Lots of people have extensive pre-conceived ideas about Glasgow. Yes, they’re all true, but if you’ve never been, take it from me that it’s an exciting city that’s both friendly and edgy with fantastic nightlife.

Once a trade and industry centre of the British Empire, it is notable for its stylish and grand but often overlooked architecture in 18th century style with grid-patterned streets.

It has been compared in feel to New York but without the skyscrapers. Indeed Glasgow has stood in as a filming stunt-double for American street scenes, including in Batman, World War Z and Indiana Jones.

As well as it’s grid-patterned streets, one of the key features that Glasgow holds in common with New York is its history of migration, with notable waves of Highlanders, followed by two groups very familiar to a New York census: the Irish and the Italians, who have had a significant impact on Glasgow’s culture.

For a start, you get good espresso in Glasgow and subsequently good Espresso Martinis too. The drinking culture is also well known and the pub scene is one of the liveliest in Europe.

The city also has a reputation for art, music and innovation, with a thriving creative scene and plenty of fun and new ideas – all tempered with a healthy west coast intolerance of bullshit.

If you’re lucky enough to visit this never-boring destination and fancy a good cocktail, I’d recommend a trip to the Merchant City, particularly Brunswick Street where you can find the Amsterdam Cafe, or ‘the Dam’.

At first glance this might seem more like a Euro-pub than a cocktail bar, but hidden behind its awnings you will find an increasingly well-known secret. If you make your way down the narrow stairway you will find a highly entertaining speakeasy called ‘the Absent Ear’, a reference to Vincent van Gogh.

Reserve a place in advance and ring the hidden bell for access. Perhaps you can spot it here.

Once you’re allowed inside, you’ll find it darkly but atmospherically lit, with nods to art and plants, with, naturally, an homage to Vincent’s sunflowers.

Refreshingly there’s little in the way of mobile reception or WiFi available, but it’s not like stepping back in time. It’s like stepping into a retro future.

It’s creative, weird and wonderful without pretentiousness or any sort of air of trying too hard to be quirky. The staff are fun, engaged and very much a part of the show.

Several of the bar staff have been involved in the creative artworks playfully integrated into the venue’s décor and menu. This sense of participation is maybe one of the reasons why the bar is run so well. The staff belong here and they are enthusiastically engaged in the enterprise. It shines through.

I was provided a bottle of water on arrival and attended to throughout like a VIP with service which they seemed to genuinely enjoy providing.

Martinis aren’t on the menu but I was unblinkingly offered one when I asked. When I ordered I was asked how I liked it, including all the reassuring questions.

The martini arrived shortly after. It was beautifully cold, botanical and livened with lemon. The peel had been expressed into the glass and then neatly shaped – all correct.

The glass was not a traditional v-shape but honestly, just look at how pretty it is. The drink was served in a pretty, almost fluted coupe or cognac glass with an elegant plant motif. Gorgeous, and in-keeping with the recurring plant theme.

The vermouth was Cocchi Americano and some of the subtle underlying botanicals came from Roku gin. If you like your martinis especially dry I would emphasise this when ordering because the Cocchi is sweeter than, say, Noilly Prat. For just over £12 the drink was also excellent value.

Of course apart from the excellent martini – always a very telling sign – their main offering of creative drinks is an exhibition in itself.

The interactive tablet menu displays an art work for each cocktail, setting the scene while you have the fun staff on hand to explain any of the details that you want to know more about.

The drinks are comedic, imaginative and festooned with a variety of ingredients, some made on the premises, others sourced from around the world.

Review the description, flavour profile and list of ingredients for each drink, then select one of three different recommended spirits to tie them all up – an engaging way to lightly customise your drink.

It gets busy very quickly. I was the first customer at 3pm when they drew back the curtain but it started filling up immediately after me, mostly with couples on dates or small groups of friends, laughing at the menu then enjoying the creative cocktails. Despite being busy though, the service is relatively fast for a cocktail bar.

It’s less than a 10 minute walk from the likes of Queen Street so even if you’re only in Glasgow for a short while this is absolutely worth a visit.

Have fun! Don’t lose an ear. And if you’ve not had the chance to visit Glasgow yet, put it on your list!

By the way, if you like this part of the world, why not read up about the Paisley Martini, or the Smokey Martini, made with splashes of whisky?