While far from its origins, now serving more as a swank cocktail bar and eatery in Finnieston, the original Kelvingrove Cafe was an ice cream parlour and lunch bar to serve the recently built Kelvingrove Park back in 1896. They still serve an excellent coffee and continue the local tradition of hospitality on Argyle Street.placeholder image
While far from its origins, now serving more as a swank cocktail bar and eatery in Finnieston, the original Kelvingrove Cafe was an ice cream parlour and lunch bar to serve the recently built Kelvingrove Park back in 1896. They still serve an excellent coffee and continue the local tradition of hospitality on Argyle Street. | Kelvingrove Cafe

Eight of the oldest, most respected cafes in Glasgow still open today in chronological order

Liam Smillie
By Liam Smillie

Digital Reporter

Published 9th Oct 2023, 14:29 GMT
Updated 9th Oct 2023, 14:33 GMT

Glasgow’s oldest cafes have been about for generations - today we’re ranking them in chronological order for curious Glaswegians looking for a taste of history

Glasgow has always had a booming café culture, whether Glaswegians were working on the docks, languishing in the Thatcher years, or dancing the night away during the European City of Culture era of 1990 - these café’s survived through all of these different time periods.

There’s several cafés in Glasgow that are well over 100 years old and have seen the face of Glasgow change around them, but have survived through the sheer quality of their service, food, and ties to the communities they serve.

Whether they’re in the north, southside, east end, west end, or even the city centre - each part of the city has an ancient café that has been a fixture for generations of Glaswegians, wherever they hail from.

Here’s our list of eight of the oldest café’s in Glasgow - ranked in chronological order.

Cafe d’ Jaconelli is best-known from the scene in the film Trainspotting the characters Renton and Spud back in 1996. The cafes history dates far further back than that though, opening on Maryhill Road in 1924 - they still make their ice cream to the original recipe created by Mario Jaconelli.

5. Cafe D’Jaconelli (1924)

Cafe d’ Jaconelli is best-known from the scene in the film Trainspotting the characters Renton and Spud back in 1996. The cafes history dates far further back than that though, opening on Maryhill Road in 1924 - they still make their ice cream to the original recipe created by Mario Jaconelli. | Getty Images

Coia’s is another beloved Glasgow institution - it just turned 95 last week, an impressive feat for any East End business. Plans were revealed for a new restaurant,complete with a full-size bronze statue of former owner Nicky Coia, who sadly died at the age of 84 in 2017, a more fitting tribute we could not think of.

6. Coia’s Cafe (1928)

Coia’s is another beloved Glasgow institution - it just turned 95 last week, an impressive feat for any East End business. Plans were revealed for a new restaurant,complete with a full-size bronze statue of former owner Nicky Coia, who sadly died at the age of 84 in 2017, a more fitting tribute we could not think of. | Coia’s Cafe

Over in Shawlands we have the classic Southside institution, the Brooklyn Café. Opened by Domenico Pelosi in 1931 after he moved up to Glasgow from Wales.

7. Brooklyn Cafe (1931)

Over in Shawlands we have the classic Southside institution, the Brooklyn Café. Opened by Domenico Pelosi in 1931 after he moved up to Glasgow from Wales. | Brooklyn Cafe

Cafe Gandolfi is one of the most respected cafe’s in Glasgow - known for its interesting interior and even more exciting authentic Scottish menu. The revolving doors are even older than the cafe itself, taken from the Grand Hotel at Charing Cross when it was demolished to make way for the new Glasgow inner ring road back in 1968.

8. Cafe Gandolfi (1979)

Cafe Gandolfi is one of the most respected cafe’s in Glasgow - known for its interesting interior and even more exciting authentic Scottish menu. The revolving doors are even older than the cafe itself, taken from the Grand Hotel at Charing Cross when it was demolished to make way for the new Glasgow inner ring road back in 1968. | Cafe Gandolfi

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