Flat Cat Gallery in Scottish Borders

Popped in here for a quick cup of tea on my way back up to Edinburgh during the week. Really friendly welcome and great choice of cakes to go with a nice pot of tea. Nice relaxed atmosphere and you can watch the world go by from seats in the window. Coffee and walnut cake absolutely delicious and service was top-notch with tables all spotlessly clean.

We were looking out for a quick coffee stop, ideally dog friendly, as we travelled to the borders from the highlands and we found a gem! We were conscious that it was late afternoon as we approached Lauder but we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed delicious coffees and cake in the gorgeous gallery setting and were able to have a browse in the fab gift shop. We will definitely make a point of calling here in the future, hopefully when we have more time!

Called in the afternoon for tea/coffee and cakes. Lovely choice of cakes and a very pleasant welcome - including for our wee dog! Thoroughly enjoyed the - huge - sticky toffee cake. My wife had tea which was in a fine elegant china teapot. There is a great selection of local arts and crafts for sale in the Gallery.

Despite some negative reviews, we loved it here. We were warmly welcomed as soon as we walked in and were served quickly and efficiently. The menu isn’t extensive but I don’t find that a problem. What we had was very nice. Very clean and a lovely atmosphere, where locals clearly come on a regular basis. Would recommend.

So unexciting - almost a takeoff of the previous owners! Thin bland blended 'vegetable' soup, same crisps with the sandwich. Such a shame - it used to be scrumptious. There are other places locally for a nice bite to eat.

Simple menu but all that was required for lunch. Excellent sandwich, the cake was to die for and the coffee was good. All at a reasonable price. Plenty of tables and we were not rushed. Lovely little shop ideal for birthday presents.

Warmly welcomed. Nice surroundings. Good, light food served in a distinctive atmosphere. A group of four, we were all pleased with our visit.

For many many years we have enjoyed having lunch at the Flat Cat Gallery in Lauder. It has been the perfect stop for our trips between our home in Scotland and England. We knew there were new owners as on our last visit all we were offered were tea cakes because of a kitchen refit - fair enough. But on a recent visit we were disappointed to find a much shorter, uninspired menu. Why on earth is the previous excellent menu still on the website? The “salad” consisted of red cabbage, lettuce and very thin strips of carrot - nothing like the lovely imaginative salads of old. The panini/ciabatta choice very limited and not nearly as good as before. The cafe/ gallery always had a buzz about it, on this occasion no atmosphere and very few customers (unheard of in the good old days). Though much of the lovely carved wooden furniture remains and some new very unattractive furniture has appeared. Oh well we will just drive on to Northumberland next time.

This a must stop when travelling, through lauder. The soup we both had was amazing, and the staff were so friendly and efficient even when it was massively busy. Only gripe was the bread buns were a small for the extra £1 and the table we were sat on was a little low for eating soup. (There are other tables that would be perfect for eating, but the place so popular the 2 low tables were all that were left). Oh and the gallery has some great items, so make sure to check it out too!

Lovely atmosphere and friendly efficient service. Coffee was nice. But marked down as the main reason for going was for a shack, and the cheese scones were really bland. I thought it was just me but a friend described hers as a basic plain scone with a bit of cheese thrown on the top. I think that summed it up. Couldn't even really taste the cheese on the top bit. Very disappointing.

Perfect pit-stop en route up or down the A68. Lovely gallery, gifts and home cooking. Highly recommend their hearty lentil soup and home baking. Friendly staff and we've never had to wait very long to be served.

At 12.30 soup of the day was unavailable, so a hasty alternative was offered and was extremely poor , tiny specks of possibly frozen or dried veg with hot water. No sandwiches available, only scones and cake. Won’t be back…

I used to make a visit the highlight of a journey down A68. Alas this cafe & gallery has changed hands & is now seems to be just another cafe selling traybakes. The arts & crafts are not the same quality although I grant it takes time to build up contacts. If the new owners want to retain 'miche' custom they need to aim higher.

Nice small cafe on the high street with a gallery attached. Lack of food options and a manager overly bossing staff around which made the visit a little awkward. Scone and coffee was nice though.

