Macari's Cafe in Scottish Borders

On visit to Galashiels, I just had to pop into Macaris for breakfast, been several times in the past, and wasn't disappointed. Great friendly service and great breakfast.

For somewhere that is on the Scottish Borders, there is no offer of a traditional Scottish breakfast which is such a shame. The full English breakfast we had was really nice though.

Food & coffee was fantastic a bit over priced Staff are rude,I don't think I will be returning What a let down!

Had a lovely wee breakfast. Was just enough and well worth the money..lovely and clean cafe.friendly staff.

Popped in while on a day visit to Galashields. Staff were very helpful and cheery ordered food and was not disappointing first class and great quality and value for money.I had All Day Breakfast and hubby Mac & Cheese if we are in the area in the future we would most definatley head for this lovely eatery. All covid measures were in place. Many Thanks

I only ever go in for he same thing...sausage ,egg, chips n beans . Why Macari's ? Because they succeed where so many cafe's fail in my opinion. The meal I order is exactly the same every time, I know what I go in for and that's what I get...every time. But also, the ingredients are good. The sausage is better than most cafe sausages which are often just bread and dripping in a weird skin...these are good..I look forward to them. The beans are always hot ( again, something so many cafes seem incapable of getting right ) and appear to be better than an awful lot of 'catering grade' beans. Chips are crisp and plentiful and the egg never overcooked. The tables are clean and the cafe as a whole seems clean. Pot of tea could really do with being a bit bigger to be honest.

The fish and chips look as if they have come straight from farm foods to the table after being cooked to death. This has got to be the worst fish n chips I have ever been served. My wife didn't touch hers and no questions asked. Would never return.

You place your order at the counter from an overhead board. Carry your drinks and food to the table. Likewise evrything else you need. Staff are not keen on helping even if you are elderly.

Only had sandwich but it was lovely...fresh bread, ample salad, coleslaw was delicious. My other half chose a panini...again served up with same ample fresh salad. Pot of tea for two. All at a very reasonable price and served with a smile.

I eat here quite often when I’m in Galashiels, it’s convenient, it’s clean and the food is nice and hot , we always have a chat with the staff , my husband is celiac and the staff cater for him very well , the have a separate fryer for gluten free..

Been in here twice now in the past month, bacon rolls and coffee. Very tasty. second time was for lunch, Cheese n Mac, 2 panini and side order of fries and coffees. All very tasty with the panini and fries freshly cooked to order. Staff were very friendly and the premises were clean and welcoming.

Visited borders town of Galashiels yesterday for the first time in several years.Travelled there on the relatively new borders railway.We were looking for somewhere for a snack lunch.Came across Macari cafe at the end of the High Street,just what we were looking for!We had lovely lentil sour and a filled roll, with a drink for £6.10p each.Service was quick and friendly.Drop in next time you are in Galashiels at lunchtime.

Had probably the worst fish and chips i have ever had.It was frozen and cheap quality.The staff were not exactly a bunch of laughs either.Very very poor all round.

Had time before an appointment, at counter asked by waitress if I wanted tea (thought she meant cup of tea) but when I ordered food was snapped at, "You said you did not want food." It seems the woman had meant to ask did I want to "eat." When I explained what I believed she said she replied, "I was only trying to wind you up." I told her I did not appreciate her tone or attempt to "wind me up" and I was leaving. She was instantly apologetic, saying not everyone gets her sense of humour. I stayed, had meal and left but was unsettled by her attitude, being snapped at for ordering food when she mistakenly thought I did not want food is not how I expect to be treated.

Nice breakfast and lunch menu, also very good coffee and cakes or scones. Staff are friendly and helpful and cafe used by a lot of locals. Well worth a visit

After visiting Abbotsford, we were looking for some lunch. This little place caters for gluten free and the prices are good and the portions big. Friendly staff too. Can’t fault it

Stopped here for a snack and proper coffee.lovely place nice staff and great food.good menu also Gluten free menu which is a great help.lovely ice cream too.also stopped here to support the smaller shops/eateries.

Called in this cafe Thursday morning 28th March . We hsd been on a coach trip and wanted a break.We had two cups of lattee which were excellent particularly on a cold morning! The staff were very good and the ambiance was good. I recommend this cafe to anyone. Well done

For the price the two meals we were served were fine. Absolutely perfect place to grab a cuppa and basic meal if you're visiting the town of Galashiels and want quick, friendly no frills service. Reasonably priced as well.

Always when in galashiels for the day we visit macari's cafe if you want a light lunch bacon roll sausage in a roll rec this is the place to go.very friendly staff and good food

We were in Galashiels for a family visit. Dropped in for coffee in the early afternoon. Staff were friendly and helpful. It was after the lunch surge, so things were fairly quiet and we got our coffees and snacks quite quickly.

