Cafe U in Scottish Borders

10/10 will be back! The staff were the kindest and most helpful. They had such lively personalities. The food was so unique and gorgeous, it tasted amazing and looked amazing. Such a healthy menu I loved it!!!

Excellent cafe and superb service. The food was delicious and good sized portions. Dog friendly too. Nice selection of both veggie and vegan. Well worth a visit.

Lots of choice on unusual menu. Food was delicious plentiful and reasonable prices 😋 Staff very pleasant and helpful.

Great menu with lots of savoury and sweet treats to choose from. Great atmosphere and very friendly staff. Haggis and cheese quiche was delicious. Cheese scone was tasty and we finished off with a gorgeous apricot and pistachio frangipane and a slice of apple and cinnamon cake - we offered cream/yoghurt, but we declined, as it was simply divine without it!

The food was absolutely delicious. We had the Mediterrenean Stew and Banana Blossom and Coconut Curry with a lovely side salad, although I think anything on the menu would have been just as good. Staff were so friendly and there was a great atmosphere in the cafe. I would highly recommend a visit.

We visited for lunch in June 2023 and sought out Cafe U on our stay in Kelso in June 2024 (we're devotees of the annual Borders Book Festival in Melrose). The Cafe U staff are so pleased to see you when you walk in and it's a delight to eat from their menu with lots of vegetarian choices. I also measured out an amount of chick peas and of quinoa in the serve yourself store to bring home to England. Cafe U takes a bit of finding in Kelso, but it's only 100 yards up Roxburgh Street from the main square.

Wonderful business lunch, great menu options and the portion sizes are very generous! Friendly and very welcoming staff. Atmosphere was warm, cosy and inviting. Very accommodating to dietary requirements. The food was so flavoursome and you just felt great after eating such fresh and high quality produce. We had the Bacon, Leek and Apple quiche with mixed salad (that’s the picture), lentil dal and bean chilli with side salad. Would recommend and you can reserve a table as it’s a busy little place

Best to book as busy but we hadn't and they kindly fitted us in. Vegan and veggie menu was excellent. Also has baking to take away and refill shop.Great food and service. Highly recommend.11 out of 10!

Fabulous. Wonderful staff and delicious food. By far the best place to eat in Kelso. Very noisy so avoid if you have hearing issues that is the only thing. Otherwise perfect.

Was lovely but our brea was a bit cold on the ciabatta bread but not your fault it was bizzy, but would definitely recommend all the staff are lovely will definitely be back x

I popped in this morning, and you very kindly made up a salad box for me to take away - It was epic, packed with loads of amazing superfoods thank you...feeling full & healthy, a hidden treasure 😍

Amazingly tasty, fresh & original food with great customer service in a relaxed friendly environment. Lots of choice on menu together with daily specials-we were even offered different portion sizes which was much appreciated (as it left room for a delicious piece of freshly baked cake). It’s a super busy place and having sampled the food, it’s easy to see why. My salad bowl had so many different tastes & textures, every bite was a delicious revelation. Hubby had the breakfast ciabatta & was suitably impressed with the quality of all ingredients. Cannot recommend this place highly enough & look forward to a return visit to sample other dishes.

Cafe U never disappoints and it was lovely to note how busy the cafe was when we visited. The freshly prepared and baked goods in this friendly place are always a delight.

Popped in for light lunch and having been a number of times before decided that I had to write a few words of praise for this amazing place. Firstly, the mince pies are superb, whilst not an expert on the old Christmas mince pie, to say I’ve had a few over the years would be an understatement and these fresh baked, homemade ones were so good I had two! Go and get some before they close for Christmas! Of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas coffee and I’d seriously recommend the toasted almond mocha, it was even decorated with a wee Christmas tree on top 🎄 Secondly, the staff are great. Friendly and welcoming a real credit to place. So finally, it would be remiss of me to not mention Fraser and Kirstin, this place wouldn’t be what it is without them. The kindness they have shown me, I will always be grateful for - you walk through their doors and you’re made to feel home and coming full circle they simply make the best mince pies 🥧 thank you and merry Christmas.

