Cafe Gandolfi in Glasgow City

Really nice place to sit. Good variety of breakfast choices. The teas, coffees and juices arrived quickly, the food took a while. We had finished are drinks and had to order more for with the food. We weren't in a hurry so it was ok for us. All the staff were lovely, friendly and helpful. Would definitely go back.

At 5pm on a Saturday we went to have a coffee at the place. At that time there were no people and we could quietly enjoy the Cappuccino. The bar is decorated with wooden tables and is very warm. We liked it so much that the next morning, early, we went there for breakfast, this time at the restaurant. We recommend the Scottish breakfast and eggs Benedict. The service was very friendly and the product very good.

Clever and delicious new take on the scotch egg. It was spicy! I also had the lightly battered and fried courgette in a creamy ricotta sauce with thin strips of courgette drizzled with lemon and sprinkled with chopped mint. A lot of flavors going on there and they were harmonious. I was lucky enough to meet the owner/chef, Seumas MacInnes, the epitome of charm and grace. I loved hearing about his dishes. Get his cookbook!

We got the eggs benedict and eggs alba which were both great! The server was super nice and friendly and the place was nice inside

A real treat. Gorgeous furnishings, decor, ambiance matched with the best versions of Scottish classics, all delicious! (We had wanted to try the cullen skink, and we did; pro tip: it's not a reptile.) Good wines as well. Very glad we found this place.

Used to go here in the 80s. Had a uni reunion with folks and had a fabulous time. Food great. I had the tagliatelle and tomato salad which were delicious and for dessert I had to Basque cheesecake which was lovely and light but super tasty. Great choices of food and wine.

40 years sine I was last here and it hasn't changed!! The menu was not extensive but what we had was delicious

I ordered veggie breakfast which is 14.50 pounds absolute waste ,rather you can just go to aldi and buy all the items that is in veggie breakfast and congratulations you can have items that lasts for 1 week.

We had breakfast in Gandolfi and it was the best place we could have chosen. The food was delicious and the staff adorable. They pampered us and took care of every detail. Highly recommend!!!

Incredible Scotch egg. I’ve never had one that compares to this back in the states. Do yourself a favor and stop in for the friendly service and cozy atmosphere.

Before a later start in work, my colleague and I treated ourselves to breakfast at 9am on a Wednesday morning at Cafe Gandolfi. The food and service are always 2nd to none.... I had a Cappuccino to start my morning followed up with the French Toast Banana, Walnuts n Maple Syrup... I honestly cannot see past this dish... absolutely delish... It kept me full until around 4pm! Both the servers were really friendly, attentive and caring. Cannot wait until our next visit 😍

Excellent place for breakfast and very friendly staff.

What a funky spot! Came for breakfast - I had the Poached Eggs on Toast (with avocado and whipped feta) and my husband had the Full Scottish. Both were super yummy, everything was perfectly cooked. Staff was friendly and service was fast. The building was once an old cheese market, and the decor inside is really nest. Highly recommend for breakfast or brunch in Glasgow!

We were looking for a breakfast place on a Saturday and found this cafe highly recommended in many articles. Thought of giving it a try and we were not disappointed. We had one of the best bacon + Brioche French Toast and Gandolfi Full Breakfast. We are definitely going to try more food here soon. 😊 We went around 8.30 am in the morning and it was not very busy.

I had an amazing veggie breakfast (Halloumi, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, potato scone, mushroom, poached egg, and sourdough toast). Everything was cooked perfectly. Friendly staff, and the owner greeted customers like friends. Will definitely go back.

First dinner in Scotland and absolutely loved this place. Beautiful rustic decor, authentic sense of Glasgow history and culture and absolutely beautiful food. The black pudding with picked mushrooms was life changing and the bread and compound butter was Simple and delicious. The wait staff was kind and attentive to my little jet lagged kiddos and we had the opportunity to read the cafe’s cookbook intro: “well fed, well blessed”. This was the Glasgow meal I was hoping for!

Hands down the best breakfast we had in Scotland!!

Amazing food. Terrific ambiance. Wonderful staff.

Superb welcome. Excellent Brunch. Nice decor. I highly recommend.

Great breakfast. Everything is very tasty. The staff is very friendly and smiley. instagram: ocilo

It's definitely a great place, full of friendly people and everything is delicious. 🥰

First visit for a couple of years and was delighted!! Food and service both superb.

