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Recommended Reviews - Kelvingrove Café
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Third time dining here out of a 6-day vacation. Why? Because this place has it all: classy atmosphere, relaxing music, perfectly curated menu, and attentive service. The vegetarian options are delicious and ample. There is even an entire Scottish breakfast complete with veggie haggis and sausage. Strongly recommend!
Kind of stumbled into Kelvingrove Café, another place has just closed down and we saw this one was still opened. I didn't eat here, just visited the bar, it was well past 1am and the place was still packed, but there was still standing room around the bar. Was greeted right away, and asked for the drink, I wasn't ready and just said surprise me what I got some a pretty looking drink, it was orangish/pink with an orange rind for decoration, and it was great tasting, not too sweet not too sour. Perfectly made for me! If I had more time I would have liked to come back and grab a bite to eat, but I guess that will have to be next time I'm in town. s/n remember when I said kinda stumbled in, well didn't learn the name of the place until after the Uber arrived haha, so I never checked in on Yelp
I've always been a fan of KGC since my first visit, but there has been some changes recently with more focus on the food menu, so it is worthy of an update and a reaffirmation of how great the place is. Yesterday morning we went along for a spot of brunch and then added in some dessert as well. (Well we did finish brunch after 12 noon) I had the breakfast brioche for the brunch part. It was really lovely. Rammed with black pudding, egg, bacon and tomato. The roll was toasted to perfection and the whole thing was seasoned really well. All in a great breakfast roll. For dessert I had my first ever try of Baked Alaska. I love sweet desserts. I love meringue. I love ice cream! This means it turns out I bloody love baked Alaska! If your looking for an indulgent treat you need to try this. You won't be disappointed. Great food and exceptionally friendly & attentive service. Perfect place for a spot of brunch, with a top grade dessert thrown in if you have room.
YES. Arriving here at 8am on a Friday morning when my taxi driver said to me "Fair play to ya girl, pub at this time in the morning!", I had my doubts that I was in fact going to get much work done from my laptop here. Turns out, my fears (or.. hopes.. let's not get stuck on semantics...) were unfounded. This pub is in fact a very sophisticated and delightful cafe during the day. I treated myself to French toast with creme fresh, sizzling bacon, carmelised banana and maple syrup. My god. It was unreal. Absolutely MASSIVE. We ended up staying til just after lunchtime (had to squeeze a lunchtime G&T in for being so good earlier, obvs..)... and then went back at 6pm. I was very morto going back after spending the whole day nearly there, but the staff were as lovely and welcoming as ever. And do they pour a seriously perfect espresso martini, yes they do. This is a classy establishment with lots of thought put into small details. The staff are brilliant, the soundtrack during the day was spot on, and the food was out of this world. Why would you go anywhere else?!!
When someone says the words 'cocktail bar' I automatically imagine an up tight, formal venue with people standing awkwardly trying to balance their overspilling drink from their stemmed glass. I just can't shake the image! But Kelvingrove Café is not a cocktail bar, it simply couldn't be?! Visually stunning, bright, laid back, minimalist, it really goes to erase all my preconceptions about Cocktail Bars. We went here when visiting Glasgow for a day trip and it was easily the nicest place we visited (recommended and accompanied by Briony C of course). We went in and perched next to the gas fire, even though it was mild outside this went to add atmosphere, the bar staff even came over and offered to turn it off for us if it was too hot. These guys were pros, they gave us the drinks menus on arrival and then promptly returned to the table when it was clear that we were ready to order. They do take a while when making your cocktails but they are well worth the wait. I ordered the most manly cocktail I could find. It was JD, Tangy Lemon and egg whites topped with a wedge of fresh orange served in a crystal tumbler It was truly amazing. Very bitter to the taste but moreish the way a good cocktail should be. It was such a shame we could only stay for one drink as Kelvingrove Café is the type of place you could spend your whole evening. Although you'd probably rack up a fairly high bill with cocktails between £7 - £9! If you're in Glasgow head here!
As I promised in my last update, I went back to Kelvingrove Cafe recently for brunch. Brunch might just be one of my most favourite meals, so I was pretty excited to realise I could go in for brunch during the week - simply not enough places offer weekday brunch, so thanks already for being so awesome, KC. I'd had a bad morning. Virgin Media were f***ing around with our internet again for the third week in a row and I couldn't handle a day at home waiting for it to get reconnected. So I decided to go to KC for a morning work session with the added bonus of food while I was there. On a Friday morning the place was pretty quiet - there was a business meeting going on and another solo diner/worker in another booth. I love the booth seats here and am always chuffed to nab one as it's the perfect place to sit and watch the passing street activity. I got the full veggie breakfast - eggs, beans (which I forgot to ask to omit but thankfully they were in a separate bowl so didn't touch any of my food), toast, potato scone, mushroom, tomato and veggie sausage. It was all delicious and just what I needed to fix my rubbish morning. I can't remember the price but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Glasgow. The highlight was definitely the veggie sausage which was just delicious. I love the vibe at Kelvingrove Cafe and like that it suits so many different occasions - brunch, dinner, drinks, getting some work done. It's a great spot and has awesome wifi too, win win. Note: they have a check-in deal for 1 free coffee between 10am-1pm with any other purchase.
The Kelvingrove Cafe is so hipster....from the decor, to the servers, even the menu. ...I just don't get the old school rap and hip hop soundtrack. That doesn't say hipster to me. My hubby and I came in on a Friday night and enjoyed the service (well informed waitresses), over priced e trendy drinks (I got a old fashioned) and delicious food. Our favorites were the rabbit pie, Haddie and corn chowder, and chorizo dish (all from small plates menu). What we didn't enjoy was the long haired dachshund dog wandering around without a leash, peeing on the front door (without servers or owner noticing/doing anything) and letting out ear splitting yelps all throughout dinner. Now I think it's nice when a place is dog friendly (and i am an animal lover) but when animals become nuisances to other guests, then it's time to rethink.
