Pena

This place is class. It’s like stepping into a dolls house! It’s quite a unique hideout tucked away in a lane but always seems rather busy. The staff are friendly and the toasties are tasty!

Oh, its brilliant! Good coffee, cute décor, cool staff and plenty of plug points. What more do you need?!

Nice toasties. Cheap. Relaxed atmosphere. I’ll be back.

Pena is currently doing only 2 toasties (one meat one veggie) but they’re also doing bruschetta and delicious salads! £3.50 for a perfect lunch portion of fresh Asian rice noodles, red onion, carrots, coriander, peanuts and chillies, served with a slice of lime. Will be interesting to see what else they come up with for the next few months! I hope to see soup back on the menu. Pena I luv u 4evaaaa!

I’ve been into Peña a couple of times, frankly I should go more often as it’s so close to home & on my usual route into town, Jeevan must do better!
It’s a cosy, wee place especially downstairs where there’s only a few seats in front of the bar/​kitchen area. The upstairs area is decorated with bunting, string & a big world map, with some interesting reading options should you have forgotten to bring your own. There are a couple of booths which are really handy should you want to get some work done too. I really like the way they’ve used the space, which would probably have ended up as a dump had it not been so imaginatively repurposed.
I’ve only had food in Peña once, back in my Veggie days, I remember enjoying the beetroot & feta toasty which came with a week side of crisps to munch on. Unfortunately they don’t have (m)any Vegan options for food, but it’s not the end of the world as their coffee is really good & they also sell Juice Warrior drinks for when you just NEED juice! The staff are really cool as well, very friendly & chatty. I would’ve thought that working in a cardboard box would send you a little stir crazy, but they seem to be taking it in good spirits!
Peña is a lovely little place that still has a bit of an air of a hidden gem, despite its proximity to the Uni. If you’re ever in the West End, especially if you’re at the Uni or the park, then take a wander away from Gibson St and pop into Peña!

One of the few places in Glasgow that really takes coffee seriously and serves it well. Usually featuring coffee from Workshop, The Barn and Coffee Collective. This is pretty much as good as modern style coffee gets and they have some of the best equipment to make it. The espresso can be a bit up and down but they definitely make the best filter coffee in Glasgow.
This all makes it the more surprising that everything is so cheap. The toastie selection is quite varied and for the money is pretty good. I did find their brunch menu on the weekends a little disappointing and not so good value, everything was small portions and lacked much flavour. Overall though I think they are doing themselves a disservice and should raise the prices of drinks since they buying such expensive beans.
The service is always really friendly and quick which is impressive given the tiny space the baristas work in. What they can produce in that little box puts most other cafes to shame.
Speakinb of the space, the décor is very… different. Downstairs is almost 100% chipboard, walls tables and chairs. I can’t say I love it but points for originality. The upstairs follows suit but with paper maiche things hanging from the ceiling. I imagine if you watch Finding Nemo on LSD it would look like this.
Definitely check this place out though, it’s far better than anything on Gibson St and one of the best coffee shops in Scotland.

After getting lost trying to find it the first time (damn you google maps), I was greeted by a lovely small building down Eton Lane, I slid open the sliding door to reveal a lovely, simple but amazing coffee shop. The space is brilliant and the staff are equally as brilliant. Serving Workshop Coffee, I had an absolutely awesome Americano and a nice we seat. A steady stream of customers came in and out, clearly after the same great coffee that I had stumbled across.
So I recently tried the food at Pena and have now given its rightful and long over due five stars! The toastie was unbelievably good and to top it all off it was a toastie and coffee for only £4, you can’t beat that!

What a cute little place! I came here first thing in the morning after a nightshift and it really hit the spot. Simple menu, inexpensive (£4 for their coffee+toastie deal makes for a cheap lunch), nice staff and free popcorn! I was the only customer sitting in (as it was 9am) but there was a steady stream of regulars picking up some coffee to go, so I think this place has quite a loyal customer base.
I have no idea what this building was before Pena moved in — it reminds me of a big portakabin. It’s not the most spacious and I found the tables were a teeeny bit of a squeeze, and I am pretty short, so I’m not sure how someone over 6ft would fare here! I was sad to see that the astroturf exterior was gone and I hope it makes a comeback as it looks brilliant in the photos!
I think this is my favourite little café in the area and I’ll definitely be back to try their brunch menu at some point.

