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    Tinderbox

    3.4 (50 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed 7:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Tinderbox Photos

    TINDERBOX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Good for working

    Recommended Reviews - Tinderbox

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    Dallis M.

    Tinderbox is one of those places where I always end up for a coffee. There are a lot of good coffee houses on Byres Rd, but Tinderbox is the one we always end up at; mainly because of its central location and because, well, let's face it: everyone knows where Tinderbox is. I do like Tinderbox, but it is always busy in there, so I guess everyone else in the West End likes it, too. My main problem is that I can never get a seat anywhere, but when I do, I always feel relaxed. My second problem with it, is that it's dear! The cheapest coffee on the menu is £1.40 for a small fairtrade filter coffee. By the way, if you're wanting something really impressive, get a hot chocolate. It comes in a very tall glass and makes you feel like you visited an ice-cream parlor from the 50's. Plus it's just ace. Outside seating has been added in recent years, as well as a walk-up window, which is highly convenient if you're in a hurry and don't want to battle the queue inside. The other great thing about it, is the support they give to surrounding businesses. In display cases, you'll find little window dressings from Pink Poodle, Elements, Glasgow Uni, and others. It's nice when a company recognises its surrounding businesses and does the mutual backscratch. Excellent atmosphere, almost like a family place. Enjoy yourself, but be prepared to have eyes like a hawk for the next available table.

    Hot chocolate with milk
    Esther F.

    Expensive coffee and cakes with normal quality. I prefer other kind of coffee shops, smallers or less famous but with better quality or better prices.

    Tinderbox
    Darryl R.

    Not for the faint walleted, Tinderbox is a king amongst coffee houses. Good cake, good coffee and good food, in a well designed coffee outlet - a scooter in the window - waaay! As much as I like the food/drink, however, it must be noted Tinderbox isn't really relaxed. The shiny metal/pale wood interior is quite sterile - quirky and retro, yes, but also somewhat... clinical? Comfy chairs, again yes, but, it all feels a bit like it's trying too hard...and the indie music a little too far above the audible level, is a far cry from the acoustic tones of Beanscene, or the Jazzy Starbucks music. You don't come here to relax, obviously, you come here to socialise, and drink coffee (duh!) Nice for a change, but I don't think my wallet can handle it.

    Chocolate Abyss
    Kacie M.

    I'm sitting in Tinderbox right now, marveling at just how big the "regular" hot chocolate is. Probably a good thing I didn't go with the large. I've passed by here a lot but never stopped in before. Now that I see how late they're open though, I'll probably come by more. It's nice finding a coffee shop that's open past 6 for when I need a break from the library. Price (£2.70) for my hot chocolate wasn't cheap, but not much more than most places in Glasgow. It might have been the best idea to pop in a few hours before going out to dinner (Banana Leaf), but I'll worry about that later.

    Latte and chocolate cheesecake

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    10 years ago

    This was the perfect spot to drop in for a coffee. I appreciated that they have wifi. My ice coffee was delicious and I'd definitely return.

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    Page 2 of 2

    Review Highlights - Tinderbox

    The coffee is probably the best on Byres Road and the staff are all fantastic, even at the end of their long shifts!

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    The Steamie Coffee Roasters - Quaint no?

    The Steamie Coffee Roasters

    4.4(31 reviews)
    0.9 miFinnieston, West End
    £

    After walking by 15173637 times, finally I tried out the Steamie and I'm so glad I did. Staff was…read morelovely, interior cute and the food absolutely incredible. My friend and I both got the full breakfast (big yin) and they're fine to swap some things out you might not like (black pudding for a hashbrown? heck yes). The breakfast was massive and neither of us managed to eat it all but wow! so good!!! Will be back soon!

    Out in Finnieston the other day when the heavens opened and the Steamie, open for just three days…read moreat that point, appeared through the sheet of water and looked like the perfect place to shelter with a coffee. Cosy, warm, lots of wood and cool lighting - and super friendly. Looks like an outpost of Artisan Roast - and apparently it is independent but AR is involved. If the aesthetic didn't give it away, the place stocks AR coffee, cakes and bread. Food is simple - alongside cakes they have bagels, toast, yogurt and granola and do sandwiches at lunch. They will be open later in the evening than some other places - I think he mentioned 6 or 7pm but can't remember which! I only had a cappuccino and a chat with the guy running the place but the service was warm and friendly and the coffee was excellent. Competition for the also excellent CC&T a block along and The Hidden Lane Cafe but a great addition to the local area.

    Photos
    The Steamie Coffee Roasters - Delicious Artisan Roast, ground to your specification.

    Delicious Artisan Roast, ground to your specification.