My first visit back since they changed their menu, and I was keen to see what all the fuss was about. Two words. Venison Salami. I'll come back to that later. Clare and I managed to get a booth at the window, handy as we were both needing to do some work so had laptops in hand. Coffee ordered and on the recommendation of my partner we both ordered Eggs Kelvingrove mostly because we were in a brunch mood but had missed the brunch menu (who said brunch stops at 1pm! When I'm ruler of the world... etc etc). We were both pretty hungry so also ordered some honey glazed chipolatas and chips. Because chips. The food arrived promptly and OH MY GOODNESS Venison Salami! The Eggs Kelvingrove was delicious, two nicely poached eggs, and lovely Hollandaise, served on a lightly toasted muffin, and between egg and muffin were thick slices of Venison Salami which was wonderful! Tender, full of flavour and a great alternative to bacon. I am now realising I didn't ask where I could get some of the Venison Salami myself. OH NO, I'll need to go back!! So, I'm a fan of the Venison Salami, but I wasn't a fan of the sausages which were lacking in honey, and whilst the flakes of chilli were a nice addition the ghastly overpowering aniseed flowery bleuchness of fennel ruined them. If it had said they had fennel on them I wouldn't have ordered them. Shame really, because the couple I tried were tasty until that aftertaste kicked in. BOOO TO FENNEL! But HURRAH for Venison Salami!! More coffee was ordered as we both settled down to write, and because I'm easy led, and Clare pointed them out, a Portuguese Custard Tart soon followed (plus half of the one Clare ordered, win!). Price wise it was bang on the mark for me, not the cheapest place but I happily pay for good quality food, served with a smile by friendly staff. Definite bonus getting the window booth too! Overall this was a much better meal than my previous experience, and I'll definitely be back to try some other things from the menu, not something I would've thought after my first visit here so kudos to them for the changes to the menu (I see they still have those tiny round tables though, boo!). Now, does ANYONE know where I can get some of that Venison Salami?!
In my student days l used to pass this building and often said that it was a shame that it was left to waste as it had been derelict for such a long time. Strip the walls to the bare bricks and add some minimalistic furniture and now you have a trendy bar I am pleased that they kept the original features outside the bar. This is a nice bar and offers good drinks / refreshments, I have not tried the food but will do in due course. The only negative was the chap that was beside me waited for a while to pay his bill while the waitress chatted to the barman.
Such a cool venue. A cool, hip, charming yet disappointing venue. I had been desperate to visit for ages and a cheeky rainy Sunday brunch seemed a good idea. There were loads of places open in Finnieston and it's an area brimming with loads of choice. Therefore I'd suggest visiting a different establishment for your brekkie fix. The waitress serving us was so nonchalant at first I thought she was just v cool. However it seemed after a while that everything she did for us was an effort and I could almost feel her eye rolling every time she came near our table. I ordered the French toast. This to me is always an absolute treat and I love it with banana and maple syrup. The brioche bread tasted shop bought and bland. Infact the whole dish was a bit bland. The most exciting thing about it was the burnt caramel which kept getting stuck to my teeth. I got a slice of toast with their 'homemade' chocolate spread too. However I am a tad suspicious of this statement as it 100% tasted exactly like a rather more famous chocolate spread... Maybe Finnieston Cafe is more of a night time venue. I will give it another go in the future but right now there are far better places to be visiting nearby!
This place is amazing! It's set beautifully in an old ice manufacturing shop in the West End. The decor inside is a cornucopia of 1970 meets turn of the century Glasgow. I love it! The bar is upstairs and it was hoochin' with trendy folks of all ages. It's a proper sit down bar where the music is so loud you can't have a conversation. It's pleasant and fun. Downstairs is the very intimate restaurant. I like the intimacy of it all, except the toilets where the bar folks have to come downstairs to use the lav. The cocktail menu is superb and experimental - did I mention cheap! I tried 2 of the cocktails and both were delicious. Their rum menu is a-maz-ing. I tried the Angustura 1919 with a block of ice - Angustura 1919 is not cheap but the smell of vanilla and the Carribean drives me crazy. The nice thing about the place is the waitress comes over to take drinks orders. No more hanging around the bar area until you're served. A wonderful place to visit with friends for a nice drink and chat in the up and coming Dumbarton road are of Finneston.
Ever since I heard that this place had pulled tofu and almond cheese on their mezze platter I have been desperate to visit. I'd tried to go on a Saturday afternoon and it was completely full, so I recommend booking for evenings and weekend. The server was very friendly and helpful on arrival - we were told the soup of the day was sweet potato and coconut and she checked with the chef if it was vegan or not (it was) and also informed me that (as well as the mezze) the potato and chickpea stew was also vegan. The stew was a special and if not for the mezze I would definitely have ordered that, and if I'd been in for dinner possibly the soup, too. However, I was heading out later for dinner and I really wanted to try the mezze so hubbie & I just settled on sharing that. Whilst waiting for our food I decided to head to the toilets which are downstairs. What looks like a decent sized cafe actually revealed a whole other area downstairs which looks like on an evening would be very popular for drinks meetings. There were lovely sweet smells (vanilla?) inside the bathroom and it was nicely decorated with pictures and smelling sticks (I don't know the word for them... I want to say incense but I don't normally like the smell of incense). Handdrier - excellent! Though the toilet pan needed a couple of flushes to get rid of the toilet paper (I didn't use that much, honestly!). I regretted my bathroom visit when I arrived back at our table and my husband had already started eating the hummus before I'd had the chance to take the photo (he is most definitely not a Yelper), and he failed to tell me there was more focaccia coming until it was brought to our table. Le sigh. Anyway, I dug straight into the almond cheese. Oh, it was GOOD! But hang on..... I recognise that taste..... is it...? I asked the server what brand it was and after checking with the chef I was proven right. Oh yeah! I know my dairyfree cheeses. I don't want to ruin the mystique, but I'll tell you if you PM me and want to buy it. ;) It is available from a shop in Glasgow. If you're there with someone tempted to try non-coo cheese but hasn't yet, I recommend ordering this platter as it's one of the best dairyfree cheeses out there - and one of the most expensive to buy! The pulled tofu looks like the beancurd I occasionally buy from a Chinese supermarket; I possibly wouldn't recommend it for someone who has decided they don't like tofu without having ever eaten it as it maybe doesn't have the nicest appearance compared to what you'd see in something like a tofu stir fry. It was really tasty and unusual to be eating this in a non-Asian themed restaurant, or in any restaurant at all really. We also had four large chunks of focaccia which was delicious and very doughy and soft to the bite. The mezze platter is priced at £17.50, which for one dish is really expensive to me, but for the area, the creativity of the menu (vegan options and other dishes), and the offering of dairyfree/vegan food items which are quite unique, then I didn't mind paying that this one time. I doubt I would order that again just because I've had it now, but I'm confident that if I went in for lunch or dinner again there'd be something vegan-friendly and tasty sounding on the menu I could have as an alternative (I think their veggie burger may be suitable for vegans, too). Drinks we had were £1.70 for a soda and lime and £2.20 for an Americano which I think is quite standard, and I really liked that we were given a jug of water and two glasses on arrival.
