Saramago Cafe Bar

It has been almost 6 months since my visit to Scotland and I can still remember my meal at Saramago... Not only one of the best meals in Glasgow but one of the best vegan meals I have ever had. Layered flavors with inventive pairings made this meal a stand out on anyone’s trip. Almost all the tables were booked in advance, not having reservations still allowed us to enjoy a meal until the next reservation for our table began. We also sat for the theater prices special. It’s priced incredibly well with huge portions that would almost be enough food for 2. The cocktails are not to be missed and they have a few local beers on tap that were highly enjoyable.

It’s a shame that it took almost an hour for our food. It tasted delicious and the ingredients were top-notch to be fair! Other than that, the entire place felt a bit pretentious. We did not understand half of the words on the menu. Maybe because we are uneducated plebs. Staff is colder than the Glaswegian weather.

The Saramango Cafe Bar is located inside the CCA (Centre for Contemporary Arts.) This is a vegetarian cafe with vegan options. The food is delicious. I tried the mezzo platter to share & the courgette fritters were my favourite! So good! We tried the brownie which is like a hug for your insides!

Fantastic vegan place with lovely staff The vegan food was super delicious and enjoyed the mezze and sweet potato chips. The cider and 3rd eye lager were super yummy. The staff were very helpful and welcoming with great smiles. Well recommended

Nice creative space in the city. Food is excellent. Venue is quirky and interesting. Date night vibes

Excellent food & service. Intriguing interior courtyard of Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow

We love this place! The food is fresh and delicious. The staff will work with you to accommodate your dietary tastes needs. And, they are lovely people. As whole food/plant based people, it is our number one place to eat in Glasgow. The environment is inspiring to say the least, as it is at the Center for Contemporary Arts. Love it.

Fantastic good. Tasty, fresh and diverse menu. Great to have plant based that's not just junk food. The staff are so lovely, welcoming and friendly. It's my second time here and I think I'm going to be a regular.

On Thursday, August 3, 2023 that it is closed. The space , inside the cca is sometimes a bar

I have been singing the praises of this alter to fine food for weeks! Saramago has personally taken the former culinary reputation of Scotland on its shoulders and tossed it away! We came for their theater menu, because we are cheap, and this allows us to order more food! We got a roasted cauliflower steak, a seared cabbage dish, mezze, and an other cauliflower dish with pomegranate. 2 expertly crafted libations! . I am completely confident in recommending anything off the menu. Why? If you can make two so completely different dishes out of cauliflower and make both of them dance on my tongue like a bird of paradise during mating season, you have people back there that care about what they put on the plate and know what they are doing. This is honestly a destination worthy restaurant, if you find yourself within a days drive this is a must try. I promise you will be watching this place on one of your fancy cooking shows soon and then guess what? They won't have any seating for the likes of you! So go now, right now, don't wait!

Waaaay back before the CCA was the CCA and it was called the 3rd Eye Centre, they still served a damn fine veggie lunch in the cafe, and thankfully Saramago is continuing that tradition. It's not huge so it can be difficult to find a table at lunchtime, but out of hours it is a wonderful space to chill out in over a coffee and a book, and they have free Wi-Fi too if you have work to get on with. The old centre was housed in a couple of tin-roofed sheds and the transformation into the CCA has been nothing short of miraculous. Who knew that there was a wonderful town house hiding behind the old buildings? This was a showpiece job for the architects Page & Park, who have created a wonderful cosmopolitan atrium courtyard that feels like it should be outdoors somewhere on the Mediterranean and really shows off the best of the buildings that it connects with its higher-level walkways. The food is always pretty good, and they do a reasonable soup & wrap lunchtime deal for £6.50. Finish off with a cup of their excellent coffee or a Suki tea and you're all set. Even if you're not hungry, pop in here just to have a look at the space. It's a great example of creative architecture in action.

Hellooooooo beautiful, affordable vegan eats in an amazingly beautiful, well-lit environment! What a find this was! My husband remembered loving this place even back in the days when he lived in Scotland, so I was excited to try it out! We had a lovely effervescent server who was quick to bring us water and coffee, provide suggestions, and take our order. I had an incredible pizza loaded with artichokes, olives, basil and arugula on a crispy thin crust topped with a light red sauce. The portion was enormous - bigger than a plate! - and fresh, flavorful, and delicious. I had a cup of the mushroom and tarragon soup to begin and that, too, was incredible! I love when places aren't afraid to go hard in the herb department, and this place did not disappoint. My brave husband had the veggie haggis and LOVED it - and while I wasn't bold enough to try it, I will say the presentation was beautiful! I wish we lived here if only to return early and often for this delicious vegetarian gem!

