University Cafe in Glasgow City

An old fashioned Glasgow Italian cafe with great service and food.

The toilets were in a Dark area not located inside the cafe you have to ask a member of staff for the key and go out and go next door I wouldn't recommend this cafe

Hello my friend nice to misti you

A bit of a Glasgow institution...take a step back in time to buy a bag of sweeties or a cone of their own recipe ice cream. We've enjoyed some tasty take away rolls too. Eat in or take away.

Greatest lunch spot near campus, if you can get a seat.

Nipped in for quick sandwich, great environment, decent price and a great old fashioned sarnie

Used to go in here years ago, it's gone right downhill.

I loved going to this place when I went to Glasgow Uni and when I lived in the West End. I haven't been in over 10 years but went in yesterday, while visiting from Ayrshire, and it's lost none of its charm. The atmosphere and decor of the place is so warm and homely. The staff are so friendly and are great to chat to. The food was delicious. The all day breakfast was brilliant, my little boy really enjoyed his sausage & chips and my wife is still raving about the lasagne!! The ice cream is some of the best I've ever had and I'm serious about my ice cream!! Will definitely be back soon...like next week probably!

No hair in burgers, plates, cups and cutlery were clean, so as the tables. But food is far too expensive for what is being offered!! Some salad or a square sausage in breads are not baked. McDonalds wins on taste and price!

Lovely food and service! Fast and tasty! I like the cute old style decor ✨️

Adorable little café still in its original form, both in terms of its aesthetics and its atmosphere. The cuisine is simple while still being a safe bet and the waitresses are very nice.

Kind staff which are lovely to chat to, great enviroment & good food / icecream.

Usually go here for take away and would recommend the soup and toastie deal. First time sitting in with a friend with her kids. Kids loved their meals. Place was busy therefore service was a little slow. Tight space for storing prams.

£2.90 for a bottle of water - Are you kidding? We went for 2 x breakfast rolls (one was a doubler/the other was a tripler), didn’t inform us that the menu we were looking at was takeaway prices only until we were leaving. The sit in menu doesn’t even have the cost of the tripler roll on it when I asked to double check the price. £15.80 for two breakfast rolls & one bottle of water is absolutely outrageous pricing. There are much better local options with a reasonable price attached to them!

Popped in with family who were visiting from Canada to show the some traditional Glasgow places and to me university cafe is the best. We had a breakfast to start our day and an ice cream before leaving and my cousin said the ice cream was the best he had ever tasted

Just go. It's an amazing time machine. And I love the unpretentious food.

Visited with my husband after our local friend highly recommended this place to us. Tried the English breakfast and ice cream, both delicious and the internal deco is traditional. Would return for the food for sure.

Decided to try the cafe after watching Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, Scotland. There was a short queue. From the moment we were shown to our table, to taking our orders and serving the food, I wasn't disappointed with the service at all. We just love the simple, delicious and hearty food.

Decided to try the cafe after watching Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, Scotland. There was a short queue. From the moment we were shown to our table, to taking our orders and serving the food, I wasn't disappointed with the service at all. We just love the simple, delicious and hearty food.

Really good service and still hot food

Lovely food and quick service, friendly staff and food is cooked fresh to order.

I wanted a filling, Scottish breakfast before we left Glasgow and University Cafe was perfect! We loved the old fashioned vibe and, even though we had to wait a little bit for a table, they were very good at communicating wait times, letting us know what to expect, and giving us menus to look at. The prices were also cheaper than we were expecting which is always a plus. Great food, great vibe, great way to end our Scotland trip. Thank you!

I wanted a filling, Scottish breakfast before we left Glasgow and University Cafe was perfect! We loved the old fashioned vibe and, even though we had to wait a little bit for a table, they were very good at communicating wait times, letting us know what to expect, and giving us menus to look at. The prices were also cheaper than we were expecting which is always a plus. Great food, great vibe, great way to end our Scotland trip. Thank you!

Best example of Glaswegian cuisine. Does what I ate growing up and definitely Italian owned. I love it and the staff are superb. I enjoy using the takeaway next door too, the staff are super helpful and friendly but know when to be stern. This is Glasgow after all! The best for a quick chippie or battered steak when on a break from uni. Not affiliated with Glasgow University! I highly recommend everyone to try them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, ice cream and a chippie. The atmosphere is brilliant and done well, you may end up sharing a table but no one forces you to. The seats are so classy and vintage, perfect for Byres Road. I love it! Most authentic Scottish-Italian central belt cuisine. (Not an Italian cuisine restaurant as their menu is more so what Scottish people eat everyday, Ministrone Soup, Spaghetti Bolognese, Teacakes, Fish and Chips, Coke Float, other Glaswegian Classics). I highly recommend this place! Thank you!

Great food, friendly staff. No Wi-Fi which I found a bit surprising considering your in the upmarket west end of a big modern city.

Anthony Bourdain , Jamie Oliver and many other celebrity chefs rave around this place A wide variety of chippy staples and some Italian food & delicious ice cream ( I had the Knickerbocker Glory) Well worth a visit to this histic spot

Great fish and chips! The Biscoff ice cream was amazing 👍

Can't beat the University cafe. Just had 99 and it was delicious. Great ice cream and great service.

