Cafés
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Dionika
3–6 Canonmills Bridge, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5LF
Dionika's welcoming owner and head chef Juan Blanco – who was taught to cook by his large extended family back home in Galicia, an Iberian region just on the Spanish side of the Portuguese border – would take offence if people referred to his restaurant…
Empires
24 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SU
Colourful, cluttered and slightly chaotic, Empires is richly decorated with ornate wooden panelling, hand-painted ceramics and cascades of mosaic lanterns twinkling overhead. By day it is bright and cheery, offering healthy lunches and herbal teas, but…
Urban Angel
121 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
More urbane than urban, this bustling Hanover Street basement is an ever-popular choice, and it's easy to see why. With simple prints on the white walls, solid pine furniture and flock-printed menus, the aesthetic lends the restaurant a cool…
Toast
146 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1AQ
There really should be more establishments like Toast in Scotland's suburbs. The restaurant, in the heart of cosmopolitan Marchmont, offers lovingly crafted meals using ingredients sourced from a butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer whose premises are…
The Engine Shed Cafe
19 St Leonard's Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9SD
The Engine Shed has the delicious privilege of taking ethical business to a higher, smarter level. It was founded on a principle of truly equal opportunities by employing trainees with learning difficulties, but the quality of the food is even better…
Centotre
103 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3ES
With its funky hot-pink walls, edgy uplighting and smooth background jazz, über-cool Centotre dresses to impress, and equally style-conscious diners pack out the place pretty much every night of the week. The downside of this popularity is that smaller…
Zanzero
15 North West Circus Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6SX
Opened in 2007, this is the younger, slightly brasher sibling of the city centre establishment Centotre, owned by Victor and Carina Contini. Many aspects of the two are consistent, including the insistence on high quality, largely organic local produce…
Café Marina
61 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BS
The Valvona & Crolla dynasty just goes from strength to strength. In this modern diner-style café Marina Crolla offers the best of home-cooked Italian food. Be it panini, risotto or one of the fabulous pastas, you can eat in or takeaway with style.
4 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
Despite its rather grand situation in an old church, which nestles in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, The Lot is a colourful, somewhat unassuming café-cum-restaurant with a lot of charm. The ceilings are high, the colours bright, and people come at all…
Pani Solińska
73 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
Pani Solinska is Polish for 'Mrs Solinska'. Dorothy Nowak-Solinska took over Broughton Street landmark Café Mediterraneo last year, but before putting her name above the door in spring 2008 took some time to design a restaurant she could be proud of.
Amalfi Pizzeria
148 West Nile Street,
Glasgow,
G1 2RQ
What do Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Cary Grant and Errol Flynn all have in common, aside from the obvious? Amalfi Pizzeria. Or more specifically, its glitzier former guise as the Lido Café, which, being situated suitably close to the famous old Glasgow…
The 13th Note Café/Bar
50–60 King Street,
Glasgow,
G1 5QT
An institution among music fans due to its intimate basement venue and eclectic jukebox, the 13th Note proves a popular choice for meat-free meals – whatever your musical taste. Everything is free of genetically modified products, with light meals…
Blue Moon Café
36 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SB
There's a comfortable vibe in the Blue Moon Café, a popular bar/bistro that's been tucked away on Broughton Street for 20 years. A blue skylight in the centre of the restaurant area shines down on guests sitting at well-worn wooden tables. The menu…
Grassroots Café
93–97 St Georges Road,
Glasgow,
G3 6JA
This café/restaurant is worth a small diversion off the well-beaten track of Woodlands Road; its creative menu (with blackboard specials, too) and relaxed atmosphere are of a higher calibre than the usual vegetarian operation. Purple curtains divide…
The Rio Café
27 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5QF
With its retro stylings and traditional exterior, the Rio – part pub, part café – has a great 1950s vibe. There are leather booths and sleek formica tables, and the menu is printed diner-style on the wall. Its contents range from a selection of cooked…
11 Multrees Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3DQ
Centrally located in the swanky shopping precinct of Multrees Walk, Valvona & Crolla VinCaffè exudes a simple sophistication that keeps it at the top of Edinburgh's A-list of Italian eateries. Its sleek chrome and wood-panelled interior, live jazz and…