My vegan experience in glasgow just kept getting better and better! Saramago serves a great range of delicious, high quality food in a funky venue on Sauchiehall Street. We went here twice and tried the pasta, pizza, haggis, Sharing plate and the chocolate brownie with vanilla icecream (made with soy milk).It was all amazing! If only I lived closer and could eat here all the time! Seriously, try the brownie with icecream - so, so good!

Review update time for Saramago and I'm super excited to dish out that magical 5th star. I had only been to the cafe area before, and this place was suggested as a venue for newbie night (thanks Ema C!). I phoned and booked the bar area even though I'd never been up there. Ok, it is a little hard to find on your first visit but once you know where it is, you won't have any troubles. My tip is to enter from Scott St and you won't have any trouble finding it. There's an awesome outside area as well as space inside, and an area I think they call the back bar. This is where we had Newbies Night and it was perfect. It was bar service only so it meant a little back of going back and forth but that was ok. Their Pinot Grigio is delicious too and very reasonable at £19 a bottle. If you're looking for a drinks/nibbles space for up to 30 people, seriously think about the bar area at Saramago. The only downside is the space was a little dark on a nice sunny day but these are pretty rare in Glasgow anyway.

This was my second time drinking here and I wasn't overly impressed. We booked the back room for a small party, which was great, and yeah the space itself works really well for a group of folk. I drank red wine all night but I wasn't happy with their wine selection, but as they say it got better with every glass! We were allowed to have decorations and cake but had to make sure it was all cleared up before we left, which is fair enough. The staff though, the staff were very rude. I had to wait at the bar numerous times until the staff had finished gossiping with each other, and never got so many as a smile or thank you once. They have a terrance which is handy for smokers, but either the door has to be locked or it doesn't close properly. So either people had to walk back around the bar to go outside or the room was freezing! Also it wasn't until about 30mins before we left that the bar staff realised the speakers hadn't been on in the back room. We then found out that this had been a blessing as suddenly no one could hear each other talk! It's useful for the space and location, but unless it fulfils a need for another party, I probably won't be going back.

I visited here for lunch last Saturday afternoon with some friends who were visiting for the weekend. They were looking to try somewhere healthy, in city centre and nice to relax in for a couple of hours, which is a harder than it sounds! A friend suggested the CCA as it serves some lovely big salad bowls. We were not disappointed, all four of us ended up ordering salads. A friend and I both had the Thai noodle salad and both loved it. Lovely fresh salad, packed with flavours and textures and coated in a delicious dressing. My friends also order the beetroot salad and the butternut squash one, which they also said were really good. The salad's are served with bread, making it a very filling meal. We had some small plates between us, sweet potato fries and soy asparagus. We spent a few hours sitting in the courtyard over lunch with a couple of drinks. It's a great space to chill out in! The only downfall was the service, when we walked in I had booked a table, being a Saturday afternoon we weren't sure how busy it would be and as we arrived two members of staff didn't know which table was ours. It was a bit of a confusing start to the meal. as we were seated we were instantly asked if we wanted drinks but needed a couple of minutes to look at the menu, we waited another 15 minutes until someone came back to take drinks orders. Not ideal but we weren't in a rush at least. In general the service was slow and distant the entire afternoon. I also tried some items on the mezzie platter while here for a Yelp Newbies night. Everything I tried that day was also really tasty! I will definitely be back to eat here, I think I would like everything on the menu! It's a great space, with a nice atmosphere and great food.

A sweet little vegan restaurant and bar tucked away inside the CCA. I went to a Yelp newbies night and we were in the 'back bar'. Had lashings of wine, plenty of laughs and some vegan loveliness. We shared the mezze platter which came with a bread basket and included humous, baba ganoush, califlower, stuffed leeks, a rocket salad and more. People couldn't be more wrong if they thought vegan food wasn't tasty. This platter was absolutely delicious! My vegan friend has spoken about Saramago multiple times in the past - I can now see why! I really enjoyed the bread (strange focal point I know) it was beautifully fluffy and was the perfect accompaniment for the different bits and bobs on the platter. Definitely worth a visit!

