CAFES
In association with
GLASGOW
its huge windows that frame a great vista of Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Owner Ersan Sherifi is a welcoming host, warmly greeting the stream of regulars, tourists and lunchers (including staff from the café opposite) in for the compact yet creative menu of great coffee, ciabatta sandwiches, soup and pizzas. And what pizzas! Freshly prepared and stone-baked, they are arguably the best in town (i.e. the best), coming in at nice prices, too – and available to order for takeaway, or delivery at certain times. The pastrami, rocket and parmesan version is a delight – thin, crispy and chewy, and utterly delicious. A top café whose outlook, whether from inside or on the few seats outside, is nearly as mesmerising as the pizzas. + Best pizzas in Glasgow - Anyone who thinks they aren’t the best
Lola and Livvy’s 254 Argyle Street, City Centre (Map 6: D6, 123) 0141 258 0161, lolaandlivvys. co.uk | £7.50 (lunch)
Glasgow has a fair few Italian cafés, but Lola & Livvy’s is the only one with a menu that specifically shows south Italian and Greek influences – reflecting owner Ed Avdiasi’s heritage. The counter’s delights include spanakopita, their Greek spinach pie with crisp and buttery filo pastry. Lasagne stands out too – a lighter, fluffier version than we’re used to here (less stodgy, too). The Mediterranean characterises the sandwich fillings, while their homemade focaccia is a hit of olive oil and salty sunshine. It’s an unlikely occupant of a wee unit opposite Central Station, perhaps, but it does a roaring trade – especially before 9am (their Italian Aroma takeaway coffee is better value than anywhere else nearby) and then at lunchtime, when getting a seat
TIPLIST FOR COFFEE • Artisan Roast Top roasters on Gibson Street 136 • Avenue G Speciality Coffee Shop Sister venue handling the brew 137 • Coffee, Chocolate & Tea Espresso bar with sweet treats 145 • Gordon Street Coffee Cracking coffee for commuters 139 • Laboratorio Espresso A cool city centre bar for top brews 146 • Papercup Coffee Company West End roasters near Kelvinbridge
142
• Riverhill Coffee Bar Excellent cuppas and cakes in the city 146 • Smile Café Exceptional coffee near the Botanic Gardens 146 • Tapa Dennistoun and Southside roasters 144
can be tough. Keep an eye out for the owner’s planned expansion into the West End with another café. + One for lovers of the Med . . . - . . . but not claustrophobic ones
LUV Café 1121 Govan Road, Southside (Map 9B: A1, off) 0141 445 0200, luvcafe.co.uk | Closed Sat/Sun | £6 (lunch)
A first glance, LUV Café’s open brickwork and rustic charm could be a village trattoria in Italy rather than a neighbourhood café in Govan. It really is a most pleasant little space – and it gets the sun from both the north and the east sides of its corner unit on a good day. The Italian influence is evident also in their coffee and their signature ‘tasca’ toasted breads, which have a crust of parmesan on the outside. Elsewhere, it’s more traditional, doing a roaring trade in breakfast rolls and homemade cakes to locals and workmen from the endless building work that goes on in Govan. Despite all this, LUV’s chatty staff seem to know everyone’s name and background. With the soon-to-open allnew Southern General just up the road, that might prove increasingly difficult, but it’s a good problem to have for this neighbourhood favourite. + Lovely setting - Sandwich choice is small
The Mad Platter 360 Great Western Road, West End (Map 9A: G2, 90) 0141 334 8894 | Closed Mon | £6.45 (set lunch) / £15 (dinner)
A sign saying ‘The Mad Platter’ is an indication of the whimsy within, where bowler hats and fezzes adorn the bannisters, the floors are chequered and the walls are candy-striped, while the music veers merrily from Julie Andrews to Creedence Clearwater to the Dixie Chicks. It’s all amusing and endearing. The food (thankfully) isn’t quite as crazy, but alongside their chunky soups (with sourdough bread) and sandwiches, there are a couple of café curveballs such as mince ’n’ tatties or a chunky wee fish pie with faintly tangy and tomatoey sauce. Jolly good. Of course, no place that’s as much fun as this could neglect the most fun course of all – thus, they do pear crumble, banoffee pie, tarte de framboise, croissants, muffins et al. Understandably, West End bohemians (especially those with kids) seem to like this place a lot. + Uniquely quirky and fun - Quite cramped
4 Martha’s 142a St Vincent Street, City Centre (Map 6: D4, 79) 0141 248 9771, mymarthas. co.uk | Closed Sun | £7 (lunch)
Tucked away amidst the sea of burger joints that crowd St Vincent Street and around, Martha’s is a café and takeaway with a difference, offering office workers and shoppers something a lot more exciting, flavoursome and locally sourced than a packet sandwich or crispy filled roll. The flatbreads are generously filled and deliciously constructed – both the chipotle chicken and falafel fillings are worth a try. Alternatively, salads packed with seasonal ‘hero’ ingredients can be found in the fridge alongside an adventurous range of juices, which are ingeniously displayed in their fruit form and blended at the counter on demand. A Greek yoghurt with rich berry compote makes for a refreshing palate cleanser. The quality of the menu at Martha’s could undoubtedly convince even the most ardent fans of greasy spoon cafés that healthy food can be both satisfying and enjoyable. + The menu – annotated with calories and ingredient info
