Anyone who knows me will know that going out for dinner is basically a hobby for me. I am always on the hunt for a new restaurant to try and will have pored over the menu and made my choice before even stepping foot in the place.
I plan holidays around where we are going to eat and once spent a month in Berlin on a travel writing course and came back only with restaurant reviews. Food is a great passion of mine. I wish I could say it was the creativity of cooking up delicious new recipes that inspires me, or a feeling of satisfaction as I provide healthy, nourishing meals for my loved ones – but no, its purely and selfishly the eating of it.
So, you can imagine, I have a never-ending list of recommendations and reviews for anyone who is interested in listening. Here are my top 13 choices for restaurants with great veggie and vegan options in Glasgow.
Dinner
171 Great Western Road, G4 9AW
This is a faithful favourite of mine. A noisy, quirky, craft-beer stocked, hipster haven with a great wee gig venue downstairs. The menu is entirely vegan and made up of small sharing dishes. The unusual options (think mushroom rice pudding and kimchi porridge) are unfailingly delicious. Although, I have to admit that I rarely branch out from my all-time favourite, the sticky aubergine. Nic and I usually share 2/3 dishes and a side of rice between us (his favourite is the tempeh curry) and we always leave crammed full and contented.
10-14 Kelvinhaugh Street, G3 8NU
In terms of flavour, this place is a showstopper. It was one of my favourite restaurants before I joined the ranks of the plant-based, and when I was still believed that vegan food was generally a bit crap (a viewpoint that I definitely no longer hold). Expect cosy pub vibes from this Finnieston restaurant, they even have live jazz on a Sunday night for any music lovers out there. Among my top meals at the 78 are a tofu katsu curry that blew my mind, a very enticing veggie burrito, and I have it on good authority that the carbonara is life-changing.
1126 Argyle Street, G3 8TD
I have only eaten in this colourful wee spot once, but my mum still goes on about it to this day. This is not a strictly vegan or veggie restaurant but they have some great options. The menu changes daily but I remember having jerusalem artichokes and cauliflower packed with so much flavour and punch it was a delicious assault on the senses. This is another Finnieston eatery and another small dishes/sharing menu situation. The aesthetic is every bit as vibrant and delightful as the flavours – it is worth a visit for the decor alone!
1355 Argyle Street, G3 8AD
Ok so this is probably not news to anyone, but Mother India is (in my experience) the by far best curry restaurant in Glasgow. It is not a vegan restaurant but they have a great selection of vegan and vegetable curries. The saag paneer and dahl are delectable and the parathas are out of this world. This Glasgow institution is a firm local favourite and a table in this restaurant is well worth the wait. They also have a spot in Edinburgh for any East Coast curry lovers!
12 Kings Court, G1 5RB
A sister restaurant of The 78, Mono is another big name on the Glasgow vegan food scene. I have heard big things about this spot for years but have only actually eaten there myself once. I had the Cubano: ‘Pulled jackfruit and sliced seitan marinated with mojo, cheese, dill pickle and Carolina bbq sauce. In a toasted french roll’ – sounds good right? It was. Other big players on the menu include a celeriac schnitzel, to-fish and chips, pizzas, and starters/sides like roasted tenderstem broccoli and pear, green lentils and blue cheese. This is another intimate gig venue and home to the independent record store, Monorail Music.
Brunch
263 Renfrew Street, G3 6TT
This has to be my all time favourite, special treat, brunch place in Glasgow. I have been a long-time fan of their original Garnethill location and can confirm that the food in their newer Merchant City spot is every bit as delicious. Top picks from the menu include: the Betty (obviously), the sweet potato cake, and the veggie breakfast. They make all their own bread and offer a selection to go with your food – the altamura is definitely worth a try. The cakes and brownies on offer here are also silly good, like write home to your family good (or message the group chat at least). This place is like a cosy farmhouse oasis in the centre of the city, you would be daft not try it.
1007 Cathcart Road, G42 9XJ
Having followed this colourful cafe from afar (on instagram) for over a year now, Nic and I finally got round to trying it last weekend. It did not disappoint. I had a homemade potato scone stack with poached eggs, wilted spinach, and salsa verde and Nic opted for a simple lentil and veg soup which tasted anything but simple. They don’t have a menu available online, I’m guessing this is because it is often changing, but if their instagram is anything to go by, every dish is a treat.
