23 Best Cafés and Tea Rooms in the Peak District & Derbyshire

England is well known for its traditional tea rooms where you can really go to town with Englishness and eat scones and jam, drink lashings of tea and indulge in lots of cake. Lemon drizzle cake, Victoria Sponge, carrot cakes, Chelsea buns and eccles cakes are some of our firm favourites when it comes to cake in our beloved tea room. Other places go further and little more extravagant offering something a bit different. We’ve picked a handful of our favourite tea rooms and cafes in the Peak District and Derbyshire, some traditional, some more contemporary.

If you’ve visited somewhere we haven’t listed and think it really deserves a mention here – get in touch 🙂

1. Hassop Station Café, Bakewell 

Formerly an old railway station, this café is ideally located along the popular Monsal Trail – which opened in 2011. The old station is spacious and airy with plenty of seating and you can also hires bikes for the trail here. The book and gift shop is very good too. It does get busy but the turn over is quick to you should get a seat even during the height of summer. The food is a standard menu with nothing too fancy but everything is very fresh and tasty and they have fresh coffee and a range of teas. A firm favourite of ours.

2. Northern Tea Merchants, Chesterfield

Established in 1959, this place is probably regarded an institution locally and there’s a distinctive traditional feel to it with a good standard fayre menu but it’s decent. They have a huge range of teas more to the point with many you wouldnt see in many of tea rooms; the Indian, Ceylon and China tea selection is superb – and you can see ones here you’ve never heard of. Don’t worry though they do have standard issue tea if you’d prefer.

3. No.6 The Square, Buxton

Located in The Square, its unbeatable location means you’re right at the heart of everything in Buxton – so you can tie up lunch or a cuppa with seeing some of Buxton’s best (and scenic) sights. The menu is traditional English with everything homemade using local produce and they cater for gluten free very well too. Homemade quiche here is superb. The feel of No.6 is cosy and the collection of tea pits is quite something. Booking ahead is recommended – even if you’re booking for later in the day, it’s always very busy.

4. High Nelly’s Café, Tideswell

This place has quite the reputation for amazing breakfasts, Belgian waffles ‘to die for’, lovely homemade cakes. One review simply says ‘five stars are simply not enough’. The location is also great spot too.

5. Cobbles Café, Longnor

The cobbles serve up some pretty oatcakes and Longnor is a lovely little place to stop off if you’re passing or exploring the Peak District. Popular with hikers, cyclists and the like too. Scones and Afternoon Tea is also on offer too, a favourite English Tradition. The TripAdvisor reviews are pretty amazing too.

6. The Tea Junction, Hulme End, Nr. Buxton

Originally the old engine shed along The Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, this is a grand little spot to enjoy the Peak District. Conveniently located opposite is the Hulme End Visitor Centre, the original ticket office and waiting room for the Manifold Valley Light Railway, which now houses railway books and books of local interest, railway artefacts, some gift items, and much information about the area. Lovely atmosphere in a unique setting as well as a cracking traditional English menu.

7. The Chakra Lounge, Buxton

If you’ve eaten at The Chakra Lounge in Buxton’s town centre, you will already know how amazing the food is. Blending tastes and vibes from both Eastern and Western culture, the cafe has established itself as the brightest jewel in the crown of Spring Gardens in Buxton and you’ll find everything from noodles to nachos and burgers to Bollywood Benedict. The menu is flavour-packed and ingredient focused and produce is sourced locally. Chakra plenty of veggie / vegan / gluten and dairy free options too, probably more than most.

8. Village Green Café, Eyam

A real gem of place, the Village Green Cafe is a modern tea room that does everything you’d expect but with a bit of a twist. It’s lovely inside and the menu offers plenty of cakes, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and various snacks. What’s great about this place is there’s some thought gone what’s on the menu and snacks on offer. There’s a superb vegetarian selection too as well as gluten free and also soya milk too if you prefer it. The sourdough bread they use is just delicious. Takeaway is available if you’re on the go – the soups are always really tasty on a chilly day.

9. Grindleford Station Café

Over the years, this place has been mentioned in the media, often named as one of the best cafes in the area. It’s old skool with a no-nonsense menu. Don’t expect to find a latte – more like strong tea and milky coffee and English breakfast and bacon baps. Tasty, generous portions too. Located close to one of the Peak District’s prettiest spots – Padley Gorge, this makes for a grand afternoon out in the area.

