Move over breakfast – brunch is now the most important meal of the day! And Glasgow, the café mecca it has now become, has plenty of spots to indulge. Whether it’s a champagne and caviar atmosphere you want, or somewhere to nurse the after-effects of a raucous Saturday night, here are just some of the best spots for brunch in Glasgow.
Promising the ‘best brunch in the South’, this Shawlands spot has earned its reputation with a classic menu complimented by speciality coffees. Its specials board changes daily and is the best place to find some brunch experimentation – think crispy fried duck eggs or a pancake stack with Nutella panna cotta.
Suggestion: Pancake stacks and/or French Toast
With a cool, industrial vibe, Kilmurry and Co brings a gorgeous bistro setting to the Shawlands brunch scene. Following a recent revamp of the menu, you can now have your eggs nine ways, tuck into a stack of flavoured buttermilk pancakes or enjoy one of their breakfast ciabattas – from classic eggs and bacon to Greek-inspired halloumi and pepper.
Suggestion: Kilmurry Stack or Bangin Biscoff Pancakes
Made fresh and served fast – that’s the motto of Canteen 58. Their home on Ingram Street is set up to encourage communal dining, serving breakfast until 1.30 pm. Alongside their ‘Brunchy Bits’ of bagels, avocado toast and French toast, their extensive breakfast menu means you can have your eggs however you like.
Suggestion: Traditional Breakfast
Over to Fraserburgh where pastel colours and boho vibes await to satisfy the senses at Lister Coffee Co.
You’ve heard of people marrying the Eiffel Tower, Berlin Wall, sandwiches (don’t ask) but I may soon add to the list catching a glimpse at the cups here. Obviously I’m kidding – I’m in no financial position to book a wedding – but I’m a firm believer that a good mug is an essential ingredient to a vibing coffee. Its handleless, two-tone and matt selection of crockery are right up my street.
If you’re not on my level of cuppy love, its selection of bakes will seal the deal. The vegan Ultimate Carrot Cake looks tempting with just the right thickness of frosting and topped with a scattering of petals and pumpkin seeds. Keep your eye out for the wonders of the From Bakery Lane kitchen making an appearance too.
An Italian restaurant and deli on Duke Street, Coia’s is a local secret for the best brunch in the city. Found in the heart of the East End, they were named by The Scotsman as one of the best places to get breakfast in the whole of Glasgow.
A TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice for 2021, Scran in Dennistoun has been repeatedly named the best brunch in Glasgow. Using ingredients from the local area to make their famous brunches, it’s no wonder locals keep coming back to this award-winning spot weekend after weekend.
An AA Rosette-awarded French brasserie in Glasgow’s theatre district, La Bonne Auberge serves brunch from 10 am to 4 pm – perfect for the late sleepers. Though the menu is petite, it’s decidedly Gallic. You can be sure the croissants, both plain and filled, are just as good as those you’d find in the boulangeries of our neighbour across the Channel.
Whether visiting their Merchant City or Garnet Hill location, Singl-end is a great place for vegans and dog-lovers to enjoy brunch (though it’s not exclusive to them!). Also a café and bakehouse, all the bread served here is made here, from gluten-free and vegan focaccia to sourdough and traditional Italian durum wheat loaf.
Named by Glasgow Live as one of the city’s most ‘Instagrammable Cafes’, the gorgeous floral and pink interiors have made it a popular brunch spot in trendy Finnieston. Their menu focuses on savoury brunch staples, open sandwiches and Japanese-inspired pancakes that you’ll want to take photos of more than you’ll want to eat.
A quiet spot on the Spiers Wharf canal, Ocho Café is a calm oasis just steps from the city centre. While their eclectic brunch options, from open-faced toasts to full Scottish breakfasts aren’t to be missed, the indecisive among us will love their Build Your Own Brunch option.