The Elephant House
21 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EN
This café – all elephants and Potter – attracts all sorts, including students and tourists who buy the Elephant House baseball caps and take the 'Harry Potter was born here' signals literally. The large, bright room in the back of the café, revered by…
Fifi and Ally
80 Wellington Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6UA
Spawned from the success of the original Princes Square emporium/café, the new Fifi and Ally sits squarely in the city's financial district, so polished even in its early days that it seems to have sprung up fully formed. The design-led monochromatic…
Always Sunday
170 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QS
Lunching lawyers, city breakers and local café crawlers succumb to the charms of the only café in town where every day is . . . Sunday. The ultimate escape when the cobbled and tam 'o shanter'd glory of the Royal Mile gets too much, this tasty time-out…
Black Medicine Coffee Company
2 Nicolson Street, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
The area near Edinburgh University's Southside campus is certainly not short of sandwich and coffee bars in which to grab a bite between classes. It proves a little harder, however, to find fresh, quality ingredients and a knowledge of how to combine…
Brazilian Sensation
117–119 Buccleuch Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9NG
With an emphasis on good cuisine and familial service, Brazilian Sensation has long set its stall on hearty home-cooked portions and enough originality to appeal to even the most adventurous palette. A well-run family enterprise headed by John and Lucia…
Coia's Café
473 Duke Street,
Glasgow,
G31 1NG
Coia's has been dishing out Italian favourites, chip shop classics and, of course, its famous home-made ice-cream since it first opened its doors in 1928. Following a 2006 facelift and expansion – which included adding a well-stocked delicatessen…
Favorit
19–20 Teviot Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QZ
Favorit is a late night diner for the young and hip and – most importantly – for those with the munchies. Black and white chequered tiles, retro tables and benches and a large, red neon Favorit sign set the scene. All that's missing is Pulp Fiction's…
Le Marché Français
9a West Maitland Street,
Edinburgh,
EH12 5DS
This is a popular deli and café by day with a large window full of croissants and baguettes, but come evening, the window is devoid of patisserie and you have to peer past the shelves of tins and jars of French produce to the back of the shop to see…
Mise en Place
122–124 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 5RB
By day a very good deli and café, by night (four times a week, that is) a delightful bistro, Mise en Place is one reason why Southsiders don't need to rely on the transport infrastructure to maintain a good quality of life. Clean white lines and…
67–69 Kilmarnock Road,
Glasgow,
G41 3YR
Anyone wondering why Italian restaurants have such a special place in the hearts of Scots in general and Glaswegians in particular should visit Bacco Italia. The designer décor and concept of this 'style wine bar/restaurant' illustrate the intentions of…
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1 Brandon Terrace, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AE
With a grand selection of daily specials, an impressive collection of home-made cakes, tarts and pastries, Au Gourmand breads and efficient service, Canonmills' very own café deserves its loyal local fan club. Once home to the Au Gourmand bakery, this…
Double Dutch
27–29 Marshall Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BJ
There's an appealing openness about Double Dutch. Windows take up the length of two walls, and the blonde wood of the furniture and floor brings a clean, bright feeling to the airy space. A small team works in an open kitchen, churning out…
The Fruitmarket Gallery Café
Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DF
Many who regularly drop into this contemporary gallery housed in an old Victorian fruit and vegetable market don't make it past the ground floor café, such is the singular draw of the food. With a dedication to fresh produce and menu choices, lunch can…
Ikafe
138 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 5RB
Pollokshields' Ikafe has remained a popular local eatery since it first opened in 1999. Wooden floors, exposed brickwork and white walls dotted with bold prints combine to create a simple and stylish venue. Lunchtimes are busy, so booking is advisable…
366 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4QN
The Zulu Lounge is bright as a button and somewhat unexpected in the heart of sedate Morningside. With its black and white striped exterior and dark wood and corrugated iron interior, this place is a real wake-up call. It was opened in 2007 by South…
The Bakehouse Co
32c Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SB