Was in town with my dear Mum who was up visiting from the land of Norfolk and we had just had a thirsty day shopping and walking and the like so needed a wee place to pop in for a wee drinky before heading out later that evening for a meal. Now this particular Saturday there was some kinda BIG football match on or somesuchshizlikethat...all I know is that it was proving HELLISH trying to find a decent, not too mobbed bar where we could get a wee seat and not have to listen to 'WWAAARRGGGHHHOOOOGGHHHHFFOOOOTTTBAAALL!' on some gigantor tv screen. We tried a few places and then I remembered the good ole CCA bar from days of yore. Used to frequent this place a lot in the late 90's/early 2000's but (shockingly) I hadn't been back in for years. Gulp. Sorry. So I said to my Mumra 'Here, I know a secret place!' and in we toddled. I think my Mum thought I'd gone to the wrong place saying 'This doesn't look like a pub to me!' Trust me Mother, trust ME. It was at this point I started worrying that maybe they'd got rid of their bar...ooft. But nope, turned the corner and there it was, like an beer flavoured oasis in the dessert (yes, I meant to say that). Got a table no bother and suddenly noticed how lovely it was here ~ no blaring sports channel, screaming lads or boozed up Hen parties, just lovely people enjoying good chat and some tasty beverages in a cool setting. I opted for a lovely real ale-type beer, can't remember the name of it but it was most tasty and my Mum had a lovely Addlestones cider. Quality. The food on the menu sounded delicious and good price too. When I'm in the Sauchiehall Street again on a busy Friday or Saturday evening and all the other bars are wall-to-wall fandans I will indeed remember this beautiful place and take myself there, tasty drinkage in hand and breathe a wee relaxing sigh. Thank you CCA bar, you quenched our thirsts and soothed our heids.

On a date night we decided to go and see the best metal band in Britain (Sikth!) at the Garage. Having not seen them live for ten years I was truly excited and needed to get my grub on before the concert, so we decided on The Saramago café. Saramago has been on my radar for years and is just one of the places that I didn't get round to going to, and I'm kicking myself for not going sooner. I was late as usual and the girlfriend had text me saying she was already there, so I swaggered in the door through the main CCA foyer and into the café but she was nowhere to be seen. What I didn't know was they also have a bar upstairs and that's where she was. The upstairs bar is totally my vibe, dark interior some great beers and wine available and a really chilled out vibe. We grabbed a quick drink and popped downstairs to the café section. When we first sat down the place was just starting to fill up with people (which you can see from my photo) by the time we left it was heaving, and there's a good reason why, the food is outstanding! The café's décor itself is as relaxing as upstairs, a really serene vibe, the walls adorned with art and posters of what is going on at the CCA and around Glasgow. Now, to let you know, all the food is vegan but I think vegan, vegetarians and omnivores alike will love this place, you get huge portions and it's outstanding value and quality. We ordered drinks and the waiter brought over a large jug of lemon ice water for the table and took our order. I went for the artichoke starter served with roast garlic aioli and she went for tempura with chili sauce, followed up by haggis fritters with chips and tartare sauce and pickles and a gnocchi arribiata. All the food was good but the star of the show was the haggis fritters, better than any haggis I've ever had, maybe better than any meat variety I had tried pre vegetarian. Girlfriend had true food envy after trying a piece of mine, she tried to get another piece but I threatened her with a fork. The service was great throughout the whole meal, and was only let down a little at the end hence the 4 stars instead of 5. It was difficult to track down a waiter to pay the bill and I ended up having to stand at the bar for 10 minutes while the staff worked out the debit card machine. But that was the only small downside. When you're in here it feels like you're nowhere near Sauchiehall Street and in a wee haven away from it all. The menu is extensive and inventive and I've already 'stolen' some ideas for dishes to make at home. Their pre theatre is £11 for two courses which is a bargain, and they do 4 tapas for a tenner on a Sunday. This is vegan food at it's finest that I think anyone will enjoy. We're already thinking about our next visit. One our new favourite places in Glasgow, and the best food I've had in a while, hands down! Go try it.

This place is once of my favourite bars in Glasgow. Not because it is in my street and I can actually roll from my door to theirs (which I actually cannot because it goes uphill first, only then downhill!) but because it has such a cool vibe. You can enter it either from downstairs on Sauchiehall street and go through the shop that sells art, and then arrive in the downstairs part that does food (I've never had food there though), or go in from upstairs on Scott street and arrive in the 'pub' part of it. I like all of it. The food area is really nice, and you can go just for drinks as well, but it's all going to be seated. It has a high ceiling and coloured light garlands all over the top, which I find really cool; nice music, sometimes live, extremely friendly staff and a good wine selection very much to my liking! Where I usually go is in the upstairs bar part, though It is not that big, but very cosy and has a gorgeous little terrace, which is perfect on a sunny (understand non-rainy) day. Music is really artsy and hipster, and they have a malt of the month, which I almost always end up sampling. I can only advise you to go, whether you want to go for food, a coffee in the afternoon or a late night drink with friends, you cannot get it wrong at Saramago!