Llamado aquí para el almuerzo hoy mientras estábamos en Galashiels. Pedimos 2 panini de pollo de la coronación, con un completo y media ración de patatas fritas. Fuimos a la mesa a esperar para nuestra comida. Las patatas fritas eran cocinados a la orden, y el panini tostado para nosotros. Una vez listo, la comida estaba situada en la parte superior de la barra. No fue traído a nosotros, no nos llamó para la comida, y si no hubiésemos visto, podría estar sentado allí ahora! El total porción de patatas fritas era muy poco más grande que la media ración, y el panini muy normal. El personal era de mano.

Fish and chips - think they were from Farmfoods. Definitely a 'cook from frozen' meal. Bland and just horrible. Won't return.

Visited this dive today for lunch unfortunately. My wifes fish was straight out the freezer along with my sausages and our chips . Our daughters macaroni was just pasta with a blob of melted cheese over it . I can safely say never again

Un gran café, con un personal amable, creo que había un nuevo miembro del personal te sugiero que en si están necesitando para conseguir una fila, para que no suceda en frente de los clientes, aparte y explicar dónde van mal, la comida era buena, y rápido

No haber encontrado ninguna cafés en la calle principal de la ciudad en este café en encontré camino. Volver al coche. Agradable cafetería limpia optamos por patatas respaldada, que eran muy buenas adecuadamente cocinados no superficial. El personal era muy amable y acogedor. Volver a llamarme.

Personal muy amable y servicial. Buena comida. Recomendado. Buen café con una gran variedad de menú. Asientos al aire libre disponible en verano.

Estado viniendo aquí pasado par de meses para desayuno y tengo que decir que es genial, nada de que quejarse.. no tenía nada pero aparte de desayunar así 4 * volveré :)

Mal servicio, mala limpieza, terminó con un frío dolor causado por una taza sucia, no me impresionó, no recomendaría este lugar

I was really pleased by the value for money of the cooked breakfast. Would highly recommend if you're looking for a no frills breakfast. Lovely friendly staff

Recently whilst working in Galashiels I decided to have lunch here.The specials board outside said "all day breakfast £4.95" I thought that's not bad,so went in and ordered said breakfast with 1 extra rasher of bacon and a can of Pepsi.They charged me 90p for the extra bacon and £1.50 for a Pepsi.I will not be eating here ever again,plus the staff were as miserable as sin.Avoid avoid avoid.

I was dragged in by the wife and mother-in-law (not the reason I cut her brakes) for a spot of lunch...my god what an experience, the coffee was pish and the food cooked by HMP Slade Prisons finest...on a good day.Macca cheese? mere like the result of a junkie spewing up after drinking a pint of bull sperm.I had better stop there, seriously though, steer clear even if dared into going there, I've had more pleasure falling home steaming and trying to insert my tallywhacker into our giant cactus.

we stopped at this cafe for lunch just on passing , it had a warm and relaxing atmosphere . the lunch was freshly made and reasonably priced . the staff were attentive and friendly. would recommend this cafe .

The signage outside says this place has been established since 1924 so I was expecting something quirky and unique but must admit was disappointed as it was just a standard café.The set up is very much school canteen or a 1990's Littlewoods or BHS café. Pick up your brown tray, pick your food and drink then pay at the end. I ordered sausage, beans and chips (a throw back to BHS café when I was a teenager) and hubby went for a coronation chicken baked potato. The food was okay - nothing special but edible and filling. It doesn't have much atmosphere but it did seem busy enough. £12 for two lunches and two drinks so was decent value. I think had I not gone expecting some fantastic Italian style deli café I would have been less disappointed.

I have eaten here several times over the last few years but today's effort has put me off retuning. I had a veg burger with salad, my other half a cheese burger with salad. My veg burger was quite thin with mostly carrot cubes and rice (which I have never had in a burger nor would I expect to as its not a veg!). It tasted ok but hardly what i would call a veg burger). The cheeseburger was enjoyed as was his latte. The 'with salad consisted of shredded iceberg lettuce and two thin slices of tomato on the bun served on a side plate. Not what I would class as 'with salad! We heard the waitress very loudly shout at someone else ' do these burgers get a salad?' Oh well that was an easy order then. Certainly wasn't worth what we paid. Didnt see any of the owners which may explain the waitresses chatting across to each other from behind the counter and one sitting on the customer seats.dissapointed, with plenty other eating places business needs to smarten up.

Good choice of gluten free food - toasties, soup and cakes - which is good for a small cafe. Food was nice and staff were friendly and helpful.

