The best places to eat and drink in Cartmel

Cartmel may be a small village, but it is renowned for being a foodies paradise boasting world famous puddings and Michelin Star restaurants; food lovers travel from near and far to grab a slice of Cartmel’s culinary excellence…

  • L’Enclume 

Open Tuesday-Sunday 12pm-1:30pm, 6:30pm-8pm

A famous restaurant in the UK, chef Simon Rogan opened the fine dining L’Enclume Restaurant in Cartmel 20 years ago. The restaurant opened in 2002 and grew in popularity, quickly became of the UK’s favourite diners holding the top spot as the UK’s best restaurant in The Good Food Guide from 2014-2017 and again in 2020. It has five AA Rosettes and recently become the first restaurant in the UK outside of London to gain 3 Michelin stars. The restaurant is set in an 800-year-old former smithy in Cartmel village and is brimming with character. The restaurant serves a 20-course tasting menu, which has developed from the use of wild herbs and flowers, with Simon Rogan making use of the agricultural culture in Cartmel, with most of the supplies and ingredients used in the restaurant originating from the peninsula from his 12-acre farm.

  • Rogan and Co 

Open Wednesday-Monday 12pm-1:45pm, 6pm-9pm

Another one of Simon Rogan’s ventures, Rogan and Co is a relaxed, neighbourhood restaurant set in a lakeside cottage in Cartmel village and has one Michelin Star. The restaurant has a pleasant, easy going atmosphere serving high quality dishes amongst a character filled cottage featuring dark wood beams, open fires and walls hung with Lakeland photography and art. Simon Rogan’s influence is clear to see on the menu serving ever-changing, rich dishes filled with flavour.

  • The Pig and Whistle 

Open Mondays & Thursdays 3pm-10pm, Friday 2pm-10pm, Saturdays & Sundays 12pm-10pm

The Pig and Whistle is country pub and bistro offering locally produced food washed down with a pint of real ale, craft beer or a fine wine. Enjoy food in a number of settings in the pub, be it in the cosy snug beside the fire or under the heater in the decorative beer garden. The menu is ever-changing due the chef using seasonal ingredients but generally follows a traditional Cumbrian theme with a Mediterranean twist with common dishes ranging from Cumberland sausage and venison burgers to crab and king prawn risotto and’ truffled tagliatelle.’ The pub was once owned by chef Simon Rogan with his influence remaining, serving excellent bistro style food.

  • The Kings Arms 

Open Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday 12pm-11pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-12am

A classic, Lakeland pub set in Cartmel village, The Kings Arms is an 18th century inn which has retained its original features including an open log fire, flagstone floors and wooden beamed ceilings. The pub offers a large selection of cask ales from various breweries including the local Unsworth’s Yard micro-brewery, accompanied with a homely menu serving seasonal menu which changes but follows a general classic pub grub theme. Food is created with the local economy in mind, supporting farms around the Cartmel area using locally sourced ingredients. As well as good food and drink, the pub comes alive at night and on a weekend, hosting regular live music events and quiz nights.

  • The Cavendish Arms 

Open Tuesday- Sunday 12pm-9pm, food is served between 5pm-9pm

The Cavendish Arms is a 450-year-old former coaching inn, brimming with character set in the village of Cartmel. The pub serves two changing cask ales often featuring Jennings brewery beers alongside other local favourites. Not a beer drinker? Not to worry, The Cavendish Arms pride themselves on their wine list which has been carefully created by the owners alongside a local wine merchant, serving high quality wine with the staff being quite knowledgeable on what wine accompanies certain tastes and dishes. The pub neighbours the area’s Michelin Star L’Enclume restaurant, but still stands as a popular place for high quality food, despite its competitor. The menu largely compromises of classic British cuisine and changes with the seasons. Classic food can be enjoyed in the snug bar, elegant dining room or outside in the beer garden, overlooking the rivers stream.