What a beautiful atmosphere, absolutely love this little cafe, the staff are so lovely and the food is absolutely delicious! This place is a little classic treat. Please never change! I’ll be back very soon it’s an absolute delight coming here very happy experience.

Fish & chips were pretty good. Ice cream was so good!! Had eleven people, so kinda tight.

The traditional ice cream in Glasgow has been for years and years and years and years :)

Best icecream in Glasgow in my very humble opinion. Get a cone with a flake and fab raspberry sauce!

A good, 100 year old Glasgow institution Great ice cream, although a little confused as I didn't know if you had to queue outside for a table( although you actually didn't) Much better than my last visit, years ago

Uni cafe what happenedto macaroni. It was dry. Did not taste fresh.

What a nice place! Friendly staff and we had a really excellent milkshake and sorbet here! Nostalgic cafe to sit on a very small table, knees to each other in the atmosfer of last century…

Lovely little place, a classic venue for their amazing ice-cream, hot food is definitely worth sampling to

A small and very very very old cafe. The furniture is still the original, a jump in the past. The food was really delicious. Excellent soup, macaroni and cheese, and coffee.

A blast from the past. My wife has been wanting to go for ages, so took the wee one. Been decades since I've last been and was exactly how I remember it! As with everywhere, the prices have gone up but always happy to support a local business. A Glasgow institution!

This place has been here for donkeys. Just like stepping back in time the last time I was in here for a coffee was approx 40 years ago. The only thing I would change today is the seating. Perhaps could do with a bit more padding lol.

It was a trip down memory lane for me a blast from my past. The food was excellent Hot peas with plenty of vinegar and home. made chips were amazing definitely be back

An iconic little cafe with traditional ice cream parlour backdrop. Great all day breakfast. Good coffee. Great prices. A family business with history (over 100 years in busines depicted through photos, memorabilia and architecture).

Lovely food and friendly staff as always

Great wee cafe. Staff are lovely and the food is excellent, I had the Scottish breakfast which was delicious. The coffee was to die for!! Would highly recommend and it’s good to support our local businesses.

Came here over the years ,lovely staff friendly and efficient Linda & Hazel .old fashion decor same style . Good selection of food fress and very tasty. 👌

What a treat to sit where Anthony Bourdain sat. I loved the original decor which is still pristine, felt like a step back in time. Loved the deep fried Mars bars...yummmm

Great place to visit staff great family owned been going there for about 65 years Lasagne Spag bol and fantastic ice cream

As always great ice cream, great selection of sweets, staff helpful

Shockingly steep price for a meal. Chips were the worst I’ve tasted. Cheap oven chips. Not cut fresh and fried like any good chippy. Basically disguised as a chippy for tourists and charge them as much as possible. Avoid!!!!!

Super authentic lovely location managed by a great team. They serve really tasty Scottish breakfast close to the uni campus and are an absolute must-try in my opinion. If you are there, you have to taste their totally mind-blowing ice cream, and I am sure you won't regret it!

Having previously enjoyed an Ice Cream in the Summer I returned for a Coffee and Cheese Toastie this weekend whilst up visiting my old father . Sadly it was pretty poor with a slice of Plastic Processed Cheese melted between 2 slices of white toast it was completely tasteless . The Cappuccino to be fair wasn’t bad , I even had a second cup with a Tea Cake . The place was virtually empty and badly wanted a clean and tidy . I am truly sad to be leaving such a negative review because I liked the Owner who I chatted to and I liked the fact that ithe University Cafe has been here 100 years . Pellici however do this so much better back in London and it’s a real tragedy that the Verracia family here in Glasgow can’t up their game . It urgently wants better Produce , better quality of Preparation and a good Tidy of the Premises . Lack of Investment and Business Plan is the overwhelming issue and instead things have been allowed to slide and that’s a pity , a great pity I note the reply from the Owner beneath and much of what he says is true . I was hoping my comments would be taken in the spirit in which they were intended , Byres Rd is a competitive environment and I genuinely fear you are standing still .

Excellent old fashioned cafe, in the Italian Style from 100 years ago. I go regularly and the food is first class. Try the ice cream!

As late Antony Bourdain sad.. Place to go and taste their food The Best food in Glasgow,,,,........😋😋

Legendary spot that everyone should visit!!!

food was lovely was served fast the staff frendley enough and it wasn't to expensive

Want that old fish and chip nostalgia vibe the check out this place Great food and great atmosphere

Hasn't changed in 40 years. In a good way.

The food was excellent 👌 😋, it brings back memories of being there with my mum(May)a walk about at the Barrasford,then agid munch,at Cafe.100% aw gid,everyone smiles after there fid..Simster 💙..

Experience old Glasgow cafe vibe .

Love the University Cafe. Been going on and off for decades. Still a great place, still as popular as ever and 105 years old and going strong. Looking forward to my next visit!

Love this little place ❤️🍦 The prices are brilliant! You can sit in or takeaway. They have every sweetie you could imagine! The staff are always so helpful and friendly. Highly recommend 👌🏼

So good!!! A real Scotland staple. Do your self a favor and Get the peas and vinegar

Used to be a good value cafe. Stff are good. Decor is still unique but prices are over the top for what your getting.