Looked for somewhere to wait for a tour of the castle. The service , food, drinks and welcome were something that seems to be long lost. It was amazing. The staff were brilliant. The best hot chocolate ever. What a great range of cakes and not pushy nor rammed down your throat.

What has happened to my favourite cafe? Change of ownership has resulted in friendly staff disappearing, service poor due to shortages, lack of meals and, worst of all, the coffee was dreadful!The gallery remains the same with none of the regular updates of stock we've come to expect. What a shame! We won't be back,sadly.

We popped in on our trip to Scotland. Great food and a large pot of tea. I had the vegan choice and oat milk and my partner had a meat choice. All lovely fresh food. Friendly and attentive staff. The gallery was interesting too. Well worth a visit.

Popped in with our dog as I needed a drink to take with some medication. Packed and there were lots of wasps. They were really busy and it was really hot in there with no air. After 5 mins of being ignored we left so cannot vouch for the food or coffee.

Great little gallery and eatery for coffee and cake . They also have a good lunch menu with everything freshly made. Lovely little shop in the back with some unusual gift ideas. Definitely worth a visit.

Excellent wee find on our way to our holidays. Great coffee and great tea , fab carrot cake too. Staff were very pleasant and friendly.

Went to the Gallery with our Labrador. We received the warmest welcome and super service. The dog was well looked after with treats and an offer of water, as well as being accommodated at a great table. Arriving at about 11:30, we were offered both the breakfast and lunch menus and ate some delicious pies. Service was friendly, helpful and attentive. Food and drink lovely. Super place!

On arrival we saw the cafe stated they allowed dogs and so we went in with our small well behaved border terrier and found an empty table whereupon we were approached by one of the staff and asked to move to another table because of the dog. No problem this far. We moved and then the staff member started to welcome another group that arrived after us. Once they were sat down she walked over and asked if we wanted menus which we confirmed we did and she passed us one. More people arrived and were seated at which point another waitress appeared. Despite 2 waitresses we still didn’t get approached to place an order. Some 15 minutes we decided our custom wasn’t welcome so we left and found a great little bakery just along the street with friendly staff! Not sure what the issue was but suspect they don’t welcome dogs?

We stopped here for late lunch on the way from Edinburgh over the border. What a wee gem of a place! Lovely food and coffee. Our filled baguettes (2) and pie (1) were accompanied by crisps, delicious salad and a choice of dressings. Yummy coffee walnut cake to share afterwards. We’ll definitely be back!

Four of us for a light lunch . . . . four different sandwiches . . . . each one delicious! Nice ambience . . . . bright & airy. Friendly service. Does exactly what it sets out to do . . . . very...

Lovely atmosphere surrounded by local art work . Busy when arrived but accommodated us quickly and served up lovely coffee and hot chocs.

Great coffee and cake, we loved the lemon meringue pie and apple pie. Both looked amazing and tasted even better. Staff were friendly, engaging and efficient. Great place to stop.

Loved this cafe when we visited in August. Good was amazing and fantastic coffee. My husband bought me a stunning copper Fox Pin for my Birthday. It is so beautifully made. We are back visiting so we will be going back.

Had to go twice as the cafe was so busy we were turned away! However, once we returned, we got a comfy window seat with a very strong espresso and some delicious apple cake. The local artwork was fun to browse through too - the...

We popped in before the shop opened and were warmly greeted and told that it would not be a problem to have an early morning coffee and bacon roll. It was just what we need before our long drive home. The coffee and rolls were...

Popped in for late lunch when down in the area for a concert. The staff were super nice and the food was fantastic. Def going back if I am in the area ... just wish we had bought more cake to take away!

Excellent find. Worth stopping if your driving through. Haggis and other pies were fantastic. Potato Leek soup was delicious. Great tea and desserts of scones and strawberry cake. Service was excellent. Nice artwork for sale.

We visited flat cat gallery and cafe and had the most delicious steak and ale pie. It came with side salad and crisps and relish delightfully presented . Friendly , cheerful staff lovely cake too for afters .

Excellent cafe and adjacent gallery we sat in the window and enjoyed suop and a cheese salad baguette my wife loved the salad accompanying the soup the cake display would have tempted most people but we had only recently eaten a scone!! On our return...

