The furthest spot on your hitlist, just beyond the Cumbernauld Road bisection, should be Dunya. They do Persian cuisine and grilled meats as well as pretty much anywhere in town and it’s always busy. Get the mixed grill if your numbers are plenty and appetites large. Over the road, Dennistoun BBQ is the place to go for smash burgers and pit-style food, while Mesa is the neighbourhood’s much-beloved brunch spot, where Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern details elevate sandwiches, pancakes and plates as the sun pierces the big window. 

Facing each other on Whitehill Street, Tapa is an organic bakery with a vibrant little veggie and vegan menu for something light, while The Loveable Rogue comes alive on Thursday evening when they run a £12 steak-frîtes deal right through until an equally popular Sunday roast takes over and wraps up the weekend.

The East End branch of Frank’s Pizza arrived in 2024. An intense sugo, a properly chewy outer crust and pleasing restraint with the cheese are its hallmarks: that and the viral, preposterously large mozzarella sticks. For a more traditional Italian meal, Celinos on Alexandra Parade is the pick of the bunch. Think Neapolitan pizzas and old-fashioned pasta dishes packed with flavour. The smorgasbord starter is a lucky bag of whatever they’re running through from the adjoining deli. It’s fantastic value on the set menu. 

Compared to even a couple of years ago, the choice in this area is remarkable. Sword Street Sushi offers a quaint space for sushi and noodles made with care, and Nakodar Grill on Annfield Place is a top-drawer neighbourhood curry house, specialising in rich, cooked-down sauces and tandooris. Meanwhile, just round the corner on Bellgrove Street, La Bodega’s Venezuelan cuisine might be the quiet gem of the entire area, with its brimming, juicy arepas. They do great coffee too.

Speaking of caffeine, standouts around here are Daily, using Allpress beans and pastries from Wheatberry Bakery (they have a fantastic takeaway wine shop too), and Black Pine for swift, charming service and bagels baked in-store. And whether you’re feeling a bit ‘earnest coffee snob’ or somewhat ‘Instagrammable matcha latte’, Zennor is your place of zen and indulgence. 

This TipList is taken from Eat & Drink 365 Glasgow, our sister mag recommending the best in restaurants, bars, cafés and more. Want a copy? It’s available online or across all good stockists in Glasgow.