Where The Monkey Sleeps

Great little breakfast place! Reasonable prices especially given the high quality of food on offer, and very pleasant staff. The location is quirky, being a cellar but it doesn't feel particularly subterranean or claustrophobic, and the artwork hanging on the walls is a nice touch. For me the 'Manfosh' bagel was the perfect start to my day!

Great independent sandwich shop with a dazzling array of hot and cold sandwiches. Limited seating inside. Staff are nice and friendly too!

I went back for the first time in years, and was not disappointed. They make the lunchtime sarnie grab interesting, and a soulful experience. Different menu, and some space to hang out when less busy.

Very cool little place. Got a toastie, firewalker, and 2 sodas for only about $15 USD total. The toastie was our favorite!

Great coffee and Bacon sandwich to die for😊 keep your eyes open as the shop is down a set of steps of the street.

Just eaten here this morning. Quirky little place with plenty of seating and a great menu. My partner had a man's bagel with bacon, cheese, poached egg and brown sauce, looked amazing. I had porridge with honey and it was worth the wait. Freshly made, creamy and delicious. I highly recommend a visit if you're in Glasgow.

One of my favourite places to eat lunch in town. Alright, so there's a bit of a queue if you come right in the middle of the lunch-hour rush, but it's worth it for the delicious bagels and other menu items. Apparently you can phone an order in as well which would save time. Prices are on the high side yes but you can still have an absolutely massive bagel / panino for £5 sit-in (or less take-away).

Favourite sandwich shop in town! With a kind of underground / heavy metal style and feel, the extravagant dishes are named appropriately and the style is executed so well, not too over the top. The decor is amazing and it has little rooms where you can chow down and chew the cud in semi privacy. Even the toilet is entertaining! It is plastered with magazine cuttings and pictures, with the off bit of hilarious graffiti to boot. This place is where the cycle couriered used to hang out and you can still feel their presence, even if they're long gone from the corner of blythswood square...

Repeat customer here. Never had any problems and the coffee is quite good for a small shop that does all of its business through take out.

Absolutely loved this place. Was conveniently located where my friends and I were staying in Glasgow in the financial district. The food was amazing (the Lox, Ladykiller, and eggs Benedict in particular) and the vanilla latte was the best I had in a long time. I would highly recommend this place to anyone staying in Glasgow.

I have been a fan of WTMS right from the start. A friend/co-worker of old knew these guys & helped them out on a few occasions too when they were starting up so I knew how lovely the guys behind WTMS were. They even told me the origin behind the name (everyone probably knows it now) & I always loved the funny & cool names they used for all their food things (the Stoofa always makes me smile!). This place would be a solid 5 stars if it wasn't for one thing: their opening hours. I know due to their location it probably doesn't work & I'm sure they have tried opening a bit later and maybe that didn't work BUT they used to be open on a Saturday and this was the one & only time I could really ever make it along for some WTMS tastiness & some rockin' tunes and now they are no longer open on a Saturday :-( My boyfriend & I used to love popping along here after a wee jaunt round the town on a Saturday, but alas no more can we do this...I don't work anywhere near this place either so coming here for lunch is a no-go too. Such a shame. Can't even pop in for a cheeky Oreo Speedwagon (I LOVE this name!!!) on my way home as they shut at 5pm. Dang. I am missing my WTMS bagel-fix. I love their bagels. I used to change it up and I have tried quite a few different foods in here but I just can't stray from the bagels now (sounds like a love song). Tasty tasty goodness. Quality ingredients combined in interesting & delicious ways nuzzled between beautiful bagels. UH. YES. On my last visit (I was lucky to have a day off mid-week & popped in town for some much missed monkey action) I had a delicious coffee with an Operation bagel ~ this is Roast chicken, red onion, leaves, house Caesar dressing, thyme, parmesan, balsamic and lemon juice and it is divine! Another favourite is the Firewalker (Smoked turkey, mature cheddar, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, chillies and lemon juice) and the Witchfynder (Chorizo, smoked cheese, spring onion and chilli mayo). So damn good. I mentioned above the Oreo Speedwagon (Haha! Love that name too!) & I really find it hard to visit here without having one as I love it. It was one of the first (and only) places at the time to serve a milkshake-like drink with Oreos in it. If you haven't tried one then please do ~ you wont regret its milky, creamy Oreoy (?!) goodness *slurp* The toilet here is something to behold - the walls are completely covered from toes to nose (well, and then some) with rock posters/stickers and it is ace. You can't help but sit there and wonder at them all. I'm sure this is the reason anyone who enters this loo takes *slightly* longer to reappear than normal. At least I hope thats the reason... I love all the wee rooms & nooks & crannies this place has. Comfy sofas, books to read & such a relaxed atmosphere. It made me giggle when I was last in sitting there on this seen-better-days sofa opposite me where 2 suited-up business guys devouring their bagels whilst heavy metal played in the background. It was beautiful sight to behold. I have 3 wishes of WTMS ~ 1) that they reopen on a Saturday or Sunday or C) they open a sister/brother cafe (preferably in the West End) so more folk can experience the monkey loving bagel delightness. PLEASE! Thank you. (Also thank you for the AMAZING Meathammer burgers you provide us with too ~ so flippin' good)

