Serves meat, vegan options available. A glass-walled light-filled space in the old Pentridge Prison, with roses outside. In 2015 it added more vegan choices. Has vegan specials and smoothies as blackboard items in addition to the menu options like chia pudding, maple muesli and coconut hotcakes, vegan big breakfast. Chips and deep fried items such as mock meat & gochujang burger are fried in the same fryer and oil as non-vegan items. Check with staff as specials menu changes. Open Mon-Fri 7:00am-4:00pm, Sat-Sun 8:00am-4:00pm.
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 02 Nov 2018 by BreakfastKlutz
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Added by MsVyv on 27 Oct 2015
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19 Reviews
First Review by Aloo
meghr
Points +38
Lovely food and space - Edit
Loved The Glass Den. Excellent food, fresh ingredients, beautiful ambience. The staff were super friendly too! A few vegan options - please do more (vegan croissants, anyone??)
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-11-29
Guest
MadeleineCox
Points +156
Dirty and expensive - Edit
We got up and left. $35 for a weird vegan breakfast board. The menus had food all over them.
Read moreGuest
EmmaLundaahl
Points +27
Lacking options - Edit
Use to be better but now only have 3 vegan options which aren't that different
Read morePros: Avo on toast is nice , Cute setting and decor
Cons: Only 2 versions of avo on toast & a mushroom dish
Guest
KateAlexandra26
Points +16
It’s changed - Edit
This place was really good a few years ago but it’s changed ownership and isn’t good anymore. The location and setting is nice but the vegan food is really oily and doesn’t taste good.
Read morePros: Has vegan options
Cons: Expensive, Oily , Not what it used to be
Guest
arianer_
Points +100
Great coffee and food - Edit
A few different vegan options, a bit pricey but delicious. Coffee and matcha are also great
Read moreGuest
MontanaBahr
Points +18
Biggest rip off - Edit
Food was all super sugary that I couldn’t even eat half of it. Stupid expensive for what it is. Feel like such waste of money, despite the hype I fell into I would never recommend
Read morePros: Some vegan options , Instagram looking food if that’s what you’re into
Cons: Expensive , Too sweet , Dishes were super dirty
Guest
Pips
Points +1496
Great for Instagram- Not for tastebuds - Edit
If I ate with my eyes or was a food Instagramer this place would be awesome. But I’m not, and the taste was lacking. Ok for something different but I won’t be coming back.
Read moreGuest
danielsworld
Points +110
What happened? - Edit
Years ago this place was amazing. They use to make a big vegan breakfast, it was delicious. A big stack of pancakes. Now, the vegans options have dropped significantly, the serving sizes are smaller and the prices have increased. I gave it a few chances in last two years and only to leave more disappointed each time.
Read moreGuest
YohanⓋ
Points +5745
Used to be great - Edit
The food quality dropped and the vegan options were less tasty. I used to like the pancakes. The atmosphere is great and it’s a beautiful space. I was overcharged by $30 once, so be careful.
Read morePros: Nice space
Cons: The food isn’t that tasty anymore.
Guest
PiaMA
Points +86
High prices small serves - Edit
This place has a great vibe, the staff are friendly and they are accommodating for pets. They even have food/drink items for dogs which is lovely. However, we left unhappy and disappointed for a couple of keys reasons.
Read moreWe were ignored by a waitress for a very long time after we arrived. She chatted away to another customer until I had to get up and ask her for menus. Then we ordered coffees and my mum’s coffee came out no joke 15 minutes after mine, luke warm.
I don’t know if this is a new thing but I’ve never seen it before, they charged us $6.5 on top of our meal to cover Saturday rates. They said on Sunday’s it’s even more. They told us it was on the menu when we asked about it while paying but it must have been really small because I didn’t see it. I already felt the food was overpriced ($5 for a small soy cap?!) but this on top was a bit much.
I got the mushroom bruschetta. It tasted amazing, such a great combination of flavours. However, they served it in a bowl which made it awkward to eat. The knife was so blunt it couldn’t even cut through my toast so was my mother’s. And for $21.50 (as well as the extra weekend surcharge I wasn’t even aware of) I left quite hungry.
Maybe I’m missing something, but for me this place isn’t worth it, we left feeling ripped off and won’t be returning.
Pros: Food/drink options for dogs, A few vegan options
Cons: Severely overpriced, Small serves, Slow service
Guest
NJ220
Points +637
Was great last time, this time disappointed - Edit
Last time I came they had great vegan options and we had a lovely lunch. The food was really beautiful. Today I wasn't super impressed and ended up with just a coffee. I think the menu must change a bit. Disappointed today.
