Best Places to Eat Within 10 Miles of Crich
From hearthside pubs to fine dining: a feast for every occasion.
The countryside around Crich and Matlock has always known how to feed people well. Perhaps it is the bracing Peak District air that sharpens the appetite, or perhaps it is simply that this corner of Derbyshire has always taken quiet pride in doing things properly. Whatever the reason, the restaurants, pubs, tearooms and bistros within easy reach of Crich offer something for every mood — from a restorative pot of tea after a morning walk to a long, unhurried dinner worth planning your visit around.
"Good food, warmly given, in beautiful surroundings — this is what the Derbyshire table has always offered its guests."
Stones Restaurant, Matlock
If there is one name that rises consistently to the top when Matlock dining is discussed, it is Stones. Tucked into the heart of town, this intimate and warmly regarded restaurant offers seasonal menus and a celebrated eight-course tasting menu that showcases local produce with genuine skill and care. The kitchen here is confident without being showy, and the dining room is the kind of place where a meal stretches comfortably into an evening. Booking well in advance is heartily recommended — its reputation is well earned and its tables are much sought after.
The Red Lion, Matlock
The Red Lion is the longest-running free house in Matlock, and it wears that heritage with easy pride. With its own fabulous micro-brewery on site, it is the natural first choice for lovers of a proper real ale — and the food is just as satisfying: hearty, home-cooked, and made with the kind of care that makes you want to go back. The lounge and restaurant are modern and comfortable, and the atmosphere is one of genuine warmth. This is pub dining at its very best.
The Heights Restaurant, Heights of Abraham
Perched a thousand feet above sea level on the Heights of Abraham estate in Matlock Bath, this bright and contemporary restaurant offers something rather special: floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony seating that frame a sweeping panorama of the Derwent Valley — the river below, Black Rocks in the distance, and the faint silhouette of Crich Stand on the horizon. The menu offers a well-considered range of comfort classics and restaurant favourites, and arriving by cable car only adds to the occasion.
The Devonshire Arms at Beeley
A short and scenic drive north of Matlock brings you to the charming estate village of Beeley, and to one of the most celebrated dining pubs in the Peak District. The Devonshire Arms sits on the Chatsworth Estate and serves top-quality local ales, fine wines and seasonal food in surroundings of genuine character. Whether you settle into the cosy bar with a pint and a pie, or book a table in the restaurant for something more celebratory, the warmth and quality here are entirely reliable.
Thailand Number One, Matlock
Among Matlock's restaurants, Thailand Number One occupies a particularly warm place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Described consistently as one of the finest Thai restaurants visitors have encountered anywhere, it serves generous, beautifully fresh dishes in a welcoming atmosphere. From fragrant soups and rich curries to pad Thai that arrives piping hot and wonderfully seasoned, this is a restaurant that rewards both first-time visitors and those who have been returning loyally for years.
The Mad Hatter Tea Room, Matlock
For a gentle, restorative afternoon in the most delightful of settings, The Mad Hatter Tea Room is a treasure. Housed in a fully heated outbuilding complete with log burner and indoor tables, it serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea seven days a week in a setting that is simultaneously cosy and charming. The scones are excellent, the cakes are homemade and generous, and the whole place has the sort of warmth that makes you want to sit for far longer than you intended. A perfect refuge on a grey Derbyshire afternoon.
The Whitworth, Darley Dale
Just a few miles north of Matlock, the magnificent Victorian Whitworth is one of those places that makes a visit to Derbyshire feel genuinely special. The Terrace Café, set within the beautiful Whitworth Park, is open seven days a week and serves morning coffee, lunches and afternoon teas in surroundings of considerable elegance. For those who want something more, the Whitworth also hosts bistro evenings in its stunning events space — a former spa hotel that has rediscovered its purpose beautifully.
The Greyhound Inn, Cromford
In the historic village of Cromford, the Greyhound Inn is the kind of discovery that makes you quietly grateful. A warm, unpretentious free house with great character, it serves real ales from local and national micro-breweries alongside excellent home-cooked food — the pies are spoken of with particular reverence. The ladies behind the bar are famously friendly, the atmosphere is genuinely welcoming, and the setting in this UNESCO World Heritage village gives the whole experience a rather pleasing sense of occasion.