Find me hanging my head and in deep, deep shame. I've lived in this fair city for almost ten years now, been familiar with it for many more (like a girl you snogged at a school disco, then dated later in life), yet before today I had not set foot in what is now my A1 city centre lunch/breakfast/dinner destination. *Yelps opening hours*, (Ok maybe not dinner, but the rest of them, yes). WTMS is awesome. It's a cafe/takeaway, but with the feel and look of a rock bar. Cue walls covered in rock, metal and rhythm n blues album covers, cue bagel ensembles titled things like 'The Meathammer' (haggis, chirizo, cheese and red onion marmalade), cue proper banter, laid back attitudes and a sound track that engages rather than makes you want to shove little packets of ketchup in your ears... So what gives? Why the delay in finding this mecca for nosh and mosh? Fluck knows! I could blame the government, volcanos, bird flu or all three, but the most likely excuse is that I just simply could not picture this place existing where it... eh... exists. Smack bang in the middle of 'office zone Tennessee', WTMS is a true hidden gem that makes you sad that you've not discovered it till now, yet ecstatic that you've found such a splendidly awesome joint. Hungry? Down town in Glasgow? Get here... now!

Where is the 6 star button? The bagel I just had makes me want to go and lower all my other reviews by one star! This was my first visit and it makes me wonder why I have wasted my time getting lunch from anywhere else in the past. I'm not even a fan of bloody bagels normally!! I had the "meats for the beast" option. It's a angus burger with bacon, blue cheese, rocket mayo and rocket in a bagel. It is absolute genius! Just so well put together and tasty that words can't do it justice! I was not alone I collected 5 other lunches for colleagues and all loved the different options they got. The place itself is uber cool in terms of how it is done up and you can sit in or take away. They also allow you to phone ahead and then go and collect your order to cut waiting times. If you ain't been yet, you need to go. I will be back soon! Still angry that it took me so long to try it in the first place! I bloody love bagels now!!

From the funky vinyl-adorned walls to the shabby-chic vintage leather couches; Where The Monkey Sleeps is certainly a cosey joint. Perhaps that's why the monkey in question fell asleep. - He'd had a legendary WTMS bagel before nestling in one of the several side rooms and into a deep, deep slumber on a super comfy couch. BAGEL COMA, anyone? Seriously though, how could we have had anything but the infamous Meathammer? When the bagel is so often overshadowed by the sandwich and the panini, it's amazing to see Where The Monkey Sleeps go all out with their delicious round-sandwich selection. This is one mighty bagel; Haggis, red onion marmalade and chorizo. If ever there was a better selection to marry between two bagel-halves, then I'll be damned. What emerged was the kind of lunch you dream about for days on end. Think awakening in a cold sweat at 4.am screaming 'MEATHAMMER!' You're going to want another and another and another. And in all honesty, I'm already thinking of when I'm next headed home to Glasgow so I can pop by to delve back into bagel heaven. I absolutely loved the wholegrain mustard potato salad on the side. - Delicious! Portions are generous and you get a lot for your buck. At first we weren't sure whether it was table-service or you ordered at the counter. We soon realised we'd have to head up and place our order. Service was A-OK; reasonably friendly and pretty damn fast. We did find the small paper cups for our water just a tad strange! Of course, I'd love to return! And you bet that it'll be Meathammer that's on my mind...

