What a distinction a decade (and a yr) makes. Again in 2014, whereas England boasted famend espresso firms like Prufrock, Hasbean (now Ozone), and Sq. Mile, you can depend the variety of specialty roasters in Scotland on one hand. The primary Glasgow Espresso Pageant that yr was a small gathering—to make up the numbers, founder Lisa Lawson of Pricey Inexperienced Espresso invited a barbershop to present haircuts to attendees—nevertheless it helped kick off a espresso motion north of the border.

Quick ahead to 2025, and Scotland’s specialty espresso scene is percolating properly, dozens of roasters supplying a whole bunch of cafes from the cities to the Highlands and out to the Hebrides. This yr’s Glasgow Espresso Pageant would be the largest but, with guests attending from far and huge to pattern every thing the nation’s espresso business has to supply.

This yr’s pageant takes place April 26 and 27 at the Briggait, an historic market corridor in Glasgow’s metropolis middle. However outdoors the cuppings, the talks, the samples and the blether, town itself has so much to discover. When you’re visiting for the weekend, right here’s a fast tour with some concepts that can assist you benefit from your time within the pricey inexperienced place—with just a few insider suggestions from Lawson.

When you’ll in all probability have greater than sufficient to fulfill your caffeine cravings on the pageant, it’s value venturing additional afield to essentially discover town’s espresso choices. Beginning within the middle, Laboratorio Espresso, Riverhill Espresso Bar, and Spitfire Espresso are comparatively brief walks away from the Briggait and make for good stops on the way in which to see a number of the sights: a worthy place to start out is Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, an unlimited Victorian cemetery that boasts a formidable view of town. Then, absorb some tradition on the Gallery of Trendy Artwork or the Folks’s Palace museum, discover the bustle of Barras Market, and, if the climate’s good, luxuriate within the fifteenth century greenery of Glasgow Inexperienced.

From the park, wander over the River Clyde through St Andrew’s suspension bridge and into the Southside, the place extra good espresso awaits. All the things is a little more unfold out right here, so that you may want to leap on a bus to achieve The Good Espresso Cartel, Grain and Grind, or Cafe Unusual Brew, which additionally serves a imply brunch (though prepare to attend for a desk).

 

When you’re on the lookout for one thing filling to tamp down your caffeine and sugar rush, there’s a variety of good meals available south of the river: Ranjit’s Kitchen and Little Hoi An are native favorites, whereas Errol’s Sizzling Pizza has earned worldwide acclaim. For these seeking to moist their whistle, Lawson recommends Made From Grapes, a wine store that transforms right into a wine bar after hours. “From new age pure wine to French classics, this can be a actually particular place.” Afterwards, why not cease by La Gelatessa for gelato?

The town has its very personal subway—don’t fear you possibly can’t get misplaced, it solely has one line and goes in a loop—which makes for straightforward transportation out to Glasgow’s buzzy West Finish. Right here the bustling Byers Street is punctuated by slim alleyways stuffed with vintage outlets and second-hand report shops, and the world can be house to some nice espresso. There’s Kaf, 1841 Espresso, Papercup, in addition to the spectacular inside of the Ottoman Coffeehouse.

There’s heaps extra tradition on the west aspect: Kelvingrove Artwork Gallery and Museum are properly value a go to—the Scottish colourists gallery is a must-see—whereas transport lovers (what do you imply you’re not?) received’t wish to miss the Zaha Hadid-designed Riverside Museum. These on the lookout for a bit greenery received’t be disenchanted: Kelvingrove additionally boasts an expansive park, whereas the Glasgow Botanic Gardens sit on the northernmost level of Byers Street.

When you get peckish, the West Finish has so much to supply: Mom India has a cult following, whereas The Ubiquitous Chip is a well-liked and sprawling menagerie of eating places, bars, and a roof terrace. Seafood lovers rave about Crabshakk in Finnieston, whereas Lawson additionally recommends the menu at Bar Brett. And naturally these within the know (Anthony Bourdain, and likewise my mum) will inform you to go to the hundred-year-old Italian-Glaswegian College Cafe.

A visit to Scotland wouldn’t be full with out a whisky tour and tasting, and as luck would have it you are able to do that with out even leaving the West Finish. The Clydeside Distillery, which opened in 2017 on the historic Queen’s Dock alongside the River Clyde, is town’s first devoted single malt whisky distillery in over a century.

As night time falls, there’s a lot to maintain you occupied. When you’re seeking to catch some reside music, you’re in luck—Glasgow is identified for its music scene, so it’s time to move again to town middle and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. The steps right down to this basement venue carry the names of acts who graced the stage earlier than their massive break: from Oasis to Radiohead, My Chemical Romance to Florence & The Machine and plenty of extra.

If all you wish to do is dance the night time away then maybe the world-famous Sub Membership is the place for you—it holds the report because the world’s longest-running underground dance membership. Or maybe you’d wish to expertise one other report holder on the close by Britannia Panopticon, the world’s oldest surviving music corridor, with its month-to-month Drag-opticon. One other nice selection is the Barrowland Ballroom’s retro design and sprung dancefloor. “No journey to Glasgow can be full with out taking in a gig on the Barrowlands Ballroom,” Lawson says. “Expertise your favourite band with a Glasgow crowd making the dancefloor bounce—an evening to recollect!”

When you’d choose one thing barely extra serene, instantly throughout from the Ballroom is The Gate, a cocktail bar that Lawson describes as feeling “equally acquainted and cosy because it does unique and decadent.” And if all the above sounds a bit exhausting, the artwork deco Glasgow Movie Theatre is value a go to to get pleasure from a night of arthouse and impartial cinema (it additionally has its personal bar).

Vibrant historical past, distinct neighborhoods, and deep cultural heritage—to not point out the sheer variety of nice espresso spots—means you in all probability want every week or extra to essentially get to know Glasgow. However even in the event you’re simply visiting for the espresso pageant and wish to expertise a bit of what town has to supply, any one of many stops on this tour could have you reserving a return journey.

Fionn Pooler is a journalist primarily based in Scotland, and the writer of The Pourover. Learn extra Fionn Pooler on Sprudge.