I needed a coffee yesterday: I needed to be productive, but had finished work, and already started to unwind with a cheeky cocktail. A stop at another cafe on the way into town had sapped my energy rather than replenished it, so I thought I'd try the mysterious Kelvingrove Cafe to push me away from indolence. I've been trying to go in for ages, but random circumstances have always got in the way when I'm in the area. Anyway. I walked in the door and two MAGNIFICENT looking cocktails are sitting on the bar. I explained that I was just in for a quick cup of coffee, the waitress was friendly, showed me to a table, and brought over water straight away (which I really like!). I saw more magistically beautiful cocktails being made and felt my resolve to have a coffee and be productive slowly ebbing away, so I asked for the drinks menu. What an inspiring list! I took a photo of the first page to give you, dear reader, an idea so that you too can go and try them! They all sounded so good, I could'nt decide, so came to my senses and realised - I need to do stuff. I'll be back, and I'll have earned the deliciousness, and I won't feel guilty. I'll also bring someone to share in the deliciousness with me. So, four stars because the coffee itself was not perfect, though very unoffensive, a lot like the espresso they serve in French cafe/bars, so still kind of nice. The atmosphere and decor are amazing (and night and day vs the cafe that I had come from), and the service great THOUGH a bit less friendly when they realised that I really was only staying for a coffee as said when I first stepped over the threshold. I'm totally a fan, and it can only go up from here when I stay for longer and try the cocktails (which I think will be more of their speciality). UPDATE TIME!! Those cocktails are perfection in sexy glasses. Aaand, they came so fast! Aaaaaand, we ordered a little bit of food, and the olives were actually the best I've ever had. Ever. Go and treat yourselves people. So worth it.
13 days ago
Best breakfast in Scotland!! The bacon eggs benedict are delicious! Handmade hollandais sauce over perfectly poached eggs with the most brilliant orange yolks and bacon that was meaty and delicious. Put that all on a piece of crispy sourdough and you have heaven on a plate!! There are large front windows that allow sunlight to steam in quite gloriously and the staff were attentive and super friendly!! Meeting the owner, Barry, was a real treat. He came to our table to say hello, realized we were American and proceeded to provide three lists of places to go on the west side, City center and the east side!! His recommendations were great!! We were able to see so many places and we got a real taste of Glasgow. We loved it!! read more
The Kelvingrove Cafe is a friendly, welcoming spot in laid-back Kelvingrove, and a fine place to stop for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. A popular brunch spot, the café draws a crowd; we got seated and got our orders in quick: a veggie Scottish breakfast for my wife and Eggs Royale for me. That Scottish breakfast of egg + toast + beans + halloumi + veggie haggis + tattie scone was hearty but overcooked, while the Eggs Royale (toast topped with smoked Salmon + poached eggs + hollandaise) was prepped well read more
Third time dining here out of a 6-day vacation. Why? Because this place has it all: classy atmosphere, relaxing music, perfectly curated menu, and attentive service. The vegetarian options are delicious and ample. There is even an entire Scottish breakfast complete with veggie haggis and sausage. Strongly recommend! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Kind of stumbled into Kelvingrove Café, another place has just closed down and we saw this one was still opened. I didn't eat here, just visited the bar, it was well past 1am and the place was still packed, but there was still standing room around the bar. Was greeted right away, and asked for the drink, I wasn't ready and just said surprise me what I got some a pretty looking drink, it was orangish/pink with an orange rind for decoration, and it was great tasting, not too sweet not too sour. Perfectly made for me! If I had more time I would have liked to come back and grab a bite to eat, but I guess that will have to be next time I'm in town. s/n remember when I said kinda stumbled in, well didn't learn the name of the place until after the Uber arrived haha, so I never checked in on Yelp read more
I've always been a fan of KGC since my first visit, but there has been some changes recently with more focus on the food menu, so it is worthy of an update and a reaffirmation of how great the place is. Yesterday morning we went along for a spot of brunch and then added in some dessert as well. (Well we did finish brunch after 12 noon) I had the breakfast brioche for the brunch part. It was really lovely. Rammed with black pudding, egg, bacon and tomato. The roll was toasted to perfection and the whole thing was seasoned really well. All in a great breakfast roll. For dessert I had my first ever try of Baked Alaska. I love sweet desserts. I love meringue. I love ice cream! This means it turns out I bloody love baked Alaska! If your looking for an indulgent treat you need to try this. You won't be disappointed. Great food and exceptionally friendly & attentive service. Perfect place for a spot of brunch, with a top grade dessert thrown in if you have room. read more
YES. Arriving here at 8am on a Friday morning when my taxi driver said to me "Fair play to ya girl, pub at this time in the morning!", I had my doubts that I was in fact going to get much work done from my laptop here. Turns out, my fears (or.. hopes.. let's not get stuck on semantics...) were unfounded. This pub is in fact a very sophisticated and delightful cafe during the day. I treated myself to French toast with creme fresh, sizzling bacon, carmelised banana and maple syrup. My god. It was unreal. Absolutely MASSIVE. We ended up staying til just after lunchtime (had to squeeze a lunchtime G&T in for being so good earlier, obvs..)... and then went back at 6pm. I was very morto going back after spending the whole day nearly there, but the staff were as lovely and welcoming as ever. And do they pour a seriously perfect espresso martini, yes they do. This is a classy establishment with lots of thought put into small details. The staff are brilliant, the soundtrack during the day was spot on, and the food was out of this world. Why would you go anywhere else?!! read more