We had breakfast here and had a lovely experience. Delicious food, friendly staff. Atmosphere was great - place was quiet and lively at the same time - beautiful tables and chairs. Would recommend!

Everything very rich. The waiter's attention was great. We were able to order all the vegan dishes, except dessert, which did not have any vegan ones

Amazing food, Amazing staff, I recommend !

Unreal experience at Gandolfi. Top quality food and service.

Superb lunch with fabulous service.

Had a very enjoyable experience at Cafe Gandolfi. Excellent food and service. Lots of vegetarian options.

Gandolfi Fish Pie and Cullen Skink are SUPREME

Great food and coffee ☕️ I highly recommend

Back for brunch. Still the institution it was decades ago on first visit. Food, service and atmosphere great. Keep on keeping on!

Good food, slow service on this occasion , interesting breakfast choices

A little cafe with some food. We booked a dinner with a group of over 20. The most time only one service person was there for us, so we had to wait a long time for the drinks. The food was good!

Great place for breakfast. Would recommend!

Went to this place for breakfast, 10/10. Really friendly service and the food was great. Everything inside looks like it’s carved out of wood so it’s verry warm and cozy.

The cafe was so cute and the service was great! Breakfast and coffee were both excellent.

Had a very friendly welcome here, followed by great service and beautiful food. Good value too.

We entered Cafe Gandolfi in search of breakfast, or more accurately, brunch; and were immediately confronted with a friendly greeting from the lovely AnnMarie, who served us throughout the visits. The whole restaurant screamed cosy and warm from the get go. It's important to note that we, as three young British fellows in hoodies, didn't quite match the rest of the clientele this Friday morning, however we were treated with just the same level of respect as anyone else. On the subject of us being young lads, we immediately checked for free wifi, which we were pleasantly surprised to see was completely free, without any sign in necessary. After ordering with our server it took almost no time for a drinks to be on our table, and then shortly after our food. My friends upon ordering took some items off their meal, and got extra sausages and potato cakes in place. As soon as the food was in front of us we were offered sauces and pepper, didn't even need to ask which was nice. As for the food, everything was cooked to perfection and all items were clearly selected carefully, or we just got lucky! Will definitely be returning for breakfast next time I'm up!

I was on a mission to find a full breakfast, and that is what I found. Food, staff and location were great! Thanks!

Had the authentic scottish breakfast there

I stopped in here Saturday morning and didn't have a reservation, but it wasn't a problem .we were offered a table for an hour as it was booked for 11, which was not a problem . All of the staff here were just fantastic, and the breakfast was delicious,definitely worth booking in advance.

Had a lovely time remembering a dear friend.It was her special place .Enjoyed the food and the company.

amazing brunch place with friendly & smiley staff. food was excellent and chai latte was superb. would recommend. got in straight away and quick service.

Great place for breakfast, the atmosphere is super nice and the staff is extremely friendly. We got the eggs benedicts and the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and they were both delicious.

The scotch egg is superb here, full of flavour, would highly recommend!

The atmosphere is very rustic. The service is incredibly warm and friendly and the food is to die for!

Popped in for breakfast whilst visiting Glasgow, my word what a lovely place! Decor is beautiful, service is excellent. Full English breakfast was wonderful, quality ingredients, the bacon was particularly lush. Perfect poached egg atop beautiful sourdough... It was all gorgeous. Hubby said coffee was superb. Tea, coffee and two full breakfasts came to £35. Probably on the pricier side but I'd say well worth it.

i’m obsessed with how simple yet elegant and playful the interior of this restaurant is! the full breakfast was so yummy (and filling that i went into a real bad food comma right after). way to start your day. the staff were also extremely nice. a great first meal after landing in glasgow at 9am!

Wonderful food staff, music, beautiful wwod furniture excellant craftsmanship from Scottish wood!

Whether Weegie, adopted Weegie, or Visitor, everyone must visit Gandolfi at least once because it is amazing: then the wise are likely to want to keep going back! Over the years, it has been our go-to restaurant when we have needed a wee bit of a lift, in our spirits (for a few years the restaurant,and upstairs bar, were a just-about-affordable, occasional luxury to keep us going in difficult times). Now, in busy lives we aren't fortunate enough to call ourselves regulars, however, when we have the pleasure of stopping to entertain visitors (from all over the world) in Glasgow- we think of Cafe Gandalfi; and visitors, well, they always LOVE it. Friends are always impressed, by the beautiful building, the paneling, the artwork, the sculptural solid wooden seating, and the friendly, patient service as you inevitably struggle to find something that you don't want to try(!) from the menu of beautiful plates of all sizes, and extensive of wines, beers and spirits. All served with a comfortable, sometimes contemporary, nostalgic Scottish embrace. Strongly setting its own pace, and tone, Gandalfi is the foodie- sanctuary of Merchant City.

