The Wild Olive Tree

01 The Arrival

The Wild Olive Tree is a lovely little find, tucked inside the church on Buchanan Street — you could easily walk past without realising it's there. The setting is peaceful and calm, the complete opposite of the busy shopping street outside.

02 The Food

The dishes most frequently praised include homemade soups such as Moroccan chicken, sweet potato and coconut, Tuscan chicken and bean, and broccoli, leek and potato, plus sourdough bread, savoury scones, salads, coffee and homemade cakes and tiffin. The soup is clearly the star — homemade, hearty and full of flavour, often served with fresh bread or a substantial savoury scone, with the Moroccan chicken and sweet potato and coconut soups receiving particular praise.

03 The Experience

The café is staffed by a mixture of people and volunteers, repeatedly described as friendly, calm and helpful, with a lovely community feel. The atmosphere is genuinely peaceful, clean and welcoming, with music and the church setting creating a little oasis in the middle of the city centre.

04 Was It Worth It?

Excellent value — the prices are deliberately reasonable, with the added satisfaction that the café operates as a social enterprise supporting community work.

05 The Verdict

Excellent homemade soup, very reasonable prices, a peaceful setting, friendly staff and volunteers, and a strong community ethos — the menu is intentionally small and it can get busy at lunchtime. Ideal for a quiet lunch, coffee break or somewhere to escape the chaos of Buchanan Street.

Location — St George's Tron Church of Scotland, 163 Buchanan St, Glasgow G1 2JX, UK