This is hands down my favorite place in Glasgow! The food here is so yummy, but the food isn’t really what makes this place great, it’s the wonderful structure and ambience this place brings. This place was so amazing, the two girls working the register were so sweet and helpful and the place was very clean. This is a great little café for lunch, coffee/​tea and a place to bring your laptop and study. The only thing I would say is that idk if I could come here for dinner, I’m not even sure they have dinner. And probably the only bummer was they only had one sandwich on the menu that was vegetarian, but aside from that, I would eat here for lunch every day. I have so much to say about this place, but honestly you just have to go and experience it yourself.

This café is more than just a pleasant surprise. There’s nothing quite like it anywhere out there. For a student, a it is cheap and close to uni. For a culinarist and coffee lover, it’s a real treat. Pop down and see for yourself. Don’t miss the £4 hot drink + toastie deal, not the comfy booths upstairs.

I like the atmosphere in Pena and the service was great. I believe the café would be much improved, however, if you were able to customise the toasties. For example, the tuna toastie comes with olives, and it seems silly to me to not be able to remove them. There would also be increased options for vegetarians if customers were perhaps able to personalise the toasties a bit more. Alternatively, a plain cheese toastie might go down well as an alternative to the more sophisticated items on the menu. Despite this, Pena provides a unique culinary experience and everything is priced very reasonably. The coffee’s great too, I ordered a latte as part of their £4 deal. All in all, Pena is great value for money.

I am in love with this little gem! It’s simple and cozy, serves toasties and coffee/​tea for really cheap (£4 altogether), staff were friendly and quick to serve, and the plywood interior was just extremely charming to me. Was a perfect light lunch for me today! Will definitely head back.

Hidden away from plain sight in the heart of the West End, you’ll find a quirky shack dishing warm bevvies and satisfying savoury toasties. Since it’s by the former owner of Papercup, expect exceptional coffee, even the bulletproof variety if you dare. On a stunning autumn afternoon, we met up with a couple of friends that live in the area. Coffees and teas were flowing, and hot toasties filled our hungry bellies as we chatted and browsed the cycling magazines on display. Usually one to go for meat-​filled goodies, the veggie won me over with its meaty halloumi, courgette, mushroom and aioli. Pena offers exceptional quality and value, and honestly you can’t beat their £4 hot drink and toastie combo!

I cannot get enough of this place at the moment. It does toasties!!! What a simple yet clever idea?! It’s also the Breville kind, takes me back to the 80s. They also serve really good coffee, so I hear. As most know I’m not a fan of coffee but I can tell you it smells lovely.
This place is so weird but in a good way and quite hidden in a lane I had never heard of. Once we searched on the map we found the lane to be opposite the old Glasgow Uni student union club The Hive, which has now been demolished on the corner of Gibson Street and University Avenue to become a sports facility (still in progress).
The café structure is very basic with plywood everywhere. I have to say it is quite hipster but what else would you expect in the West End in studentland.
Well to the toasties. Yum!!! I have had the Jean Claude Van Ham and The Scotsman. The only thing with each is I have had to have one of the ingredients removed because I’m such a fusspot/​allergy. The girl did warn me they come pre-​made when it’s during the busy period but fortunately when I’ve went it’s been quite quiet so got an ingredient removed. Yaldy!
For me it’s became a bit of a Saturday afternoon treat. The staff are just lovely and if you haven’t been, get your Satnav out and order the Jean Claude Van Ham. £4 deal with a coffee/​tea or cold beverage. Totally worth it!

A great man once said «Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler» which in Peña’s case this quote makes sense. Yes it is simple, they only serve toasties, soup, coffee and soft drinks, but judging them on tastes it is certainly not simpler.
Been meaning to pop my head round the door of Peña for a while and just never got round to it, so this Friday I was off and managed to get along.
After nearly breaking their door which clearly says «SLIDE» which I was trying to pull, my eyes were greeted by a quirky downstairs basement set-​up. It’s like walking into a large wooden box made of chip wood. The downstairs is really small, maybe sits 4 – 6 people at a push. But there’s more space and I’ll get to that.
We ordered up two veggie toasties, halloumi, courgette, mushroom, aioli and I ordered a soup and a coffee, the girlfriend is a soup hater so she got a blood orange Pellegrino (is that how you spell it?)
Two toasties, served with a drop of tortilla chips, both served with water, a carrot and coriander soup and a coffee. 9 quid!
The service was fast, toasties on the table in five minutes and packed with halloumi, really tasty. The soup was hot and tasty and vegan and I’m all about vegan food these days, so an extra bonus.
For any other veggies out there, they do a weekly veggie special. Off the top of my head I think it was spinach and aubergine, but for you omnivores there’s at least 4 – 5 sandwiches to choose from.
The service was laid back and friendly but also efficient. My girlfriend just works round the corner so I can see Peña turning into a regular haunt. (She just text while I was writing this review saying she is going today without me, so I may have to dump her!)
On the way out I looked up at the building and noticed they have an upstairs, duh! which I hadn’t noticed on the way in, so more seating and more covers which is great.
Peña’s my new pal, see ye soon.

