While the West End of Glasgow is well known for it’s off beat boutiques and coffee shops, my beloved Merchant City has had all kinds of wonderful wee shops pop up over the past few years. I mean we’ve got old favourites like Mr Ben’s, The 13th Note, The Panopticon and Mono that I swear to god have been here forever – but in the past few years we’ve seen In the City Vintage, Tatty Bon, The Beauty Kitchen and more recently Eco Chic Boutique. With a growing cultural quarter at my end of town surely there’s got to be a fine place to pop in for a spot of tea and a bun when stocking up on indie Christmas goodies?
And then Once Upon a Tart opened..and I was in love. What was once an art space on King Street has been transformed in a flurry of pink and black in to the quintessential tea house of the Merchant City. We’re not flush with Starbucks and Costas around here (thank God) so the opening of an indie coffee shop round the corner from Casa Stuart is just what the doctor ordered. It’s all tea leaves and raspberry brownies and hunners of cushions. Most of the eats clock in under £4 and they pretty much do the best banana bread I’ve ever tasted. With generous helpings at affordable prices in a coffee shop with plenty of character – Once Upon a Tart is THE place to stop off for your Christmas shop coffee break. I’ll be taking the besty there tomorrow so we can exchange gifts, and I’m dying to take the boy there for brunch. Blueberry and maple syrup pancakes? YES.
Once Upon a Tart is open Monday to Sunday 9-5, and is located on 45 King Street. That’s along Argyle Street, past T G Hughes and turn right as if going to Mr Ben’s. Couple of doors down from In the City Vintage.