AFTER postponing this year’s Glasgow Coffee Festival during lockdown, organiser Lisa Lawson, founder of Dear Green Coffee Roasters in the East End, hit upon the idea to transform the event, previously held in The Briggait, into a celebration that stretches across local neighbourhoods.

A ticket for the festival, which costs £5, will provide unlimited deals and discounts in Glasgow’s best cafes from October 16-25.The event will take place against the backdrop of new Covid restrictions, with the mission of the festival to show support to local businesses coming at a pivotal point in the roadmap out of lockdown. You can find out more at: glasgowcoffeefestival.com

Lisa said: “Your local coffee shops and roasters have been fuelling your home-working 
whilst fighting their own survival battles. These guys are really talented and they’ve been hit hard. Let’s show support to the people behind all of these local 
businesses which enrich our communities and boost our city economy by serving and roasting great coffee. 

“Go a walk, have a look at the street art and architecture on your way, visit somewhere new, get your discount and find out a little about their story.”

If you are looking for coffee, cake and good conversation, here’s my suggestions: 

The Glad Cafe
1006A Pollokshaws Road, G41 2HG / thegladcafe.co.uk

Glasgow Times:

A Shawlands cafe and music venue serving high-quality coffee from Machina Espresso and cakes from Big Bear Bakery, alongside gluten-free cakes from Wild Flours Bakery. Vegan and vegetarian small plates and a wide selection of craft beers also available. The home of the Glad Community Choir.

Good Coffee Cartel
12 Cornwall Street, G41 1AQ / thegoodcoffeecartel.com

Your friendly neighbourhood environmentally conscious coffee shop. They’ve been at the forefront of zero-waste packaging since they opened in 2017. You can enjoy tasty cakes from Akara Bakery sitting by the window, pick up merchandise like caps and mugs or order takeaway coffee, including iced coffees.

Salmagundi
1007 Cathcart Road, G42 9XJ / facebook.com/cafesalmagundi

Mount Florida cafe serving speciality coffee like Sipi Falls and Guadalupe Zaju, both from Thomsons Coffee, on filter. For lunch, order a kimchi toastie with a side of celeriac and pistachio soup or maybe cauliflower and cumin fritters with hummus, tzatziki, pomegranate jewels and pickled onions, topped with a perfect poached egg.

Grain & Grind
50 Battlefield Road / grainandgrind.co.uk

Glasgow Times:

They take a global approach to coffee with blends from Tanzania to Guatemala. Look for local Bungo, Marchtown and Queen’s Park roasts. Visit for substantial sandwiches, packed flatbread wraps and Kitty’s Donuts. They have three locations in the Southside: Pollokshaws Road, Battlefield Road and Clarkston Road.

Short Long Black
501 Victoria Road, Glasgow G42 8RL / instagram.com/shortlongblackcoffee

Come for the coffee, stay for the pies, baked fresh each morning. Flavours include ham hock, cheese and potato or vegetarian haggis. Look for lemon meringue tart, cinnamon buns, carrot loaf and chocolate cookies straight out of the oven for dessert.

Primal Roast
278 St Vincent Street, G2 5RL / primalroast.com

A clean-eating cafe opened by crossfit instructor Iain Walker, a former sous chef at Ubiquitous Chip with more than 20 years of experience in fine dining. His brother Ross is head barista. The breakfast menu includes sweet potato hash browns served with poached eggs, two rashers of smoked bacon, tomato relish and spinach, as well as the popular option of mashed avocado and bacon on rye bread.

Us Vs Them
200 Gallowgate, G1 5DR / usvthem.coffee

A recent arrival in the East End, this coffee bar is also a creative space for the local community. They change their coffee supplier four times a year. Owner James Aitken says: “We are buying coffee that has not been seen in the area. This is exciting for consumers but also for us.” Expect future roasts from Seattle and across Europe.

East Coffee Company
30 Hillfoot Street, G31 2LF / eastcoffeecompany.co

East Coffee Company opened on Duke Street in January 2018. They have flourished as a compact neighbourhood hub for locals and those who appreciate a strong cup of coffee, pancakes in the morning or a slice of banana and walnut loaf in the afternoon. Currently offering takeaway from their roastery on Hillfoot Street.

Spitfire
127 Candleriggs, G1 1NP / spitfireespresso.com

Spitfire Espresso sits on one of the great vantage points in the Merchant City, across from the Ramshorn Church and with a view of some of the apartment buildings that triggered the next stage of redevelopment on nearby streets. They are a friendly bunch and serve up an excellent cup of coffee.

KAF
5 Hyndland St, G11 5QE / kafcoffee.co.uk

Glasgow Times:

A cool coffee and brunch cafe that attracts a crowd with unusual dishes, a friendly welcome and benches outside when it’s sunny. Part of the Partick weekend tradition, Kaf was cited by the New York Times travel section as one of the places making Glasgow a more interesting destination for tourists. Locals are equally as enthusiastic. Look for Scandi plates of boiled egg, crispy bacon, cheese, new potato, houmous, sourdough, fruit and granola yoghurt at weekends. Or home-made babka French toast with pistachio frangipane, lemon curd, whipped cream, nuts and berries. Their coffee offering includes an ever-changing rotation of single origin coffees on both espresso and filter.