)
- Good for
- date night, small groups, celebrations
- Prices
- Press cited a £29 tasting menu with choices; drinks and small plates à la carte also ran
- Typical spend
- Around £29pp food on the tasting format before drinks
- Reservations
- Usually needed
- Booking
- Small room (~16 covers); historically booked via Instagram (@the_old_fish_bar), WhatsApp, or Dojo — confirm still trading first
- Book online
- Open booking page
- Dietary tags
- vegan options
- Dietary
- Owner said a vegan menu was added after customer requests; seafood remains the core offer
- Groups
- Only about 16 seats — book ahead; not suited to large parties
- Kids
- Intimate evening cocktail-bar setting more than a family chippy
- Drinks
- Cocktail-led; opened with a zero-alcohol cocktail programme, later full spirits and wine
- Corkage
- Glasgow Live noted BYOB with a small corkage fee during an early visit
- Noise / pace
- Small, low-lit room; Herald called service charming and the room atmospheric
- Getting there
- Short walk from Kilmarnock Road buses through Shawlands; Pollokshaws East / Shawlands rail nearby. No Subway stop in Shawlands.
- Parking
- Street parking around Coustonholm / Kilmarnock Road; can be tight evenings
- Also
- Site traded as a fish-and-chip shop for 100+ years before the 2024 reboot; As of 2026 the business was advertised for sale/rent and some listings mark it permanently closed — verify before visiting
Glasgow restaurant
The Old Fish Bar
Opening hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Friday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Overview
The Old Fish Bar turned a century-old Coustonholm Road chippy (last run as Guido’s) into a tiny seafood small-plates and cocktail bar when Sicilian owner-chef Stefano Azzaro opened it on 1 May 2024. About 16 seats, sea-inspired drinks, and menus that rotated every few weeks — Herald critic Ron Mackenna scored a visit 24/30 and flagged the £29 tasting format as strong value. Diners and press talked up mussels, fried fish, owner-led service, and later a vegan menu. Early months leaned alcohol-free cocktails while the licence caught up; full spirit cocktails followed. Booking was tight; Instagram and Dojo were the usual routes. Important for anyone planning a visit in 2026: Azzaro put the business on the market as he stepped back from hospitality, theoldfishbar.co.uk hosting has expired, and some directories mark the venue permanently closed. Phone or check recent listings before you travel.
Reviews
Master's of their craft. Highly recommended. From food to drinks everything was perfect. We are so glad to find this gem in the southside. Whether you're adventurous or just looking for a good fried fish, there is something for everyone here, it preserves the heritage of the previous chippy whilst making something completely unique. The barman is a wizard and the food is stunning, Luckily we walked by and gave it a shot, we will be back!
Read on Google MapsBrilliant wee place in the middle of Shawlands. Really friendly and helpful staff - great wine recommendations - and the food was absolutely delish. A small but well put together menu... we pretty much had one of everything! Will be back
Read on Google MapsHonestly a complete hidden gem. It was 10/10 - flavour combos, presentation, taste. I can’t fault anything at all! If you love fish, you need to check this spot out. I think it is my favourite restaurant of 2024. Already trying to convince people to come with me again to get myself booked in for the new menu. 🤩✨
Read on Google MapsExcellent friendly service, they made custom cocktails for us and took the time to ask what we liked. It’s dog friendly too! The atmosphere and vibe is intimate. Music was good too! Would recommend and will be back for sure!
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