Kelvingrove Café has been a fixture on Argyle Street for more than a century. Located at 1161 Argyle Street in Finnieston, the Victorian-era café first opened its doors in 1896 as a lunch spot and ice cream parlour, just around the corner from a then brand-new Kelvingrove Park.
Now a category-C listed building, the café has undergone several renovations over the years. It has remained open to the public since opening day, apart from a brief closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. That period also brought a modern makeover, with the ground floor extended and a new 240 sq ft dining room added.
From ice cream parlour to cocktail bar
The café has evolved from an ice cream parlour into a brunch and coffee spot by day and a stylish dinner venue with cocktail bar by night. Much of its original character remains intact, including dark wood panelling, a long bar, and the original sign outside that reads "Kelvingrove Café, established 1896".
A celebrity regular
The café is popular with locals and has also drawn in high-profile faces. Rod Stewart was previously spotted at the Finnieston venue enjoying whisky cocktails made with his own Wolfie's brand, ahead of a Celtic match.
The Sunday roast deal
Kelvingrove Café offers separate day and night menus, plus a Sunday roast special that runs until around 6:30pm each Sunday. The meal can be served with either roast chicken or steak. For £22 per person, the steak option brings three generous portions: Bavette steak with Chimichurri, a caesar salad topped with Parmesan, and fries with beef gravy on the side. It can be upgraded to £25 with a beer or house wine.
The review visit took place at around 6pm on a Sunday, and the café was very busy. Customers included hillwalkers, families, couples, and younger groups enjoying cocktails. It was my first visit, but it was clear the café is a popular spot among locals. The interior felt rustic and charming, and I was a big fan - traditional features such as old paintings, brick wall interiors and glass bottles of juice paired with modern touches like gold-plated tables and miniature menus made it feel luxurious.
Food review
The food arrived quickly and, for once, looked exactly as advertised on the menu - not always the case in restaurants. It is worth noting that the menu states the steak for this deal is only available rare or well done. I opted for rare, and it arrived pink in the middle. I decided against the Chimichurri sauce, but my partner had it. Unfortunately, the meat was far too chewy and did not taste freshly made, which was disappointing. My partner also found it hard to chew and even swallow.
As a caesar salad lover, I was hoping the salad would save the meal. The Parmesan was delightful and the croutons added a good crunch. However, the caesar came with no dressing - the titular ingredient was missing. Whether that was an error or not, I cannot say for sure, but the salad would have greatly benefited from it.
Thankfully, the skinny fries were great, and the beef gravy that came with them was very tasty - in fact, it was my favourite part of the meal. But if a gravy is the highlight of a Sunday roast, that says little for the rest.
The verdict
I was not overly impressed by Kelvingrove's Sunday roast, despite the hype it generates online. It is possible the restaurant was simply having an off day. In terms of value, the deal is good - the portion is big - but the taste did not live up to expectations. That said, the café itself left me intrigued, thanks to its history and atmosphere, and I would be keen to return to try something else or sample a few cocktails.
