The Best Places to Eat Derbyshire Oatcakes

What are Derbyshire oatcakes?

A local delicacy, Derbyshire oatcakes date back to the 17th century. They are similar to a pancake (the thin crepe sort – not the fluffy American style) or a wheat tortilla in in both shape and texture. They are round (about the size of a side plate), soft and pliable. They are made from equal quantities of oatmeal and plain flour.

Derbyshire oatcakes are markedly different from the Scottish biscuit variation. Derbyshire oatcakes also differ slightly from the neighbouring Staffordshire variety. Additions made to this post 6th October 22.

How to eat Derbyshire oatcakes

Either make your own or various shops and bakeries sell Derbyshire oatcakes. To reheat they can be grilled, fried or oven baked and then topped or filled with either sweet or savoury accompaniments.

For more comprehensive information and a recipe to make your own oatcakes, click here.

My recommendations of the best cafés and restaurants to eat Derbyshire oatcakes

Café at Libby’s, Chesterfield

The Café at Libby’s is situated at the top end of Chatsworth road (away from town). There’s no car park but you can always find on street parking nearby. It’s a bijou little tea room with an attractive garden to the rear and also some al fresco pavement seating at the front that perfect for people watching. For other great places to eat alfresco in Chesterfield, click here.

It was here that I had my first taste of Derbyshire oatcake! The oatcakes here are freshly made on site to the owner’s personal recipe and I have to say are probably the best I’ve had.

Oatcakes feature on both the breakfast and lunch menus. Choose from bacon and maple syrup or cheddar cheese and bacon. There’s an additional lunchtime option of roasted vegetables and mature cheddar. All options are £7.95. I thoroughly recommend the bacon and maple syrup version!

If oatcakes don’t tickle your fancy, there’s a good range of breakfasts and lunch options plus a very tempting cake counter. All freshly made by the lovely staff.

It’s worth booking although they do take walk ins, and if here is busy you could always go next door to Koo which is also very good (although doesn’t serve oatcakes).

High Peak Bookstore and Café, near Buxton

If you’ve never been to the High Peak Bookstore and Café, you really must! It’s a wonderful Aladdin’s cave of discounted books and stationery and gifts. You can park for free, there’s a lovely children’s room, decent toilets with baby change facilities and a really delightful café. Dog friendly.

Oatcakes feature on their lunch menu. For a very reasonable £5.75 you can enjoy grilled Derbyshire oatcakes, sandwiched with melted cheddar cheese and served with chutney. For a supplement you can add Parma ham. And if that doesn’t tickle your fancy there’s a wide range of lovely homecooked light bites. I can thoroughly recommend the homity pie. Most of the options are served with a beautifully fresh side salad finished with nuts and seeds. Read my previous review.

Edensor Tea Cottage, near Bakewell

Situated in the heart of the Chatsworth Estate and in the picture perfect village of Edensor, Edensor Tea Cottage is a popular tearoom. It’s based in one of the oldest buildings in the historic village – but has a recent refurbishment and strikes a perfect balance of cosy and contemporary in country settings. There’s an enviable cake counter and all the staff were very polite and helpful. It’s also dog friendly. Click here for 60+ other dog friendly places to eat in Derbyshire.

Unlike many of the establishments featured here, oatcakes are not part of the breakfast menu but instead are found on the lunch menu. There’s a choice of two fillings, either mushroom, bacon and stilton or goats cheese and caramelised onion. Both options are served with salad and beautifully creamy coleslaw and cost £8.50.  

Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop Café, Pilsley near Bakewell

Chatsworth farm shop is probably the best in the county (read more about my favourite farm shops in Derbyshire here). There’s a large café with lots of outside seating that enjoys unspoilt views of the surrounding countryside. Inside enjoys design led contemporary décor designed by the Duchess of Devonshire herself.

Menus make use of as much local produce from the estate farm shop as possible. Derbyshire oatcakes accompany both the Full English and the Veggie breakfast (both priced at £10). Or for lunch savour a Derbyshire oatcake topped with Chatsworth cure bacon, tomato, cheese, field mushroom and potato salad. There’s also a vegetarian option available. Ample free parking.

The Robin Hood Baslow

The Robin Hood is a popular pub on the outskirts of Baslow. It’s perfectly situated for walks and has a large car park. It’s open throughout the day for breakfast, coffee and cake, lunch and dinner.

According to the menu, a Derbyshire oatcake is part of both the Derbyshire breakfast and the vegetarian breakfast. When we visited they’d actually run out of oatcakes, so we got 10% off our bill… which I presume means that they do normally feature. The breakfasts were delicious and generously portioned. 

Basilia, Langley Mill

Near the Nottinghamshire border, Langely Mill is not the sort of place that tourists would head for a mooch but if you’re local, then Basilia is an absolute gem of a tea room and deli. There’s a pretty garden to the rear.

Basilia are famed for their breakfasts with come with a Derbyshire oatcake. There’s also a good cake counter, delicious lunch options and afternoon teas that people rave about. Afternoon teas need booking otherwise it’s walk ins only.

Colemans Deli, Hathersage

Colemans Deli is a much loved part of Hathersage’s thriving food scene. Great for pre and post hike refreshments.

Made at Number 18, Alfreton

This bijou cafe is definitely worth a visit! Great food and lovely staff. A Derbyshire oatcake comes with both their Full Derbyshire breakfast (which is also served at lunchtime) and Veggie breakfast.

Recommended by the Lovely Local Indie community

I haven’t tried these places myself (yet! I’m only one person with limited time and resources) but these have been highly recommended by the Lovely Local Indie community and passed my background checks (an overall good rating on TripAdvisor, a 4+ hygiene rating and nothing off-putting on their website).

No10 Chesterfield 

I haven’t been inside here yet although we did order deliveries from them a few times during lockdown and the service and quality was excellent.

Granby Café in Bakewell

Very small café in Bakewell. Not at all bougie but continually praised for its food, prices and services.

The Bird Café in Hathersage

The original Marmadukes in Sheffield

Is there anywhere else you would recommend for Derbyshire oatcakes? Let me know in the comments below!

If you’ve enjoyed this post, you might be interested in the best places for a Chesterfield brunch or perhaps peruse my previous foodie posts.

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