Coffee is best paired with two things: baked goods and books. Thankfully, Waterstones bookstore and cafe has a massive selection of all three. Spanning five floors with cafe areas on the top and bottom, Waterstones on Sauchiehall Street doesn’t seem so imposing on the outside. The first time I stumbled across this location, I was completely oblivious to its size and popularity. It was a lovely surprise, to say the least, and has immediately become one of my primary study spots here in Glasgow.

The vibes are self-explanatory for this location. You can’t have five floors of thousands of books alongside dual cafes and not conduct incredible vibes. The wide variety of space allows for either steady studying or enjoying time with friends. The unique quality of such a big space I’ve found is that if you’re frustrated with either experience, you can feel free to take a long walk to clear your mind without leaving the building. With so many options available, Waterstones’ vibes must get a 5 out of 5.

Food options are as aplenty as books here, with sandwich and breakfast options besides a rotating soup of the day. On top of all that, a swath of pastries is available, including a rotating cake of the day. The options are consistent enough to be reliable but have enough variety so that you’ll never get too tired of the menu. If you have to pick just one, I recommend getting the red velvet bite for a decadent treat to go alongside your favorite book. Overall, Waterstones’ food gets a 4 out of 5.

This lovely bookstore would never have become the prime study spot it has without quality coffee to support it. All the classics are here and made to near perfection. I’m always particular to the mocha and have yet to find myself wanting more. The presentation alone is enough to impress, with no shortage of fantastic latte art. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more aesthetically pleasing location whose coffee blows away expectations. Easily, Waterstones’ coffee deserves a 5 out of 5.