Tinderbox

Don’t really know what to say about this Tinderbox. I usually end up here after a day of shopping, when everything else is closed after 5pm but I still want coffee. Desperate times haha
This one is located above Paperchase and always looks quite messy for some reason. There’s always a table with uncleared coffee cups, which I detest.
When I’m there, I order a flavoured coffee because I’ve made the mistake of ordering ordinary coffee and it tasted super burnt. The syrup’s sweetness compensates for the lack of coffee flavour haha
It’s quite a nice place to sit at if you were shopping at Paperchase and wanna look at all the pretty things you bought but other than that, not the biggest fan!
Staff members are also a bit snooty at times.
But anyway it’s just an ok place. If there are better places to have coffee, just go there. Haha

Whoever had the genius idea of opening a coffee shop within a huge stationary shop (the delectable Paperchase) I would like to shake you by the hand! Thank you. This Tinderbox, situated on the 1^st floor of Paperchase, is now my go-​to coffee shop if I am in this part of town and looking for a café that is cosy (and pretty cool) to sit in. Another thing I like about this particular Tinderbox is that it stays open until 7pm (8pm on a Thursday) most nights, which is really good for a coffee shop as most seem to shut much earlier.
There’s a reasonable amount of varied seating ~ you can choose cosy booths, high up table, wee lower table, a sofa or window tables. The window tables seem to be the most popular as they have a cracking view down onto Buchanan Street below. Also they have a good mix of small and larger tables too. The shop itself is very bright, colourful & mostly pretty jumpin’ so this isn’t maybe the best coffee shop to sit in with a hangover or to sit quietly with a book… although I’m sure at certain times of the day it does quieten down a wee bit.
Staff are always friendly and helpful. One day after only taking 1 sip of my flat white I accidentally (clumsily) spilled it all over the table (ooft), I felt so daft & had to ask a staff member for a cloth to clean it up to which she thankfully laughed at (in a knowing, ‘we’ve all been there’ kinda way) and then swiftly came over to clean up, before I even got a chance to apologise (again) she said ‘Flat white wasn’t it? With soya milk? I’ll get another straight over to you’ Wow. That was SO nice of her. Not only did she get me another coffee (For FREE; I didn’t expect them too!) but she also remembered/​knew what I was drinking when it wasn’t even her that had took my order! I was mightily impressed. THAT is really good customer service.
The choice of coffees/​drinks here is really good ~ there’s something for everyone, be they a coffee drinker or not. I stick to the (soya) flat whites or cappuccino’s as they’re my favourites. Soya milk is also at no extra cost which I like. On a more aesthetic note I rather like their take-​away cups ~ they’re a corrugated cardboard of various shades (depending on which size you have) with ‘Joe To Go’ written on them. I like this as it reminds me of Agent Dale Cooper from Twin Peaks every time I read it :-)
Food wise I have only ever partaken in the sweet treats here. Everything looks yummy but I can recommend the Empire Biscuits, Portuguese Custard Tarts and the cakes (cupcakes). All very tasty.
Since they have introduced the bonus of a cheeky free coffee every 7 days for any Paperchase card holders I have been in here more than ever. It’s a great idea and it really has made me visit here & buy more stationary than I normally would have! Haha! Clever clever people…

Tinderbox is the café bar on the first floor of Glasgow’s Paperchase store. It also has a great position by the windows for sipping your brew and watching the flow of people streaming down Buchanan Street.
I’ve been a few times now and do enjoy the fact I can grab a cappuccino or latte while I smell and gaze at my new stationery (does anyone else do that?). And of course indulge in the aforementioned people watching.
Unfortunately, the coffee isn’t great, compared to other smaller stores in Glasgow’s city centre. There is no aroma, there is no real kick and the overall impression of the brew is a bit bland. I haven’t bothered askin many questions about the roast etc., but I have a feeling I am not being served by any contenders for Barista of the Year.
However, as I am perennially skint, I take my freebies where I can get them and Tinderbox offers one free hot drink to Paperchase cardholders every seven days! At no cost. Of course, the likelihood is that on entering Paperchase I feel compelled to buy something, even if it’s another luxurious gel pen… mmmmm, stationery.

Great coffee, really good panini served with a wee bag of crisps and some dip (he had ham and cheese, I had falafel with roasted veg, we were both happy). Best of all, sit by the window and watch Glasgow walk past below you. Wasn’t that cheap — £2.90 for a large coffee and working backwards from the total bill, I think the panini must have been around £4.50 each — but it was good.

Melting in the Glasgow summer we popped in for a cooling Iced Mocca Breeze, which was delicious but the soft chairs in the corner looked better than they felt. Great views looking down on Buchanan Street, and a comprehensive Paperchase below, it’s well worth a visit.

This new branch of Tinderbox has opened inside the new and splendidly large Paperchase!
On the 1^st Floor (The British 1^st floor… that’s upstairs) it faces the road and is a great place to watch the world go by.
I had a brilliant green Pistachio and white choc cake which was so rich we had a to share one between two. And this place also does many traditional European biscuits specifically designed to compliment your coffee. I had a beautifully scented Earl Grey Tea which comes in a lovely tea pot. They also do brilliant looking flavoured coffees and next time I’m going to try one of those.

After wandering around Paperchase for quite a while, and I mean a while, I had completely forgot that there’s more upstairs and also a Tinderbox.
I’ve visited the other two branches and I’ve always enjoyed what they’ve had on offer. I had been a busy wee bee in town and decided a cheeky wee break was needed.
It’s located at the window, so you can watch the busy town goers whizz on by. I noticed that they had ‘Not Coffee’ options, so for me a non-​coffee drinker, I wiz pure like yas. We’re a rare breed so it was nice to see so many options available and not only in hot drinks but in frapps as well.
A Steamer, hot flavoured milk drink, was on the menu so I ordered it in caramel. Didnae get me pure steaming but definitely heated me up. Hehe! I also had a chocolate type croissant thang, I can’t remember it’s proper name but it was delicious.
The staff were spot on, I got my Steamer at the end of the counter and found myself a comfy seat and enjoyed. A nice environment in town for a treat and to gives the legs a wee rest.

A real nice place for a coffee or tea with great views down Buchanan street. Shame about the dirty cups