Best espresso in Glasgow hands down (although I feel that the wet weight could be higher given the gear being used to make it!)
It’s good to see some lighter roasts finally making an appearance in Glasgow and being used in espresso — perhaps this will spur on the other coffee shops to follow suit in the future (Death to monmouth, etc etc)
Great toasties, lovely vibe and friendly staff, Wish I lived nearer!

Toasties! I love toasties. I was very keen to get my face around a toastie when I heard this place was opening, and for the excellent deal of £3 for a toastie, or £4 to add on a coffee I was very interested.
It’s in a laneway behind Bank Street, near Gibson Street but is well worth a detour. It almost feels like descending into a capsule of chipwood in a way, it’s a small boxy space with some seating and a mirror to make it feel a bit bigger. It’s pretty amazing what they can offer in such a small space though — coffee, toasties, sweet treats, coffee to buy to take home, dessert toasties, milkshakes, bulletproof coffee and tea.
I ordered a Jean Claude van Hamm to take away and after just a few minutes it was ready to go. I call this kind of toastie a Breville or a Jaffle — the kind where it has sealed edges which I think makes it taste all the better. The filling was generous and delicious (ham, cheese, tomato and relish) and within about 30 seconds I’d scoffed the lot.
For a quick, cheap lunch spot to head in the West End, this place ticks a lot of the boxes. It’ll be interesting to see what it’s like once the students descend on it as I can imagine it’ll be choc-​a-​bloc.

I’ve just discovered Peña thanks to Unilocal.Popped in at lunch time and the place was busy but still had a nice atmosphere and didn’t feel crowded. I loved the way the inside has been decorated too. I went for a hot chocolate which was sweet and creamy, just the way I like it. My toastie choice was the Jean Claude Van Ham which came on it’s own wee tray with some tortilla chips and a glass of water, a very nice touch. I’m already looking forward to a return visit to try the Bananaman toastie, nutella, peanut butter and banana sounds delicious.
Aside from the tasty and reasonably priced food this place earns bonus points for having a toilet (it’s a nice one too) which a lot of the small cafes in the area lack. It also has some outdoor space which will hopefully be developed more, it’s nice to sit outside without traffic rushing by.

A lovely lovely little coffee shop hidden on Glasgow University campus, just off of Gibson street. Perfect place to have a quiet little sip or grab a delicious take-​away to your study session. It’s just opened and definitely worth a try!

«Come down to the end of Gibson Street for lunch.» says Barry N.
«I think you might like it.»
Aw bless, the boy knows me so well.
Tucked away on Eton Lane (that’s just off Gibson /​Great George, by the printer’s shop and the GUU) is a wee coffee & toastie bar called Pena. It’s *just* opened, and used to be… I don’t know. A big shed? Who knows. But it’s cute as all hell, has astroturf on the outside wall, a pull-​down patio, a tiny take away window, an upstairs with floor-​level windows, a map of the world, and free wifi.
Interior décor is mostly that composite wood board … stuff… varnished and with simple stencils. Mirrors give the place a much more spacious feel than it has any right to be. (Wifi is free but I couldn’t see any power sockets.)
The place does toasties, coffee & shakes. Simple and good, I like it. Do one or two things, and do them well. I like this approach a *lot*. The coffee is done by Workshop (not heard of these guys before but it was gooood), and the toasties we had (a Jean Claude Van Ham and a Spicy Spaniard, hee) were pleasingly full and really tasty.
I’m especially impressed with the prices — toasties were £3, and you got coffee for £1 if you were ordering a toastie. Really good value — by which I mean that I didn’t feel ripped off, I was impressed by the quality and amount of filling in the toastie, and I’ve made plans to come back.
Staff, by the way, were lovely. Proper friendly.