The Flat Cat Gallery in Lauder is a charming little coffee shop with an attached art gallery. Re the former, we only had coffees which were very good but I must add that the cakes on display all looked delicious, as was the food we...

This is a lovely little cafe with a gallery attached. It is nice to have the paintings and art sound us whilst having lunch. We couldn't resist buying one or two things after lunch. The food was very good and staff were attentive and friendly.

En route from Northumberland to Bo'ness in Scotland, came across this fantastic cafe and gallery in Lauder. We had lovely spiced lentil and sweet potato soup with bread and a side salad. Lovely lime and basil dressing for the salad. Really charming and friendly staff...

Spent second visit this weekend at this place - which says it all! The nicest friendliest staff ever - which makes all the difference! Enjoyed delicious home made soup accompanied with a lovely salad - beautifully presented. Also sampled a lovely baguette with more salad...

Have been going here to both the Gallery and Cafe for about 5 years; it never disappoints - original items on display for sale and superb baking. Have purchased many sculptures and paintings there and always something new - very friendly too

Lovely place for breakfast or lunch food beautifully presented coffee delicious, had to sit outside with the dogs but luckily we had great weather. Very friendly staff who couldn’t do enough for us and the dogs

Very welcome stop on our long journey from Ardnamurchan to London. Lovely welcoming team, much needed drinks served quickly and food and drink, especially cakes, were superb. Lovely loo a very preferable alternative to a service station too!

Stopped off on the way north, just what was needed. Coffee and a cake. Both were great. Lovely service and lots of smiles. Particularly enjoyed seeing Susie Christie’s paintings - a delight and really a must see

A beautiful little cafe and gallery. The coffee is locally produced and is excellent. There's a good choice of food and the customer service is perfect.

Great coffee and cake, and then there's the art and craft. A must-visit if in the area (or worth a detour).

We stopped here briefly whilst driving from northern Scotland back to London. We were so very happy we did! The gallery shop and café are beautifully presented and run by the loveliest lady, also responsible for making the exceptional homemade soup (lentil, on the day we visited). The coffee was expertly made and first class (and we’re fussy!); so much so, that I had two! The cake was also lovingly handmade by a local lady. It was just wonderful.Both the welcome and the quality of the food and drink was outstanding. We would unreservedly recommend to all - worth going out of your way for! Thank you Flat Cat Gallery!

1st visit to this little gem of a cafe. Friendly staff and owner working hard in challenging times. Excellent teas, coffee and cake. Can't wait to go back

Always great service, great food and delicious cakes and scones. Lovely gallery and gift shop adds to the experience. Highly recommend this fantastic cafe for coffee, cakes and lunch.

This is a really excellent place to stop for a snack or a meal, excellent food, great coffee, well prepared and presented by friendly helpful staff. Additionally, you have the enjoyment of viewing some really good works by local artists, not cheap but really well worth visiting.

The staff were excellent and where very good with the COVID rules and I would recommend their salted caramel brownie.the tea was also excellent

Three rooms. A wonderfully curated collection of local art work sits in the room on the left. In the middle front room a display case of outstandingly lavish,fresh, home made and delicious cakes (including citrus zingy lemon meringue pie with both a cloud and a crust on top..bliss!). In number three at the back some affordable retail therapy in the form of some classy bits of arts and crafts, homeware and clothing. Perfect present hunting territory. What's not to like here?! All scrupulously covid safe. Make it a destination rather than a stop off.

An interesting place, art gallery with good coffee, cakes & food. Hand made wooden backed chairs, all different. The staff were very good under trying circumstances with the COVID regulations.

A lovely town and this is a great find with a small seating area and a room with high quality arts and crafts as well as an area with more general gifts. We enjoyed the coffee and cakes, followed by a perusal of the paintings, stained glass items, furniture, etc. Prices were fine and the staff served us promptly and politely.

Popped into this establishment after what was supposed to be a moderate walk, Google walks around Lauder. Very clean and tidy with very nice staff. Although a little pricey the food was excellent, very well presented and tasty. Have to say as well that the two shot cappuccino was lovely. There are some fine works of art for sale and some nice jewellery. After our next walk in Lauder we'll definitely be back.

