The Glass Cafe

30a S Gyle Cres, Edinburgh EH12 9EB, United Kingdom
+44 131 629 3930
$$$ Cafe
(100 Reviews)
Price Range £1–10

The Glass Cafe in South Gyle serves up more than just your average coffee run. This family-run spot is all about straightforward, no-fuss cafe fare paired with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that suits locals popping in for a quick breakfast, casual lunch, or a relaxed coffee break. The cafe’s modest size doesn't limit its variety—there’s a solid choice of hot foods and drinks that cater well to the nearby office crowd as well as families in the area.

One of the draws here is their well-balanced breakfast and lunch options, with highlights including classic bacon and egg rolls and some spicier choices like a Madras and Sriracha panini, often accompanied by fresh salad. These meals tend to strike a nice balance between satisfying portion sizes and reasonable prices, which keeps the steady weekday foot traffic flowing. Expect a little wait around lunchtime—the space fills up fast with regulars taking a break from work—and a handful of outside seats add a bit of breathing room during warmer days.

Staff interactions stand out for being polite and efficient without feeling rushed, fostering a friendly vibe that makes it easy to linger a bit longer with a coffee or a slice of cake. The coffee itself gets positive nods for quality, making it a dependable spot for a takeaway caffeine fix or a sit-down catch-up with friends.

This cafe feels particularly well suited to people looking for a casual and affordable spot that respects the rhythm of a busy workday or a light family outing. Pop in mid-morning or late afternoon to avoid peak lunch rushes if you prefer somewhere quiet, but don’t be surprised if you find the place buzzing during the lunch hour—it’s clearly well-loved by the local community.

Highlights
Serves great coffee
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves coffee
Quick bite
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves lunch
Serves dessert
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Tuesday

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Wednesday

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Thursday

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Friday

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

100 Reviews
Chris Giubarelli

06 Jan 2026

Nice little family run cafe. Not to expensive either.

callum Bell

30 Nov 2025

"The Glass Cafe" should be renamed the "Diamond Cafe" as it is truly a little gem in South Gyle. The food was delicious yet very well priced, the staff are hardworking and very polite, and the atmosphere of the cafe is very friendly and welcoming. The seats outside are a convenient touch as well. I would strongly recommend this place.

Edinburgh Yoga and Sports Therapy

20 Nov 2025

Great wee takeaway. Coffee is lovely. Had a panini then couldn't resist their cake too. For such a small place, there's a lot of choice. Staff were lovely too and very efficient. Really reasonable prices.

Dave Devlin

17 Oct 2025

The Green Cube @Verdant: Where to start... Simply with a treble, the classic sausage, bacon and egg roll. This could possibly have been the best treble I've had in a long time, perfect balance of the three, not dripping with grease as you'd expect from having three items. Bacon with a slight crispy edge due to being baked instead of fried, a light egg that didn't slide all over the place and a perfect lorne sausage, not too thick or too thin, prepared on a clamshell grill for even cooking. Present that with a cheery and helpful host and you've got a 10 score breakfast roll. Definitely be having another one when I'm passing next time.

Anant Sharma

07 Oct 2025

Very good breakfast/lunch spot. Discovered it during an office break with some friends and was pleased to have found a great variety of hot foods and drinks served right in front of me. Their bacon and egg rolls were amazing and my personal favourite is the Madras and Sriracha panini with fresh salad. Can have a little wait when it’s lunch time, but it's definitely worth it. Friendly owner alongside great and welcoming staff. Has now become my regular lunch spot.

Laura Nisbet

27 Sep 2025

Our office team love it here, we work in the offices near by and come for lunch here most days! Delicious fresh filled rolls, wraps and soup! Lots of different fillings! Would recommend popping in for breakfast as morning rolls are great to! Lovely friendly staff, it’s also lovely to pop in and see them! We are sadly moving offices soon (not to far away) but I know we’ll still come back!

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