Offshore

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

The glorious tall windows that overlook Kelvingrove Park are one of this café's biggest assets. The sun practically floats above the green treetops in summer; in winter Offshore's silver pendant lamps glow invitingly above the velvet-cushioned window seats. It used to be a furniture shop, and the grand architecture of the room lends itself to lounging on comfortable sofas. This is what Offshore is all about: students surf the net or read, while music is melodic, and polite dogs are welcome, too. With no kitchen, the food is brought in and it's perfectly decent. A cauliflower and potato curry cracks with fresh cardamom flavour, served with linseed bread instead of rice. The Matthew Algie coffee is chosen for its nutty, vanilla smoothness. Cakes are hand-made local enterprises, and only the cling film wrapping undersells their quality. The organic chocolate über bars have a loyal following. Owner Evelyn Pryde is likeable and shows canny instinct for what customers (and 'the kids') want. Local artists exhibit work each month and acoustic nights bring in a hushed crowd, adding to the firm feeling that Offshore remains a special and cherished space in which to relax.

• High point: Windows in the west
• Low point: Would be much nicer if they used a cake stand