Coffee shops in Glasgow to enable your caffeine addiction

From classic flat whites to intricate pour-overs, when it comes to independent cafes, Glasgow isn’t slackin’. Here are six coffee shops in Glasgow to help you get your brew on!

Off The Rails is a candy-coloured cafe just opposite Glasgow’s Queen Street Station. Serving up breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pastries and some damn good coffee, this is a great stop to caffeinated and catch up on some work, whether it’s the start of your journey or the final destination.

I had a couple of hours to kill before my train, so I ordered an oat latte and – since Glasgow gave me sweet New York nostalgia – the Tribute to Katz Deli sandwich, stacked with pastrami, emmental, gherkins, pickled onions, rocket and hollandaise. While nothing has, can or will top Katz’s meaty magic (and using hollandaise instead of mustard is certainly a unique choice), I was pleasantly surprised. It was a respectful shout-out with Scottish flair and a filling enough lunch to have a snooze on the train.

1A Dundas Street
G1 2AH, Glasgow
www.offtherailsglasgow.co.uk

Singl-end – Merchant City

The perfect spot to start your morning and day of sightseeing, Singl-End Bakehouse is more than the average brunch space and bakery. It’s smack dab in Glasgow’s city centre, aesthetically adorable, with multilevel seating and flowers at every table, and it’s just damn good.

The Sunshine on Glasgow smoothie is indeed, a burst of tropic sunshine in your mouth, and the coffees are class in flavour and presentation.

As for food, find brunch plates like the ‘Beefy Benedict’, eggs and sirloin steak with both, chimichurri and hollandaise, or Altamura French toast with berries or bacon if you fancy something sweet. If that’s not enough, indulge in all kinds of treats ranging from banoffee-pie-inspired patisserie or a big ass slice of cake. The strawberry and poppyseed slice is the size of a grown man’s hand, and though it was a little dry, the homemade frosting is made with real chunks of strawberry, which was a goddamn delight.

15 John Street
Glasgow, G1 1HP
www.thesingl-end.co.uk/merchant-city

OUTLIER

I found OUTLIER on a whim, Googling the closest coffee shop to my Airbnb. It was one of the few signs of life in this quiet, industrial block. Too east for the city centre’s action, and too west for East-End residentials.

There’s no sign outside. It’s just a pink-hued building standing just after the railroad overpass, going east on London Road. The only clues are two small outside tables and a storefront window showcasing the crowd within.

The interior is minimal and effective, with a yellow and orange-tiled counter space, exposed white brick walls and pops of lush greens from tall, leafy potted plants, all very well cared for. Behind the counter is OUTLIER’s small, open kitchen where visitors can watch cooks add the final garnishes and drizzles to each dish.

On display, you’ll find freshly baked cinnamon buns, long rosemary and sea salt braids, custard buns, and croissants, but it’s the polenta cake that takes the prize.

I’ll be honest, the coffee is …okay… in my opinion, but the food is so good and original that it’s well worth the visit for breakfast or brunch. Just order a tea, instead.

As for proper plates, the pear, fennel and ricotta toast is whipped, sweet and fresh, and the chicken parmesan sandwich is huge and crispy – from the ciabatta crust to the chicken’s breading.

38 London Road
Glasgow, G1 5NB
www.instagram.com/outlier.gla

Ottoman Coffeehouse

I feel guilty writing about this one as I don’t even want to give it away! Ottoman Coffee House’s website specifically states that this coffee house was made for peace. Its location is away from the high street for a reason, yet despite its discretion, it’s possibly the best coffee shop I visited in Glasgow. This isn’t one of those “hurry up, get in, get out” cafes that cast away their customers with carry-out orders. No… This is a safe space. A place for those who carry coffee in their souls.

Walking in feels like stepping into a friend’s family home. Cultural relics adorn the small lounge on the left of the entrance, with small works of art and charming antiques. Walk further in and you’ll be engulfed into the enormous coffee lounge. The ceilings are ridiculously tall, with gorgeous preserved woodwork and hanging stained glass lamps. I love a good mix match of furniture and Ottoman delivers. There are cozy leather couches with accompanying coffee tables, reupholstered armchairs, two-tops tables, four-tops, whatever you need to make this space feel like home. There’s even space to meditate – though how one can sit still after a latte is beyond me.

As for the actual coffee, just know they’re doing it right. Ottoman boasts caffeinated excellence with single-origin beans and varieties of pours that cater to any coffee connoisseur. And if you’re a flavoured coffee fan, don’t worry, they’ve got all the syrups, drizzles and toppings, too. It was unreasonably warm in Glasgow that day, so I got an iced pistachio latte and it was divine.

As for food, you can get all your classic cafe pastries, but Ottoman goes beyond with an extensive Turkish/Indian-themed lunch menu. Find lamb and chicken kebabs, wings, burgers, salads and sides like hummus, mushroom pakora and cheesy naan. Add a piece of chilli cornbread or baklava and I swear, you’ll never go to Starbucks again.

73 Berkeley Street
Glasgow, G3 7DX
www.ottomancoffeehouse.co.uk

KAFENEIO

KAFENEIO stands at the end of St. Vincent Street and the beginning of Argyle in Glasgow’s West End, and is a lovely local joint specialising in Greek pastries, sandwiches, Freddo espresso and other coffee beverages.

The space is small, but still fits a booth area, three tables and even some high-top space by the window. The bright, teal booths stand out against the cafe’s abstract paintings and photographs on its gritty, brick wall. I loved it. Catch up on work indoors, where you might find a few retirees gossiping in the corner – speaking strictly Greek over their espressos – or soak up some sun and people-watch with a cold Freddo frappe in hand.

994 Argyle Street
Glasgow G3 8LU

House of Gods

You can work from home or you can work from the Sacred Garden at the House of Gods hotel’s rooftop terrace. This one might be a bit of a cop-out as it’s not a coffee shop, per se, but this restaurant within this Scottish hotel is the epitome of rockstar luxury and exuberance, so why not add a little opulence to your cup of joe?

Gorgeous, healthy flora hang all over the terrace, with mythical statues, a red-brick bar top and a transparent rooftop that lights up the entire space. It’s an ideal spot to catch up with friends or catch up on work with a view of Glasgow’s city centre.

Its breakfast menu is short, but with all the morning basics like fresh fruit, breakfast cocktails, teas and coffees, as well as a full Scottish breakfast, eggs benny and avocado toast, but the shakshuka was a delight, as were the croissants that landed on our table to accompany the coffees.

65 Glassford Street
Glasgow, G1 1UP
www.houseofgodshotel.com/glasgow