Ultimate cafes and eateries

BERNIE’S CAFE NEVA PLACE, 1 MAIN ST, BRIDGE OF WEIR

You won’t be the only person wearing Lycra in Bernie’s, a cyclist hotspot. Open from 9am to 5pm you can stop for breakfast (my order: french toast), lunch (my order: soup and a sandwich), or an emergency injection of fuel on your way home (my order: hot chocolate, slice of cake, a moment to sit wondering what it all means, and a scoop of tablet ice cream).

BULLANDS COFFEE HOUSE 27 MUGDOCK ROAD, MILNGAVIE

Located near the start of the West Highland Way (an iconic walking route from Milngavie to Fort William), the Bullands staff aren’t too shy to serve people wearing funny shoes or with mud on their faces. It’s also dog friendly if you’re the type to ride with a pooch in your basket.

The food is homely, filling, and fresh. I like to order their omelette, which is made to my preferred portion size (completely ginormous) and sit with a pot of tea wondering why they’ve pinned teddy bears to the ceiling. It’s a quirky cafe. Order one of their (also completely ginormous) scones and you might have enough energy for the 154km walk to Fort William.

KONA COFFEE 2 KIRKTON ST, CARLUKE

This makes the list on special recommendation from my father. “If you were based in the East End of Glasgow and wanted to go for a ride east, you’d struggle for a nicer cafe,” he says. This is high praise. “You’d struggle for a nicer daughter,” is what I hope he one day says at my wedding/ graduation/special birthday.

Kona Coffee is family run (by a family less dysfunctional than mine) with, in their words, “an emphasis toward healthy eating”. Don’t worry, they still serve cake.

MOTHER INDIA 28 WESTMINSTER TERRACE, FINNIESTON

From the time I was nine years old my family have gone for a curry on a Sunday evening. We call this event Sunday Curry, and the most special of these takes place at Mother India (curry and rice from around £10). With a delicious and indulgent menu, the highlight for me is the aloo saag dosa.

CAFE GANDOLFI 64 ALBION ST

Located across from the Old Fruitmarket, come here for your haggis, neeps and tatties (£13). The menu is sophisticated yet homely, and my mother likes it because of their Tim Stead furniture.

LOBO 758 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD

My current favourite restaurant. They serve Mediterranean small plates (£8-£14) which are, firstly, divine and, secondly, not that small. I love ‘small plates’ menus where you can avoid FOMO by going with hungry friends and ordering the whole thing.