Ssshh! Keep this place to yourself! I recently started a new job at this end of town and was in search of a cool lunch venue; I found it - and apparently a monkey sleeps in it! Now, bagels can be a bit 'meh!' But this place know how to do them properly. So, I scoured the menu, dismissed the soup (which is apparently awesome too - I'll review this another day) and went straight for a meat-filleg bagel. Now, this was a thing of beauty and tasty-amazingness: "The Meathammer". Haggis, chorizo, red onion marmalade and mature cheddar! Now tell me that your mouth isn't watering at the sound of this beast! Cool decor, decent rock music, good comfy seating and free wifi - I completely lost track of time! On a recent visit I discovered you can phone your order ahead of arriving, but I don't mind chilling out in such a cool place while it's being prepared. But as I said, keep this epic place to yourself - and go enjoy the delights!

I wanted to like this place - really, really wanted to. It has a great selection of sandwiches that sound twice as interesting as anywhere else around my work, plus soups, and salads, and a cool web site. There's lots of seating in three or four cosy little rooms. Low couches aren't great for eating sandwiches on, but they do look good! It's very cool and hip, lots of tattoos and coloured hair on staff and clientele, and there's good music playing. So I turned up with high expectations, knowing exactly what I wanted, and was pleased to find plenty of space to sit. I ordered, and asked for pea and mint soup with my Reuben sandwich as there was a big sign advertising a soup-and-sandwich deal for £4.50. But ... turns out that deal only applies to a couple of boring sandwiches on a small sign by the bar. Mine came to over £8! And when I said I wouldn't have the soup after all, I was made to feel a bit of a miser. .. So I trudged off, feeling miserly and a little too uncool in my work clothes, and found a seat. And was brought a panini, which was nice. It was. It just was ... fine. I ate it, used the wifi, sat uncomfortably on the couch ... and then headed off, disappointed. Oh well...

So there has been a lot of people raving about this place! I finally got round to going. From the outside it just looks like another lunch stop sandwich shop! Entering In they had cool music playing and the deco was quite quirky too! After browsing there menu online I was dead set on having a bagel, but after Austen M finding his new love for them I had been eating them for that last couple of weeks ( I was all bagel'ed out). They have an impressive menu but a little on the expensive side if you want to sit in! It was a wet windy day so I opted for their soup of the day spiced Mexican and sweet potato soup!! Jackpot!!! Just what you want on a winters day! Two massive slices of fresh buttered bread served up beside it. We grabbed a seat in the secluded couch area! Very comfortable! Great service as well! Would return here again and again!

This place has got to be one of my favourite places to do lunch in Glasgow. I've visited three or four times now and every time I spend an ungodly time trying to decide which of their insanely tasty delights I want to try. I had the Man From Iran panini - a delicious, fresh, beautifully toasted panini with roast chicken, smoked cheese, chargrilled peppers, courgette, red onion, chillies, hot sauce, cayenne pepper and lime juice. Literally the most delicious panini I have ever tasted. The flavours of the onions and the spices and the lime juice complement each other perfectly. My partner had himself the Stoofa Max which is the daddy of all paninis - roast chicken, red onion, leaves, sage, thyme, mayo, balsamic, lemon juice PLUS bacon, pastrami AND mature cheddar. Holy hell - it was amazing. Obviously I convinced him into giving me a bite! Each sandwich was also served with a helping of the most delicious potato salad I have ever had the pleasure to eat. Nonomnom. Apart from the paninis there is a breakfast menu, bagels, toasties, salads, soups and stews. The coffee is delicious too and there is a great selection of cakes and tray bakes on offer too, so it's perfect for a quick coffee as well as for a lunch date. The staff are always warm and friendly and the service is speedy and efficient. The decor is always super cool, with different "seating gallery's" with art adorning the walls and big comfy sofas as well as more private tables with stools. This place definitely is a little pricier than your average cafe but I have to say the quality of the food, the staff and the lovely art gallery/living room feel to this place definitely makes it worth it, and is why I will be revisiting this place for many a time to come!

What would you like for lunch? Sandwich? Bagel? Soup? Salad? Cake!? This place has it all! I have now been an avid WTMS luncher for a few years now, after discovering it on a shopping trip to Glasgow with my sister. It's decorated with LP sleeves, and decked out with comfy chairs, a great place to sit down for some munch. The menu is amazing - wide selection of lunchstuffs, and everything has a cooky name - the Stoofa Panini = yum! This place takes any stress out of lunch, especially in the city centre. Always busy, and staff are pleasant, I can recommend a visit.