Been wanting to visit for ages & the wait was worth it. The clementine & almond cake was light, zingy & delicious & the Oreo double chocolate cake was equally as good. Very smooth blend of decaf coffee. They have coped with the social distancing restrictions admirably & the staff are wonderfully friendly (from behind their masks!)Beautiful quirky furniture & a lovely gallery to look around too! Recommend a visit.

We had lunch which was two delicious baguettes , one filled with ham other with cheese . They came with a fresh side salad and hand cooked crisps they were lovely . Coffee was great and best of all was nice and hot . The service was excellent and prompt ,staff attentive and pleasant surroundings with some lovely artwork .

Have a lovely warm welcome from both the staff. Delicious coffee which was worth the wait after lockdown. 5 star recommendation.

Well, the rudest, most ignorant staff I've ever met. Popped in for a quick coffee to take away and was completely ignored. No acknowledgement, no "hi, be with you in a moment" nothing at all. I'll be getting my coffee from the petrol station instead in future.

I came here with my mother and a friend who is a Chef and confectioner. She has travelled the world - Brazil, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy - learning her skills and she said this is the best place to eat homemade cakes! The gallery and the crafts are beautiful.

Wouldn’t normally write a review on a takeaway sandwich and coffee, but had to make an exception.Had a fantastic Brie, Bacon and Tomato sandwich, served with a lovely side salad and crisps. The coffee was top quality as well, and all served in fully recyclable containers. Nice one!

Stopped today on the way to Edinburgh and would fully recommend. The staff were great and the food tremendous. We especially liked the pies however all food was good.

This is one of my favourite café galleries in the Borders so I hope it was just a temporary glitch I encountered the other day. Service was very slow. Seemed to be just 1 person on although 2-3 others emerged from the kitchen and back room eventually. The 1 person on seemed fed up, maybe understandably, but the atmosphere was flat, bordering on indifferent. The coffee was good, the date slice a bit hard. Sorry, Flat Cat. Hope things are better already.

Visited this cafe for lunch with the family and we were not disappointed. Had to wait as it was so busy! We all had different meals from soup to sandwiches which were all presented beautifully and came with salad and fruit. Highly recommend! Cakes were also all homemade and looked delicious so bought two to take home. Really friendly helpful staff. De-li-cious! Loved it

We’ve often driven past on our way up to Edinburgh but this was our first opportunity to stop for a break on the way.We’re so pleased we did, the shop/gallery is well placed on the High Street with easy parking, either just outside or opposite in a car park.The coffee shop is beautifully laid out and furnished with well spaced tables with absolutely stunning, comfortable designer made and hand crafted, tables and seating in addition to some settee areas, if that’s what you prefer. Then there’s the ‘Gallery’ with some original artworks of a high standard, paintings, drawings, sculptures (I wish I could have bought the Owl on a post, I may try and save some cash, as well certainly return"Oh yes, of course we were there for the coffee which was absolutely delicious, we both had double ‘shots’ and were ‘buzzing’ for the rest of the day. We had fruit scones to accompany the coffee, these were also delicious with plenty of fruit and a generous portion of butter (NOT, in a portion control wrap - Excellent.The staff were friendly and efficient and the ‘facilities’ were spotless and of a high standard.There’s also a ‘Gift shop’ with loads of Arty & Crafty bits and bobs, reasonably priced.As I mentioned earlier, we’ll certainly be back, on the occasions that were on our way to or from Edinburgh.We hope you give it a try if you’re nearby, it’s well worth the visit. 5+ stars

Lovely stop in Lauder. Best coffee I have had in ages. Great surroundings ,friendly staff and lovely table and chairs to sit on . Don't miss it

We visit the gallery every time we come down to the caravan. The food is always good, the cakes are yum! Apple pie is my favourite. Good and friendly service 😊

Stopped here on our way back from Northumberland. Excellent food and value with friendly service Soup home made and very good, accompanied by fresh salad and malted bread. Followed by good coffee and cake selection. I would recommend you take the detour and search out this place, frequented by locals; testament in it’s self

I'm a regular here and it never disappoints. Friendly staff and great service. Delicious cakes and lunch dishes with great coffee. Lovely paintings and artwork as well as many other gorgeous items to buy.

