University Cafe

Reviews

• Alison M.

  star star star star star 12 June 2026

  University cafe is one of those iconic things in Glasgow that you never want to change.  They were established in 1918, and they have really cool old cafe decor, with no fuss tasty food.  The seats are a mixture of comfy booths and old flip up seats and the service is friendly and quick.  
  
  As a veggie my favourite option here is macaroni cheese and chips, with a can of diet Irn Bru (or maybe full fat if I am feeling wild).  The chips are always freshly cooked and the macaroni is actually macaroni- not penne or fusilli- something a lot of places tend to neglect!  The peas are really good too, those proper marrowfat home made ones with vinegar and lots and lots of pepper.
  
  They have every combination of ice cream imaginable, and you can play spot the Jamie Oliver pics in the window too if you're just passing by.  Check out the ice cream achievement awards dating back to the 60's on the wall- this family cafe knows its ice cream :)

• Toby G.

  star star star star star 5 June 2026

  The Uni Cafe is a Glasgow institution that's been serving the West end for nearly a hundred years. Aye, I know, you've heard that before in other reviews. But it is, so there you go, blah, blah, blah.
  
  I've been coming here since as far back as I can remember. I used to get left outside in my pram with an ice cream stuck in my hand, before we knew there was 70's television ice cream stealing paedos kicking about.
  
  The inside hasn't really changed in the 30+ years I've been coming here, they had a small renovation about 15 years ago when they changed the seats, the old ones used to lean forward and you felt like you were about to lock lips with the person sitting across from you, but apart from that; nothing has changed.
  
  It's old and untouched, and you could imagine you're in Glasgow 40/50 years ago. All over the walls they have pictures of the cafe from days gone by, and certificates stretching back to the fifties (could be further) for their ice cream.
  
  They serve comfort food and pretty basic grub, pies, chips, peas, beans, pizzas, pastas, soup and some off-menu items like pork chops and boiled tatties.
  
  Now, as I said I've been coming here for a long time and only tried a few things on the menu, my staple used to be pie, peas and chips; then I became vegetarian about 15 years ago and swapped out the pie for fried egg. And the reason I continue to get this dish is because they have some of the best chips in Glasgow and their peas are also immense.
  
  To be transparent, some of their menu is mince, figuratively and literally (cause they sell mince) what I mean is some of it is god awful. The macaroni tastes like it's from a packet and I recently tried the minestrone soup and it was rank rotten.
  
  However, this takes nothing away from the five stars I'm giving it.
  
  The Uni cafe is a great place for people watching, the clientèle is diverse, from old yins coming in for their mince and tatties, youngsters from the local Uni, families, to West End Wendys wondering where the foraged mushrooms and confit of albatross is on the menu.
  
  I come here about twice a month, once with the girlfriend, who has been coming here for about ten years, she never knew about it before (because she's a foreigner from Clydebank) she discovered it when she started working at the Uni.
  
  And once with my Mum, and order the same things we always have and catch-up and reminisce about people we've lost along the way that used to come here with us.
  
  The Uni cafe is a real family affair, the guy that runs the place used to run around when I was a wee boy, now he's in charge. And that's great, where else can you say that about.
  
  Starting to bore myself here, but I've got to mention their ice cream, it's superb.
  
  Scottish/Italian ice cream at its finest. They only used to do vanilla and a choice of receptacle, cone, sponge, nougat etc. Now they do all different flavours, waffle cones and lots of different toppings, like nuts, hundreds and thousands, pistachio and all that new age baloney. But try the vanilla in a sponge, you can't go wrong.
  
  I really hope the Uni cafe never changes, and I don't think it ever will.
  
  I can't wait to bring my own kids in here one day.
  
  Here's to another hundred years!

• Erin G.

  star star star star star_border 28 May 2026

  Amazing!  Once you find a parking spot in a busy city you will definitely enjoy their ice cream.  Everything is homemade and extremely tasty.  Definitely appreciate them when you look around and notice all of the awards one throughout the years.  
  We were traveling through on the way to Edinburgh and made a detour to check them out and I am glad we did.  One of my favorite little ice cream places anywhere!!!

• Carolyn M.

  star star star star_border star_border 25 May 2026

  I've been here many times before with various friends, but this time, I not only introduced my boyfriend to University Cafe, but I also introduced three of my friends who were looking for some decent cheap eats.  
  
  We had just been out to the farmers market and to the Huntarian when we decided that we wanted something cheap to eat.  After giving it a think, I recommended University Cafe.  Having been the only one who has eaten here, everyone was in, so we went.
  
  University cafe has been around for ages and their seating gives you an insight as to how long it's been around.  Luckily there was a full table available, otherwise, it is customary just to sit whenever there is an open seat, even if with someone you might not know.
  
  We looked over the menu and each of us ordered something different.  I ordered the half pizza, which to my surprise was a lot better than I ever thought it would be.  Loaded with garlic, it had a great taste to it, and it was cheap to boot.  My boyfriend went for the pie, chips and beans.  He ate it faster than I'd ever seen him eat it, and he said it was ok.  My friends each ordered the ham and cheese toastie, half a pizza and the mac and cheese.  They all agreed that for the prices, the dishes were ok.  
  
  I've said it before and I'll say it again- I'm not really sure what the fascination about this place is that keeps people coming back.  I will say that they do have the best ice cream in town (although really expensive) but the food is ok at best and easily replicated at home for much less.

• Christina M.

  star star star star star 22 May 2026

  The University Cafe is another one of the places in Glasgow which holds many fond memories for me. My grampa used to take me here for lunch after going to the Grosvenor cinema. I always used to get a fish supper and some ice cream (I was a wee pie-face!)
  
  The staff are friendly and cope well with the busy turnover of customers; there are constantly people coming in to sit in, people ordering to-go, people wanting ice-cream etc. And it is easy to see why it is so popular, everyone loves a good-old greasy spoon after all!
  
  The food is standard cafe/chippy fare; fry-ups, rolls, chippy teas, toasties and some old faves like macaroni and steak pie. I had my favourite fish and chips and I left feeling extremely full after two huge pieces of nice cod and proper chippy chips! Yum yum :)
  
  If you're in the west end and you want a cheap, cheerful and delicious lunch/dinner and a walk down memory lane, you know where to go!! (Here obviously...)