This new venture by Patrick Crawshaw, an interior designer by trade, is a classy addition to the café/sandwich shop scene. It has the feel of a Victorian shop with old fashioned glass display cases, wicker baskets and a polished wooden floor. The…
Dalriada
77 Promenade, Portobello,
Edinburgh,
EH15 2EL
Situated in an imposing building at the Joppa end of the Portobello Promenade, Dalriada is a fantastic bar-cum-café that's just perfect for an afternoon coffee and cake while you watch the waves roll in, or an evening drink as the sun sets over the…
Delices de Bretagne
4-6a Stephens Brae,
Inverness,
IV2 3JN
Scotland
This beautiful French café specialises in divine fresh crêpes. Along with cooked breakfasts, salads, soups and baked potatoes they serve the definitive toastie (croque monsieur). The café's owners, the Bracqbins, take their turn in the kitchen and…
Queen Street Café
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JD
The term 'home-made' is thrown about by restaurants as carelessly as 'local ingredients' and 'authentic cuisine', and not always entirely truthfully. This modestly sized café in a secluded corner of the National Portrait Gallery is one of the few which…
Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar
19 Elm Row, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AA
The Valvona & Crolla imprimatur remains definitive of all things excellent in food and wine, with a renown that draws visitors from far beyond the Edinburgh foodie scene. Behind the narrow shop front at the top of Elm Row, the deli's towering shelves…
Arts Café
City Art Centre, 1 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DE
'Unpretentious' can often sound like an insult to a more insecure establishment, but here less fuss is ultimately more. And given that it is situated beside a huge art gallery, across from Waverley Station and within walking distance of various office…
The Bay Tree Café
403 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9HY
The long-established Bay Tree likes to keep things fairly simple, with its unassuming layout and Middle Eastern knick-knacks around the walls. The same goes for its menu, which comprises a mixture of Arabian, Mediterranean and European dishes at…
Bella Napoli
85 Kilmarnock Road,
Glasgow,
G41 3YR
At this Southside favourite, a delicatessen, café and fine dining-style restaurant are all housed under the same roof. The casual diner up front contains a busy collection of tables where sandwiches, pasta and sizeable pizzas are served through the day.
Glass & Thompson
2 Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HZ
Glass & Thompson's regulars were doubtless unsurprised to find their favoured haunt nominated for Most Stylish Café at the 2007 Scotland with Style awards. With its gleaming wood floor, muted silver tables and sedate lighting it easily deserves such an…
Kember & Jones
134 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8TD
Everything about Kember & Jones speaks of quality: pale wood cabinets laden with fine continental delicacies, huge terracotta bowls of olives beside organic artisan breads and a table of hip cookbooks that invites browsing while you wait. And wait you…
Moyra Jane's
20 Kildrostan Street,
Glasgow,
G41 4LU
Moyra Jane's has been a popular Southside venue for some time now and it is easy to see why. With its wood panelling and marble-topped tables, it has the charm of a genteel tea-room from another era. Staff are polite and smart in their long, white…
Black Medicine Coffee Company
108 Marchmont Road, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1BG
The area near Edinburgh University's Southside campus is certainly not short of sandwich and coffee bars in which to grab a bite between classes. It proves a little harder, however, to find fresh, quality ingredients and a knowledge of how to combine…
Café 52
52 The Green,
Aberdeen,
AB11 6PE
Scotland
Buried in a cave-like arch below Union Street, Café 52 feels more like Amsterdam than the Granite City with an authentic air of easy cool that style bars would die for. The atmosphere is laid back but the menu is ambitious. Tempura black pudding and…
Café Antipasti
337 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8UQ
Between the fairy lights and rustic pine tables and fittings, you might be surprised on first impressions to learn that Café Antipasti on Byres Road (not to be confused with the branch on Sauchiehall Street, which has different owners) is an Italian…
Café at the Palace
Palace of Holyrood House,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8DX
Nestled into the historic setting of Holyrood Palace's mews courtyard, Café at the Palace isn't just a facility for visitors to the palace and adjacent Queen's Gallery, but a bit of an in-the-know local secret for those with business at the Scottish…
Café DeLos and Café Soupson
National Museum of Scotland, 2 Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JF
Looks aren't everything, but in a space like this even the most pedestrian meal feels a little bit special. Thankfully, Café DeLos has lunch well up to the impressive surrounds – the grand central atrium of the National Museum of Scotland. Plonked in…