Rude service. Not very friendly at all.

1st time in here went for breakfast with my daughter. We were given a table in the middle I asked for another table not a problem. Breakfast delicious,staff very attentive defo be back.

They may have a decent reputation for food but the man that saw us this morning could do with a customer service refresher! Called in for breakfast, after standing a few mins he came over with a scowl on his face and abruptly said 'Reservation?' To which we replied 'No' - ' Its all reservation today' he added still scowling. I suggest you treat potential customers with a bit more curtesy, reputations can be lost very quickly. To add insult to injury we went on the places website where a table was available to be booked within half an hour of our visit. Sham!! Would not return under any circumstances.

Lovely food, great coffee and very friendly excellent service . The staff make everyone feel so welcome. Our go to place for breakfast when we’re in Glasgow. Thank you,

Cafe Gandolfi is situated in the Merchant City Glasgow at the rear of the City Halls, the base of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. A relaxed atmosphere with lovely food on offer throughout the day with various beverages. When quite a lovely place to sit, relax with friends and chew away part of the day. A lovely restaurant.

Located in the vibrant "Merchant City" on the site of Glasgow's old cheese market, Café Gandolfi has a quirkily convivial interior: handmade stained glass windows, wood-toned walls, attractively designed wooden furniture and contemporary prints and photographs by Scottish artists. The food is the best of Scottish fare . . . fresh, tasty, and served in generous portions. Service is welcoming, swift, and unassumingly proficient.

Lovely atmosphere, friendly and attentive staff who were smiley and happy to help, and an outstanding Scottish breakfast. Reasonably priced, a hearty but not enormous portion and every piece on the plate was carefully prepared and delicious. Not sure how you could improve at all - excellent!

Referenced in the Hachette backpacker's guide, this wooden-clad café is a warm nest in which to curl up during a stopover in Glasgow. Its masterful cuisine, with succulent flavors, will suit meat lovers and vegetarians alike. A café which, it is important to mention, knows how to make good coffee. I emphasize that the service was VERY attentive. I recommend 💯

I had Scottish breakfast three times during my trip to Glasgow, and the black pudding and potato scones here were the most delicious. Black coffee is a strong coffee with a strong bitter taste, possibly due to dark roasting.

Amazing place for dinner. Friendly service which was very personal and they experimented a bit with traditional scottish cuisine. Mix a scotch egg with Nduja and you get an exciting dish! They also get their haggis from an award winning butcher. So allthough this was my first time trying haggis, I really liked it. A very home dish in a very homy place.

Went here having arrived overnight from Birmingham looking for breakfast and this place topped the reviews. Firstly, if you are coming here book in advance. The food - ordered a full Scottish. What arrived was a couple of pieces of overcooked streaky bacon, a peely-wally tattie scone, a single link sausage, black pudding (this was particularly nice I have to say), and a couple of grilled tomatoes. For the attached receipt I'd expect a lot more of the food which was okay but not for this price. I will find somewhere else next time I'm in Glasgow. I get it's Merchant City but still...

I eat brunch here on most Saturdays and the quality of service and the food is always superb. There is a variation in the menu but you can always get the full breakfast if you feel up to it. The range of egg dishes is eggcellent(geddit!) and the coffee served is immaculate and tastes fantastic. The staff are always friendly and welcoming. Make sure you book in advance as it is always very popular.

WOW - what a dissapointing dinner menu. The staff were friendly and it had a nice atmosphere. My wife and I went on valentines. We had the dumplings in a burnt onion broth. The dumplings were tasteless and the onion broth was extremely watery and again tasteless. Mains we had chick pee daal with chapatti. This scolded my mouth as I think it was heated in the microwave it had absolutely no flavour only chick pea and chilli, The chapatti was extremely greasy and raw dough. My wife had the coley which she said was so so , but dissapointing at £22. The desserts seemed store bought and the cream that came with the chocolate cake was unseasoned ie no vanilla extract or sweetness. We could hear the couple behind us making small talk also on how poor the food was and after their mains they didnt stay for coffee and were off after making a complaint about their bill. Even on valentines I would have expected that the specials would have been something for couples, but no, the special was a pistrami sandwich - should have gone to subway. There were no sign of chicken, pork, beef or ham on the menu and if you wanted veg with your mains that is extra as they come as a side. We should have maybe gone for breakfast as the breakfast menu does look good.

