Hillhead Bookclub
Photograph: TripAdvisor.com
Photograph: TripAdvisor.com

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
Contributor: Charmaine Wong
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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, fueling up first thing in the morning can make for a very fruitful rest of the day. But if you fancy something that little bit more unique, why not head to one of the best spots in Glasgow for an early morning feast?

From syrup-soaked pancakes with eggs any style to a hearty serving of haggis, the city's best 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.

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This article was written by Arusa Qureshi, a writer based in Scotland. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Best breakfast in Glasgow

Found two doors up Hyndland Street, Zique's is one of the few eateries in Glasgow that does breakfast, lunch, dinner, casual drinks and cake to a consistently high standard. The swish establishment does full breakfasts really well – with phonebook-thick toast slices, black pudding and bacon – are among the best in Glasgow, and they do a mean Eggs Benedict, too. 

  • Burgers

Opened in 1995, and taking its title from an old Scottish word meaning “to wander aimlessly with intent,” the ambience here at Stravaigin is artfully bucolic – think exposed stone walls, open fire, chunky wooden roof beams, an iron staircase tangled with twinkling fairy 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 – is a great way to while away a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

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  • Coffeeshops
Kember and Jones
Kember and Jones

This popular West End café and fine food emporium has a short but rather splendid breakfast menu, available daily until noon. You're not going to come to Kember and Jones 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.

4. Cafe Strange Brew

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. Cafe Strange Brew 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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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 is 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.

The best restaurant in Glasgow? When the Ubiquitous Chip is in 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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7. Singl-end

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.

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.

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