10. Café in the Park, Matlock

The location is a winner to begin with – right on the edge of the park, with lovely views of the surrounding Peaks. Wraps, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and Afternoon Tea are on offer (Afternoon Tea features lots of really indulgent cake treats and the usual clotted cream scones and traditional sandwich fillings – presented nicely too). There’s a parents and tots activity morning which is great.

11. Edensor Tea Cottage, Bakewell

This licensed cafe in the idyllic village of Edensor on the Chatsworth estate is a lovely old stone building with farmhouse kitchen feel inside. There’s plenty of homemade food, English breakfast, Afternoon Tea and homemade scones too. Definitely worth teaming up a wander round Chatsworth to make a grand day out.

Edensor, Bakewell, DE45 1PH

12. Yonderman Café, Wardlow Mires

Operating on the same site for over 60 years, Yonderman is a local institution and well loved by locals who beat a path here for the mighty breakfast offering, a decent brew and the pies sound great too. There’s seating inside and out with a large car park which is handy.

13. High Peak Bookstore & Café, Brierlow Bar, Buxton

A real hidden gem, unless you know about it that is! The café (and bookshop) has developed a loyal following locally, the café serves up a great selection of homemade food, in particular the soups are stupendous by the way. Theres a cute little outdoor seating area too. The book shop makes for a great browse while you’re here too – they stock every topic you can think of.

14. Hartington Farm Shop and Café, Hartington

A cosy little spot in pretty Hartington, this place is the perfect stop off after a spot of walking. They pride themselves on their (well rated on Tripadvisor) homemade cake selection. There’s light lunches too and and you can also enjoy a tipple if you fancy it. There’s a nice selection of gifts and cards too.

15. Chatsworth Farm Shop and Café, Bakewell

Tasty seasonal dishes are on offer here including full breakfasts, light lunches and also Afternoon Tea, set in a lovely space overlooking great views of the estate. All food on the menu does of course use as much produce as they can from the estate, such as meat, eggs, fish and fresh veg.

16. Rose Cottage Café, Castleton

A full licensed tea room, a perfect stop off if you’ve been or about to walk the surrounding Peak District hills and valleys. Just as nice in winter offering a cosy corner with a cuppa and a slice of cake; in summer there’s seating outside. As one five star review says, ‘Very welcome meal after a tramp up Mam Tor’. The offerings are a traditional English menu as well as a bit of continental vibe and a good children’s menu.

17. Coleman’s Deli, Hathersage

Both a cafe and a deli, there’s a fab selection of food to eat in or take away. The fresh bread and pastries are lovely. There’s also a nice range of pickles, jams and deli foods. They offer picnic boxes to order which is a great idea if you want to enjoy some yummy food on the go. A gem of a place with great reviews.

18. Eat @ No.5 Buxton

Having earned a reputation as one of top to places in Buxton for eating on the go, whether that’s sandwiches, salad boxes, panini’s, breakfasts and decent coffee, their homemade cakes are also quite something. Pastries, cheesecakes, muffins, cup cakes, you name it, you can find it here if you feel the need for a sweet treat. There’s everything from coffee cake, vanilla slices, chocolate muffins, flapjack and more – but they do go the extra mile with interesting toppings and flavours. We won’t temp you anymore, just go on try it yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

19. Cintra’s Tea Rooms, Hathersage

A licensed cafe-restaurant in the picturesque village of Hathersage, offers tasty homemade food including a range of homemade cakes as well as lunches, all day breakfasts, light snacks and sandwiches. The winner here is not only decent, well rated food but the delightful secluded garden area with outdoor seating – which is lovely in summer and a perfect spot to enjoy their traditional Afternoon Tea they also offer.

20. Old School Tea Room, Wetton

This vintage style tea room is described as a ‘true hidden gem’ and ‘properly lovely tea room’ in it’s reviews on Tripadvisor; every one of its 179 reviews scores it 5.0 which is a rare find. There’s a always a selection of impressive homemade cakes on the menu and the homely feel to this place makes this place a must visit if you’re in the area and need to to fuel up on your travels.

21. Canella, Glossop

A lovely cosy artisan coffee shop which is also licensed. They serve the a delicious breakfast and lunch menu of homemade dishes. The quirky, slightly rustic interior makes Canella a great pit stop for coffee, lunch or an alcoholic beverage.There’s a great selection of wines and it is also dog friendly.

22. The Eating House, Calver