Café Français
4 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G11 5JY
Extravagantly fitted out fin de siècle style, with globe lamps and brass railings aplenty, Café Français exudes an informal class that draws a steady trade, perhaps due to its flexible menu. There's a big selection of crêpes, salads and baguettes and a…
Café Newton
Dean Gallery, 73 Belford Road,
Edinburgh,
EH4 3DS
Café Newton makes up one third of the triumvirate of arts venues that includes the cafés at the National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, all of which were previously run by Helen Ruthven. She served as an inpirational…
91 Montgomery Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HZ
Walking into Renroc is a warming experience: enthusiasm permeates the place and a friendly welcome is quickly followed by personalised service. The area upstairs is stylish and airy, while the bistro-style basement is warm and sleepily lit, and a real…
CCA Bar and Café
350 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3JD
The Centre for Contemporary Arts, a cultural oasis amid Sauchiehall Street's noisy parade of bars and clubs, is the place to come if you're after a coffee or a meal without selling out to The Man – the café uses fair trade and organic produce wherever…
Cherrybean
561 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6HU
Comfy sofas, cheerful vintage-chic décor and a relaxed ambience help make Cherrybean a great spot to while away the time with a coffee or rose tea and one or two magazines from the large stack that sits on the counter. Or you could surf the web as…
Craigie's Farm Deli and Café
West Craigie Farm,
South Queensferry,
EH30 9TR
Sited just off the A90 road toward the Forth Bridge and signed from the Dalmeny turn-off, Craigie's is a large, newly built Scandinavian-style barn perched on the hill overlooking a working farm with views to the Forth and the Pentlands. Inside, the…
Fair Trade Coffee Shop
30–31 Albert Place,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HN
With its leather chairs, simple coffee tables, bookshelf of battered paperbacks and poster-covered walls, this Leith Walk café is the epitome of shabby chic. But there's nothing shabby about the food or service. All-day cooked breakfasts are popular and…
The Forest
3 Bristo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EY
Rather like Doctor Who's Tardis, The Forest café's exterior gives no hint of the space to be found within. The large back room is a real jumble, full of comfy sofas, mismatched tables and chairs, and a worn game of Pictionary perching haphazardly atop a…
Go Slow Café
452 Victoria Road,
Glasgow,
G42 8YU
Tucked between an amusement arcade and an optician, the Go Slow Café provides a peaceful oasis among the hurly-burly of Victoria Road. Ochre walls, day-glo artwork and a bulletin board (which wouldn't look out of place in a backpackers' hostel) help to…
The Kitchen Restaurant
Pollok House, Pollok Estate, 2060 Pollokshaws Road,
Glasgow,
G43 1AT
Set in the magnificent Pollok Country Park, Pollok House – an elegant 18th century country mansion beautifully maintained by the National Trust for Scotland – seems a world away from the city that surrounds it. There's an Upstairs Downstairs quality to…
Sadivino
52 West Richmond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
Alessandro and Carmen's 'mi casa su casa' philosophy sets the warm-hearted tone at their Italian/Spanish café. Colourful jars of pesto hug up to bottles of brindisi and other Italian fine wines and flirt for attention next to the panettone in the…
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea
169 Deanston Drive, Shawlands,
Glasgow,
G41 3LP
Set up 'to offer an alternative to the corporate and clinical bars and cafés found throughout the city', and said to be inspired by Czech tea houses, Tchai-Ovna offers both West Enders and Southsiders affordable vegetarian meals and more than 80…
Where the Monkey Sleeps
182 West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4RU
At WTMS, street-smart staff behind the counter cheerfully take orders from office-workers, students and the assorted hipsters who descend the steps to this basement café with comfy mismatched sofas. Inked on a giant whiteboard, the epic menu offers a…
Allan Water Café
15 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan,
Stirling,
FK9 4HN
Scotland
The spacious family-run Allan Water Café has a good homely feel and despite being in land-locked Bridge of Allan also has something of an all-day seaside café vibe. Floor to ceiling windows upstairs and down give excellent views of the to-ings and…
Café Cherubini
360 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9HT
From the outside, Café Cherubini resembles a local café from a European indie film in which bookish characters sip coffee in the windows, framed by gold lettering and drawings of chubby angels. Inside, the couple in charge are wholly genuine with an air…
Elephants & Bagels
37 Marshall Street (Nicolson Square),
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BJ