Found this cafe through joining the local parkrun on my day trip to Kelso to meet up with a friend. What a great find - we ended up here three times during our day! Coffee great, cheese scones are how they should be flavoursome and not the size of door stops! And our lunch of soup and locally made bread was delicious. Really friendly team with ethical values and wonderful food. Would highly recommend

Excellent Cortado, great ambiance, lots to eat and plenty seating area. Lovely place, highly recommended for good coffee and a wide choice of pastries and lunch options; they even offer a kid’s menu. Very reasonable prices.

Stopped here for lunch when cycling because one of us is vegan. Cafe was so busy we could only sit outside but became clear that this was because it is so good. Had the mushroom and nut crumble which was delicious and came with the most amazing side salad I have ever seen - included melon, watermelon, grapes, kidney beans, crispy red cabbage, grains. Puts the normal offer of a few bits of lettuce and tomato to shame! Highly recommended and very reasonably priced.

Had arranged to meet a client in Cafe U today and even though I was stood up, I got to enjoy a delicious lunch. Had a baked potato with salad and it was so good and really reasonable. Staff a fab, so friendly and attentive ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you very much and will definitely be back

Best cafe ive been to for years. Nice welcome, helpful staff, great food to suit all dietary requirements, reasonable prices and good coffee. Choice of cakes.

We had spent over 2 hours driving to Kelso for a short break away from home and when we arrived we were in need of something to eat and drink. Walking into town from where we were staying one of the first cafes we came across was Cafe U. A quick look at their entry on Tripadvisor indicated that this would be a good place to eat at. We were not disappointed. I had a baked potato filled with brie and bacon while my wife had a savoury tart. Both dishes came with a salad accompaniment. While we had a short wait for our order to be served this is usually a good sign that the food was being freshly prepared. However the downside was that our coffees were served almost immediately after we ordered them and the contents had cooled down considerably by the time the food was delivered to our table.

I have been visiting Cafe U for over 20 years and never actually gave a review. I love this place! Service is always first class and food delicious. I’m usually the kind of person to have a meat dish and an alcoholic drink when I go out for lunch but that option I can’t have here and it allows me to try their home cooked specials, amazing quiches and a variety of teas. Can’t fault a thing.

Excellent grub, really good coffee, friendly and attentive service, in comfortable surroundings, looking forward to our next visit

This is a fantastic cafe! The staff are super friendly and helpful and the atmosphere is lovely. It’s very bright and open and welcoming. They have more gluten free options than most cafes and restaurants and the GF cake I had was delicious. We will definitely be back!

We ended up here after there was no room (actually no highchair available) in another cafe and I’m so glad that we did. We had a really lovely welcome from the staff who were delightful and very accommodating with our little one. Highchairs a-plenty for...

We had coffee, scone & quiche all of which were delicious. Wry friendly staff & good service. Would be perfect if there was an outside seating area.

Having been recommended by our host, we were not disappointed by this friendly cafe. The owner served us with a smile and great coffee and hot chocolate. My husband went back later in the week to meet a friend who lives locally. It was his...

The best in Kelso, been to a couple of others but nothing can beat this lovely atmostpheric friendly cafe. Food is delish, fresh and can cater for gluten free. Sticky Toffee Pudding is to die for. Well done guys

We happened on Cafe U after a lovely local walk around the Race course. The friendly welcoming service happened throughout our meal. The soup was delicious, well seasoned and really warming; this was accompanied with a full sandwich for myself and a tasty cheese scone...

Often call here for coffee and scones with friends but also for my current favourite breakfast - mushroom and egg ciabatta. Comfortable settees and books to peruse - to buy or exchange for one you have brought. Lovely staff.

Came in here for lunch and was quite disappointed to see how much choice there was in the way of sandwiches, Not much else took my fancy.

1st time lunch at this great eatery - soup, quiche & cheese scone all to die for. Plus the lemon cake was totally delicious. Superb value too. Hope to be back when we are next in Kelso.

Stopped for lunch. There was a great choice. Opted for the soup and quiche which were both delicious. Followed by great coffee. Friendly service. Highly recommend.

Cafe U is an absolute gem of an eatery. The owners are very friendly; you’ll always receive a warm welcome from them and their staff. Children are always welcome and it is very obviously a hub in the community for everyone of all ages. The...