- All food served in takeaway containers
Matilda’s 378–380 Byres Road, West End (Map 9A: D1, 56) 0141 339 8809, matildaspatisserie.co.uk | £3.95 / £4.50 (set lunch) / £17 (dinner)
Throughout the day the glass frontage of Matilda’s reveals a hubbub of families devouring cakes, and takeaway customers popping in to pick up a sandwich deal. However, on Friday and Saturday nights the café is transformed into an entirely different eatery altogether with the availability of their bistro-style market menu. Dishes vary from the traditional, such as haddock with hand-cut chips, to the more creative, most notably the beautifully tender duck with pak-choi, soy, chilli and sweet potato. Naturally, as Matilda’s is first and foremost a patisserie, dessert is something truly special, and the passion fruit meringue pie is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the cake selection. In an area dense with daytime coffee spots, it’s exciting to see a café fully exploring its potential. + Lots of options of exceptional quality - BYOB corkage a bit pricey
4 McCune Smith Café 3–5 Duke Street, East End (Map 7: D1, off) 0141 548 1114, mccunesmith.co.uk | Closed Sun | £7.50 (lunch)
Not many places go quite so far with a concept while maintaining an outwardly minimalist style, but McCune Smith succeeds. Stripped back and hip on the surface, this cafe references Duke Street as the original site of Glasgow University, where James McCune Smith was the first black man in the world to receive a medical degree. Sandwiches are more than meets the eye, with each one designed around a different figure of the Scottish Enlightenment; the house special is pastrami, relish and gouda on rye bread. Dear Green coffee and remarkable cakes (you can’t go wrong with a Rocky Road containing whole teacakes) are also good reasons to pay a visit. Take or leave the historical slant, there’s no doubt that McCune Smith Cafe is perfectly suited for the present day. + Stimulation for the mind along with your food - A little off the beaten track
Moyra Jane’s 20 Kildrostan Street, Southside (Map 8: B2, 4) 0141 423 5628, moyrajanes.co.uk | £5.95 (set lunch) / £16 (dinner)
Moyra Jane’s is shedding its tearoom image and maturing into a Parisiennestyle brasserie, complete with candlelight, mirrors and piped piano jazz. Like any good café, the menu is reminiscent of home cooking but the atmosphere sets it apart, as does friendly
and efficient service. Café favourites baked potatoes and sandwiches remain throughout the day and evening, but main meals are squarely aimed at an evening clientele, where a curry, tagine and chilli may sit alongside macaroni cheese and mince and tatties. Chicken stroganoff is a rich red, with garlic and paprika giving a distinctive flavour, while the lamb tagine is packed with warm fruity spice – both are accompanied nutty wild rice and a crisp flatbread. Complete with an enticing wine list, this is a lovely spot for a intimate yet casual meal. + Warm welcome and service - Spanish Benedict doesn’t live up to expectations
My Home Bakery 59 Hyndland Street, West End See Cafés: Wee Places
Naked Soup 6 Kersland Street, West End (Map 9A: D1, 60) 0141 334 8999, nakedsoup.com | £7 (lunch)
Since taking the reins in early 2015, the new owners of Naked Soup have focused their energies into producing high-quality dishes. From the first spoonful of the rich yet delicate butternut squash, coconut and lentil soup it’s evident that their time has been well spent. The constant stream of customers proves this point, with regulars and passers-by filling the leather booths and takeaway queue throughout the day. The atmosphere is relaxed and shows signs of European influence; with rusticstyle serving plates, quiet jazz on the stereo and a Woody Allen film showing behind the counter. Naked Soup is the ideal spot to catch up with friends over French toast at breakfast, or to people watch with a platter of toasted sourdough and hummus. + Delicous soups in a relaxed space - Cupcakes could be better
Nic’s NYC Deli • 50 St Enoch Square, City Centre (Map 6: E6, 121) 0141 248 7114 • 183 Hope Street, City Centre (Map 6: D3, 51) 0141 353 1664 • 396 Byres Road, West End (Map 9A: D1, 53) 0141 339 7003 | £9 (lunch)
The owners have now replaced all three of their former Crêpe à Croissant venues about town with the Nic’s NYC Deli concept. They are all well placed to get plenty of customers for the range of USinfluenced food that is riding high on the trendy dining agenda in town. With the griddles used for crêpes now utilised for cooking up pancake stacks with various smotherings, there is little remant of the former shops now taken over by a range of hot dogs and US-sized sangers such as the Elvis, featuring peanut butter, banana and bacon, or the Triple Bypass Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Sun 12pm-6pm
Tucked in a sunny corner off the beaten track, The Hidden Lane Tearoom is nestled amongst quirky homes to crafts people, musicians and small business folk, and has become a hub for the local creative community
The Hidden Lan (Argyle Court)e 1103 Argyle Str eet Glasgow, G3 8ND 0141 237 4391 thehiddenlanete aroom.com
Available for private functions, including sophisticated tea parties, business lunches & kids cupcake decorating
The List Eating & Drinking Guide 141