I'd heard great things about this place and have been meaning to go for a while now, so on a rainy Saturday afternoon it proved the perfect spot for some tasty food in a chilled out setting. Although I'm vegetarian, I'm by no means a strict vegan, but I really liked the fact that the menu was completely vegan and was excited to have so many tasty sounding options. Immediately I liked the feel of the place. Set inside the CCA the cafe/ restaurant is bright and airy - with high ceilings and strings of lights (which look lovely when it gets dark). Unlike a lot of places these days, there's lots of room between tables and we were lucky enough to get one of the comfier booth style seats. Its a fairly mixed bag of people - families and some arty sorts and people by themselves having drinks and nibbles and the staff were cool and friendly. The menu has a nice range of nibbles and tapas style dishes as well as sandwiches, salads and main courses. I finally settled on a greek style sandwich with roast red pepper hummus and salad , asking for it on homemade toast rather than the flatbread as advertised (some sandwich options were on flatbread others bread - but mmm I love bread best) and a Diet Coke. It arrived fairly quickly, all freshly made and was really tasty. Mr H opted for some chips which he enjoyed but strangely one half seemed to be a bit cold whilst the other was piping hot. He also enjoyed a falafel flatbread with salad which from someone who isn't a veggie, and finds veggie food quite bland was high praise. As usual Mr H was in the mood for some chocolate, and I'd heard good praise of the chocolate cake and icecream. Two spoons and a generous square of chocolate cake arrived and we were ready for attack. The top was crispy like a brownie whilst the inside was a gooey cakey yumminess. I would say there was a slightly unusual, but not unpleasant taste from it. It was only then that we both realised why .... lack of eggs !!! Never having had a vegan cake before I'd forgot about the lack of dairy! Anyway regardless, it was still tasty but pretty heavy going, even for two chocolate lovers. Mr H loved the icecream and couldn't tell it was vegan at all. At £22 it was pretty reasonable for really good quality food and I loved the fact that we were in there for a good few hours, never feeling pressured to leave or to order more. I'll definitely be back, and look forward to more good vegan meals!

An easy five stars, in my opinion, for Saramago at the CCA! This is one of my absolute favourite places for lunch in the city. The all vegan menu would impress even the carnivores amongst us. There's such a wide variety of foods on the menu that, at first glance, it's easy to miss that it's all vegan. They do a great 'soup and sandwich' deal for £6.50. Today's soup was a choice of scotch broth or mushroom and puy lentil - which was my choice. It was a flavoursome soup - well seasoned and garnished with parsley. I ordered the tofu sausage sandwich with chilli jam and spinach on toasted bread to go with it and my lunch date chose the falafel and beetroot chutney wrap. Both were really tasty and we'd definitely order them again. We couldn't resist sharing a side of their handcut chips either - thin cut, skin on, fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside - sticks of perfection! The service is always top notch - really friendly and helpful staff. It was busy when we arrived today but the waiter swiftly organised a table for us by asking others to move up to create more room. Alongside the quality food, the venue itself is the reason I could spend every lunchtime in there. Inconspicuously situated through the gift shop of the CCA (which itself is behind a pretty bland entrance on Sauciehall street), you'd never know there was such a hidden haven in there! Saramago is in a high roofed room complete with glass ceiling and view of the sky, which creates a sense of space and openness. There's a cool vibe and a certain calmness about the place. It's all just done so well.

Ventured back to the Saramago to help at a Yelp newbie's night. We had the whole back section to ourselves, which was nice. These guys have an extensive vegan wine list and the white wine we had was beautiful. Can't remember the name of it, but pretty sure it was the house white. There's ample space for large groups, you can shift tables to accomodate and there's ledges to stand at, if you're a standing up kinda person. Nice view of the lovely sunny courtyard too, through the doors. We all shared some mezze platters with breads and balsamic, which was nice enough. Think they change what's on the platter from time to time. Also tried the tapanade, which was really tasty and filling. We had to ask for more cutlery and side plates. No biggy, it was a big group. Next time I go here, I'm going to resist the urge to order those addictive haggis fritters and try out some more of their menu.

