Pubs in Glasgow are usually open to around 2400 - bars often have longer licences, while clubs often stay open until 0300 or 0400, although last entry is usually at 0100. There are over 700 pubs and bars in the city (evidence that Glaswegians like a tipple now and again) as well as numerous nightclubs catering for all musical tastes. A number of the venues listed below blur the boundaries, morphing from bar to club and often serving very decent meals as well. 

Glasgow's nightspots cluster around the West End and Ashton Lane (a charming cobbled street lined with bars and restaurants), the city centre and the suave Merchant City. The minimum drinking age is 18 and there are generally no dress codes, although smarter clubs may not permit jeans or trainers.

You can buy tickets for most events at TicketSoup (tel: 0844 395 4000; www.ticketsoup.com). The main guide to going out is The List (www.list.co.uk).

Smoking in enclosed public spaces is banned throughout Scotland.

Bars: The Horseshoe, 17 Drury Street (www.horseshoebar.co.uk), has the longest continuous bar in the city, although it is still difficult to get a place there at the weekend. Bar 10, 10 Mitchell Lane, just off Buchanan Street in the heart of the city, is a popular and stylish bar, serving food. The Butterfly and the Pig, 153 Bath Street (www.thebutterflyandpig.com), with its whimsical brand of shabby-chic, is a winner for quirky cocktails. Uisge Beatha, 232-246 Woodlands Road (www.uisgebeathabar.co.uk), is a warm, candlelit pub with a bewildering array of whiskies and The Doublet, 74 Park Road, is a cosy local with a relaxed crowd of students and locals. The Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street (http://cca-glasgow.com), attracts an arty crowd - and has club nights too. Back in the West End, Ashton Lane veteran Bar Brel, 39-43 Ashton Lane (www.brelbarrestaurant.com), serves well-kept beer and mussels and is a great place to start a night out. 

Clubs: As in many cities, the club scene in Glasgow is ever evolving and the music and atmosphere of a venue can change from night to night. Check out The List to get the most up-to-date information. The Sub Club, 22 Jamaica Street (www.subclub.co.uk), is an underground club with DJs spinning techno and electro and still hosts the near-legendary Optimo on Sunday nights. The Garage, 490 Sauchiehall Street (www.garageglasgow.co.uk), serves up pop and party anthems to a boozy crowd as does Bamboo, 51 West Regent Street (www.bamboo51.com). The Arches (www.thearches.co.uk), located in a cavernous brick-vaulted space, under Central Station, at 253 Argyle Street, has pounding club nights in addition to live bands and theatre. The Polo Lounge, 84 Wilson Street, is a popular gay club with a luxurious upstairs bar and several cruisey dancefloors downstairs. 

Live Music: Large-scale pop and rock concerts take place at the Clyde Auditorium in the SECC (www.secc.co.uk), off junction 19 of the M8, with its own dedicated railway station (trains depart from Glasgow Central station), as well as at the much-vaunted Barrowland, 244 Gallowgate (www.glasgow-barrowland.com), near the Barras market, and O2 Academy (www.o2academyglasgow.co.uk) on Bridge Street. The ABC, 300 Sauchiehall Street (www.abcglasgow.com), is also a good mid-sized venue.

Up-and-coming bands play at the venerable King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, 272A St Vincent Street (www.kingtuts.co.uk), where the Mancunian band Oasis were discovered. The Bar Fly Club, 260 Clyde Street (www.barflyclub.com), is another good spot, with a range of styles. Jazz acts perform occasionally at Brel, 39-43 Ashton Lane (www.brelbarrestaurant.com), while Nice 'n' Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street (www.nicensleazy.com), attracts energetic live bands to its sweaty basement. The 13th Note, 50-60 King Street (www.13thnote.co.uk), is a bohemian hangout with an emphasis on quality live music.

The best bet for folk music is the annual Celtic Connections festival (see Special Events). Throughout the year, The Riverside Club, 33 Fox Street, hosts ceilidh dances at the weekend, drawing an energetic crowd. Molly Malone's, 224 Hope Street, has live Irish music nightly, ranging from traditional folk to Celtic rock, while Park Bar, 1202 Argyle Street, is a good spot for Highland sounds at the weekend. Scotia Bar (www.scotiabar.net) and Clutha Vaults, both on Stockwell Street, are great pubs with authentic folk music thrown in for good measure.