Nic was impressed by the perfect latte art in our oat milk flat whites (apparently this is hard to do with milk alternatives – I wouldn’t know about this as I couldn’t do it regardless), and I was impressed with how deliciously smooth they were. I greedily ordered a second coffee for which I was later rewarded with a friendly caffeine-induced headache. This place was completely fab, I can’t wait to go back.
1082 Pollockshaws Road, G41 3XA
Another stalwart of the south-side food scene, Cafe Strange Brew is famous for their ridiculously indulgent pancakes, which I have enjoyed almost every time I have eaten there. On the rare occasion that I order anything other than pancakes, their greek eggs are incredible, and it is well worth keeping an eye out for their inventive and in-demand specials which always seem to sell out. Again, the coffee and cakes here merit the trip across the river alone.
481 Great Western Road, G12 8HL
I have to confess I have never actually had a savoury meal here, although my vegan flatmate (who had great taste in food) always recommended it. What I have tried, however, is their cinnamon rolls. Vegan cinnamon roles that are so soft and delicious and more-ish that I have been known to venture out of my cosy flat on the dreichest of days with the sole aim of purchasing one. As far as I remember the oat milk flat whites are good here too, but honestly all I can think about right now is cinnamon rolls.
380 Great Western Road, G4 9H8
This vegan cafe on Great Western Road is one of the only places in the whole city that you can find an acaï bowl and they are gooooood. But, if you are not one for a liquid lunch, their brunch burritos and mac and cheese are also worth a mention. Perhaps the best thing about this place, however, is how much they love dogs! Seeing a precious pupper at brunch is a sure-fire way to brighten up anyone’s day (unless you have a heart of stone) and the folks at Serenity Now even sell homemade dog treats for your favourite furry friends, and donate 10% of their profits every second Tuesday of the month to animal charities. This is the brunch spot of choice for animal-loving, smoothie-drinking vegans.
Lunch
396 Byres Road, G12 8AS
This might not be the first place you would think of for a veggie feast in Glasgow, what with sandwiches like the infamous ‘Heartstopper’ on the menu. But they actually have a bunch of great veggie and vegan options. The veggie chilli is possibly the best I have ever tasted and I can never decide whether I prefer it in a big indulgent wrap topped with salad, guac, and all the trimmings, or in a tortilla bowl filled to the brim with veggie goodness. Its a tough choice.
Another firm favourite of mine is the ‘Popeye’ savoury crepe, a spinach and cheese filled treat which never fails to delight. And, of course, you can never say no to their world class donuts. The hungry hippo topped one simply cannot be beaten.
I have put this down as a lunch spot but, as they are open until about 11pm every night, it is also the perfect place to grab dessert and satisfy those late night chocolate crepe cravings. They even have a soft serve machine now, what more could you want!
33-35 Gibson Street, G12 8NU
A Gibson Street classic. The Left Bank is a failsafe option for lunch with friends. Their brunch menu is served until 4pm every day and features wonders such as the lebanese breakfast (fried halloumi, sautéed potatoes with ras el hangout and chilli and shakshuka), eggs mornay, and grilled banana bread. Their lunch menu includes a veggie haggis and chickpea burger and a korean cauliflower wrap that I am just dying to try. This is a bright, comfortable spot which is ideal for a casual lunch or coffee and a catch-up.
451 Great Western Road, G12 8HH
This Great Western Road cafe has a special place in my heart. I remember travelling through to Glasgow shortly before freshers week, 6 years ago, to meet with my university advisor. I got the train through in my favourite summer dress and wandered through Kelvingrove park after my meeting, before settling down to a steaming bowl of butternut squash soup and a good book in Roots and Fruits.
It was my first taste of university life and I still remember feeling a bit like a character in a coming of age movie. To this day, a walk through Kelvingrove Park and lunch in Roots and Fruits still inspires feelings of optimism and excitement in me, its where I go when I need to cheer myself up.
Food-wise, the veggie sausage rolls knock Greggs out of the park and are best paired with a scoop of at least one of the inventive array of salads that are on offer each day. Their baking is to die for, last week I had a plum and almond tart which brought literal tears to my eyes. And their shop is the ideal place to buy all things sustainable and vegan. They even do a 10% student discount on any purchase so don’t miss out!
These are just my top 13 picks but I could have included about a dozen more! Leave a comment below if I have missed one of your all time favourites or if you can think of anywhere else I just need to try.