Came across cafe almost by accident, what a delightful find. Friendly and helpful staff, nice atmosphere will definitely be returning. Good selection of foods for all dietary requirements.

I’m a regular here and it’s usually very pleasant however on our last trip the waitress seemed to be using covid as an excuse to be rude and bullying! We are all trying our best to follow rules but every place is different so it...

My partner & I popped in for a spot of lunch. They had the choice of two quiches plus various sandwiches & baked potatoes. We both opted for the quiche. He had the sun dried tomato, feta & mozzarella quiche as it came and I...

Fresh tasty food served here and great choice to choose from. We had the quiche and salad and a selection of homemade cakes. All very good quality. Customer service is fantastic , very helpful and patient servers. A very busy shop which is definitely worth a visit. Recommended.

This is a little gem of a cafe, selling excellent coffee, straightforward tasty meals and a range of kitchen cupboard supplies. It is a centre for local small community groups. The staff are friendly, cheerful and informative. A must visit whenever in Kelsi.

Popped in for a takeaway lunch, they had a lovely selection of quiches which they were happy to heat up, served with a very nice fresh salad. Bonus for eco-friendly takeaway boxes and cutlery. Also noticed they had a wee zero-waste section which I'd love...

I am so surprised at a recent review from cafe U I have always found them with out exception helpful, polite and cannot do enough for you as a community type Cafe in Kelso. I haven't mentioned the food but I would say it is one of the best cafe's in the town so much so I would imagine they would have sold out of their homemade soup, quiche and cakes at closing time. The couple that run the cafe in conjunction with Denise and the young helper work extremely hard 6 days and promote healthy home made food. My advice to any visitor to Kelso looking for an amazing cafe give them a try but please don't arrive at closing time they have an active family life and in the community. Good Luck

Very relaxed atmosphere and seating arrangements, from comfy sofas in the book corner, where you can read a book or swap a book to tables and chairs. 10 out of 10 for their homeade scones which were delicious and you can actually see the staff preparing food and rolling out pastry for cooking meals. Children welcome and they also sell gifts for children, spices loose and specialist coffees. Would definately recommend it and will be going back to sample their meals.

We were passing through Kelso on our way home and decided to stop for lunch. We called into Cafe U, our first visit, and it turned out to be a very good decision. We both opted for the bacon, leek and apple quiche accompanied by a gorgeous and varied salad. I would not normally go for quiche but when I wandered up to the counter and checked them out they just looked so lovely. Neither of us were disappointed, it was all lovely. We both agreed that we will definitely return and I’ll take some persuading not to order the quiche. The service was also very good, friendly and efficient. Definitely worth a visit.

Great find today.... quiche and salad outstanding..... great enviro / vegi / vegan friendly as well as the staff! Will be back soon!

Always lovely vegan mains, and sometimes yummy vegan brownie or other sweet :) Very friendly, laid-back atmosphere but well organised and always lovely food. Good drinks (the have Suki teas, which are ace). Decent range of vegan food - especially for the area! - although sometimes sad if no vegan pudding ;) Love the salad bar very very much. Also love that I can get some packaging-free foodstuff items when I'm there :) Great place all round!

A friendly cafe with some nice seating including a couple of couches in one section. Usually nice home made cakes to choose from. Also does snacks. A small play area for young children

Great pies and cakes. Best of all an opportunity to read a book and top up your jars and bottles. A green place.

I have lived in Kelso for 4 years and had never even noticed cafe U! A friend asked me to meet her there on 2 January- when everywhere else actually seemed to be closed! What a marvellous find! Lovely cosy atmosphere, really friendly service and super coffee and scones! Also an inviting second hand book section and a free water dispenser! I will certainly be back!

Found this cafe just off the main Town square and found it to be very homely (as well as busy) and serving some excellent fare (especially loved the homemade cheese scones). Dog friendly too which was a big plus.

We love this place! Discovered it in the second week of our two-week stay in Kelso and went there every day. Best coffee I’ve had outside of Seattle or Italy. Excellent scones and soda bread. We also love the friendly, family-style atmosphere. And we’re traveling on a long trip - this is the first place I’ve seen bulk products like hair conditioner - I can fill up my own airline-friendly container and buy only the amount I need!

