Southern Scotland
Right at the end of the harbour road, where yachts have given way to fishing boats, this set-up has two parts, both worthwhile. The Oyster Bar offers…
Must-see restaurants in Southern Scotland
Borders Region
This main-street deli has numerous temptations, such as excellent cheeses and Italian smallgoods, as well as perhaps Scotland's tastiest sausage roll…
Borders Region
This inn off the main square is so popular you will need to book a table at weekends. It's cheery, very welcoming and warm, and serves excellent upmarket…
Southern Scotland
This long-established local favourite is a great spot, seemingly plucked from some bygone age with its quietly efficient service and classy, welcoming…
Dumfries & Galloway
Overlooking the heart of town, this restaurant's cuisine is true to its name, which refers to the historic bond between Scotland and France. Local produce…
Dumfries & Galloway
This excellent cafe under a gallery and shop is the best spot in town for a coffee, with cosy wood fittings offset by a garden space out the back. There's…
Borders Region
Lively and attractive, this High St coffee stop and restaurant occupies the ground level of a handsome bank building. Morning coffees and light lunches…
Dumfries & Galloway
Engaging staff, 10 real ales on tap and a warm, contented buzz make this a legendary Dumfries pub. Generous portions of typical pub nosh backed by a long…
Dumfries & Galloway
Fresh local seafood is the stock-in-trade of this unpretentious local favourite. With Melba toast, prawn cocktails and curious cutlery, it's got a retro…
Borders Region
Attractively combining smart and casual, this welcoming bistro and bar does modern Scottish cuisine. Plates are beautifully, though not fussily, presented…
Southern Scotland
Further along the harbour road from the maritime museum, make sure to drop into this wonderful pub. It's the oldest in Irvine (built in 1597, licensed in…
Borders Region
Selkirk's best place to eat is in the heart of things. It has a bar as well as a well-thought-out range of classic Scottish and other British ingredients…
Borders Region
The Middle East meets the Borders in this enticing cafe behind the tourist office. Patterned rugs and a secondhand bookshop make for a relaxing…
Dumfries & Galloway
This bookshop is set around a brilliantly welcoming cafe serving decent coffee to prolong your reading time, as well as really delicious baking and other…
Southern Scotland
The Dancing Midge is a hugely cheerful cafe on the waterfront, offering fine views and excellent breakfast options as well as sandwiches, daily soups,…
Southern Scotland
Tucked away above the Royal Bank of Scotland on the main road, this stunningly attractive bar and bistro comes as quite a surprise. Eating is done in an…
Borders Region
The brasserie and restaurant here turn out just about the best gourmet cuisine in town and offer decent value. There's some rich, elaborate, beautifully…
Dumfries & Galloway
Cheery servers and a wide-ranging menu of well-presented dishes give you plenty of options here; you can sit in the more formal restaurant area (dinner…
Borders Region
Glorious is the only word to describe the Georgian dining room here, complete with musicians' gallery, fireplace and fabulous windows. It'd be worth it…
Dumfries & Galloway
Just off the central square, this has a comfortably modern interior and handsomely presented fare that features seafood, lamb and vegetarian options, with…
Southern Scotland
Buzzy and attractive, XXII serves a wide-ranging fusion menu as well as cocktails, breakfasts and more. Mediterranean and, particularly, Italian…
Dumfries & Galloway
Just east of the centre, this is Stranraer's best place to eat, with hearty portions of well-sourced meat and seafood and a welcoming vibe. There's a…
Borders Region
Upmarket pasta dishes take their place alongside quality dishes of Scottish produce with a Mediterranean inflection at this popular, welcoming central…
Southern Scotland
Part of a renaissance of this part of Irvine's harbourside, this upbeat cafe and bakery is run according to sustainable principles. It covers a lot of…
Dumfries & Galloway
On the main street, it's quite a surprise to find authentic Greek food here in provincial Castle Douglas. The charismatic, welcoming host prepares…
Southern Scotland
A classier option than Biggar's decent pubs, this well-run restaurant features a handsome dining area with exposed stone, candlelight, posh glassware and…
Dumfries & Galloway
In the Robert Burns Centre, this new restaurant has an enviable riverside location. A short menu of quality lamb, fish and the like is on offer in the…
Borders Region
A good stop for home baking, coffee, light meals or sandwiches at any time of day, this bistro comes into its own at dinner time. A short, regularly…
Borders Region
For a meal any time, find your way upstairs to this modern Mediterranean-fusion bar-bistro with comfy seating and a modish interior. It's just down from…
Dumfries & Galloway
This converted bank on the main street had just opened when we last passed by. It was still finding its feet but we liked the way it was shaping up: solid…
Borders Region
Interior design isn't a strong point at this restaurant, which has taken over a too-large space, but the food certainly is. A young French couple produces…
Borders Region
There's nothing too fancy on the menu at this traditional, tight-packed, main-street hostelry, but this is really top pub food, with generous portions of…
Dumfries & Galloway
On the main drag, colourful Brew Ha Ha offers an upbeat welcome and a tempting array of home-baked goodies as well as huge burgers, breakfast muffins,…
Borders Region
Chocaholics should make a beeline for this friendly cafe, where exquisite cakes and other patisserie offerings will satisfy any cacao-focused cravings. It…
Borders Region
A stone cottage by the harbour in St Abbs, sweet Ebbcarrs does tasty rolls with local crab, cullen skink and other sweet and savoury bites. Grab one of…
Borders Region
This very welcoming cafe in what was once the village school, now a community centre, offers tasty home-baked scones, breakfast rolls, crab sandwiches and…
Dumfries & Galloway
This buzzy cafe in the centre of town doubles as a bookshop. It does tasty fair-trade coffee, has big windows for observing Dumfries life passing by and…
Dumfries & Galloway
Invisible from above, thanks to its turf roof, this clifftop cafe offers spectacular vistas, great cakes and tasty savouries.
Southern Scotland
Nothing typifies the old-time feel of Largs more than this giant art-deco gelateria. The ice creams are decadently delicious, with rich flavours that'll…
Borders Region
Right opposite the abbey, here you'll find upmarket pub grub in an attractive lounge bar. The standard fare, which includes a lighter menu of soup and…
