The Scottish Borders is not just about beautiful landscapes, thrilling outdoor activities and wonderful historic places to visit - it's also a fantastic place for those who want to sample the best of Scottish food and drink.
We've put together a guide to some of our favourite places to eat and drink and to learn more about the fabulous fare on offer in the Scottish Borders. The best of Scotland begins at the Border.
This lovely little eatery in Selkirk’s Market Place keeps it simple, specialising in sharing platters of cheese and/or charcuterie.
Pair them with one of their fine gins and don’t forget dessert - the buns look divine and the boozy ice cream is heavenly.
Artisan bread from this delightful little microbakery either to buy and takeaway or to enjoy in their little cafe. They also make waffles and doughnuts and all manner of soups and pastries. And if you want to learn their secrets, they offer a one day course on the secrets of sourdough.
You need to prebook but our friends at Heatherlie House hotel know their way around the kitchen. A short walk from Selkirk town centre brings you to this nicely refurbished old building with a traditional bar and seating. Try the Haggis Pakora or the beer-battered fish - this is a simple menu of classic dishes. Good for vegetarians too.
The Three Cairns is a traditional hotel restaurant offering everything from breakfasts to Sunday roasts. There's a pie of the day, children's menu and a few flourishes such as truffle parmesan fries. It's a 20 minute walk from Selkirk town centre.
This is the only place to be for anyone who loves chocolate. Chocolatier Ruth Hinks has created a luxury brand and picked up awards along the way, including UK World Chocolate Master and UK Confectioner of the Year. There's a divine chocolate shop and cafe, but what makes this really stand out from the crowd is the chocolate and pastry school. Two and three hour courses, full days and longer courses. Learn to make chocolate truffles, pralines, ganache and much, much more.
Creators of award winning gin. Enjoy a gin and tonic, then distill your own 70cl bottle at their three hour gin distiller class. Or just take a tour of the distillery.
A great addition to the local food scene, this popular inn in the village of Ettrickbridge is quickly building a loyal following. A menu built around well-delivered pub classics also features tempting specials and you know you're in good hands when you see they offer a pie of the day.
Another great Selkirk restaurant, from the same team behind the successful Fleece Bar and Kitchen, this popular destination in the High Street offers traditional French bistro fare and affordable fixed price menus.
High quality Scottish ingredients, seasonal menus, locally sourced produce plus top notch cooking for a great small restaurant with Roger cooking and Bea front of house.
New bar in Selkirk, offering drinks, live entertainment and live sports (TV). Recently changed hands - review to follow.
Street food specialists offering a click and collect service for an eclectic and ever-changing menu featuring curries, burgers, pizzas and more.
An impressive array of five star reviews testifies to a reliable and enjoyable experience, with a menu that’s a lot more ambitious than the usual pub fare and has a lot to offer for vegetarians and vegans too. The classic bar meals are still there, but there’s an impressive range of pie and mash and home-made stone baked pizzas too of an evening.
Small-plate restaurant using locally sourced ingredients, simple dishes with complex flavours, including welsh rarebit and crab sourdough, fish finger and tartare sauce sandwich and beetroot risotto, blue cheese and apple.
You go to the seaside, you eat fish and chips and and slurp ice cream. This is what Giacopazzi's is for. The fish are enormous. The chips are proper chippie chips. The ice cream is to die for. Simple, really.
Stylish and ever-popular family run restaurant using top quality Scottish ingredients. For warm summer evenings there is a garden area too. Small menu - quality over quantity.
Family restaurant with a trophy cabinet full to bursting with awards, including recognition for excellence and consistency. Specialist in game dishes - but there's a vegetarian menu too.
Charming 18th century coaching inn with a lovely beer garden looking out over the open Berwickshire countryside. Their seafood platters using locally sourced seafood are ideal for sharing (order in advance). Plenty of awards too.
Classy contemporary Scottish, British and French cooking. There’s a vegan menu too. Highly rated, well-reviewed.
Award winning chef Antonio Caterino and his team know their way around a traditional Italian menu. Pizzas are always popular but try their seafood - it's a speciality.
Local sourcing, two AA rosettes, fine dining. Traditional exterior, modern decadent interior. The plating is a work of art. Gets consistently great reviews from diners.
Small and friendly Indian restaurant offering dine in and takeaway. Extensive menu and they’re happy to tackle special requests too. Diners like the quality and value for money.
Traditional Italian housed in a black and white building looking out over the Tweed. Go for the excellent pizzas - but there’s a good range of other Italian classics too.
Nice family-friendly cafe just outside Selkirk with a traditional menu plus the added bonus of a salmon viewing centre, golden eagle information point and riverside walks. A good spot to grab breakfast - you can't go wrong with egg rolls or bacon rolls. And they do rather tasty desserts too.
Busy harbour-side cafe in ever-popular St Abbs, serving fresh local seafood, soups and sandwiches along with home-baking. Try the crab rolls and the cullen skink.
Fans of Indian cooking are in luck, with the Taste of Spice in Selkirk winning itself a loyal local following.
Coffee shop by day, restaurant by night. Great reviews.
Nearby
Great seafood shack in North Berwick Harbour. Lobster, obviously, but try the salt and pepper squid. And the mussels and the prawns and the seafood chowder. Great value for money. Open from March
This warm and welcoming cafe is the perfect place to start the day. Great coffee, lovely baking and they'll grind coffee freshly for you to take away.
The first distillery to open in the Borders since 1837, bookable tours are available daily to see the process involved in distilling whisky, gin and vodka - rounding off with a dram in the bar.
Distilled in Selkirk, they now have their own shop in the town. The wonderful Reiver's Gin is flavoured with handpicked whin flowers that grow around the town, Selkirk Gin uses the local gorse and the Bannock Gin is based on the famous Selkirk Bannock fruit cake. Gin tasting sessions on request.
Nearby:
Home of the Glenkinchie Single Malt, a light, smooth dram with vanilla and citrus notes. The distillery also produces one of the key components of Johnnie Walker blended whiskies. Tours include a two hour behind the scenes experience including tasting some special malts.