Overview

Bianco E Nero is one of the more popular cafes in Paisley. They're known for their varied menu, town centre location, and until recently for being the home of one of Paisley’s most popular open mic nights. Originally opened as Saporito before a revamp and name change, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a local who hasn't been to this cafe. They offer a selection of coffees, cakes, sandwiches and hot food, a great place for those on the go, or those who fancy a bit of lunch. I stopped in for a coffee and to use the loo. Once I managed to get into the cafe, the staff were great, they helped me find a suitable place to sit and brought my coffee over. I sat at the end of a table in my wheelchair and comfortably got my knees under. There are some accessibility features, but these could be improved to make the space all the more inclusive.

Transport & Parking

There are a handful of spaces and one accessible space in the street immediately outside but these tend to fill up quickly as there are a few popular shops on the same street. There are standard spaces and single yellow lines around the corner on Silk Street, and a combination of standard and accessible bays across the road on Cotton Street. At the top of Cotton Street, you’ll find Bridge Street Car Park, which has 1 accessible bay, 6 EV charging bays and a small number of standard parking bays. The cafe is located on a central bus route, so there’s no shortage of buses. Close by you’ll also find Paisley Gilmour Street Station. The route from the station is a combination of cobblestones and concrete slabs, with a short steep incline upon approach to the town centre.

Access

The building has a single entrance via a heavy glass door that opens inward. There’s a lip of an inch or so before a ramp, which may be a little steep for some but I managed to self-propel myself in leading into the café. A customer, who saw me through the window, assisted me into the building. There was no call button available to signal the staff. Once inside, there are a few seating options, some circular tables, and some rectangular/square tables along the benches that line the walls to the right and the rear of the seating area. To your immediate left on entry, is a coffee bar, display cabinets, a sales counter and the cooking area. The menu is printed on black and white card, with alternating black or white text, depending on the colour page. There are no pictures on the menu.

Toilets

The venue has a toilet which is technically accessible, providing enough room for a manual chair, complete with grab rails on both sides of the toilet seat. However, there’s no red cord installed, which is surprising given the effort of installing grab rails. There’s a static sink, with a mirror at standing height, a wall-mounted hand dryer and a baby change table. There is both a sanitary bin and a waste bin. The toilet also doubles up as the ladies toilet.

Staff

The staff were pleasant, accommodating and eager to make sure I was looked after. They secured a suitable seat for me and brought my coffee to the table, they even gave me the option of a takeaway cup or a ceramic coffee mug. Bianco E Nero has a well won reputation within the city, it’s lovely to know that hasn’t changed.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Bianco E Nero is lovely, in a central location, with good food and pleasant staff. I'd recommend a visit, however, the installation of a call button at the door and a red cord in the toilet would go a long way to making the café more inclusive. I'm grateful to the customer who held the door open for me but it would be better if I could signal staff when assistance is needed to enter the café.

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