The Mediterranean restaurant has been open since 2019, serving up a vibrant array of fresh small plates and European wines.
Nicola Roy Spare Time writer
04:15, 15 Feb 2026
The pasta, salad and foccacia was some of the best I’ve ever had (Image: Nicola Roy)
Dua Lipa seems to lead an annoyingly perfect life. A talented singer, well-educated, bookworm style icon who’s nearly always basking in sunshine somewhere tropical while enjoying delicious food? I’m convinced that’s the life I should’ve been living.
While I might not have a collection of disco-pop bangers or three Grammy awards to my name, I can attempt to walk in Dua’s footsteps through my restaurant choices. During her Glasgow date on the Future Nostalgia tour back in 2022, the 30-year-old dropped into a West End eatery with her sister.
She claimed to be a ‘big fan’ as she posted pictures on social media, so I thought I’d discover what all the excitement was about – and one thing genuinely caught me off guard.
That eatery is Gloriosa. Located at 1321 Argyle Street in Finnieston, Glasgow, it’s a restaurant and bar dishing up colourful Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and wine from small independent European producers in an airy and spacious setting.
It opened in 2019 and has been really popular ever since. But somehow, I’d never actually visited until last week, despite being an absolute lover of small plates dining.
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On a Thursday off work, I thought I’d see what the buzz was about and headed there for lunch with a friend. And I can confidently say it won’t be long until I’m back.
The venue boasts a spacious and airy interior, bathed in natural daylight streaming through the windows. Its simplistic design strikes a balance between modern and welcoming, featuring a sweeping curved bar with high stools alongside a larger dining space.
Even on a midweek lunchtime, the place had a nice buzz about it, which was good to see. We were swifly shown to a window seat, presented with menus, and left to mull over our choices.
This is very much a small plates-style eatery, offering a rotating seasonal menu that shifts according to what’s fresh and available.
Right now, the sample selection includes options like taramasalata with chickpea fritter, bluefin tuna crudo, and grilled sardines with marinated pepper and oregano.
The concept revolves around ordering several dishes to share, though with small plates hovering between £15 and £20, it’s not really a budget-friendly affair.
That said, weekday lunchtimes offer a real bargain: a pasta dish paired with a green salad for just £12.
Gloriosa serves some of the freshest-tasting food I’ve ever had
Usually, there are three rotating pasta choices – one meat-based, one seafood, and one vegetarian. I went for the artichoke rigatoni, while my friend went for the mussels.
The moment our plates landed, it was obvious we were in for something special. The pasta looked amazing, fresh and vibrant with a generous sprinkle of fluffy parmesan.
The flavours were out of this world – who knew artichoke could taste so good? Citrus notes gave it a summery zing, and the high-quality olive oil was evident in every bite.
The salad leaves were seasoned just right, offering a tart, vinegary contrast. The portion sizes were more than enough, and for £12, you’d be hard-pressed to find such good-quality food elsewhere.
I can’t stop thinking about the focaccia
You could easily make do with just the pasta deal, as it’s quite filling for lunchtime. But we couldn’t resist adding some olives and focaccia to our order, and honestly, that bread is something I can’t stop daydreaming about.
Pillowy-soft and utterly irresistible, it was ideal for mopping up any leftover sauce from my plate once the pasta was gone. It’s no wonder Dua Lipa is a fan of this place – the food is great, the staff are incredibly welcoming, and the restaurant itself is a lovely spot to relax.
I’ve been recommending this offer to anyone who will listen. Gloriosa first launched this deal back in October last year before briefly scrapping it and then reintroducing it last month. It might not stick around forever, so I’d suggest heading there sooner rather than later.
Dining and Cooking