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Breakfast in Glasgow
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The 8 best spots for breakfast in Glasgow

Start your day off the right way at one of the best spots for breakfast and brunch in Glasgow

Arusa Qureshi
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Arusa Qureshi
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It's often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and though we may hate to admit it, filling up first thing can make for a very fruitful rest of the day. But if you fancy something that little bit more special, why not head to one of the many places in Glasgow that specialise in early morning feasts?

From syrup-soaked pancakes and hearty haggis to eggs any-style and pastries baked to perfection, the city's restaurants and coffee shops have it all. So what are you waiting for? Head to one of our top picks for breakfast and brunch in Glasgow to satisfy those cravings.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Glasgow

Best breakfast in Glasgow

  • Restaurants

Originally opened as Delizique before becoming a café-bar in 2008 (the deli can now be found two doors up Hyndland Street), Cafezique is one of the few eateries in Glasgow that does breakfast, lunch, dinner, casual drinks and cake to a consistently high standard. Cafezique’s full breakfasts – with phonebook-thick toast slices, black pudding and bacon – are among the best in Glasgow, and they do a mean eggs Benedict, too. 

  • Restaurants
  • Burgers

Opened in 1995, and taking its title from the an old Scottish word meaning “to wander aimlessly with intent,” the ambience here is artfully bucolic – think exposed stone walls, open fire, chunky wooden roof beams, an iron staircase tangled with twinkling fairly lights and huge floor-to-ceiling windows that swing fully open in summertime (when there are also tables outside on Gibson Street). The weekend brunch menu – featuring everything from full Scottish breakfasts to red pepper Shakshuka and Shetland mussels – are a great way to while away a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

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Kember and Jones
  • Restaurants
  • Coffeeshops

This popular West End café and fine food emporium does a short but rather splendid breakfast menu, available daily until noon. You're not going to come here for a fry-up but you could push the boat out with a warm Wiltshire ham and Gruyère croissant, some honey-toasted granola with fresh fruit and Greek yoghurt perhaps or good sourdough toast with butter and jam. Alternatively, there is a patisserie selection. Wash it down with some of the signature house coffee: 100% Arabica and they roast and grind the beans in-house. There is also hot chocolate to be had, Green & Black's Organic of course, plus a range of teas and fruit juices.

This dog friendly cafe claims to serve up "the best brunch in the south and a damn fine cup of coffee" and you'd struggle to find someone who would disagree. The Shawlands hotspot is known for its high quality and innovative menu, with options like colourful pancakes with Nutella mascarpone to phonebook-thick French toast and baked eggs.

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  • Restaurants

Gandolfi is not a thing, it's several things: Café Gandolfi on Albion Street dating to 1979, Bar Gandolfi upstairs plus Gandolfi Fish a few doors along on the same street with its Fish To Go takeaway. If it's breakfast you want, you should head for the local legend that is the original Café Gandolfi. It was fairly revolutionary when it opened, less so now but it still a loved place in the city's heart. You could have anything from a basic scrambled egg roll or a croissant to such wonders as Stornoway white pudding with apple, crispy onions and Cumberland sauce, or the full Gandolfi Scottish with mandatory tattie scone.

  • Restaurants

The best restaurant in Glasgow? When the Ubiquitous Chip is on top form, there’s no question about it. And there’s so much more besides fine dining to be experienced within this Glasgow institution of more than four decades. One of its highlights is brunch in the Brasserie, where packed sharing boards sit alongside aubergine schnitzel, miso-glazed salmon and even steak.

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Singl-end's two locations in Garnethill and Merchant City are forever busy and with its emphasis on home-cooked breakfast, lunch and baked goods, it's easy to understand why. You can fill up on the huge meaty, veggie or vegan breakfasts, omelette of the day or Stornoway eggs if you're feeling adventurous. But likewise, for something lighter, go for their delicious home-baked granola or organic porridge.

  • Bars and pubs

Despite being quietly owned by the biggest generic pub and club chain in central Scotland, Hillhead Bookclub manages to do a just about convincing job of passing itself off as a chintzy, boho independent café-bar. The reasonably-priced brunch menu impresses, with pancake stacks and all manner of egg options alongside brunch burgers, sandwiches and Bloody Marys.

Still hungry?

The 24 best restaurants in Glasgow
  • Restaurants

From acclaimed Indian restaurants and swathes of superb Italians to its seriously good seafood and brilliant Scottish staples, Glasgow’s thriving restaurant scene is varied, vibrant and impressive enough to make most other cities look on in envy.

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