Great coffee, nice welcome and lovely vegan apple pie !!! Looks an interesting place to visit. Next time I’ll definitely spend a bit more time exploring

I was meeting family in Lauder, having often passed through but never stopped. It looked like an interesting place for lunch, plenty of choice and made on the spot so could be customised. Beautifully presented, and everything fresh and delicious. Not very big inside, a mixture of seating, and full all the time we were there. Very impressed with the children’s platter. The gallery as varied and interesting too. We’ll go back.

Dropped by here passing through, had apple pie (warmed) and mixed berry polenta cake. Really glad we did. What a lovely place with a relaxing vibe and plenty to look at. Some great things for sale in the gallery.. If I'm ever back this way I wouldn't hesitate to pop in.

We chose to enjoy lunch here based on the positive reviews and were very pleased that we did . We had a very tasty sandwich accompanied by salad

Lovely surroundings, great menu. Food when it came was attractive and tasty. The staff were very pleasant and helpful.

Driving south from Edinburgh we stopped for a coffee. Delicious coffee - excellent fruit and cheese scones. Really good gallery of a wide range of crafts and gifts. Will stop again.

Always enjoy lunch or coffee and cakes at the Flat Cat Gallery. The food is always good - lovely soups, sandwiches and specials as well as an amazing array of cakes and scones.

A hidden gem in Lauder . Food was very well presented Baguette surrounded with salad. staff very pleasant . Gallery had very unusual craft items

Just popped in for tea and scones, lovely tea, scones also top end. Service a pleasant experience and the gallery worth a visit in itself, my friend bough ta couple of prints. All in a all aworthwhile trip.

Flat white with offer of single or double shot of coffee in proper sized cup for a flat white was a very pleasant surprise. Plus the Oreo Chocolate Cake was moist and icing was not overly sugary and sweet which meant the cake was thoroughly enjoyable and moreish! Loved Alan Richmond's and selection of gifts available to buy. Nice friendly staff too. Thank you for a lovely visit.

We took the scenic route from Durham to Dundee via the A68 & stopped here for a break. The staff were very welcoming & the menu is good & made with quality ingredients. we had bacon sandwiches & salted caramel brownies which were both delicious. I love my coffee & was pleased to receive a cappuccino with a espresso of good body & flavour.

I enjoyed a leisurely coffee and a slice of cake here. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the service very good. Nice range of art and crafts in the accompanying shop. Well worth a visit. I would certainly visit again when in the area.

What a lovely and interesting place to visit, with excellent fare, friendly atmosphere and interesting articles to browse!

We called in after 3.00pm and enquired if we were too late for something off the lunch menu. We needn’t have been concerned. Staff were extremely helpful, courteous, attentive and the lunch (game pie with salad) was excellent. Nice selection of cakes too. Lovely relaxed art gallery surroundings with nice decor and nice art. Highly recommended and would happily return.

As always a welcome hello from Lesley and Ralph.Dedicated to pleasing the customers in a comfortable, home made food environment. Coffee great too.Lentil soup homemade.Was excellent sampled some of hubbies. You have to. My salmon and philly fresh cooked roll with fab fruity salad top notch too. Followed by a shared portion of Fresh homemade lemon drizzle. Mary Berry wouldn't could beat the quality. Browse in shop of course. Check out artwork also. Caters for all. Looking forward to our next visit and that's before we've even left the premises. Big thanks. Gilly A Tait.

Stop here if you want a light lunch, delicious cakes, all served by friendly smiling staff. There's also art work you can buy or just admire, also a gift shop at the back of the cafe. Will definitely return!

Me and my mum come here all the time and I cannot recommend it enough. The food is superb (special mention for the fresh cream meringues), the staff are always friendly, it has a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere and can cater for everyone. They also have a small shop within the cafe selling art and lovely gifts.

Called in with friends on a cycle trip through Scotland. The service was superb and the food was of a really high quality.

Excellent coffe (mocha) and lemon drizzle cake. Found by accident whilst walking around the Lauder on a short visit. Warm cosy busy even for later February, gallery to boot. Delightful staff

My wife and I visited for the first time today and we were so glad we did. The staff were attentive and service was quick. The food was lovely and the coffee was really good. The gallery is well stocked and there are some very nice pieces in there to be viewed and purchased. Overall really nice experience and we will be back.