When someone says the words 'cocktail bar' I automatically imagine an up tight, formal venue with people standing awkwardly trying to balance their overspilling drink from their stemmed glass. I just can't shake the image! But Kelvingrove Café is not a cocktail bar, it simply couldn't be?! Visually stunning, bright, laid back, minimalist, it really goes to erase all my preconceptions about Cocktail Bars. We went here when visiting Glasgow for a day trip and it was easily the nicest place we visited (recommended and accompanied by Briony C of course). We went in and perched next to the gas fire, even though it was mild outside this went to add atmosphere, the bar staff even came over and offered to turn it off for us if it was too hot. These guys were pros, they gave us the drinks menus on arrival and then promptly returned to the table when it was clear that we were ready to order. They do take a while when making your cocktails but they are well worth the wait. I ordered the most manly cocktail I could find. It was JD, Tangy Lemon and egg whites topped with a wedge of fresh orange served in a crystal tumbler It was truly amazing. Very bitter to the taste but moreish the way a good cocktail should be. It was such a shame we could only stay for one drink as Kelvingrove Café is the type of place you could spend your whole evening. Although you'd probably rack up a fairly high bill with cocktails between £7 - £9! If you're in Glasgow head here! read more
As I promised in my last update, I went back to Kelvingrove Cafe recently for brunch. Brunch might just be one of my most favourite meals, so I was pretty excited to realise I could go in for brunch during the week - simply not enough places offer weekday brunch, so thanks already for being so awesome, KC. I'd had a bad morning. Virgin Media were f***ing around with our internet again for the third week in a row and I couldn't handle a day at home waiting for it to get reconnected. So I decided to go to KC for a morning work session with the added bonus of food while I was there. On a Friday morning the place was pretty quiet - there was a business meeting going on and another solo diner/worker in another booth. I love the booth seats here and am always chuffed to nab one as it's the perfect place to sit and watch the passing street activity. I got the full veggie breakfast - eggs, beans (which I forgot to ask to omit but thankfully they were in a separate bowl so didn't touch any of my food), toast, potato scone, mushroom, tomato and veggie sausage. It was all delicious and just what I needed to fix my rubbish morning. I can't remember the price but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Glasgow. The highlight was definitely the veggie sausage which was just delicious. I love the vibe at Kelvingrove Cafe and like that it suits so many different occasions - brunch, dinner, drinks, getting some work done. It's a great spot and has awesome wifi too, win win. Note: they have a check-in deal for 1 free coffee between 10am-1pm with any other purchase. read more
The Kelvingrove Cafe is so hipster....from the decor, to the servers, even the menu. ...I just don't get the old school rap and hip hop soundtrack. That doesn't say hipster to me. My hubby and I came in on a Friday night and enjoyed the service (well informed waitresses), over priced e trendy drinks (I got a old fashioned) and delicious food. Our favorites were the rabbit pie, Haddie and corn chowder, and chorizo dish (all from small plates menu). What we didn't enjoy was the long haired dachshund dog wandering around without a leash, peeing on the front door (without servers or owner noticing/doing anything) and letting out ear splitting yelps all throughout dinner. Now I think it's nice when a place is dog friendly (and i am an animal lover) but when animals become nuisances to other guests, then it's time to rethink. read more
My first visit back since they changed their menu, and I was keen to see what all the fuss was about. Two words. Venison Salami. I'll come back to that later. Clare and I managed to get a booth at the window, handy as we were both needing to do some work so had laptops in hand. Coffee ordered and on the recommendation of my partner we both ordered Eggs Kelvingrove mostly because we were in a brunch mood but had missed the brunch menu (who said brunch stops at 1pm! When I'm ruler of the world... etc etc). We were both pretty hungry so also ordered some honey glazed chipolatas and chips. Because chips. The food arrived promptly and OH MY GOODNESS Venison Salami! The Eggs Kelvingrove was delicious, two nicely poached eggs, and lovely Hollandaise, served on a lightly toasted muffin, and between egg and muffin were thick slices of Venison Salami which was wonderful! Tender, full of flavour and a great alternative to bacon. I am now realising I didn't ask where I could get some of the Venison Salami myself. OH NO, I'll need to go back!! So, I'm a fan of the Venison Salami, but I wasn't a fan of the sausages which were lacking in honey, and whilst the flakes of chilli were a nice addition the ghastly overpowering aniseed flowery bleuchness of fennel ruined them. If it had said they had fennel on them I wouldn't have ordered them. Shame really, because the couple I tried were tasty until that aftertaste kicked in. BOOO TO FENNEL! But HURRAH for Venison Salami!! More coffee was ordered as we both settled down to write, and because I'm easy led, and Clare pointed them out, a Portuguese Custard Tart soon followed (plus half of the one Clare ordered, win!). Price wise it was bang on the mark for me, not the cheapest place but I happily pay for good quality food, served with a smile by friendly staff. Definite bonus getting the window booth too! Overall this was a much better meal than my previous experience, and I'll definitely be back to try some other things from the menu, not something I would've thought after my first visit here so kudos to them for the changes to the menu (I see they still have those tiny round tables though, boo!). Now, does ANYONE know where I can get some of that Venison Salami?! read more
In my student days l used to pass this building and often said that it was a shame that it was left to waste as it had been derelict for such a long time. Strip the walls to the bare bricks and add some minimalistic furniture and now you have a trendy bar I am pleased that they kept the original features outside the bar. This is a nice bar and offers good drinks / refreshments, I have not tried the food but will do in due course. The only negative was the chap that was beside me waited for a while to pay his bill while the waitress chatted to the barman. read more
9 years ago
