Gill Davies (1964)

Image by Gill Davies

A smashing wee independent café run by the lovely Lou. Biblocafe is the place to go if you fancy some culture with your coffee. Pick a book from the selection that line the walls and read it upstairs in the low-ceilinged mezzanine. If you like the book you’ve chosen, you can buy it – 3 books for a fiver can’t be bad.

Coffee is good quality, the huge cups hold plenty and it’s reasonably priced. They do hot snacks including (vegan) soup and a sandwich for a fiver and sandwich, crisps and a fizzy drink for the same price. There’s a healthy selection of cakes and they don’t scrimp on the portions. Feel like spoiling yourself? Try the hot chocolate with cream and floating marshmallows.  All regular hot drinks are only £1.50 to go between 08:30 – 10:30, Monday to Friday.

The walls in the mezzanine feature work from different artists each month. If you’re interested in exhibiting, speak to Lou. Details are on the website.

Free wifi is available.

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Biblocafé | Coffee & tea
262 Woodlands Road, G3 6NE | West End | +441413397645
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 20:30, Sat – Sun 09:30 – 20:30

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Image by Gill Davies

Coming from a seaside town, I know a thing or two about fish and chips and ‘The Philly’ is number one on my ‘best chippies in Glasgow’ list.

They do the usual fish and chip shop fare – fish (haddock or cod), smoked sausage, chicken, haggis and black pudding – all deep-fried in batter and served with chips, known here as a ‘supper’. If you don’t fancy anything fried, go for a freshly-cooked pizza or pasta dish.

The same family have owned the place for forty years and they also own the upmarket La Parmigiana Italian restaurant next door. The pastas they serve in the chippy are cooked in the restaurant’s kitchen so you can get a takeaway meal at a fraction of the price.

It’s a wee bit more expensive than the usual run-of-the-mill chippy, but it’s worth paying that bit extra for the quality. I thoroughly recommend their fish suppers. If you’re on a budget, have a fish supperette. You only get one piece of fish instead of two but the portions are massive anyway.

All suppers are available for £3 (excludes fish and chicken, unfortunately) before 18:00. Avoid going when the schools nearby are on lunch break (between 13:00 and 14:00) as you may have a long wait.

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Philadelphia | Snacks
445 Great Western Road | West End | +441413392372
Mon – Thu 11:30 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 11:30 – 04:00, Sun 16:00 – 00:00

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Image by Gill Davies

A little gem of a cafe away from the heart of the West End, but it’s worth making the effort to go there if only to sample their delicious home-baked cakes. The coffee is superb and there’s plenty of it, unlike other cafes in the West End where you’re lucky to get more than a couple of mouthfuls from a cup.

If it’s a traditional Scottish fried breakfast you’re after, they’re served all day here. Can’t get out? They’ll deliver to your door!

As well as bacon, sausages, black pudding and the usual fried fare, they also do Eggs Benedict, French toast and pancakes with maple syrup.

They’ll deliver your newspaper of choice with your breakfast and if your hangover is a killer – a packet of Resolve!

Breakfast in Bed service is available from 10.30 – 14:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

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The Hyndland Cafe | Coffee & tea, Snacks
96 Clarence Drive | West End | +441413342719
Mon – Fri 07:30 – 17:30, Sat 08:30 – 17:30, Sun 09:30 – 16:00

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Image by Gill Davies

If you’re in the West End and looking for a takeaway, head for the Banana Leaf. This lovely little café won the ‘Best Takeaway 2010′ at The Scottish Curry Awards and thoroughly deserves the accolade.

The Banana Leaf specialises in South Indian cuisine and offers a mouthwatering selection of dishes, with an excellent range for vegetarians. Considerably cheaper than the bigger Indian restaurants in this part of the town, the delicious Dosas are a speciality. Try the Keerai Dosa and don’t leave without having a Mango Lassi.

You can eat in front of the counter or at the tables in the restaurant section, or take your food to Kelvingrove Park which is only a short walk away.

Check out the menu and order online here.

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Banana Leaf | Snacks, Restaurants (South Indian)
76B, Old Dumbarton Road | West End | +441413344445
Mon – Sat 11:30 – 23:00, Sun 10:00 – 23:00

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Image by Gill Davies

No visit to Glasgow would be complete without a trip ‘doon the watter’ (‘down the water’ in the Glasgow dialect). The Riverlink ferry service sails down the Clyde to the Braehead shopping centre where you’ll find the usual high street stores. Pick up points are the Broomielaw pontoon in the city centre or Pacific Quay, outside the BBC Scotland building.

It’s worthwhile taking the journey if only to see the shipyards still in action, the Tall Ship (check the Tall Ship article) and the fantastic new Museum of Transport designed by architect Zaha Hadid.

Riverlink also runs sightseeing tours on the river, details of which are available on the website.

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Clyde Cruises | Relaxing, Shopping | Return journey £ 6
Broomielaw | City Centre | +441475721281
Wed – Sun 10:15 – 15:30

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