Where the Monkey Sleeps is a gem nestled in the financial district of Glasgow. Hot sandwiches, bagels, and delicious soups are what this place is known best for, and rightly so. For any office workers in West Central, it should be a weekly pilgrimage. If you're in town and looking for somewhere off the beaten track you can seldom do better than WTMS. In addition to their menu options they do offer a breakfast order and collect service (aka a Roll Run) which is great for teams to get together once a week.

What a great name for a great cafe. Where the Monkey Sleeps is tucked away in a basement on West Regent Street and is easily missed, do so at your folly! The food varies and has a great mix of quality vegetarian options and for the carnivores they sell a wide selection of fish, meat and poultry. A friend of mine also works here and she has assured me that the food is of a high standard, fresh and where possible locally sourced. Where the Monkey Sleeps also has a cracking website which even has an album of the month and updates of what will be on the menu- perfect for some cheeky brunch procrastination as the belly rumbles and the mind wonders. I really do recommend that you try this place as it will provide a wonderful lunch solution in the city centre and you will not have to give your hard earned money to a big chain store.

Great latte. Awesome breakfast. Super chill atmosphere with rock and roll flavor. Will def return.

Great service, the manfosh breakfast bagel was amazing. Only disappointment is it wasn't open on Saturday.

This place is awesome. The staff is friendly, food is done very well, and the music is nice. Cozy places to sit and relax in the back. Highly recommend

The staff was super friendly and helpful, as we were fresh off the plane and new to Scotland. One staffer went above and beyond, writing restaurant recommendations onto our map. Our food was delicious, and the coffee was excellent.

Best Vanilla Latte I have EVER had, amazing service and a great recommendation for travelers or locals. I tried the Lox bagel and fresh bagel, cream cheese and fresh salmon with scrambled eggs was the Perfect combination.

I travelled from the US and saw the great reviews on here and decided to give Where the Monkey Sleeps a try - and I'm very glad I did!! Honestly the BEST latte I've ever had and the BEST bagel with lox. The bagel and salmon were so fresh and paired with cream cheese and scrambled eggs, delicious!! I would highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for coffee or breakfast. Breakfast is served til 11:45 am. Cheers!

Good sandwich shops are sorely lacking in Glasgow. There are way too many places that fall back on tasteless paninis with boring/gross sandwich fillers like chicken curry that tastes nothing like chicken or curry. WTMS is a rare little find that understands the art of the sandwich and the delicate balance of ingredients necessary to create something both tasty and filling. The sandwiches tend to the über-savory, with lots of onions, sharp cheeses and spiced, nitrate-rich meats. Balancing this out are lots of tasty cakes and lovingly made hot beverages. The decor is deliberately rock and roll with a hodge-podge of seating options affectionately dented and battered by the hoi polloi. Basically it's like if your favorite uni dive bar served fantastic sandwiches and treats instead of cheap beer.

Thanks Yelp Glasgow for helping me find this place. Amazing hearty sandwiches with unusual and traditional combinations. Finding a seat is difficult during the lunch rush but if you can it's great to kick back with a ginger beer, your sandwich and take in the fun and humorous interior. Great spot.

I've tried where the monkey sleeps a few times, getting a toasted sandwich or a ciabatta and it's been solidly above average for Glasgow. Knowing that they provide the food, and in particular the oft raved about burers, for Nice n Sleazy I figured I had to give one a try. Their `meat for the beast` burger comes with blue cheese, bacon, rocket and rocket mayo. Interestingly the burger comes on an untoasted bagel which I had thought a little odd until trying it. The sweetness from the bagel made an excellent counterpoint to the bacon and cheese and the whole thing works fantastically. I'll be back to try out everything else on the menu and hopefully uncover a few other gems like this. Oh, and a decent tasting if slightly watered down americano.

Great find in Glasgow with lots of options. They serve breakfast until about 11:45. We got There a bit after and enjoyed sandwiches, smoothies and coffee. All were very good. They have a great/fun decor and the staff was nice. The bathroom could of been a little cleaner; but overall the place had great food and drinks.