Such a cool venue. A cool, hip, charming yet disappointing venue. I had been desperate to visit for ages and a cheeky rainy Sunday brunch seemed a good idea. There were loads of places open in Finnieston and it's an area brimming with loads of choice. Therefore I'd suggest visiting a different establishment for your brekkie fix. The waitress serving us was so nonchalant at first I thought she was just v cool. However it seemed after a while that everything she did for us was an effort and I could almost feel her eye rolling every time she came near our table. I ordered the French toast. This to me is always an absolute treat and I love it with banana and maple syrup. The brioche bread tasted shop bought and bland. Infact the whole dish was a bit bland. The most exciting thing about it was the burnt caramel which kept getting stuck to my teeth. I got a slice of toast with their 'homemade' chocolate spread too. However I am a tad suspicious of this statement as it 100% tasted exactly like a rather more famous chocolate spread... Maybe Finnieston Cafe is more of a night time venue. I will give it another go in the future but right now there are far better places to be visiting nearby! read more
13 years ago
This place is amazing! It's set beautifully in an old ice manufacturing shop in the West End. The decor inside is a cornucopia of 1970 meets turn of the century Glasgow. I love it! The bar is upstairs and it was hoochin' with trendy folks of all ages. It's a proper sit down bar where the music is so loud you can't have a conversation. It's pleasant and fun. Downstairs is the very intimate restaurant. I like the intimacy of it all, except the toilets where the bar folks have to come downstairs to use the lav. The cocktail menu is superb and experimental - did I mention cheap! I tried 2 of the cocktails and both were delicious. Their rum menu is a-maz-ing. I tried the Angustura 1919 with a block of ice - Angustura 1919 is not cheap but the smell of vanilla and the Carribean drives me crazy. The nice thing about the place is the waitress comes over to take drinks orders. No more hanging around the bar area until you're served. A wonderful place to visit with friends for a nice drink and chat in the up and coming Dumbarton road are of Finneston. read more
4 years ago
Ever since I heard that this place had pulled tofu and almond cheese on their mezze platter I have been desperate to visit. I'd tried to go on a Saturday afternoon and it was completely full, so I recommend booking for evenings and weekend. The server was very friendly and helpful on arrival - we were told the soup of the day was sweet potato and coconut and she checked with the chef if it was vegan or not (it was) and also informed me that (as well as the mezze) the potato and chickpea stew was also vegan. The stew was a special and if not for the mezze I would definitely have ordered that, and if I'd been in for dinner possibly the soup, too. However, I was heading out later for dinner and I really wanted to try the mezze so hubbie & I just settled on sharing that. Whilst waiting for our food I decided to head to the toilets which are downstairs. What looks like a decent sized cafe actually revealed a whole other area downstairs which looks like on an evening would be very popular for drinks meetings. There were lovely sweet smells (vanilla?) inside the bathroom and it was nicely decorated with pictures and smelling sticks (I don't know the word for them... I want to say incense but I don't normally like the smell of incense). Handdrier - excellent! Though the toilet pan needed a couple of flushes to get rid of the toilet paper (I didn't use that much, honestly!). I regretted my bathroom visit when I arrived back at our table and my husband had already started eating the hummus before I'd had the chance to take the photo (he is most definitely not a Yelper), and he failed to tell me there was more focaccia coming until it was brought to our table. Le sigh. Anyway, I dug straight into the almond cheese. Oh, it was GOOD! But hang on..... I recognise that taste..... is it...? I asked the server what brand it was and after checking with the chef I was proven right. Oh yeah! I know my dairyfree cheeses. I don't want to ruin the mystique, but I'll tell you if you PM me and want to buy it. ;) It is available from a shop in Glasgow. If you're there with someone tempted to try non-coo cheese but hasn't yet, I recommend ordering this platter as it's one of the best dairyfree cheeses out there - and one of the most expensive to buy! The pulled tofu looks like the beancurd I occasionally buy from a Chinese supermarket; I possibly wouldn't recommend it for someone who has decided they don't like tofu without having ever eaten it as it maybe doesn't have the nicest appearance compared to what you'd see in something like a tofu stir fry. It was really tasty and unusual to be eating this in a non-Asian themed restaurant, or in any restaurant at all really. We also had four large chunks of focaccia which was delicious and very doughy and soft to the bite. The mezze platter is priced at £17.50, which for one dish is really expensive to me, but for the area, the creativity of the menu (vegan options and other dishes), and the offering of dairyfree/vegan food items which are quite unique, then I didn't mind paying that this one time. I doubt I would order that again just because I've had it now, but I'm confident that if I went in for lunch or dinner again there'd be something vegan-friendly and tasty sounding on the menu I could have as an alternative (I think their veggie burger may be suitable for vegans, too). Drinks we had were £1.70 for a soda and lime and £2.20 for an Americano which I think is quite standard, and I really liked that we were given a jug of water and two glasses on arrival. read more
11 years ago
I needed a coffee yesterday: I needed to be productive, but had finished work, and already started to unwind with a cheeky cocktail. A stop at another cafe on the way into town had sapped my energy rather than replenished it, so I thought I'd try the mysterious Kelvingrove Cafe to push me away from indolence. I've been trying to go in for ages, but random circumstances have always got in the way when I'm in the area. Anyway. I walked in the door and two MAGNIFICENT looking cocktails are sitting on the bar. I explained that I was just in for a quick cup of coffee, the waitress was friendly, showed me to a table, and brought over water straight away (which I really like!). I saw more magistically beautiful cocktails being made and felt my resolve to have a coffee and be productive slowly ebbing away, so I asked for the drinks menu. What an inspiring list! I took a photo of the first page to give you, dear reader, an idea so that you too can go and try them! They all sounded so good, I could'nt decide, so came to my senses and realised - I need to do stuff. I'll be back, and I'll have earned the deliciousness, and I won't feel guilty. I'll also bring someone to share in the deliciousness with me. So, four stars because the coffee itself was not perfect, though very unoffensive, a lot like the espresso they serve in French cafe/bars, so still kind of nice. The atmosphere and decor are amazing (and night and day vs the cafe that I had come from), and the service great THOUGH a bit less friendly when they realised that I really was only staying for a coffee as said when I first stepped over the threshold. I'm totally a fan, and it can only go up from here when I stay for longer and try the cocktails (which I think will be more of their speciality). UPDATE TIME!! Those cocktails are perfection in sexy glasses. Aaand, they came so fast! Aaaaaand, we ordered a little bit of food, and the olives were actually the best I've ever had. Ever. Go and treat yourselves people. So worth it. read more