We are locals so have been to CafeU before but we always take visiting family to sample, my aunt & uncle both had the ploughman’s which was great along with the BLT and chorizo quiche which as usual were delicious, lovely family friendly place with great staff, worth the little stroll up Roxburgh street to get there!

What a find. I would recommend Cafe U. Lovely atmosphere friendly staff and a great menu. If you like vegetarian meals you won’t go wrong and a fantastic selection of teas

Was in Kelso at the weekend....We were advised to try this place....Its in a side street off the beaten track..The staff were brilliant and the food superb..It was cheap as well..We both had the BLT & I had the earl grey ...Vey nice.....

The inside is not the usual style of café we visit as there are lots of different things to look at and toys for the kids to occupy them whilst you enjoy your drinks and food that is tasty

Unusual lunch menu with very good vegetarian options. All home made dishes with salad bar which was well above the salad bar norm. Red cabbage and lime coleslaw was especially worthy of a mention and bacon leek and apple quiche lovely. Just off main square in Kelso, support this local business if you're stopping in Kelso for a coffee or lunch. It's well worth it.

Good healthy food at a great price. Really nice place too with friendly staff, comfy seats, a kiddy play area and a small range of things to buy. My children love it as much as we do. Although the food is healthy there are also some delicious cakes so it is good for a treat as well.

We stopped off at Kelso to find a nice cafe. So we looked online and this was the first cafe that popped up it had a 4.5 rating so we thought we should give it a try. The atmosphere was lovely and chilled and we sat at the front of the cafe on a very nice sofa. We had tea and cake which was delicious. I had a raspberry slice which was excellent and the service was friendly. I would definitely come again.

It's so refreshing to be able to choose a restaurant so easily that can cater fr vegan food. My wife and I had soup and a sandwich and sweet potato chilli bean stew. You can hel yourself to the salad bar which was also predominantly vegan.

Arrived to a clearly popular local spot. Found a seat in the back, right next to the children area. ( which was handy! ) . Menu seems to look small, but when you delve in, it becomes quite extensive. They clearly take pride in there products, ie... Organic this and vegan that. . The younger of our trio, had the children platter. Really enjoyed the mix of ham, cheese, fruit and tortilla chips. Myself and my oldest had simple ham and cheese paninis. When they were ready we were told to go to the salad bar to collect, slightly daunting but we continued. I couldn't of been happier!!, a lovely selection of freshly topped up salad mix, I'm not talking about salad with some cucumber in it or mayo caked slaw. This was a proper salad bar! I ended up with some lovely leaf salad and a really nice chickpea and kidney bean mix. I was even cheeky enough to ask the chef for some houmous, which was handed over very quickly ( chef licked the spoon, always a good sign! ) my fuzzy oldest, managed to fill her plate with tortilla chips from the bar. Which is a nice touch, as we all know how fussy kids are and don't like to see wastage! For drinks, the girl's had fresh apple juice and I had to have an old style victorian lemonade, super tangy!! Only flaw I can think of, is not being told what the soup, quiche or specials was. All in all a fab lunch, will be back!!

Always friendly family service and home cooked food. Set back from The Square 100 metres up Roxburgh Street. Good location for wales along Riverside at The Tweed.

I was invited by my friends to have lunch with them from going in we were given a warm welcome and were not rushed at all. We ordered our meal I had a pumpkin quiche with a salad which I enjoyed. This is a child friendly place with an area with toys for the children to play with, it was well used when we were in. I would recommend this place for snack lunches.

Searching through Kelso for a good cafe we came across this little gem. Just go past it's quirky exterior into the foodie haven inside.

Had lovely late lunch with friends. Superb coffee and great menu choices for us as veggies. Everyone happy! I like that every dish was available all day!

We came here after visiting Floors castle.

Have been coming to Cafe U for a number of years now when we're up here from Oxfordshire visiting family...

Preciosa sorpresa encontrar este café. Nos detuvimos para comer en un largo viaje en coche y todos deliciosas comidas saludables. Incluso mi hijo vegetariano quisquilloso aclaró su plato. Rebanadas de sandía con nuestro lado ensaladas. Días felices! Lo recomiendo encarecidamente.