Very good breakfast and excellent hospitality

Superb dining experience, Delightful staff who could not do enough to help. Food was absolutely delicious with every morsel given attention to detail. Exquisite food in a lovely relaxed chilled atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and will absolutely return. Also reasonably priced for the quality of food. Thank you to staff for a most enjoyable lunch.

DELICIOUS with great service! Easily a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nice friendly staff however limited options on the menu, we all found something suitable but unlikely to return because if this limitation

We had a great brunch at Cafe Gandolfi recently. Tasty food, generous portions and very good coffee to wash everything down.

Beautiful wooden old room with handmade furniture and an old soul. Sadly food quality isn’t quite there yet with new management. Potatoes sitting in mayonnaise and good fresh salmon ruined by heavy cream sauces. Not home style like it used to be or modern enough for contemporary eating. Needs to find its feet in the new era. But a nice place to go, especially cosy in the winter.

Pricey and underwhelming. We have been to Cafe Gandolfi in the past and normally have a good experience but sadly that was not the case today. It was ok, but frankly at these prices I'm looking for better than that . The menu choices where limited and the prices seem to have gone up a notch. £90 for two mains, two small glasses of wine, two soft drinks some bread/olives and a bit of caramel shortcake seemed in the steep side. It was v busy so clearly still popular but tbh I'd think twice before returning.

Disappointing is all I can say. This places used to be fab with friendly staff/service. If feels like they are on the skimp...Kedgeree rice was tough and hardly any fish.

Gorgeous haggis diner with a nice wine at a reasonable price and good service. Couldn’t be happier.

Had breakfast in here today with my parents. After seeing all the great reviews, I thought we would give it a try. The breakfast menu is great, reasonably priced, flat whites are amazing 👏 I had the scrambled eggs with Salmon, Dad the breakfast and my mum who was not feeling 💯 had the toast and scrambled eggs. The food was lovely, my dad gave his 10/10 and he's not always easy to please🤣scrambled eggs where brilliant. I would recommend booking as it was busy. Staff are lovely

Excellent front of house staff who squeezed us in on a busy late lunch/early dinner between Christmas and New Year. Service was great, food was lovely and a nice happy atmosphere full of local accents so we thought we'd chosen well.

Superior quality, fresh and very tasty food in a beautiful, timeless space. Visited first time 28 years ago and everything and everyone have aged with grace and maintained a rare quality in service.

Lovely place, great atmosphere and kind staff! Have been here many times in the past and enjoyed it as always. Food is delicious, and already excited to go back

Trading on past fame, doesn't do the basics well. Arriving we were ignored by one of the (too few) staff, literally kept his back to us on the phone. Just make eye contact, smile, apologise non-verbally! My risotto looked lovely, tasted lovely but was several minutes undercooked, not al dente more all gritty. Herself's leeks were cool and greasy, associated veg undercooked. There was a time, but that time has passed. Too many other places are as good / better and too many of those places are too close for me to look to go back.

By chance, we stumbled upon this cafe after discovering that the original one we had planned to visit was fully booked. Thankfully, it turned out to be a fortunate change of plans, as we would have otherwise missed out on this gem! Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome, and the atmosphere was cozy, with excellent service. The coffee was perfect, and the Scottish breakfast, especially the black pudding, was absolutely delicious! If we were to visit Glasgow again, I would undoubtedly choose to return to this cafe.

This restaurant is actual vibes. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the food is sensational. We were visiting from Sydney and had flown in the morning we were to attend, and were so exhausted but really wanted to try their food. The staff were extremely accommodating and helpful. Will definitely be back next time we are in Glasgow.

It’s great look forward to going again

I love this place. Excellent food, so delicious and Scottish with lovely twists. Always welcoming, great service and no pressure.