I've been meaning to try KC ever since I moved to Glasgow and studied at Skypark (it was probably one of the places that got me curious along Finnieston). Finally, my body gravitated towards it yesterday, and I was very happy with my choice! I love how down-to-earth the restaurant/bar is. With welcoming staff members and a warm atmosphere. We were served by a lovely and stylish blonde waitress who seated my partner and I by the window. She gave us menus and immediately served us water (this is always a plus). After much indecisiveness, we both went with their beef burger (as we were craving some juicy meat!) We were also curious about the cocktails so my partner chose the Violet no. 2 The burgers and chips took a bit of time to arrive but I assume they were cooking them fresh as we were eating lunch at an odd hour (like 4pm or something haha) but once the food came, the excitement overwhelmed me and I immediately bit into the (huge juicy meaty) burger. They say it's cooked pink (medium rare) unless you request something diff, but I was unbelievably happy with the pinky-ness! So mouthwatering!! The chips were delightful too. Really satisfied my craving for something heavy and fulfilling. Also, my partner has a skill for choosing delicious cocktails and I think he managed to choose one of my favourite ones thus far. Violet no. 2 was so good and sweet!! I'm so curious to try their other cocktails after having that deliciousness! Staff were amazing. Atmosphere and space was warm. Food? Ten thumbs up!! will definitely go back to try more of their delicious food and cocktails!! read more
11 years ago
Yes 5 stars. I thought I'd start my Yelp reviews with a cracker. Before I start I will say that I haven't eaten there. Just cocktails. All the cocktails. I moved to Glasgow in the middle of April from Brighton and I hadn't been out anywhere. I'd done masses of research on Glasgow before moving and Finnieston was the place I wanted to try first........and have continued to ever since. I had my birthday at the end of April, even though I knew no one in Glasgow I still wanted to go out, so, I decided to hit Finnieston. First stop Kelvingrove Café. I like short drinks. I like good spirits. I like a smart glass and a huge rock of ice. I like people who keep bar to be inventive and passionate about what they do. I want them to care about what they are doing as it comes through in the drinks. This is what you get at Kelvingrove Café. I sat at the bar and was looked after by Jamie. What a star. We chatted about drinks, what I liked and he added some recommendations. I worked my way through a great Negroni with a sweeter vermouth than I'm used to - perfect recommendation (and huge rock of ice). The Cuba Libre with aged Havanna was sweet, bitey and strong with not only a great balance of lime, with a great smell too. The Old Fashioned was perfect and the Tom Collins took me back to Collins Ave in South Beach a few years ago. I haven't had better cocktails made with interesting subtle twists and with such care in Glasgow. Anywhere. ....and the service. Well, what bar would the barman leave to pop over the road and swing me a table at Crabshakk? (review to come). Brilliant. That's how you do cocktails and that's how you look after people. read more
I was fortunate enough to come along here to try out the launch of their new menu, and I loved every morsel I tried, so when Gordon M suggested we come here to try out the new brunch menu on this bank holiday Monday, I jumped at the chance. After being a bit too slow out the door, we realised on entry that we'd actually missed the brunch menu as we arrived after 1pm...but luckily they have a few eggs dishes on the main menu so we stayed to try those out. I loved the venison salami last time I was here, so I was glad of the chance to have the Eggs Kelvingrove (eggs benedict but with venison salami rather than bacon). Being hungry we decided to go for the honey glazed chipolatas, and a side of chips. Because chips. After a relatively short wait, we were greeted with a generous serving of our eggs, a healthy bowl full of sausages and some lovely chips. The Eggs Kelvingrove was perfect - light fluffy muffin, venison salami to die for and eggs which were just perfectly poached. I wasn't a massive fan of the sausages (too much fennel for my taste) but that was the only thing that would mark it down for me. As we were both there for a while, and catching up on some writing, we each had a portugese custard tart too. I'm not much of a one for sweet things, so didn't finish mine but what I did have was lovely. The food here was absolutely beautiful, it comes so highly recommended and I'll definitely be back soon. Try the salami! read more
The Kelvingrove Cafe was one of the first in a seemingly never ending string of upmarket/down with the cool kids type bars that are cropping up in Finnieston lately, and I think it pulls off the twinkly lighting, exposed brick wall thing surprisingly well, especially considering every other bar on Argyle street has tried the same approach and KGC still manage to look a bit more interesting/inviting. I had the Hendricks smoked salmon with toast and cucumber ribbons which was nothing short of heavenly, and the salmon was a gorgeous shade of fuchsia! I'm not the biggest fan of the slates that the food is served on (call me old fashioned!) but they do tie in nicely with the food and atmosphere. When we went in it was pretty quiet (a Wednesday afternoon) and the music was really chilled out (a lot of the soundtrack from Searching for Sugarman) which I loved. At night it's always pretty busy and I've heard they do nice cocktails. I'll definitely be back for lunch or dinner and a drink or three sometime soon! read more
I'll be quick This is an old man looking pub but full of trendy west end types giving a feel of classic rather than grungy It is spotlessly clean and the team friendly Food, got their beef chilli bowl, incredibly tasty but it lacked an accompaniment that could soak up the sauce, rice would be perfect...... Really you just had a bowl of chilli soup Little pricey for lunch too at £14 just for the bowl read more