Saramago is the name for the Cafe at the CCA. It's a vegan place, and it's really good. I love this place for the atmosphere - there's usually a mixed bunch, from couples with kids, arty types and older couples or groups of friends. The space is brilliant - in day time it is filled with daylight from the massive skylight above, and there's a nice buzz about it, but not too loud. The employees are always really nice, and service is quick. The menu is pretty varied - there's a range of small plates which you can have as a starter or just have a few of them tapas style. There's some more substantial mains, always a couple of nice soups, one or two special dishes, and a few desserts. Last time I went I had the artichokes with garlic aoli - they are so delicious. It's quite unusual to find artichokes on a menu and I love them - these ones are not too oily, they are just right. I then had the special dish which was a risotto made with cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and parsley. I was a little disappointed with this, as it really just tasted of stock. Maybe because they are not using cream or parmesan, the chefs are using stronger stock than they would normally. But whatever the reason, it needed to taste much more of the veg. I couldn't even taste the parsley, which is quite a strong flavoured herb. I'm sure I had a risotto here previously which had various different mushrooms in it, and that was lovely - it actually tasted of mushroom. Saying that, the texture was perfect for a risotto, not too mushy, just the right amount of bite. I will go back though, I really like this place, it's a little hidden gem and I do always enjoy the food here.

I was quite shocked when I realised that I had become the Duchess of Saramago. It's a bit of a Glasgow institution, where stressed art students sit by the light of their Macbooks, sipping coffee and Irn Bru, and wondering how they had managed to put off writing their dissertation till a week before the deadline. With all you cultured Yelpers out there, I had assumed that someone would have a million check-ins by now as they spent all day, every day, wandering round the new exhibition openings, attending the music festivals this venue regularly hosts, and therefore had a favourite table in the bar, Saramago, that they secretly felt should always be made available just for them. ...It was then I realised that I was, in fact, that exact person. I use Saramago as a meeting place for both social engagements and business lunches alike. I take out-of-towners to the bar for a bottle of red so we can catch up in the casual surroundings before heading somewhere louder for cocktails. I often suggest jumping into Saramago for a quick dinner while in town, and have spent many rainy afternoons sat on my own taking refuge from the busy outside world and using the opportunity to just simply read my book. The menu is small, jolly and vegetarian, with lots of vegan and gluten free options. The staff are occasionally a little ditsy and distracted, but in general they're friendly and efficient (just don't expect too much on a busy night or gallery opening, when the place will be heaving). They have a great selection of beers and ciders on draught, perfectly quaff-able house wine and lots of yummy small plates/bar snacks. If armed with a good novel or a pressing dissertation deadline, you could quite literally spend all day in Saramago and never be interrupted. So I'm glad to be the Duchess of Saramago, and long may my reign continue. I promise to be a glorious and benevolent leader.... ...Just don't sit at my table.

What could I possibly say.. 5 stars for everything in Saramago! If I could characterise it with one word, this would be "variety"! Variety in dishes, drinks and prices. Really... it can satisfy every type of person. Tapas, soups and sandwiches are the ones that I have tried.. (GO for the offer 6.5 pounds for soup and sandwich!), As for the drinks... there is a large variety as well. Wine is good in contrast to other places in Glasgow and it is cheap as well! And for Whisky fans - Malt of the Month in fair prices! And not to forget the friendly stuff and the warmth of the environment!! You can't help it but look around all the time :P I've been there many times.. "eventless" or not.. When there is an event everything becomes even better!! So do not miss the opportunity when you get it!!! GO GO GO!!!

I was so excited about going to this place since I've heard such wonderful things. On my way there I text a friend asking for a recommendation for lunch, she suggested the New Potato and Artichoke salad. I remember her saying it was her favourite salad so I decided I needed to try it. i entered and it was a bit warm inside but I decided to stay since I walked all the way down from work and it's a good 15 min walk. I sat down, was brought a menu and I asked for a jug of water. Water was brought over promptly and after looking at the menu I decided on the salad - you see, I can't eat gluten so all the sandwiches were off the menu for me (see what I did there?). Now, the salad is meant to have capers and olives, which I was SO EXCITED about. They add the right amount of salt to a dish. Unfortunately my salad was lacking both. I thought perhaps they were mixed in or at the bottom but the more I ate the more I realised they weren't there at all. I told the server and he brought my salad back with capers on it. WHERE ARE THE OLIVES??? I didn't feel like sending it back AGAIN, but I was totally disappointed that my salad was missing some pretty crucial ingredients. On the plus side they did serve my salad with gluten free oatcakes instead of bread and the staff were friendly. I'll be back but if they mess up my order next time I don't see me making a return visit.