The sister café of Café Strange Brew, Mesa is a cosy spot for around twenty diners to enjoy brunch in. The menu sets itself apart from the other brunch spots around Glasgow’s East End, particularly inspired by the flavours of the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
Serving a standard and champagne brunch over the weekend, Epicures in the West End Hyndland neighbourhood is a bright spot for something delicious. If you can tear your eyes away from their extensive drinks menu – from cocktails to kombucha and everything in between – their food menu will tantalise the tastebuds of any customer.
First opened in 2021 as a speciality coffee and brunch spot, Morning Glory on Great Western Road won’t just serve you something delicious – their farm shop might sell you some too. Their menu is specially curated to feature just a handful of dishes, but here you won’t find the traditional brunch fare. No, at Morning Glory, brunch has been given a bit of a makeover at their West End spot – with fresh baked goods from nearby Freedom Bakery.
With multiple locations across the city, Kothel’s Bearsden location is the only place to find its ‘dream brunch’. The rustic charm of this location just outside of the centre blends Mediterranean flavours with a relatively traditional brunch menu featuring pastries, cooked breakfasts and, of course, high-quality coffee.
Available Friday to Sunday in three different locations across Glasgow, Bar Soba’s Boozy Brunches are a firm favourite among locals. Not only is their cocktail menu inventive and full of flavour, but they don’t scrimp on the food either, with dishes inspired by Asian fusion street food.
Blending the charm of a French brasserie with a British inspired menu, Browns has been serving seasonal, delicious food for more than fifty years. Their weekend bottomless brunch is perfect for large groups – not only will you have plenty of food to choose from, but the champagne, mimosas, bellinis and Bloody Marys are free-flowing too.
Serving brunch all day, the Partick Duck Club is all about bringing high-quality comfort food to its guests. Its homestead building dates back to the 1800s – where it was a former inn and alehouse for members of Glasgow’s merchants and bankers. The restaurant is now named after the preferred dish they served – Partick duck.
A 2021 TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice in the heart of Merchant City, Wilson Street Pantry serves brunch every day. Its laid-back café is the perfect spot at the weekends – and they’re particularly proud of their brunch options, whether it’s eggs benedict, locally baked sourdough or coffee from nearby brewers, Papercup.
Serving breakfast all day, plant-based foodies can pop into Rawnchy in the East End for a brunch fix. All of the dishes here are dairy-free and vegan, with many also being gluten-free. The pancake flavours change week-to-week – and the Big Rawnchy Breakfast, complete with plant-based bacon is a favourite with the locals.
The first Scottish location of this England favourite, the Braehead Centre is now home to Jamaica Blue. Serving their breakfast and brunch dishes throughout the day, their collection of traditional brunch fare is best complimented by their signature coffee blends, luxury hot chocolates or smoothies blended in-house.
The sister café of the West End’s Morning Glory, Guid Egg near Kelvingrove Park is now open for guests to enjoy a curated menu of delicious treats. Serving breakfast and brunch from 7 am to 2 pm, their menu differs from traditional brunch fare, including dishes like bone broth, vegetarian haggis, toasties and potatoes with curry mayo.
Urban West has always been about brunch. Found in the heart of Glasgow’s West End neighbourhood – and the winner of the 2019 Best Café Award at the Scotland Business Awards, their menus are about delicious, good food, artisanal coffees and making as much as they can in-house by an expert team.
With a brand-new brunch menu for the weekends, Saint Judes is a relative newcomer to Glasgow’s brunch scene. This Bath Street staple is usually best known for its creative cocktails, and the creativity continues with its brunch menu. Look out for incredible pancakes and French toast, or the halloumi or black pudding stack made with toasted sourdough.
Popping up on the South Side in 2021, Hamptons Brunch has got its game in the name. Brunch here features familiar fare but is always made with the freshest of local ingredients. Hamptons has been noted by customers as a great spot for those with allergies – especially gluten and dairy – so you can be sure your eggs or your brioche French toast are made exactly how you want them.