There are so many great reasons to come here for breakfast. It was so great our first day that we returned for the next two days. The welcome from Anne Marie and Stuart when we came in and throughout our time there was so warm and friendly. The furniture is amazing - tables and chairs designed and made by the late Tim Stead are so unusual and chunky. It was like being in a wood sculpting gallery, the furniture is so beautiful. The coffee was fantastic, the full cooked with tasty Stornoway black pudding, lovely smoked salmon and a generous portion of scrambled eggs. And when I asked for fried instead of scrambled with my smoked salmon it was no trouble. Highly recommend, we'll definitely go back when we're next in Glasgow.

I’ve been travelling around Europe for 3 months, 15 countries, trying local delicacies. I came here for the haggis and let me tell you it did not disappoint! In fact I’d have to say it was probably one of the best meals I’ve had in the last 3 months! Flavoursome, smooth, hearty, and just so satisfyingly good! The sauce on the side was just the perfect balance of flavours and tied everything in together so well. My compliments to the chef! Thank you for a very memorable meal. 10/10 would recommend!

Good food and atmosphere but service needs a bit attention.

Lovely restaurant in the city centre. We visited on Saturday for my dads birthday and had a really great meal. The staff were very friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. Definitely book in advance as it was really busy.

Was actually still brilliant, old school tasty af fresh food, well cheffed. Great wine staff v nice worth the pounds x

I used to travel to Glasgow a lot - it was like a second home to me. This was 30 years ago. Cafe Gandolfi was always one of my most favourite spots. Mostly for breakfast but for dinner now and then as well. Then I moved to Germany and haven't been back for almost 30 years. Now I'm back in the UK and travelling to Glasgow on business. So it was with HUGE trepidation that I turned up without a reservation worrying that it wasn't going to be as good as I remembered. I managed to get the last free table and was rewarded with food and service that was as good as, if not better, than I remembered whilst still retaining its unique charm. It was quite emotional to be honest.

Perfect place for lunch. Good vegetarian options and lovely atmosphere. Helpful and friendly staff. Loved it!

Went here for lunch with 4 members of my family and we all had an exceptional meal. The service was brilliant and the food was delicious. Shame we didn't have any space for desert because it all sounded incredible.

Institution in Glasgow and great for all meals of the day. Super hospitable owners and charming space

Finally got to introduce the kid to Cafe Gandolfi last night. It’s been many years. Still wonderful. Still thinking about the Banana and Miso Pavlova this morning.

Always try and have a Gandolfi breakfast if I'm in Glasgow. Good food and friendly service. In particular the black pudding is excellent.

J'ai pris le plat du jour suggéré par la dame adorable qui était au service : un délicieux sandwich au pastrami bien poivré comme j'aime, c'était parfait, avec des frites allumette. Et la dame au service était vraiment très gentille, professionnelle, souriante. J'y ai passé un excellent moment !

The food is very tasty and the portions are good. They have quite successfully added their own spin on every dish we tried, which is a nice touch. The prices are a little on the high side though nothing outrageous. The service was good though a bit careless towards the end of the night, where drinks orders were being forgotten about repeatedly. All in all a good experience so can recommend this place if you want some great food in a nice setting.

The food is very tasty and the portions are good. They have quite successfully added their own spin on every dish we tried, which is a nice touch. The prices are a little on the high side though nothing outrageous. The service was good though a bit careless towards the end of the night, where drinks orders were being forgotten about repeatedly. All in all a good experience so can recommend this place if you want some great food in a nice setting.

Just so so brilliant, best French toast I’ve ever had! Staffs are nice and always happy to chat! I definitely come here frequently while I’m still living in Glasgow!

Best scrambled eggs in Glasgow This is a great place for breakfast It's open from 8am and staff are lovely Coffee is good & the brekkie menu has loads on it Poached eggs on toast is amazing Whipped feta, avocado & harissa oil

Well! A very disappointing visit. Staff were poor, no chat and very slow to serve and take order's. No basics, we had to ask for a napkin and fresh knife and fork. Angela

Not been here for some time, good to be back. The menu is maybe shorter than I remember but the food was excellent ... as was the wine. Our server was lovely, helpful, knowledgeable and informative. Good value for the quality of the food on offer

Happenstance find. Liked the look and the menu - no reservation. Very good food and friendly service. Unusual furnishing and decor did not feel affected - quality wood - not theme-pub tat. Arancini starter was enough for Mrs.Me while I enjoyed a "nostalgic" Caesar salad - the first in years that has had the correct ingredients. Owner informed they've been in business 44 years so must be doing something right. We hope to be back.