A stone's throw from Edinburgh Uni, Elephants & Bagels is popular with students seeking brain food, comfort and access to free WiFi. Customer-created felt tip and crayon elephant drawings bedeck the walls, while a tower of carved wooden elephants stands…
Espresso Mondo / E Mondo
116 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9BE
Views out to hectic Tollcross, where buses and ATMs decorate the landscape, may not compare favourably with a panoramic view over the New Town, but the location of Espresso Mondo is no less interesting. Grab a table by one of the impressive windows for…
Heart Buchanan
380 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8AR
Since opening seven years ago, this shop has become a food lover's Mecca, complete with impressive assistants who truly know their stuff. Office workers looking to find their evening's sustenance flock to the deli counter, which holds the day's…
Montgomery's Coffee House
9 Radnor Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7UA
Montgomery's, which sits thinly between a pub and a GP's surgery, is easily missed, but once you're inside, you'll find the interior opens to an unexpected and calming sense of space. A world map hangs on the corniced ceiling and local artists exhibit…
North Star
108 Queen Margaret Drive,
Glasgow,
G20 8NZ
North Star has a decidedly open-door policy, sometimes more literally so than you might like. But this small café/shop is a beacon in the hinterland between Byres Road and Maryhill, welcoming those who need sustenance from early morning until late…
Palm Court Bollinger Bar
The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EQ
The glamorous entrance into the Balmoral Hotel is an experience in itself, but when the soft notes of a harp reach your ears in the Palm Court Tearoom and Bollinger Bar, a proper sense of grandeur is felt. Staff attend to your every whim, and before you…
Sonny & Vito's
52 Park Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9JG
According to the blackboard in Sonny & Vito's deli/café, the cakes are 'baked with love, right here every day'. A playfulness and attention to detail are evident throughout the whole enterprise. Owner Mario Pelosi and his partner Angela Mullen, who…
The Storytelling Café
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
Opened in 2006, the Scottish Storytelling Centre is the modern counterpart to the historic John Knox's House, composed of vast glass panels and modern angles. With a view of the Royal Mile's Canongate, the café space is demarcated by tactile, light wood…
Tibo
443 Duke Street, Dennistoun,
Glasgow,
G31 1RY
At Tibo, chef Robert Singleton creates outstanding dishes starring prime Scottish ingredients. Breakfasts feature Ramsay's bacon, Stornoway black pudding and peat-smoked haddock, while lunch options range from smoked ham hough and puy lentil salad to…
TriBeCa
102 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6NX
As it's named after an area in lower Manhattan (the abbreviation of 'triangle below Canal' Street), this cafe's menu is largely inspired by American diner fare. Eggs are certainly something of a speciality. There are six variations on the Benedict theme…
Vienna Café
59 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PS
Hyndland Street is an up-and-coming area for fresh and interesting flavours, with a cluster of delicatessens and cafés anchored around a bi-monthly farmers' market. Vienna, from the team behind the neighbouring Polish Taste deli, provided further…
Books and Beans
Belmont Street,
Aberdeen,
AB10 1JH
Books & Beans is a modern, colourful secondhand bookshop, which turns the dusty stereotype on its head. Downstairs, Aberdeen's first independent Fair Trade café offers freshly made soups, salads and sandwiches as well as great coffee. Its short, strong…
Booly Mardy's
28 Vinicombe Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8BE
Just off the top end of Byres Road, Booly Mardy's is often overlooked in favour of grander surrounding destinations such as Òran Mór and Gong. Yet it's still popular for its extensive cocktail list – including eight different takes on the drink its name…
Brooklyn Café
21 Minard Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2HR
The Brooklyn Café first opened in 1931 and its award-winning ice-cream has made it something of a Southside institution. Ask a member of staff and watch them become positively dewy-eyed about their main attraction. Ice-cream sundaes at Brooklyn are a…
Café Gandolfi
64 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
Café Gandolfi is a marvellous antidote to any harshness life throws at you. Its rustic charm and consistently good food has nurtured Glasgow's city dwellers since it opened in 1979, earning owner Seumas MacInnes and his team well-deserved iconic status…
Café Grande
184 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DF
Long a jewel in the Bruntsfield eating scene, Café Grande continues to impress with its ability to be all things to all-comers. Whether it's a hearty breakfast you're after, a bite of lunch or just a quick cup of coffee, the cheerful staff are happy to…
Café Sejuiced
77 Hanson Street,
Glasgow,
G31 2HF