Ambiente agradable. Personal amable. Comida preparada. Sopa de preciosa. El café está bien. En resumen, un buen lugar a un precio razonable

Excelente ubicación un buen café podrá escuchar la conversación con buen acceso inalámbrico altamente. Hornear parecía y olía increíble.

Gran café con el personal es muy amable. Buen acceso minusválidos con wc fácilmente a mano. Gran variedad de comida en el menú y el personal nunca nos apuraba lejos a pesar de estar ocupados. Buena variedad de juguetes suaves para comprar. Interesante espacio y muy coloridos

Well worth the few extra steps off the market(?) square. Very welcoming and helpful staff, and friendly atmosphere. We had en excellent quiche with salad. Yummy!

...quite a nightmare if you don't like kids! The cafe is close to the Floors Castle, and we went to this cafe after visiting the mansion and because it provides vegan options. There are only two vegan dishes: a lentil curry and a bean stew. You can ask for a sandwich, but the vegan fillings were very scarce. I liked the possibility to get a salad with your order, and there were a few things also for us. The cafe is full with stuff and toys for children, thus full of families. Not the best place if you want to have a quite and relaxing lunch... prices are cheap and the food is good; free wifi. It would be nice if there were cakes and sweets for vegans too...

A little off the main square area, worth the wander up the street as there are few options in Kelso. Reasonable coffee and pleasant service,

Paid a visit here having liked the look of it from the outside. Had a hot chocolate (not that hot), a coffee and a piece of vastly overpriced cake( £3.95 and not priced on display funnily enough). I won't be visiting again as I feel there are far better cafes in Kelso which offer much better value, with just as nice an environment. Disappointing.

Love this café as it has different areas to dine, take coffee or lounge around with a good book - available on the premises. The food is good with a wonderful selection of 'help yourself' salads.

Had coffee here while the wives did some shopping. Nice, cosy and friendly. Did not have anything to eat but food did look good. Will return next time in Kelso.

Been here a few times and would highly recommend. Great menu with lovely home cooked food and friendly staff. Children friendly tho just as suitable for any age. Also sells some great FairTrade gifts and jewellery. A bit tricky to find, just off the Main Square, but worth the effort!!

Stopped off here on way to Bamburgh from Biggar. It was a wet Friday in February and we didn't know anywhere to eat in Biggar. After a wee explore of the town we decided to have a look in Cafe U. We were so glad we did. A lovely, warm and bright interior with lovely friendly staff. A great area for children to play in and a fantastic menu. Probably the best lattes we have ever had. We had hearty bowl of potato and leek soup with lovely home made bread and a continental platter that was the best l have ever had. Greek salad, a variety of cheeses, hard and soft, olives,grapes,ham and home made bread. All for £16.40!!!! Would definitely recommend this lovely cafe.

Good wholesome food in a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. Enjoyed home made quiche with choice of salads with refills if wanted! Lovely Apple cake and good fair trade coffee. Friendly helpful staff. Also an interesting selection of second hand books for sale or swapping. I liked this place.

Visited here for lunch on the way to Berwick. All homemade dishes were delicious - soup and sandwich and the deli salad as well as scone and apple cake.

Lovely fresh,tasty food, friendly staff.Salad bar is delicious,home made quiche is a decent size&tasty.Rekaxed atmosphere,kids area so can get a bit noisy.

I found this place by complete accident. Very friendly staff who own the business. I had an excellent lunch of feta and sun dried tomato quiche with salad - the salad is "help yourself" to as much as you want - the choices were flavoursome and fresh. The French apple sponge was delicious and the coffee first class. Highly recommended!

Perfect place to relax with coffee and home made cakes, soups and salads.With comfy seating and a play area for children, this is the ideal place to catch up on the papers or to just sit and chat.

We were with a couple of members of the extended family and decided to give this cafe a try. The menu is mostly light bite meals, and the people with us were a little unsure of the menu, but when the food arrived they were more than surprised and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are in Kelso give Cafe U a try, small and friendly, with excellent food

Having travelled down to Kelso for yet another family funeral we stopped of at Cafe U as we were early. Once again we only had a late coffee each having already had a cooked breakfast before departing. The back part of the cafe appeared busy with young mum's and grannies with toddlers and kids on school holidays. This part of the cafe is ideal with its layout and toys for the young families. Though both my wife and I eyed up the beautiful cakes and scones on offer we had to decline yet again. For anyone on a special diet this eatery has to be manna from heaven with all its gluten free ,vegetarian and vegan options which offer an very impressive choice for this type of clientele. I never noticed on my last visit but there is a side entrance from Union street for those less able to access the front door with its high step. Complimenting this small but quirky cafe with its good and free wifi are spotlessly clean toilets. The only reason for not giving 5 stars is though we've seen lovely food being served we've never actually eaten any which hopefully will change on our next visit.