The bar is really fun, very open, friendly people. Drinks are good. Upstairs can be a bit loud so downstairs where the colored Christmas lights are is a little quieter and nicer. Supposedly they serve good food although I didn't eat. I did grab a biscuit (or scone) on the way out, they're free & pretty good

Now, I'm a fan of the cafe set in the CCA courtyard section (see other review), but it's only this week that I ventured upstairs to the Saramago bar. The bar is split into 2 sections - the initial bar; and a more intimate back room. For the Yelp Unofficial Drinks event (see other review), we had the back part to ourselves. This is a great space for a biggish group to get together for an evening. After the event, a few of us stayed until closing - and the music, which had been nicely background all evening, was cranked right up. We ended up moving through to the main bar where the same thing with the music happened again - to the point we were practically shouting at each other to be heard. Given the bar was really quiet by this point, I found this to be totally unnecessary. The staff were friendly and the beer (Joker IPA amongst others, on tap) was reasonably priced. Oh, and I love the toilets - white and red tiling and very clean! Overall, Saramago is a great place to hang out for a few hours - the reason it's getting 4 stars is purely due to the music volume issue.

Called in here for brunch with a friend. Although neither of us are vegan, the food here is just too good to pass on. I had the scrambled tofu with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes and he had the full vegan breakfast. My meal was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. Their organic bread is delicious (I'd come here for that alone!). We sat in the restaurant downstairs, but there is also a bar with a terrace upstairs that you can eat in too. If you're in the city centre and looking for a cool little spot to eat, this is definitely the place to go!

A rainy rainy day, laptop in my bag and I'm looking for somewhere quiet. 'I know' I think, 'I'll pop into the CCA!' which, of course, was chock full of people hiding from the rain. And so to my trusty Yelp app where the gobsmackingly obvious suggestion of Saramago is top of the list, it's in the same building and, thankfully, I can stay inside to visit it. I've been in Saramago before for a drink before a gig at the ABC (just next door) and remember liking the place. I crossed my fingers and headed upstairs, then quickly uncrossed them as it was pretty much empty! SCORE! I ordered a coffee, grabbed a seat, took out my laptop and got to work. The coffee arrived moments later, a pleasant surprise to get a good coffee here, I wasn't really expecting that! I was there for about an hour, had two coffees - both of which were pretty good - and scouted the bar which has a good choice of wines and beers. Will definitely be back, a great place for a pre-gig/pre-dinner drink I think. Top tip: the door at the far end of the bar, if it's open, takes you through to an extra area that's about the same size as the bar again.

Just popped in here for a few drinks while attending a show upstairs - - I want to come back here and eat because the menu sounds amazing. And judging by what the people around me were eating, everything looks and smells incredibly tasty.

I've been in this place a couple of times over the years and the space that now hosts Saramago has always looked very cool, but never as inviting as it now looks and feels. A few of us Yelpy type folks popped along here for a pint of two before watching a play in one of the CCA theatre spaces. Grub wise it's vege to the max, and although this claim oft fills me with the fear, the vege platter we shared was pretty damn tasty. What really appeals about this joint is: - Williams Bros on tap... two of three options and very well priced. (2.80 for a draught? Sold) - Secondly, as the one they call Colin pointed out in his review, the space is very very welcoming. It's not my usual go-to drinking experince (see cave like pub venue) but the openess, lighting, seating and general vibe was just excellent. Also have to tip my hat to the service on the night. The lovely lass who served us was friendly, efficient and just really easy going. For a hidden spot on Sauchiehall Street, this is perfect for escaping the 'jings! it's heaving with young folks!' situation in this part of town. It's fresh, contemporary and interesting without falling into the trendy trap. I'll be back.

Used this cafe for a meeting spot last night and I have to say I'm very impressed. It's a cool, light and bright setting with lots of space and a delicious-looking menu. I ordered a tea which arrived quickly and hot in a pot. It's a teabag rather than loose leaf but I can't say I minded. Later I was temped by a glass of white wine which was a bit too drinkable. Although I didn't order food a few others got some small plates and seemed very happy with them, especially the enourmous olives and the soup of the day. The prices on the menu are very reasonable, almost suprisingly reasonable for the city centre. Especially given that they seem to make a lot of it fresh - they claim to bake their own bread freshly every morning with organic flour. I'd definitely re-visit for a proper meal if I found myself in the area and feeling hungry. I'm also very tempted to come along and try the brunch one weekend. It would appear that the food is almost entirely (if not entirely) vegan and, in spite of not actually being vegan, this doens't put me off one bit. The staff are very friendly, quick and helpful and they seem happy to be there - perhaps because they get to keep all their tips (and quite right too) but possibly because it's just a very lovely environment to be in. They certainly treated our little group very well and, although we usually rotate the cafes we meet in I've already had a few requests that we return to this one.