I do somehow believe that, despite the fact I am currently writing the 26th review of Where The Monkey Sleeps on Yelp, it still remains one of Glasgow's best, well-kept and tastiest secrets. Shh, don't tell anyone how good the bagels are! Colin and I popped in here today after a visit into the city to put my camera into Jessops for repair. I'd read wonderful reviews on here, and it definitely lives up to it's reputation. It was just closing as we went in which is unfortunate, as I did want to sit in and thought it closed at 5pm, maybe it's 4 on a Friday. They did let us order to take away though, and that we did! I ordered the Wytchfinder bagel, which is chorizo (aka the best food on this entire planet), smoked cheese, spring onion and chili mayo, and Colin wanted soup but they'd ran out, so ordered the Baxter panini, which is just ham, cheese and butter (he's a bit boring!). I was also informed they'd run out of bagels, and was a panini okay, and I agreed because I love both! Ugh. Yum. That was a wonderful panini and thinking now I'm actually really quite sad that it's finished because I'd quite like to re-eat it just now. It didn't affect my experience of the place that there was no soup or bagels because the waitress, who's name I did get but I have now forgotten, was excellent and the food was excellent x100 (excellCENT har har har...). Also, food aside, I love the theme in here. What's better than sitting waiting on your panini being cooked and listening to some classic rock in a big comfy armchair whilst surrounded by hundreds of vinyl covers? Nothing. That's what. There's a small (see: large) chance that this is one of my new favourite places in Glasgow, and definitely one I'm going to have to spent a bit more time in, as I read that they have free wifi. FREE WIFI ON TOP OF ALL THIS SPENDOUR YOU ASK? Yes. Free wifi as well. Run free children, run free to get yourself some bagelly goodness.

I really really love this place. I love the record covers hanging all over the place. I love that the bathroom has a huge collage of metal bands and the like. I love the music they play (they play david bowie!!!!) And I really really like the sandwich I always get. I should probably try another different sandwich but I just love the "Mr Boland's Cutlass". Yes I'm american and YES I LOVE BBQ. The sandwich is divine. It is just a sandwich, but boy is it yummyness. And I love that they have smoothies. Eat here. You will NOT be disappointed.

I EFFING LOVE THIS PLACE. It's just around the corner from where I work, and the first time I went it was actually closed (it closes at 5pm apparently). I was meeting a friend for coffee after work, and hung out inside waiting for her, then I realised I was being locked inside the shop... whoops! However, subsequent visits have created a deep love and appreciation for this wee gem in the City Centre. Plus, the bagels are actually decent! With amazingly fresh sandwiches and hot tasty soups, it's a nice change of pace from the super corporate feel of Pret and EAT. Get the Stoofa Deluxe and Steak IV on a bagel... You won't regret it.

My colleague G was in Glasgow for the day and - just for a change - I managed to persuade him to try somewhere different and so we ended up here. We were just before the lunch-hour rush which was nicely timed, and we decided to hang out and sit in. This place is tiny - like, possibly seats 6-8 people? But so cosy-cute. I ordered the amazing "Thar she blows" and I think G had the "Serious Operation". I am a big lass who likes her food but I genuinely struggled to finish it all, so generous was the (extremely tasty) portion. Price wise, yeah it's a bit more expensive than grabbing lunch out of Greggs but the ingredients are all top quality and the food is so tasty that I can't begrudge it at all. It's still around a fiver without including drinks - pretty affordable. Even G seemed to be impressed which is a hard push sometimes. He highly recommends that a new meal is created though, named the Malagel (after himself, naturally) featuring bacon, fried egg, cream cheese & a tattie scone. Just a hint ;)

Greatest bagel of my life? Probably. Stornoway black pudding, chorizo, goats cheese and carmamelised onions packed onto a bagel! Genuis!! Many more lunches will have to be had from this place!

I work three streets away from this place, and, sadly until today didn't have a clue about its tasty awesomeness. Yay for Monday discoveries and I shall be spreading the word! Firstly, the food was great! Everything was fresh, tasty and in plentiful amounts despite the low price tags attached. I highly recommend the Operation bagel but i'm being harangued to give honorable mention to the Uncle Frank and Reubens Panini by my full-mouthed, chomping colleagues. Seriously people come up for air!!!! The decor, atmosphere are very funky/cool and the staff were efficient and friendly. Being able to phone your order ahead is particularly handy. I'm not sure that Where The Monkey Sleeps is an accurate descriptor for the type of munchy experience you'll have there. Where The Monkey Gives You A Little Furry Gastronomic Hug might be more apt, no?

