BRG
CB

Before you go

Chef / owner
Laurie Macmillan
Opened
2015
Style
Shawlands brunch café: eggs, pancakes, burritos and Dear Green coffee
Setting
1082 Pollokshaws Road, Shawlands; moved from smaller unit across the road
Known for
brunch, pancake stacks, weekend queues, Dear Green coffee
Signature dishes
Brew Benedict, Brew Burrito, Pancake stacks, Stornoway Stack, Baked eggs
Good for
brunch, weekend breakfast, dogs welcome, casual lunch
Prices
Moderate brunch pricing (SquareMeal band roughly £30–49 for a fuller visit)
Typical spend
Around £15–25pp for brunch and coffee
Reservations
Walk-ins often fine
Booking
Often walk-in / queue, especially weekends; call 0141 440 7290 to check if booking
Dietary tags
vegetarian options, vegan options
Kids
Child-friendly brunch spot
Dress code
Casual
Outdoor seating
No
Drinks
Primarily café; coffee-focused
Noise / pace
Busy and buzzy at weekend brunch; calmer midweek
Getting there
Buses along Pollokshaws Road. Crossmyloof rail a short walk.
Parking
Street parking on Pollokshaws Road / Shawlands; can be tight at weekends
Also
Typically open from 9am; closes mid/late afternoon (confirm day); Dog friendly; Lonely Planet GB guide listing (2019/20 edition coverage)

Glasgow restaurant

Cafe Strange Brew

4.7(1,360 reviews)
££Opens in 13 hours

Address

1082 Pollokshaws Rd, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3XA, UK

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Opening hours

  • Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Overview

Café Strange Brew opened in Shawlands in 2015 under chef-owner Laurie Macmillan, first in a tiny Pollokshaws Road unit (formerly Pudding Lane) before moving across the road within a year as queues grew. It is the South Side’s best-known brunch café: Dear Green coffee, baked eggs, Brew Benedict, Brew Burrito, pancake stacks and daily specials, with a dog-friendly, slightly bohemian room. Weekends mean waits; midweek is easier. Hours are roughly 9am–4/5pm (Experience Glasgow Trails lists 9–4; SquareMeal shows weekdays to 5pm and Sunday to 4pm). Book by phone if they are taking reservations, otherwise expect a queue. Lonely Planet included it in a Great British Travel Guide edition; it also topped TripAdvisor’s Glasgow restaurant rankings in early 2018. Pollokshaws East / Shawlands buses along Pollokshaws Road are the practical transit; Crossmyloof station is a short walk.

Updates from the restaurant

Instagram

@cafe_strange_brew

Thu, 13 Aug 2026, 10:45

Summary

Cafe Strange Brew offers a red gelatin dessert topped with raspberries, crumbled biscuits, and powdered sugar, served on a black table.

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Instagram

@cafe_strange_brew

Mon, 3 Aug 2026, 06:02

Summary

Cafe Strange Brew in Glasgow is offering a limited-time sesame caramel iced hojicha, featuring whipped cream and caramel drizzle, available until it is removed from the menu.

View on Instagram

Instagram

@cafe_strange_brew

Sun, 2 Aug 2026, 17:22

Summary

Cafe Strange Brew is showcasing their "wee Benny on crumpets," featuring wild mushrooms, soft poachers, tarragon hollandaise, and crispy kale. The image shows two plates, one with a small amount of liquid (likely sauce) and the other with a larger amount, suggesting hollandaise.

View on Instagram

Reviews

5.0Bernadetta Winandya

I chose this cafe as my breakfast place because they relatively have high ratings in the surrounding area. When I was there, it was packed but the service was quick! Had two daily specials (savoury and sweet). My partner had savoury special and it was interesting, very chewy sourdough with a potent aroma of curry (I forgot the name). But my order, pancake with summer berries, on the other hand..... wow. Can't describe it with words!! Just look at the heavenly pictures. Feels like I'm eating an art. Like a craft that someone made wholeheartedly. It also tasted great too, everything blended well perfectly in terms of textures and flavour. Unfortunately the portion was massive I couldn't finish it. A good and memorable visit nonetheless.

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5.0Eleeze Waggitt

First time in here & greeted with a smile. Delicious coffee/ cake. . Very clean , friendly staff. Can't wait to go back & try something else from the menu. Highchairs provided for children. Even the adults can ask for half a portion because the portions are big

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5.0Amaria Ali

I had such a fantastic experience at this brunch spot! The Vietnamese iced coffee was absolutely amazing — strong, smooth, and perfectly sweetened. I also tried the breakfast burrito wrap, which was packed with fresh ingredients and full of flavor. The fluffy pancakes with pistachio mascarpone and cherries were a standout — rich, creamy, slightly tart, and beautifully balanced. It was also my first time trying a potato scone, apparently a very Scottish thing ;) it was crunchy, delicious, and surprisingly addictive! Everything was freshly prepared and thoughtfully presented. You can really taste the quality in every bite. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a memorable and satisfying brunch in Glasgow!

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5.0aili s

Fantastic - for a long time this has been my favourite brunch in Glasgow. My go-to is the harissa hummus toast which is so generously portioned with two poached eggs and loads of halloumi. Every time I visit there are exciting specials - like this lemon ricotta, pea, leek and courgette toast with pesto. This cafe is so reasonably priced, the portions are huge (especially the pancakes) and everything is so fresh and tasty. There are also a huge range of options for veggies and meat eaters. Be willing to wait an hour or more on weekends! But you can leave your number and wait for a text when your table is ready :)

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5.0pek tse

Wonderful brunch experience at Cafe strange brew with friends! Impressed by friendly staff, nice atmosphere, good coffee and the splendid food!! Had ordered pancake, sandwich and salmon on egg Benedict, which were served nicely and tasty. There’s no surprise cafe is fully occupied on Tuesday morning. Will visit again, thx

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