Places to eat
Delicious local food
Kelso has some excellent local eateries, all within walking distance, that we have sampled ourselves. Click on a café or restaurant below to visit their website. Kelso also has some great bakers and sandwich shops.
Cafés
The Cream Chimneys
Locally roasted coffee, Floral teas, light lunches, cakes and scones. Great gifts too.
Hoot ‘n’ Cat
This lovely café resides next to the Abbey car park and offers a wide selection of meals, coffees, teas and snacks. It has a great atmosphere but can get extremely busy. Booking is advised for a Friday or weekend lunch time, but you can usually be accommodated if you book that morning.
Mayfield Garden Centre
This can be found downhill from the Abbey Car Park, near the banks of the River. Along with a variety of gardening and home wares they also have a café where you can enjoy a coffee, great scones a hot or cold lunch menu.
Cafe U
is on Roxburgh Street. This Fair Trade Coffee House and Kitchen has easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Great coffee, scrummy cakes and lots of options for those looking for Gluten free, Vegetarian or Vegan food.
Caroline’s
Towards the end of Horsemarket. This cafe has been around for decades! Popular for homemade soup, scones and paninis.
Restaurants
Lemon and Thyme Restaurant
Offering locally sourced seafood and game, fine dining 2019 winner of top 100 restaurants in Scotland.
The White Swan Good quality pub food right next door
The Waggon Inn
This family friendly restaurant offers a large menu full of variety.
The Cross Keys Hotel
Offers a selection of light meals at lunch and a fantastic evening menu, including light suppers through the week.
The Queens Head Hotel
Whether you simply wish to have a coffee or glass of wine, or indulge yourself trying our lunch menu, there is an abundance of choice.
The Contented Vine
Offers a new style of Mediterranean and Traditional dining experience in the Scottish Borders.
The Cobbles
Offers bar lunches and fine dining from steaks to Sunday roasts.
Ednam House
A grand old Georgian building offering everything from Afternoon Tea to AA Rosette dining with fine views overlooking the River Tweed.
Arrange your stay
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Accreditations and awards
The Capon Tree, Jedburgh
Just outside Jedburgh is the Capon Tree believed to be the last survivor of the ancient Jed Forest. The tree is a hollow Oak tree now held up in places by wooden supports and is thought to be about 1000 years old. The tree can be visited by parking just opposite or a...
Bar of silver
April 2022 brought us two brothers both here for the fishing on the beautiful River Tweed. Congratulations goes to Mr Rob Burns who landed this lovely 8lbs salmon caught between the coals on the Rutherford beat. It's great to see fish being caught up here in the...
Pick Your Own!
The sun is out, it's a beautiful warm July day and we need a socially distant outdoor activity with a tasty reward. So off to Border Berries at Rutherford a short drive along the river from Kelso to pick the best strawberries you will find anywhere! Stepping out of...