In a gloriously airy and open space on the ground floor of the WASPS studio building, in-house artists rub shoulders with workers from local businesses or Royal Infirmary employees over excellent breakfasts, lunches and snacks at this gem of a café. The…
Cornerstone Café
St John's Church, 3 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4BJ
Set beneath the majestic spire of St John's Cathedral, the Cornerstone Café is a cavernous space where gothic meets church coffee morning in surprising harmony. Arching stone walls, synthetic silk table cloths and a dash of peach make this an appealing…
Grianach
38 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo,
Glasgow,
G41 2AN
Grianach means 'sunny' in Gaelic and the theme carries through this neighbourhood café, from the seasonal affective disorder light therapy boxes on each table to the summery pop on the stereo. The menu offers soups, sandwiches, baked potatoes, salads…
Juiceling
3 Gordon Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3PL
Eager to keep queues moving, the funky Juiceling girls lean across the counter as customers shout orders above rasping blenders. The shop in the heart of Glasgow is dominated by bright menu boards, offering smoothies and juices in many freshly squeezed…
Papa Gill's
337 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6AL
The Partick flagship of this modest Indian diner-café is something of a local institution, serving everything from filled rolls before noon to late-night curries, with a selection of burgers and other takeaway fare in between. Prices are reasonable. A…
Reds
254 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH15 2AT
For parents and toddlers there are many soft play areas with café facilities, but Reds goes one better, as a café with soft play facilities. Being able to eat without constant interruption is a luxury that is so far only available to Portobello parents…
Spoon
15 Blackfriars Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1NB
Minimalism and quality are the cornerstones of the Spoon philosophy, with white walls and pine tables making the interior bright and spacious. The menu's confident enough to avoid overload, although with each soup, salad, sandwich and hot dish more…
Tchai-Ovna House of Tea
42 Otago Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8PB
Set up 'to offer an alternative to the corporate and clinical bars and cafés found throughout the city', and said to be inspired by Czech tea houses, Tchai-Ovna offers both West Enders and Southsiders affordable vegetarian meals and more than 80…
Tinderbox
14 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1EJ
Appreciating the Tinderbox vision is like being in a successful long-term marriage: it's easy to take for granted yet vital to remember how good it actually is. Celebrating a decade in Byres Road, the original Tinderbox is still a contender for the…
Two Thin Laddies
103 High Riggs,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9DS
Rather incongruous in the modern surroundings of Tollcross' High Riggs, inside this is a cosy little log cabin-like café. It's easy to miss, but still sought out by a loyal office workers, mums and toddlers, students and pensioners. The usual café fare…
Arcaffe
7 North Claremont Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7NR
Arcaffe is an unassuming place that might be mistaken for a coffee shop or sandwich takeaway due to its exterior décor. Under new ownership since 2007, it has a slight 'in transition' feel about it, and as this guide went to press there were plans to…
The Bakehouse Bistro Bar
125 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2DR
On entering the Bakehouse on Dalry Road, you can expect a friendly welcome from staff behind the food counter. Choose from a range of pre-prepared sandwiches and pizzas to enjoy as takeaway, or opt for table service when sitting in. There are plans…
Beanscene
1365 Argyle Street, West End,
Glasgow,
G3 8AF
Scotland
It may be part of a chain, but Scottish café enterprise Beanscene stands out by selectively adopting hallmarks such as consistency and friendly service and rewriting them in its own style. The deep leather couches, scattered tables and down-lighting…
Bistro Saint Germain
71 Nithsdale Street,
Glasgow,
G41 2PY
This entirely French-run operation – featuring a deli packed with cheeses, pâtés and wines as well as a dinner menu of honest, home-made food – stakes a good claim to being the most Gallic few square metres of Glasgow. While some stereotypes are…
Broughton Delicatessen
7 Barony Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6PD
This is an attractive and chic little deli in the heart of the hip and happening Broughton Street locale. Friendly staff introduce you to what's on offer, and this includes hot specials, juicy seasonal salads and a wonderful variety of cakes – all…
Buongiorno
1012 Pollokshaws Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2HG
On the busy road south into Shawlands, Buongiorno is a family-run and family-friendly café and restaurant with a lively atmosphere and a reputation as a neighbourhood favourite. The relatively small space is often full of convivial chatter from diners…





