Scone Spy: Our cafe critic checks out Kothel on Glasgow’s Crow Road

Over the course of the pandemic, I have become quite accustomed to dining al fresco – though with Scotland’s notoriously dreich weather, it can be a bit hit and miss. Or, well, wind and rain. Snow and sleet. Frost and downpours. You get the idea.

However, luckily, I recently found the perfect little spot to indulge my Covid-curated love of outdoor eating, while managing to avoid a soaking. After a brisk walk through Glasgow’s West End I needed to stop for a well-earned cuppa and found myself in the warm and friendly Kothel cafe.

Bright blue on the outside, the interior boasts a canopy of trees, allowing you to enjoy the very best of nature, without being exposed to the elements. The foliage isn’t growing from the chessboard tiles underfoot (pre-coffee, I did embarrassingly check for roots…) but the crispy leaves and creamy barks really do create a lovely environment.

Of course, the other pretty thing that caught my eye was the cake display.

Nestled behind glass, I spotted so many delightful looking muffins, cakes, pastries and scones, I was half tempted to ask for a takeaway box filled with treats.

Alas, with the resolution to curb my calories still branded on the front of my brain, I opted for a plain scone and a flat white. Well, I could hardly forego the scone – it’s how I bring home the bacon, after all!

I did spot lots of delicious dishes on other diners’ plates, so I know I’ll return soon for something more substantial. The menu has breakfast staples (bacon ciabatta, porridge and waffles) as well as a selection of filled sandwiches, salads and hot dishes, so there really is something for everyone. Plus, the staff were so warm, friendly and welcoming, it’s the type of place you meet up with friends on a lazy Sunday, whiling away the afternoon with too much cake and caffeine. Bliss!

I later learned this lovely cafe has two more locations – one on Great Western Road and the other in Bearsden – so perhaps I’ll have to visit all three. All in the name of journalistic research, of course.

Scone score

Delightful looking and delicious.

★★★★