I am still amazed that so many people have never heard of this wonderful place! I have just finished munching one of their awesome paninis for lunch (the Firewalker Deluxe, which I highly recommend) and was reminded how good their food is. AT £4.20 for a my over-stuffed sandwich, I think the Monkey is good value for money for the portion size and tastiness of the grub. A number of us ordered different paninis and one person order a bagel - it was huge! The paninis are pretty big, but I am definitely going to try a bagel the next time, such as the haggis, chorizo and cheese (Meathammer) mmmmm. Well worth a visit if you've never been before.

Where The Monkey Sleeps has managed to hold onto its hip reputation since its opening, not least due to the number of bike couriers who hang out here. It is certainly unique, with loud heavy metal or classic rock keeping the diners awake, and a range of interesting sandwichs with even more interesting (and non-descriptive!) names. The Monkey has gone up in price over the years- I stopped going, despite the brilliant food, when I felt that it had become more of a luxury meal than a pit-stop. Yet it does serve the best panninis in Glasgow, and has a friendly, relaxed vibe. And there is usually a table to spare. Although it does have a take-away service, The Monkey is best experienced as a restaurant. The staff are really friendly and efficient, the food is superb: even the coffee is perfect. They offer all sorts of interesting juices as well, and the famous Glasgow banter is usually being slung about by staff and guests. Comfortable and hip, tucked away just away from Sauchiehall Street, The Monkey is a good choice for a day-time retreat from shopping or rain.

I really enjoy the aesthetics of the place. They have different seating areas and I've not found it ever to be too crowded, which I like. There is a special place in my heart for primatology and so when I saw the name of the place, I had to check it out! And it's such a gem! The bagels are next level. I supremely like the meathammer bagel. Honestly, I haven't tried any other food sections on their menu, but I don't doubt it's just as good! There isn't usually a rush when I've gone, but I always end up waiting a decent amount of time. It's worth the wait, and they do take orders over the phone so who knows how many orders they really have at one time. A must to check out.

We popped in here to grab a late breakfast on a sunny day in early February. Great little place down some stairs off the street, a funky interior with sofas to lounge on. I had a great latte with French toast, accompanied by maple syrup and bacon, my partner American pancakes, which she asked for with fruit instead of bacon which wasn't a problem. Great value and a cosy location, friendly staff. Top choice!

I use to work on the same street as WTMS and every Friday was Monkey day! what a treat. Crap anekdote i know but this place ROCKS - Amazing sandwich, Meat ball cup thing! Quality spicy Soup etc. Pushing the boundaries of sandwich's. True Pioneers !

For ages I've heard nothing but good things about WTMS so I finally stopped in today with a friend for a quick bite. Originally we intended during in but the extreme inside heat put a stop to that before we even ordered. My friend had the Meathammer (his review - uuuurghghghugh, I want another!) and I had the Operation, which is basically a chicken Caesar salad in a bagel. The bagel itself was lovely and light, and the chicken salad was very tasty. It's also really cheap for what you get. I'll be back soon!

For a warm hearty lunch this place is great! I had chilli and leek and potato soup when I visited (I had just had dental work so was on the soft stuff!) and both came with lovely door stop bread. They have a super good system for ordering food which is very efficient if you're sitting in or taking away. They have a very interesting decor (we sat at a table made out of a fire door) and it is a bit mish mash but adds to the character. Great value, keeps you full and always surprises with their flavour combos. Check it out hungry tums of Glasgow!

Having only ever heard rave reviews about this place, I finally decided to get my arse up to that end of town and give it a go for lunch. Mega points for the excellent range of sandwiches and inventive titles. All in all I got lunch for under a fiver and I got to hog the WIFI for a bit too. What's not to like?! Especially as I got my lunch accompanied by the danceworth tunes of Michael Jackson. Hands up who can eat a panini without shoulder dancing? I sure as hell can't....!