Read moreGuest
MelP
Points +46
Nice coffee - Edit
Pleasant cafe. Nothing vegan on the menu is particularly mind blowing. Nice spot to pop in for a coffee but wouldn’t go out of my way.
Read moreGuest
PotatoesTho
Points +13483
Invest in a second fryer please. - Edit
Recently learned that several items labelled vegan on the menu are cooked in the same oil/fryer as flesh items. Disappointed as we were assured by staff on a previous visit that the chips were vegan.
Read moreThis venue is always extremely busy to the point of waiting lists; surely a second fryer would be an ethical investment.
Updated from previous review on 2016-05-01
Cons: Not all foods marked vegan are vegan.
Guest
BreakfastKlutz
Points +12008
Four Walls, no floor - Edit
Chips and mock meats are not even vegan, venue claims that the head chef is vegan but they cannot even be bothered having a separate fryer for the chips and the mock meat; they are cooked in the same oil as body parts.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-04-29
Cons: vegan isn't vegan
Guest
DebbieFinlay
Points +17
Coffee and cake - Edit
A friend took me for a bonsoy coffee and vegan cake. It was delicious. Can't wait to go back and try a meal.
Read moreGuest
beancurdled
Points +1558
new favourite - Edit
Coburg is killing it in the vegan-friendly cafe stakes lately. This is the second time I've been sitting somewhere, mid-meal, and been inspired to write a glowing review for HC right away!
Read moreThe Glass Den goes way beyond most cafes listed "vegan friendly" on HC. They really deserve the label. I'd guess about 1/4 menu items are vegan with a further 1/4 vegan optional. And it's a really creative menu! First visit I had the breakfast soba and it has to be one of the best vegan dishes I've eaten out, imo. Had everything I love. Perfect balance of fresh and green (piles of fresh kale) crunchy and fried (polenta crusted oyster mushroom) and crispy (smoked coconut and kale chips) and silky, slippery soba noodles. Second time I started with an espresso frappe featuring almond milk and coconut ice cream. I love that this is a standard menu item, not a veganised version. I rarely order a raw dish but this time I was tempted by the raw pizza special. I think it was the beetroot mousse, olive soil, and pickled cabbage that sold me. It's delicious. They kitchen have actually done an amazing job of creating a "pizza" flavour but with freshness and variety of textures.
It ain't cheap but I believe it's good value. I've started treating myself to a meal here every other Saturday after a yoga class and really feel like it's worth it as a treat. Look forward to trying everything on the menu but also find it hard to go past that soba. If HC let you rate veg friendly places 5 stars, I'd definitely give Glass Den full marks.
Guest
Amanda Panda
Points +376
Went for Coffee, Stayed for Lunch. - Edit
We wanted to check out this cafe and intended to have a coffee, however, after looking at the menu, we decided to stay for lunch and were so glad we did. There is quite an interesting and comprehensive range of vegan dishes to choose from, in fact most of the menu items can be made vegan. The serves are reasonably sized for the price with fresh ingredients attractively presented. We ordered the Portobello Burger and Mushroom Taco, both very flavoursome and enjoyable (the coffee was good too). Equally impressive was the service we received from our waitress who brought the food. We told her we were sharing and she asked if we wanted plates and if we wanted the Burger cut in half in the kitchen, whilst also replenishing our water bottle. As she left she also said "if you need anything else, please let me know". The Glass Den, in our opinion, is a first class establishment and we will definitely return. It's a shame we are only allowed to give a maximum of 4 stars as it is not fully vegetarian/vegan.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Excellent service
Cons: Not open at night.
Guest
KayleighDixon
Points +81
good vegan hot cakes - Edit
We have only been here once and had the coconut hot cakes which were great. They serve meat but have a lot of vegan options which I think is quite rare in the coburg area for cafes so it's great. Will definitely be going back to try more things. Big space with lots of tables which is good
Read morePros: big space, lots of vegan options
Cons: serves meat
Guest
Aloo
Points +6905
Not prison food - Edit
In the old Pentridge Prison complex, sits this humble looking cafe. It's lovely inside, with outdoor seating at the back and front. Beautiful garden surrounds and great service.
Read moreIt is both vegan friendly and suitable for those on gluten free diets as well. Everything is clearly marked on the menu, and there is quite a range. I enjoyed a wanton salad - all vegan. It was tasty, with all the intricacies of Asian flavours.
Drink-wise, they have smoothies, crushes, great coffee and choice of milks, including coconut milk and almond.
Prices are reasonable too.
Pros: Surrounds, Service, Choices
Cons: Can be a little noisy
Guest
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