My wife and I dropped in to Macari's for a mid-morning coffee and scone. The scones were delicious but we agreed that our coffees, my wife's cappuccino and my americano, were possibly the weakest we have ever been served anywhere. If nobody had told me that there were coffee I'd never have guessed it ! Room for very easy improvement here.

Popped in for lunch whilst on the road further North. Hubble & I had soup of the day, lentil, which seemed home made and was good enough although quite small portions. Teenage son had lasagne and chips, clearly microwaved but he ate it without complaint! The cakes we had were pretty nice though. We ordered at the counter but our hot food was brought to the table. The cafe itself is very clean but not exactly cutting edge decor! Would consider going again.

The review is in the title. Looks like a school canteen. And serves easy food Mac cheese etc so boring like being at school won't be back, funny how the memories came back tho.

from hearing some good reviews I thought I would try it out. I wasn't impressed. No greeting when I came through the door and no table service. Coffee was ok but not the best. If you want a decent lunch and a nice cup of coffee try somewhere else .....

Yip just been revamped Rose the manageress is always friendly her cooking is first class eggs done to perfection always has a smile and a warm welcome for every body has all her colleagues working as a team to ensure a happy atmosphere and a joy to sit and relax with your friends and family.

Had latte and a toastie was ok but cheese had no taste chips are frozen ones but latte was good bit expensive for what it is. Place was clean and staff friendly but you have to place your order and go and pick up your meal from the counter not table service

your usual chippy sit in but ok.i ordered fish and chips expecting fresh fish but it was like the ones you buy in the freezer shops with the breadcrumbs and frozen chips too, i couldnt eat all the fish as it had black bits in it which was strange as it wasnt the skin put me off.

Haven't been to this cafe for years, since I was a little girl. Decided to pop in for a bite of lunch and was extremely disappointed. My mother and me other a tuna & cucumber sandwich each along with a pepsi and latte. They then gave us tuna & cheese. We took it back to explain, producing the receipt to prove what we ordered and the lady proceeded to tell us if we wanted tuna & cucumber we would need to have it on a toastie as they have frozen bread.I was really put off by this point and decided against eating there. My mum asked for the money back for the sandwiches and it wasn't until we were leaving that she realised they had only gave her back half of the money. She decided against going back to complain as she didn't want to deal with them. We never even got an apology. I wouldn't be so bothered if it wasn't for the fact that all they had to make was a simple sandwich and then were very hostile about the situation. Would not recommend to anyone.

This is a self service cafe The food is very good & reasonably priced. Tables are clean but it is awkward that the seating is static. it is looking onto a busy road, but if you move nearer the rear it is ok. When the door is shut it isnt so noticable. It is still a good place to get a meal or drink.

not bad food and service if you dont mind to get nuber to collect food which is shouted at you - remember what number you are otherwise they will shout stupid number forever (order number 3 ! Order 3!!! Oh its mine better to collect my overpiced food before will get cold). Old guy bit creepy and from his facial expresion I can read that he is not enjoing much so better avoid eye contact in case him having bad day but this is part of a charm of this place.

They have a wide and varied menu available and reasonably priced. We purchased a take-away meal as Cafe was closed when we arrived about 6:30pm. I had chicken with chips, there was plenty chis and a smashing bit of chicken although it was slightly dry.

Nice place to stop for a tasty snack in Galashiels. Family owned and run and not at all souless.Tasty Italian influenced cafe. We will always snack there on trips to the Borders.

very good and reasonablly priced breakfas in a good position in . Staff are friendly and locals keep going back

Typical Cafe but nice, freshly prepared food, decent portions and good prices. Excellent coffee and yummy, fluffy chips.

Typical cafe food, rather overpriced for what it is though.

Staff were very hospitable and cafe meals were excellent value. Special offers for pensioners on most days.

What a surprise finding this wonderful cafe; totally unexpected in the quiet borders town of Galashiels. Words do not seem adequate to completely explain the place.Located on the A7 between Edinburgh and the M74 on the route to England through the borders is the mill town of Galashiels. We stopped for an essential break and wandered into Macari's. This cafe has been in the same Italian family ownership for over 85 years, and the owners are working in the cafe today. Their hands-on care is evident in all aspects of the cafe. It really shows that someone cares for the customers. The decor, the menu, the food, the ice cream, the service, the toilets, the garden - everything spells love. The menu has an extensive gluten free section, with main courses cakes and desserts, which for us, is just heaven. The food is simple cafe style, but still satisfies. We loved it. Another little thing, worthy of a stop in Galashiels and sampling the cafe, are the Banksy's pictures in the car park at the back. There are the Kissing Policeman, Marylyn Monroe, some monkeys that I noticed. If you go to Edinburgh for the culture of the festival, you should at least take the A7, stop here and see the art and sample at the cafe.