Kelvingrove Cafe has that very very uber trendy distressed / reclaimed look which seems to be of the moment. The exterior has been stripped all the way back so the old signage underneath is on show. Inside has the feel of a speak easy in New York in the 1920s - it is achingly cool with exposed brick walls, what I presume is original parquet flooring, lovely cosy little booths by the big picture windows which look out onto Arygll Street...can you tell I was really digging this fabulous bar. My only teeny tiny niggle is that the tables in the booth feel quite low when you're trying to eat a very messy Lobster Roll! The staff were all great - I was served by 2 lovely girls (I think one of them was called Jayne?) who seemed genuinely pleased when I comment that the food was great/tasty/delicious. Unlike a lot of west end bars the staff were more than helpful and not in anyway standoffish. Food wise the menu is made up of 3 sections...small, medium and large plates. I could happily of eaten about 95% of this menu it all looked extremely enticing. I eventually opted for the Rockafella Skink (like Cullen Skink but not as thick) to start with and it was seriously good. The dish had tasty large chunks of smoked haddock and was accompanied with 2 large toasted croutons topped with even more chunks of smoked haddock...nom nom nom. For my main course I was swaying between about 6 things but eventually went for the £18.00 lobster roll because it wasn't something I'd seen on a menu before. I also ordered the mac n cheese with salted beef side, cause by now you all know how I feel about mac and cheese! The Lobster Roll was delicious - it was served in what tasted like a very spicy (nearly too spicy for me) thousand island dressing on a soft large roll, topped with slithers of pickle which actually added a really nice fresh crunch to the heavily sauced lobster. The Lobster was served with skinny fries which were perfectly nice frozen chips. The Mac was a bit bizarre to me - I liked it but the salted beef (which came in tasty large pieces in the mac) what definitely the prominent flavour in the dish so it was more mac and salted beef than mac and cheese. I would definitely recommend trying it tho. I also got to try another some Posh Chips - which were skin on chips topped with quite a small about truffle and parmesan. I really love nice crunchy chips which these weren't, they were quite soft and squidgy but nice enough that I would order them again. After all that food there was no way I was fit for any kind of dessert unfortunately because I so badly wanted to the churros, which I have a serious thing for - next time I pop in these are on my must try list. I really really like the Kelvingrove Cafe and can't wait to visit again soon. In my opinion this is not really a Saturday evening dinning out place it is much more of a laid back lunch or week night eating spot. Having seen there extensive and amazing looking cocktail menu this is more of a weekend evening drinks bar than a restaurant - there is nothing wrong with that tho :-) read more
My second visit here; and sorely disappointed. Again. This time was for early evening dinner; after the previous visit which was just for drink - where we were made to feel in the way of the serving staff - I though as food-consuming customers things might be better. Despite it being only 7pm, the music was cranked up loud already making conversation difficult. If this were a regular bar then fine, but 80% of customers were dining, so it seemed inappropriate. Service was quick and polite. With drinks served promptly. However the menu was "esoteric" to put it nicely. I'd more honestly describe it as gimmicky and pretentious. And way overpriced. I ordered the "Fish Supper". It wasn't a difficult choice; nothing really appealed - and I'm not normally a fussy eater. For £10 the portion was derisory. Gulped down in a couple of mouthfuls, it left me still hungry. The batter was overly-crisp, like fried filo pastry. Chips were skinny and nondescript. By this stage the music volume had increased a further notch or two, club dance music now pumping out. We gulped out drinks, and no sooner had the plates been cleared was the bill tossed out way. We didn't even consider dessert, coffee or another drink. It was pay up and leave. read more
10 years ago
Only a stone's throw from where we were staying and the food was so good on our first visit that we came back again. They'd be getting five stars if we didn't have to wait so bloomin' long for our food! From the street, its shabby-ish frontage and original sign certainly leaves your intrigued and want to enter. Inside, it's been completely redesigned with raised leather booths by the front window, a gorgeous back-lit bar full of brass and black & white floor tiles. If I had a house that was big enough and I was being ridiculously extravagant, I'd definitely commission a smaller version of KC's bar! Being 'slightly' too early for drinks, we ordered from their breakfast menu which had enough options to keep everyone happy. My bean quesadilla was not only hearty but probably one of the best vegetarian meals I've ever eaten (I'm not a veggie but I dabble every once in a while). The service was terrific despite the lengthy waiting times - it was never more than half full when we were there but perhaps there were issues in the kitchen. Despite that, it's a quality brunch spot and should be kept on your radar. read more
I can't believe it took this long for us to give this place a try. While they haven't labeled gluten free options, the staff are knowledgeable and helpful. I had the pork belly bites and truffle fries, and my partner had a vegetable stew with an egg and pastry on top (it's so hard to describe but he said it was really good!) I loved the pork - the outside was crispy and sticky, with tender bites of pork on the inside. I would happily eat this again and again. The fries were good, though I think next time I'd just go plain. We shared the chocolate mousse for dessert. It was well-made, just not exactly to my taste. All in all, everything was done well and presented nicely. They also had an extensive cocktail menu that I didn't try - seems like a great place for a drink if you're trying to impress someone. We'll definitely return for another meal! read more
LOVE this place! The cocktails are out of this world. I wish I remembered the name of the drink I got, but oh my goodness I still have dreams about it. Absolutely heavenly. Charming atmosphere, dogs are allowed inside and the food is delicious. They do an amazing grilled cheese. If this place was just a wee bit cheaper I'd be coming every week. Definitely recommend coming here. read more
