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Vapiano has opened its doors in the heart of Glasgow, bringing its laid-back vibe and fresh Italian food to Buchanan Street.

Home to the freshest range of Italian food, residents and visitors to the city’s famous Style Mile will be able to try the unique dining concept in the fully refurbished iconic former George Hotel building, once a bolthole for Hollywood stars including Cary Grant and Joan Crawford.

Diners enter from Buchanan Street, and are led up the wide staircase, complete with restored Victorian stained-glass windows to the 293-seated capacity restaurant.

The long oak tables each have their own herb garden where guests can pick their own fresh herbs to garnish the dishes, and the two-floor premises includes a laid-back bar area where guests can relax and chill in the company of friends. There’s a nod to Turin too, Europe’s other style capital twinned with Glasgow, through a wall length art installation detailing the Italian city’s skyline.

Founded on a love of honest, good and supremely fresh food, Vapiano’s menu is made up of classic favourites as well as some new takes on the traditional, offers customers the freshest range of pizzas, pastas, antipasti and salads ordered directly from chefs at the open kitchen and made in front of diners.

Guests at Vapiano are encouraged to choose eat their food to their own taste, with ingredients freely mixed and matched to order, and garnishes growing in the mini herb garden on each of the tables. At the end of each diner’s visit, payment is made via a unique smart-card system, which sees everything added to their card as they order. Before diners leave the restaurant they can grab a spoonful of gummy bears, a sweet treat to round off their visit.

The launch, which will create 55 jobs, follows the recent opening of Vapiano Edinburgh, the firm’s first outlet in Scotland.

 

Phil Sermon, Managing Director at Vapiano, said:

“When we were looking at locations for restaurants, Glasgow looked ideal. Its vibrant social scene provides the perfect backdrop for Vapiano and we’re thrilled to have finally opened those doors. Vapiano’s great central location on Buchanan Street in a building with such a deep history, is ideal for post-work and weekend entertaining, celebrations and those simply wanting to jump out of the office for a quick lunch. We know Glaswegians like to have a good time with friends, so we’re looking forward to welcome Glaswegians into the restaurant to experience what Vapiano is all about.”

The new opening in Glasgow will be the second in Scotland and the fifth in the UK, following London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Vapiano has developed a portfolio of 205 Vapianos in 35 countries across 5 continents, and is popular with young workers, students and celebrities alike.