Long, long, LONG ago, waaaaaaay back (after Dinosaurs, before iPods) there was a coffee shop in Sauchiehall Street. The Seattle Coffee Co. it was, and it was good. Then Starbucks moved in. And then it wasn't as good. All was saved, however, when the staff left and started their own place - Where The Monkey Sleeps! This place is for my money, one of Glasgow's best kept secrets. The coffee for a start - it's fantastic. Now, I'm not above taking Starbucks, or even God forbid, a Costa if I'm in need of a caffeine hit - but if I'm in Glasgow, I simply HAVE to get to Monkey for a coffee. It's fresh, it's smooth, it's exactly the right temperature. It's the best I've tasted in Scotland. Honestly. After the coffee, there's the food. The soups are glorious, and change on a daily basis, check the boards or ask the amazingly helpful staff for details. Even better are the sandwiches. Carefully crafted, exotically named and freshly made, they are everything that Pret isn't - and that can only be good, right? Right! Try the Wytchfynder General, so good it had a shirt created for it. The atmosphere in the shop is fantastic - there's always some kind of rock music playing - I heard The Legendary Shack Shakers the other day - and the walls are adorned with all sorts of fun stuff, from album covers to magazine articles. Seriously, it's not hard to find. It's worth the visit. You owe it to yourself to visit. Unless you hate yourself, obviously.

I'm not sure how long Where The Monkey Sleeps has been around but I first heard about it 13 years ago so...a while! It's a bit of a Glasgow institution and a good lunch stop for fans of rock and metal. Although it's now run by different people the original spirit is kept alive with the names on the menu, the record sleeves on the wall, the music (Led Zeppelin, AC/DC) and of course the bathroom decor. It does get busy and yes you will have to wait a while for your order. However they have lots of seating and some comfy sofas. I always try and get one of the leather armchairs. Food wise, there's lots to choose from and it's all made fresh to order. I highly recommend a Stoofa or a Stoofa Deluxe (told you the names were good). My only complaint about the food is the potato salad on the side of the plate. The plates are big and it just looks sad there on it's own. A wee bit of green salad would be better and really why bother with the giant plates? If you're sitting in it can be expensive as a panini and a drink could set you back over £7. However the toasties and breakfast items are quite a bit cheaper as are the takeaway prices.

When asked "where do you normally go to eat?" I shamefully answered with Mc D's. No longer will this be the case as I have been shown the light! Said light is emitted from the glory of Where The Monkey Sleeps. This humble cafe/takeaway is covered in album covers to please the eye. But woah wait just a minute it isn't just the name and decor that's pleasing as they have a mouthwatering menu of sandwiches, bagels and panini's and more, I was recommended the accurately named Meathammer bagel which consists of haggis, chorizo, cheese and red onion marmalade. The bagel was served swiftly and I was able to sit and eat in comfort on what can only be described as a throne. After eating in my queenly manner I now know where they got the name from as this monkey could have definitely slept right there and then after a good eatin'! If you have not tried this place then get yourself to it!

Ever get the feeling somewhere is just surviving off reputation? Well that was kinda my impression after stepping foot into Where The Monkey Sleeps (WTMS) after a near 6/7 year hiatus I do recall being utterly amazed with the wickedly wacky sandwich and bagel menu back then, and still today some of their crazy concoctions make me drool. WTMS is situated in a small basement on West Regent Street so its not the brightest of places. Space is also tight and if you don't manage to procure a sofa you might end up literally perched on a minuscule bar stool and tiny high table which are not very comfortable. We decided to sit in on this rainy lunchtime afternoon and ordered a couple of sandwiches and fizzy drinks as a pick-me-up. Myself, I went for the Operation Bagel with roast chicken, red onion, leaves, house Caesar dressing, thyme, parmesan, balsamic and lemon juice. The bagel itself was really nice, moist, soft and beautifully toasted. I cannot really fault it, it was pretty delicious, but I also felt that for the sit in price of £5.10 it was pretty small and a little sad looking. The bagel was placed on a huge white plate with a tiny little side of new potatoes with mustard mayo. Seriously, it was more plate than actual food (sad face) and I was left a little hungry after my lunch, which was a tad disappointing. Another sad face was for the fact that the place smells pretty heavily of fried food (think Saturday morning fry-ups in a student flat). Not the best place to visit if you are heading back to the office and about to go into a client meeting. Its fair to say the food is still of a good and quality standard, but I think its the smaller details aren't quite right in here at the moment. The place to me is looking a little bite tired. I know the excellent reputation is keeping these mega busy and they are still doing a roaring trade, especially at lunchtime, so be sure to get in early if you want a seat. But, I think there are now plenty of other, much fresher, sandwich type places on the block that are making this place look a little sorry for the time being.