Owing to the demise of the The Universal (sob, I'm still gutted about that), we needed somewhere else to meet before going en masse to the GFT. Somebody suggested the CCA cafe so we gave it a whirl. Firstly, I loved the space. It's a massive big atrium with tables nicely spaced out so you aren't really aware of other people being too close. We got in quite early when it was quiet and I was actually surprised when I got up later and saw how busy it was. The menu is quite varied - my two friends had pizzas which came in at £8 each and looked really good. I had a couple of small tapas plates - the baba ganoush and the harissa potatoes - both were lovely. The baba ganoush was awesome - quite possibly the best I've had yet. The harissa potatoes were spicy and delicious. They were both on the most expensive tapas list, so £3.95 each. It did mean that my two small plates of tapas cost the same as one of the pizzas, but they really were excellent. Wine was nice, coffee was nice, staff were chatty and friendly, there really wasn't anything I didn't like about it. Hopefully next time I go I won't have been out for lunch with Briony beforehand and I'll be able to try something more substantial off the menu! We all agreed that this would be our new pre-GFT meeting place, so we'll definitely be back.

Oh Saramago, how I love thee. Basically, everything on the menu is delicious and carefully crafted and you should really try to eat it all as soon as you can. I always go with a pal (that way you can try twice the number of dishes!) and order more than I can eat. It's just such damn good veggie food! Last time I can remember having some amazing roasted root vegetables, spring rolls, and a really good salad. It sounds like the usual picky little vegetarian options I know, but trust me, it's so much more than that. The prices are pretty reasonable as well, and you're surrounded by culture! You can pop in and see an exhibition at the CCA, or just visit their adorable gift shop on the way out, or go to Saramago as a pre-theatre dinner, or pre-predrinks dinner, or lunch while you're shopping with your mum, or whatever. But GO!

Somehow I keep forgetting about Saramago, but every few months when I end up making my way back it never disappoints - be it a gin and tonic on the upstairs terrace in the warmer months, or healthy and hearty food in the bright and airy cafe downstairs before a screening or gig. I hadn't eaten at the CCA in a little while, and ended up making my way to the welcoming breeziness of the cafe last week, on the first day of sun and heat to hit Glasgow. With the weather outside in mind, I opted for the artichoke and new potato salad. It was nicely dressed and filled with capers and pine nuts (two of my favourite salad ingredients) and was thoroughly packed and tasty. It also came with some home baked bread and oil for dipping on the side. You'd often expect a salad not to be that filling, but this one kept me going for the whole day. On this occasion the service wasn't the speediest, but I was in no rush and enjoyed the leisurely pace, away from the heat and bustle on Sauchiehall Street. I have no doubt I'll be back for that summertime G & T on the terrace very soon!

Saramago is split in two with the cafe/restaurant in the courtyard of the CCA and the upstairs bar and terrace which can also be entered from Scott Street. I visited the terrace bar for the first time this week on a sunny day and it was the perfect place to have lunch and enjoy beautiful weather. It felt like being on holiday in some Mediteranean country with the tiled tables and flowers. Both spaces offer all the bar and menu options. All the food at Saramago is vegetarian with many vegan options too. If you want to eat healthy food this is a very good place to come. The prices are quite high but the quality of the food is high too. I went for a butternut squash salad which was really good but I was dissapointed that the harissa marinade mentioned on the menu was not included. The salad came with a side of crusty bread and some olive oil and balsamic for dipping. I'm looking forward to returning to Saramago to try more of their dishes and I'm very tempted by the desserts on offer, The other good thing about this place is that you can take in a bit of culture with your snacks, an exhibition or film screening at the CCA and a browse around Aye Aye Books or Welcome Home.