Very good child friendly lunch with my grandchildren who ate every morsel then played with the toys provided in a all play area. Very comfortable and good service to.

So happy to have stumbled across this little cafe for lunch. Lovely and clean and spacious, plenty of room for our double buggy, a play area for our 3 year old and plenty of choice for lovely things to eat (I have a milk allergy and there was lots I could eat and the staff were so helpful). Thank you for making our trip to Kelso so enjoyable.

On a short visit to Kelso we wanted a coffee and a bite to eat and stumbled upon this place. We received a very friendly welcome and chose to sit in the armchairs at the front. We decided on coffee and cheese scone. The scones were probably the best I can remember eating, very light, very cheesy. The coffee was great too. We would definitely return here for lunch if in the town again.

My Wife and I had lunch in cafe U which we both really enjoyed. I had salad adapted to suit my taste whilst my Wife has quiche. Fresh food nicely served by attentive staff. No hesitation in returning here.

Had homemade Bacon, Apple and leek quiche with salad for lunch today and it has to be the best quiche I have had in a restaurant. lovely friendly atmosphere too .

A local on the street recommended Cafe U when we asked for a good place to eat lunch. We were not disappointed. The food was excellent! We had the freshly made individual quiches with a help-yourself salad bar. The food was delicious and fresh and the prices very reasonable! I even took some dessert home for later as the lunch portions were filling but the desserts looked so tempting. They are freshly homemade. The sticky toffee pudding was delicious. The owner of the cafe was very friendly, willing to chat even at his busiest time. The cafe itself is attractive, colorful, artsy and fun. There is a lovely area for kids to play in the back of the room. Great experience and we highly recommend it!

A place to relax, meet friends, take time and enjoy fresh food. Children play while Mums chat ; old friends catch up on news; visitors to town are welcomed warmly. There is no rush to leave.

Lovely little find just off the town square. Hot chocolate and mocha much recommended. Doddington ice cream tubs yummy

First visit, just called in for a coffee this morning. Very friendly and welcoming. The smell of fresh baking made me smile. Coffee was top notch. Well done. Next time we are back in Kelso I will definitely be back.

Extremely child friendly and serves excellent hot beverages and good quality home baking and cooking. Friendly, helpful staff.

Joined TripAdvisor just to rate this amazing cafe. Brilliant atmosphere due to lovely staff who helped two fussy eaters with various pesky allergies! Whole family enjoyed beautiful food.- salad bar was fab, morrocan chick pea and spinach soup to die for! Very spacious with excellent play area for our two year old. He enjoyed his children's platter. We're definitely coming back to Kelso just to visit there again

Stopped here for a cup of coffee, and a slice of cake. The coffee is very good, the cake cake is delicious, and the service is excellent.

We were delighted to stumble across Cafe U by accident on a family trip to Kelso. Me and my husband are vegan and we were looking for somewhere we could have the bog standard beans on a potato, so you can only imagine our delight at finding this place!I got the salad platter with hummus and meze and it was divine! My husband got the soup and sandwich which he thoroughly enjoyed too. We also both had a cup of the red berry tea which was beautiful. Such a little gem, it's worth coming to Kelso just for this. Thanks :-)

Good service, nice stop for a cup of tea or coffee. Very friendly owners. Nice for scones, homemade cakes.Would recommend.

This has become our regular cafe stop for coffee or lunch. Its a bit different and has a style of its own, the food is very good and the soup is to be recommended

After many visits I thought it good to share this great place. Like many in the area this is one favourite place for coffee and scone. That might undersell a place that also has lovely cakes and lunches.

Great coffee and scone stop! Super for meeting friends and chatting. Very helpful staff, we loved the scone and cakes, must pop in more often! And they have soya milk for us non dairy people.