Alyson here, back with another food post. We all know food is 50% of the reason I travel, so this post is dedicated to all the delicious food and drinks I had in Scotland.
Coia’s Cafe (Glasgow)
Lentil soup. Side salad. Pesto Gnocchi. Ten different waiters. My dinner at Coia’s was a whirlwind and I accidentally ordered entirely too much food but it was so worth it. The atmosphere at this Italian restaurant was chic and fun. Coia’s is just a few blocks from the Airbnb I stayed in and was highly recommended by my host.
I inadvertently went on a soup tour in Scotland. Every museum and gallery cafe had an amazing sounding soup on the menu and they did not disappoint.
Caffe Nero (Everywhere)
I’ve been wanting to try Caffe Nero for quite a while now. It’s a chain coffee shop, common around the UK, so I wasn’t expecting anything out of this world, but I was looking forward to it all the same. Sadly it wasn’t until my last day that a barista offered me a wee loyalty card. I had to turn him down but I’m still thinking about those flat whites.
Here I am sucking down my 850th flat white of the week
Glasgow has a great vegan and vegetarian food scene, which may come as a surprise. Scotland has much more to offer than just haggis and chippies. I really enjoyed the next three places, known for their vegetarian and vegan offerings.
Rawnchy (Glasgow)
Despite my best intentions, I never had a chance to eat at Rawnchy. I did, however, visit for a much needed oat milk flat white. This trendy brunch spot was just across the street from my Airbnb, and I walked past it on my way to the train station nearly every day.
Bramble (Glasgow)
I had the best benedict of my life at Bramble. The first bite was like a symphony I will never forget. This cozy brunch spot is located near Queen’s Park and provided the perfect refuge from the rain shower that rolled in after my walk through the park. The staff was incredibly kind and friendly (typical of Glasgow), and the atmosphere was cute and welcoming.
Plant Blonde (Glasgow)
I started following some Scotland foodie accounts on Instagram before my trip, which is how I came across Plant Blonde. These vegan pastries, cakes, and treats are to die for. One look at their Instagram will tell you that.
BABS (Glasgow)
BABS is a Turkish restaurant serving some classic Mediterranean style flavors. Cheese lovers will rejoice at the entire brick of feta served on top of the side salad. Vegetarians and carnivores alike will find something at BABS. Once again I was taken aback by entirely too much food.
Ting Thai Caravan (Glasgow)
Your typical fast thai chain. I was in the mood for some noodles and Ting Thai did the job. Don’t let this short review fool you - if you’re in Glasgow and you’re craving noodles give Ting Thai a try.
Brea (Sterling)
Somehow I managed to order all Italian food at a restaurant billed as Scottish cuisine, but it was enjoyable all the same. Brea also has a large vegetarian and vegan selection, including options to make various dishes either vegan or vegetarian. The waiter serving me also asked if I was vegan when I ordered from the Veg menu, so you can trust that they take cross contamination into account.
La Locanda (Edinburgh)
Surprise surprise. More Italian. Located on the popular Cockburn Street I mentioned in my last blog, La Locanda is the perfect place to do some people watching while enjoying lunch or an aperitif. Every single item on the daily lunch menu looked great. I went with the bruschetta to start and ended with the spinach ricotta ravioli. *Chefs kiss*
Pep & Fodder (Edinburgh)
Another day, another cafe. I popped into Pep & Fodder just before closing time for a little pick me up / relaxing moment after making my way back to the city center from Dean Village. This casual coffee shop is a great place to stop for a quick break while exploring Edinburgh.
If you ever find yourself in Scotland I hope you give some of these places a try!