Great wee cafe excellent service great staff helpful and friendly 😁

I have family in the west end, everytime I visit I get a sausage, bacon and egg roll and I have not found a single roll quite as good in every cafe I've been to in Glasgow. Fast and delicious.

A lovely back to the past local cafe. A tradition taste of a scoop of ice cream. Creamy and cold 😊 not too sweet. The council should take the experienced locals as the priority than further narrowing the road and pavements.

Rubbish food. Lovely look and nice servers. Chef walked through and coughed all over. Pasta was watery and overcooked, I'm sure ice cream is good but cannot recommend for a proper meal sadly.

Clean friendly and tasty food ,peas in vinegar humongous serving,

Absolutely brilliant food excellent staff awesome

Very expensive. Would find a cheaper venue next time.

Been going here since I was a kid In the 60s, Good times..

Food was extremely greasy to the point of being inedible

I love this place, every time I’m in the area I try to go. Just traditional comfort food with a side of great icecream! The atmospheres so cozy and it’s always pretty busy.

Good delivery and efficient, ice cream here is excellent!

University Cafe is an institution! And I finally see why having tried it today - I had an oyster and can say it's the best ice cream in the west end! The staff are so friendly and the decor is fabulous, and the prices are great! No wonder Jamie Oliver and the likes have been here!

From ordering to receiving the service was very good

Spectacular! Will return again and again and again 🤩

Old fashioned cafe. Cheap, cheerful, nostalgia. Carbs galore. A Glasgow Institution. Worth a visit for the interior & the ice-cream. And old fashioned sweeties. I imagine the fish supper is good. Limited for vegetarians.

It's like time warp, very homely with great food and fantastic coffee

I have used this restaurant for years and have always received great quality food. My recent order arrived as usual on time and piping hot. The home made foods were first class especially the soup and lasagne. Great portions with real ingredients. Certainly the best ice cream I have tasted.

First visit in over twenty years. Not changed a bit. Brought back good memories.

Trying to decide what to have for a (very late) breakfast, my Glaswegian mate has a very obvious lightbulb moment and said "University Cafe". A genius. All day breakfast, the works: black pudding, Lorne sausage, potato scone, bacon, hash brown, beans, fried egg, and toast. Glorious. Whilst enjoying the atmosphere in this quaint little cafe, I saw proper handmade soft serve being prepared behind the counter. After finishing our meals, I left with a classic 99 and mate has an oyster with raspberry sauce. Pure joy.

Great traditional cafe family run buisness amazing ice cream

Spaghetti Bolognese is the stuff of legend.

Excellent food excellent service. One of the best ever. Thank yooooou

We discovered fish tea! Lovely and very friendly place.

I went here to do my college photography location shots, of which I chose to do Nostalgia. I onyl rated this 4/5 stars due to me not actually eating the food. However, the willingness and eagerness to allow me to both shoto in the cafe and assist with suggestions makes it 4 out of 5 stars alone. The staff were lovely and the food looked absolutely amazing even if I did not have any. I would go here with full intent of dining out if I wished to do so. Appreciate the help offered by staff once again, and hope they continue to thrive. Should note I did not have to pay anything to do so.

Ordered a fish supper & a spaghetti bolognese ! Both were amazing ! Couldnt fault it at all.

Can’t beat the university cafe for ice cream

Lovely place small tables my first time in place

Great wee place. Same as it was when I was a kid.

Yummy lunch, personally would have preferred less chips and two eggs for the egg and chips. Piping hot tea, two cups and a dessert which looked like it was my birthday! Pleasant smiley waitress . Many thanks. This dessert is biscoff cheesecake served with lovely ice cream.

A Glasgow institution. Top notch

The best ice cream in Glasgow for sure!

Consistently good. Best toilet in town. Seating was a bit tight for big lads like me but genuinely braw.

Has an old school look. The staff is so friendly. I just had hot chocolate and it was nice. Nothing special, it's just a hot chocolate that u get everywhere else and it's nice. Good quantity

Nice spaghetti bolognese and the cafe latte was good.

I lived in NYC for 6 years and I am telling you the cheesecake and ice cream I had here rivaled the best places I went in NYC. You know a cake or pie is done correctly when one slice leaves you absolutely satisfied. Very heavy slice flavorful without being overwhelming in any way. Enjoyed every last bite! And the ice cream had such lovely flavor. The pairing of the two was perfection 🥰

This place is exactly what you’d want it to be - very cosy, very traditional, and very friendly service. Had a lovely breakfast.

Icy rain day in Glasgow. This quaint old style Cafe had a very good hot meals menu. Seating very snug, not for large tummies, and outside toilet eek!!

We wanted a central place to meet for coffee. We were each able to find parking nearby. We received a fine welcome and the tea/coffee tasted good. However, the seating is very narrow and not v comfy, the tables a bit high, and the toilet is down an alleyway, was not clean or up to standard. I could not work out how 2 teacakes and a snowball could cost over £4. Apart from that, ok atmosphere.