10 years ago
Kelvingrove Cafe is one of the reasons why Finnieston is so great these days. It's a part of a bustling, exciting whole that it perfectly compliments and sooner or later every Finnieston-fan must find themselves here for a cocktail. I can't quite believe that its taken me until now to review the place. When they're not doing some of the best cocktails in the West End they're busy with brunches. I mean, lunch is on the menu too but, come on, everywhere does lunch, you can get lunch any time. Shut up and order the French Toast. To be fair, all the food I've tried there has been good, regardless of restrictions placed upon me by the time of day. While it's not quite the cheapest option around it does seem like you get what you pay for here, and it just happens that everything on the menu is worth buying. Recently I dropped in for a quick early evening cocktail and chose almost randomly from the menu, settling on the East Coast Triology, a blend of whisky, tea, lemon juice honey and bitters that promised to not be overly sweet. Turns out that they like to burn orange zest over it, so I was treated to an extremely casual and disinterested performance: a match was struck, it was clipped to my glass with a miniature clothes peg and used to set alight the oils squeezed from a slice of orange peel. The waitress seemed a bit bored by it and I managed to keep my cool enough to pretend not to be delighted but, oh that was fun! No idea if it's the pyrotechnics that did the job but the cocktail was beautiful. I could drink these all night. I'd fall over, but I'd love to try anyway. read more
8 years ago
Absolutely amazing drinks! Loved the Poppy Candy mixed drink, and the Bonnie & Clyde. Kind and courteous staff. The food was great as well. Inviting atmosphere, great music playing, and to die for mixed drinks read more
This was a bit of an unexpected visit for us today. We'd made the wee one a packed lunch and we were going to sort ourselves out when we got home but after hubby suggested it I realised I hadn't eaten this morning. A cafe lunch sounded just the ticket. We arrived in the nick of time! It was borderline empty when we arrived and we were seated and served just before an onslaught of people arrived. KG Cafe offer a selection of artisan breads if you opt for a sandwich, and a healthy choice of intriguing fillings. I ordered a Brie and chilli jam ciabatta sandwich, hubby had the pulled pork on ciabatta and tiny had the mac and cheese; my boy is absolutely obsessed with mac and cheese. Dunno where he gets it from ;) We also ordered a plate of chunky chips to share, because why not, eh? The service was incredibly fast. Among the quickest I have ever been served. I fed the wee one his mac and cheese before tucking in - whilst hubby described how delicious his sandwich was, how tender and juicy his pork was and how he'd be happy to tuck into the bread with just butter. I was not disappointed when I got to tend to my own hunger. The chunky chips were crunchy on the outside and fluffy as a cloud on the inside. My sandwich was lovely too. The jam didn't have the kick I was expecting and I probably could have done with a bit more heat, but the balance of Brie and jam was spot on. They also had a lovely little coleslaw on the side that was so creamy I wished I'd ordered some as a side! If you're ever wandering around the museum and feeling peckish definitely pop in. If you don't try the chunky chips then you're missing out. They're seriously impressive. KG Cafe was a little hidden gem and I'm seriously looking forward to another visit. read more
8 years ago
Went here on my first night and had a wonderful time! Great drinks! Good food! Excellent service! Fun place to be on any night of the week! read more
Thanks to Yelp I got the chance to sample the new menu which was introduced this month at KG Cafe. I enjoyed the food a lot and decided to make a return visit as a paying customer a week later. The new menu consists of small plates, sharing platters and a small selection of main courses which change weekly. Me and my dining compaion had the Aperetivo platter to start with because the venison salami and baked cheese were still calling my name a week after I tasted them! The flavours of the platter were delecious but the foccacia was a little dry and doughy this time unfortunately I had a main course of seared scallops and pancetta with a slice of black pudding buried beneath. The scallops were succulent and fresh and the crispy pancetta was very tasty too. I wasn't sure if all the flavours combined well but each component tasted great anyway. The look of this place is French bistro meets high end New York cocktail joint. There's a big emphasis on the contents of the extremely well stocked bar and if you're a cocktail fan I can't imagine you'd be dissapointed. KG Cafe seems to be quiet during the day and packed out in the evening and at weekends. However you can get breakfast or brunch here and they encourage use of the free wifi so it's quite a versatile place. Sidenote: a trip downstairs is essential to check out the artwork on display! There's some Peter Howson pieces and at least one Alasdair Gray as well as some great photographs and lots of other things to look at. read more
7 years ago
Absolutely delicious lunch! And they serve breakfast too! Yummy!! Welcoming staff. I highly recommend this restaurant and pub. read more
Delightful little cafe for a wee breakfast. Cappuccino was tasty as a cappuccino should be. The KC muesli was really good, fresh blackberries, strawberries, cranberries and even pumpkin seeds mixed in with soya (you can get regular milk, soya or coconut water). I felt very healthy eating this. My dad, however got the full scottish breakfast with black pudding which looked awesome and according to him tasted just as good. My mothers eggs Benedict also seemed very tasty, however not quite as big of portion as the Scottish breakfast. All around it's a cute little cafe with good food. Would definitely go back. read more
13 years ago
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More info about Kelvingrove Café
1161 Argyle Street
Glasgow G3 8TB
United Kingdom
Finnieston, West End
Directions
0141 221 8988
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Visit Website
http://www.kelvingrovecafe.com
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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
3 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
11 years ago
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Kelvingrove Café - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026
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