A fantastic stop for excellent coffee, delicious cakes and. Some very attractive art work and creative arts work. Definitely worth a stop.

A very relaxing afternoon tea. Excellent selection of cheeses and meats and made to order sandwiches. |Staff very friendly and obliging - couldn't do enough for us.

flat cat is quite small but busy. Good selection of baguettes and lunch specials. Also a selection of home made cakes/biscuits. Food fresh and delicious. Friendly and attentive staff. Clean, bright with sofas, dining chairs or stools. Small art gallery attached with changing artists, and gift shop with interesting stock for adult or children. Browsing is easy uninterrupted, no need to use cafe if you're just popping in for a browse. Would be very tight for wheelchairs, but some tables out front in summer.

Coffee and soup here, staff were nice and friendly food was really nice, sensible prices, great location, lots of nice piece's in the gallery and shop

Travelling home to North Yorkshire after visiting my daughter in Edinburgh. Spotted this adorable cafe and stopped for lunch. Lovely friendly lady and her young staff. We had leek and potato soup, game pie and a tuna sandwich on malted bread. HUGE portions and delicious salad with it. The Hebridean salad dressing is delicious. The cakes looked amazing, although we were too full to sample one. We will be back on our next trip to Scotland and will recommend this to our friends. Thank you, Angela and John xx

My wife and I stopped here for a snack during a long drive. I was initially a bit concerned, as a cafe/art gallery seemed likely to be costly when we just wanted a coffee and snack. I shouldn't have worried. We both had a coffee and a bit of cake and it came in under £10. The quality was very high. Also, the walls are covered with art for sale, and some of it was excellent. There was a small shop to the rear for other items, such as vases, scarfs etc. Hell, how often can you say somewhere has a toilet you enjoyed being in? You'll like this one. The walls are covered with more work, and even the soap and hand moisturising dispensers are filled with something you actually want to smell of. As for the staff, we had a lovely chat with the lady who seemed to run the place. All in all, a very pleasant stop.

Can’t resist stopping here when we pass now. In all my visits I’ve never been disappointed by the standard of service or quality of cuisine and I doubt that will change.

Can't fault this cafe in Lauder. Stopped to grab a quick morning treat to break my journey and what a surprise. Super coffee and fantastic Lemon Meringue pie from pleasant and attentive staff. Gorgeous surroundings - it also has lots of artwork on display. The cake selection is extensive and the bacon baguette I saw being served certainly will be worth a try on my next stop here

I took my Daughter out for a treat and we stopped in Lauder at this sweet little cafe. It has a gift shop which has lots of nice things to browse and buy, an art section with very impressive artwork but my! it's the cafe which most impressed. We had a light lunch of soup and salad served by a friendly and efficient young lady. The soup was marvelous and the salad was so eclectic. No limp lettuce and tomato here. We finished with coffee and a cake from the vast cake cabinet. Well, why wouldn't you! The diet can wait till tomorrow! All great quality and big portions! Really impressed. I can say with certainty that I'll be back again and will be telling my friends.

went in for a coffee while waiting for prescription it must be the worst coffee in the world, my wife had what was supposed to be a flat white that was more like a cup of dishwater and the americano was no better tasteless, will not be back

First visit to the Flat Cat was good,Nice bowl of soup which I had to have outside as my little dog was with me,they brought her some water all very friendly,decided to go back for coffee and cake on the Sunday afternoon,inside this time,I sat right in the centre of the cafe was ignored for 10 minutes,then three men walked in and the waitress went straight over to them,so I'm afraid I got up and left and didn't return.Very disappointed with the service.

Stopped for tea and cake and we weren't disappointed, the Key Lime pie was lovely and my husbands lemon meringue was very well received. Young polite waitresses. Would definitely call again

Wonderful gallery in centre of Lauder.Mainly a coffee shop however artwork is a real bonus.Seating outdoors too.

This place does simple lunches-baguettes, paninis, salads etc -but does them really well.And the puddings are out of this world..I had the best lemon meringue pie, ever, end of argument.Service is very friendly and the owners are clearly determined to get everything right.Some wonderful art for sale, as well as a more esoteric range of decorative items.Nicely located on the drive to/from Edinburgh.A new must-stop.Thoroughly recommended.