If you ever find yourself in Shawlands on Glasgow’s Southside and are feeling peckish, thirsty, or culturally curious, let me point you firmly in the direction of The Glad Cafe.
Read more below.
Founded in 2012, The Glad Cafe is an independent, community-focused music venue and fully vegan cafe bar right in the heart of the Shawlands neighbourhood.
The Glad is both a cafe bar and an event space, hosting a huge range of events almost every night of the week. Gigs, spoken word, community happenings, and more. They publish full listings on their website and even print a free monthly programme packed with details and photos.
And there is food!
The kitchen runs Monday to Friday from 12pm to 9pm. At the weekend you get brunch from 10am to 2pm, with the main menu kicking in from 12pm to 9pm.
The menu is a mix of classics and Southern inspired favourites. You’ll find hot dogs, macaroni cheese, pizzas, a seasonal pie of the day, and seasonal salads. They refresh the offering throughout the year and are currently working on a brand new brunch menu, which is reason enough to keep an eye on their Instagram.
On top of that, there are regular food deals including 20% off takeaway for a limited time. They post specials and discounts on Instagram and Facebook, so it is worth following along. Add brilliant coffee, cocktails, alcohol-free options, and a counter of cakes and pastries, and you have all bases covered.
Need more?
The Glad Rags thrift shop next door helps to generate funds for The Glad Foundation, a Glasgow based charity delivering inclusive and affordable music programmes and events. The foundation creates opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage creatively with music and their community, regardless of background or experience. That means your trip to Shawlands for some food and a spot of second hand shopping is connected to something much bigger than just you.
If you live in Glasgow, you should already be going. If you are visiting, make the trip south of the river. Places like The Glad Cafe deserve our money and our applause.
Find out about all upcoming events, food/drink menus, and The Glad Foundation online here.
You can see the exact location of The Glad Cafe thanks to Google Maps.
Extra note: all images used in this post were taken by Katie Rose Buchanan.
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