My friend is always raving about this place, says they are the best sandwiches in town - which seemed a bit of a bold statement but one worth investigating. The speakers were blaring out Iron Maiden, the fridge was full of sweet treats and there were empty comfy seats on a lunch hour, so far so interesting. Pick up the menu to an array of sandwiches with possibly the best names ever, also available are stews, salads, beans on toast and soup. I went for a Wychfinder - A massive bagel stuffed with Chorizo, Smoked Cheese, Chilli Mayo and Spring Onion - and oh my days it was tasty! And this is possibly the only place that still sells apple Tango, which I havent had in years. Its a good 10 minute walk up this way from where I work, and uphill but its worth the trek.

Yet another busy day in town for yours truly, and I was going to be there for a while. Clearly a sandwich was in order--a tasty, tasty sandwich, not too expensive, and also perhaps coffee. It had been that kind of morning. Where the Monkey Sleeps had been on my list for a while, because I'm a sucker for both panini and classic rock. I decided to go with the Firewalker, which was pretty tasty, though in my American mind it could have been a bit more fiery. Perhaps I'd go with the deluxe version next time. Also, it was a bit slow, service-wise, and they'd forgot to make my coffee in the bustle (pretty busy for two in the afternoon), so not quite five stars, sorry to say. Easily fixed, though, and they were nice about it instead of grumpy, so no worries. That said, they do some really great lattes. Maybe it's because they do two shots of espresso standard in each one, so the flavour isn't completely lost in all the frothed milk...and the flavour was really very good. I'm not sure who roasts their beans, but they have a talent.

Relaxed, laid back atmosphere, excellent music. Outstanding menu. Can be a lil slow at busier times but food well worth it. Try "The Man from Iran" or "Taxi for browne" Well worth going out the way for :)

WTMS was recommended to me by a friend over lunch in another of Glasgow's great cafés. I've since been in for lunch 3 times and every time I've been welcomed with a smile and served very promptly. The paninis are excellent, but if you're going for a Firewalker you might want to go for the extra-hot Deluxe version. Twenty years of curries and 5 alarm chili have deadened my tastebuds and the standard Firewalker barely tickled, tasty as it was. I discovered today that for just 50p extra you can have a panini converted to a bagel (presumably through some sort of metamorphic monkey magic), which I think I'll do next time I'm in. Along with Martha's and Café Wander this place completes my triforce of lunchtime destinations that are within walking distance of work. Top marks, which I don't often give, but I honestly can't fault Where the Monkey Sleeps at all.

I came in with high hopes. My first impression is really positive. It's unique, hip, and has really funky feel. Other reviewers capture the atmosphere well. In the end the food and service don't live up to the atmosphere at all. I mean, I can't eat atmosphere. I came in during what ought to be the morning rush, say quarter to 9. There were 3 or 4 people waiting on orders. And that's what we all did: wait. I was getting 3 bagels takeaway. Others were getting a sandwich and a coffee to takeaway. I waited literally 20 minutes for 3 bagels. It didn't seem to be for want of staff. They had three folks in the front of the restaurant. I couldn't see the kitchen. They just weren't hurried and felt no sense of urgency, even when there were 6 people standing around waiting for their orders to come out. For a shop that sells bagels as one of it's main offerings, I was shocked that they had exactly one kind of bagel: plain. No sesame seeds, no cheese, no cinnamon and raisin, no 'everything' (my personal favourite). No, it was just "plain". As a vegetarian, I was excited to see several exciting sandwiches on the menu, including one that incorporates veggie haggis and onion chutney. Sadly, given how slow it was this morning (and the fact that other reviewers seem to indicate slowness is normal), I probably won't get back to try them. I've eaten in lots of bagel shops around the globe, from Tel Aviv to London to New York to San Diego. This is decidedly below average. I love the atmosphere, but it was much too slow--especially during the grab-and-go hour before work--and the bagels were too limited.

Great place for lunch! I had the Uncle Frank (with no mayo) and a mocha, and both were pretty good! They have plenty of neat seating area as well. They have a wide range of options such as coffee, paninis, sandwich bagels, soups, and smoothies.

Great coffee. I mean really great. They have free wifi. The food is good too. There are multiple rooms all over the place. Kind of like a maze.

I have to say after waiting sometime to try this place I was less than impressed tbh I get the feeling it's well ,,! Let's say it's great cause most others say it at the risk of not conforming to the majority it's ordinary just and no more surroundings well I dunno what they are but it's a hotchpotch of planks and school chairs and kinda not very clean looking been there now and won't return I'm afraid Banal food and dull surroundings