Valvona & Crolla, Scotland’s oldest deli and Italian wine merchant, was a source of great smugness in the capital until the rest of the country caught up. It is owned by the Contini family, who are descendants of the founders, Benedetto Valvona and Alfonso Crolla. V&C kitchen secrets have been handed down over many years, which is why everything tastes robust and authentic. Bread is baked on site, the vegetables are imported direct from Milan’s street markets and the wine list features the best Italy has to offer. A restaurant, VinCaffè, was added in 2004.

Heart Buchanan, 380 Byres Road, Glasgow, 0141 334 7626

Every new day brings a new recipe at Heart Buchanan, the West End’s pre-eminent deli-cafe, where busy executives like to pop in and pick up something more sophisticated than macaroni cheese for dinner. The menu features such exotic delights as sweet potato curry puffs, green bean and broccoli salad with wholegrain mustard dressing, and roast monkfish wrapped in thyme and pancetta. The cheese board is particularly good, with varieties from around the globe, including Isle of Mull, Vacherin Mont D’or, Scottish crowdie, Bishop Kennedy, Goat Fell crottin and Dunsyre Blue.

Eat, 16 Busby Road, Clarkston, Glasgow, 0141 638 7123

This small but cosy delicatessen and cafe in the southside of Glasgow was extended last year to create space for more tables, a welcome addition given how it used to be a squeeze just to get space at the counter. Specialising in Spanish and Italian foodstuffs, it serves some of the tastiest rice and pasta dishes south of the Clyde, including juicy, meaty cannelloni and liberally flavoured Mediterranean-style fishcakes.

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