Should I be writing a review of Sauchiehall Street's best kept secret? What if all the Jumpin' Jack punters start to use Saramago as the place to gather before the real party starts? Ach well, its a risk worth taking, people need to know that this is one hell of a fine drinking and eating establishment. Beautify arty and hip, the main cafe/bar sits in what looks like and old tenement block quadrangle. There are always plenty of tables and seats, dj's playing good tunes at the weekend (not too loud also) and surprisingly yummy vegan food. Beer selection is also fantastic! But fear not, if there are no seats downstairs, just take a wander up to the second, smaller bar upstairs, whilst taking in some pretty darn fine architecture while your at it. You can really make a day out of a visit to the CCA, have a nice bite to eat, take in a play or a gig and then enjoy a drink in one of the bars. If your lucky you can also enjoy the nice outdoor terrace, great for a sunny day!

This place so nearly ticked all the boxes but just missed on some - however, it's still a great place and I would recommend it highly. The other reviews adequately reflect the many high points - really good and interesting food, amazingly helpful and friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, very reasonable prices. The only reason I'm knocking off a star, and you could argue it's slightly unfair of me, is because they are not so hot on the allergen front. We chose the restaurant not because we are vegan or even vegetarian, but one of our group is gluten intolerant and one lactose intolerant. We thought that this restaurant would give us some options and be aware of our requirements. They were indeed very sensitive to our requirements but they offered few to no options. They only had regular milk in skimmed and semi-skimmed variety. No almond milk, which seems a strange omission nowadays. Likewise, there were very few options indeed on the menu which were gluten free. They stocked no gluten free bread, which again is a strange omission.

A fab wee bar providing a refreshing break from the crowds on Sauchiehall Street below! Enter directly from Scott Street or through the main CCA entrance on Sauchiehall Street and head upstairs. With outdoor seating it's great for those occasional warm days to enjoy a refreshment or meal under blue skies. With a wide choice of veggie food and decent range of beer and other drinks, the bar is a good choice for spending an afternoon or evening in if you're in this end of town. A popular haunt of students from the nearby Glasgow School of Art, and a hip soundtrack from the DJ or bar staff - it's definitely one of the cooler bars in the area.

I really enjoyed the food at Saramago. It's a hidden gem inside the CCA. I had a vegan wrap that was delicious & filling.

Enjoyed another 'Melt-in-the mouth' freshly baked and so delicious fruit scone, with butter and raspberry jam, and soy latte coffee today at Saramago Coffee shop @ Centre for Contemporay Arts, Sauchiehall Street. Had to treat myself............. just because!!

A pedant writes: let's get one thing straight - the vegan haggis isn't served in fritters, but two whopping balls.... But terminology doesn't matter when the food's this good - an inspired combo with gherkins/pickled onions/tartare sauce and a heap of home-made fries. Delicious and enough to satisfy a hearty lunchtime appetite with no room left for this confirmed pudding-ite. Superb!

What a great find for vegans. Everything is vegan. We had 3 different entrees and all were very tasty. The restaurant is located in the foyer of a theater complex. Great service. Friendly wait staff. We highly reccomend. Even if you're not a vegan you'll enjoy the food.

Do not, repeat do not come here if you don't have plenty of time and I mean plenty of time to devote to waiting for your super chilled waiting person to saunter over with your admittedly tasty food. We'd gone into the bar for some lunch where there were menus on the table and a chalkboard advertising today's soups. We ordered drinks then food, wrong way round I'm afraid. Poured beers sitting on the bar, we were told that they weren't serving food, hmm. We persuaded the bar person to convey our drinks to the cafe downstairs where we eventually managed to get a table. Time for us was running out so we ordered two straightforward bowls of soup. How long does it take to serve soup? - thirty minutes apparently. The soup was tasty and the buttered bread served with it was fantastic but we didn't have time to savour it as we swiftly necked it before running to a matinee performance at the Kings. Oh well better luck next time.

We experienced a wonderful Sunday brunch in their bar area: just lovely. We also indulged and had dessert: just amazing.

Vegan delights await you! The mezze platter and the vegan haggis ( only God knows why you would make this) was delish. The pasta was a bit dry.

Vegan haggis was the most delicious thing I ever ate in my WHOLE LIFE!!!! I wish I lived in Glasgow so I could eat here all the time.

popped in before a Glasgow Film Festival event in the Clubroom. A laid back bar, though I can imagine it gets busier later AR night, which serves at a relaxed pace. It has an outdoor area which gets the sun early evening (good in the summer) and there's little hustle which makes it the perfect spot for a catch up with frirnds.

More adventurous selection of vegetarian food than the standard veggie fayre served up by most restaurants. Nice place for a morning coffee stop too. Very popular at the weekend especially if there is an event on upstairs so if you want to be sure of finding a table when you arrive, book it in advance!