    The Steamie Coffee Roasters - Soaking up some sun

    Soaking up some sun

    The Steamie Coffee Roasters - Chai tea

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    Chai tea

    The Hidden Lane Tearoom - Afternoon tea

    The Hidden Lane Tearoom

    4.4(71 reviews)
    0.8 miFinnieston, West End
    ££

    I was on a trip to the wonderful city of Glasgow from the US with my mom. We went to the quaint…read moreHidden Lane Tearoom our first day in to unwind and enjoy delicious treats. First you go down an alley, only to reveal a secret enclave of an antique store, corner shop, and the tearoom. The square itself is fun to explore and great for photos. Once we sat down in the charming tearoom, we were greeted by a friendly and accommodating server. We ordered the afternoon tea. There was a perfect balance of sweet and savory with yummy finger sandwiches and delectable scones with clotted cream and jam. This is a lovely afternoon tea spot for all ages!

    Honestly I could rave about this place. I just love afternoon tea to begin with so there's that,…read morebut honestly I feel like the teas were just SO lovely. I had their house chai and their London fog, both of which were creamy and SO flavorful and served in the loveliest teapots. The finger sandwiches and cakes were also really good and I actually did leave full, as did my travel companions. The servers were friendly and checked in often, and the place itself was actually fairly big (had 2 floors and we sat in a corner on the second floor), but it had a quant feel. The cost per person was reasonable in my opinion at £16 per person for a mini pot of tea and selection of sandwiches and tea cakes. We really enjoyed our experience there and I would recommend it to anyone looking to have a lovely afternoon tea!

    Photos
    The Hidden Lane Tearoom - Selection of tea cakes and sandwiches on the left; tea pot with a cup of their London fog latte on the right :)

    Selection of tea cakes and sandwiches on the left; tea pot with a cup of their London fog latte on the right :)

    The Hidden Lane Tearoom - Late lunch with tea at the Hidden Lane Tearoom.

    Late lunch with tea at the Hidden Lane Tearoom.

    The Hidden Lane Tearoom - Teacup

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    Teacup

    Kember & Jones - Kember and Jones

    Kember & Jones

    4.3(56 reviews)
    0.0 miByres Road, West End
    ££

    The food was excellent as always. Utterly delicious. Service is good though the queue can be a…read morelittle tiresome, but worth the wait. It's a great environment just to sit and enjoy a light brunch.

    I'd have to say that this cafe is pretty much my favorite one while I lived in Glasgow. I…read morefrequented it almost once a week. Now that I'm back in America, I miss this place a lot! Glaswegians, your cafes have definitely spoiled me and I can't find anything that compares to this in the U.S. When you walk in, you automatically get this cozy and warm feeling. Try to get a seat in the upstairs dining area, because this is where you will feel the most warmth. I also like sitting in the bar stools by the window because I like looking outside at the rain. If you find yourself waiting for a table, just take that time to browse the pastries, savory foods laid out, and even their selection of cookbooks. Their selection of cake and tarts change daily, but if they have leftovers one day then they serve the leftovers the next day until they are gone, but a lot of the time their pastries sell out on the first day. Bonus to this is that your pastries are definitely fresh! But the pastries still taste good even if they are a day old. Trust me. My go-to pastries were the Belgian Chocolate Cake or the vanilla custard tarts. This cake has hazelnuts inside of it and is served with raspberries, chocolate bits, dusted with sugar on top. If you love chocolate, this cake is the way to go. The vanilla custard tarts reminded me of home (because I would get Egg Tarts at Chinese bakeries and this vanilla custard tart tasted just like a egg tart) The only difference is that the tart at Kember & Jones had flaky layers of crust, which made the tart even better. My go-to drinks are hot chocolate or the Moroccan Fresh Mint Tea. The hot chocolate is served with foam and little chocolate bits on top. The Mint tea is served in a clear glass, but it comes hot (which was weird because I didn't think you would serve hot drinks in a glass) but I understood why because it has a bunch of mint leaves in it that changes the color of the drink to a light tan. It's cute and if you have a sore throat, it will make you feel better. Other things that I have tried and loved were the Warm Waffle (because it was served with syrup and fresh fruit), the French Lemonade (It was pink lemonade with a little bit of sourness), and the macarons (They make different ones each week. Try all of them because they go fast! I have to say during Christmas time their Christmas pudding one tastes pretty good, too.) Last thing to note is that the staff is very nice. I never really feel pushed to leave. They are polite and attentive.

    Photos
    Kember & Jones - Macarons display looked beautiful

    Macarons display looked beautiful

    Kember & Jones - Taken from www.kemberandjones.co.uk

    Taken from www.kemberandjones.co.uk

    Kember & Jones - I like this corner of the cafe!

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    I like this corner of the cafe!

    Tinderbox - coffee - Updated May 2026

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