11 of the best Cockermouth restaurants

There are loads of places to eat in Cockermouth, and it’s the place to go in West Cumbria for an amazing variety of tasty food options. This small and colourful town has lots to offer when it comes to dining experiences: indulge with high-end meals made from the best local produce or sit back with some comfort food to boost your energy after a busy day.

Our pick of the best Cockermouth restaurants means you can find the very top locations for your afternoon or evening meals. Will you choose a favourite to stick with for your whole stay, or sample a different restaurant every day?

Aspava

An authentic Turkish dining experience in the centre of Keswick, Aspava offers lots of delicious cuisine that hails from Gaziantep in south-east Turkey. Whether you fancy meze, baklava or coffee, you can be sure of genuine, homemade delights and big portions that will fill you to the brim!

BLOCKS Steakhouse at the Allerdale Court Hotel

BLOCKS Steakhouse is a true product of the local community. In 2018, when Cockermouth residents were asked what kind of new eatery they’d like to see in the town, most opted for a steak restaurant with top-quality meat. And so BLOCKS was born. Part of the Allerdale Court Hotel, the steakhouse sources the best local products including steak from Cumbrian farms and eggs from just 5 miles away. They believe in generous portions at great prices!

The Trout Hotel

Offering several eating experiences including a Terrace Bistro, the Derwent Restaurant and The Lounge Bar, you can choose your preferred dining style at The Trout Hotel. You can even book a private dining room for a special event, or soak up the sun in the riverbank garden. One of The Trout’s most popular offerings is an afternoon tea that you can really indulge in: Champagne, sweet treats, finger sandwiches… yum!

Whichever you opt for, you’ll get only the best quality, locally sourced food at this four-star riverside hotel.

Fredericks Lounge Bar & Restaurant

This contemporary lounge bar and restaurant is great for a stylish night out. The menu is colourful, with everything from classic pizzas and pastas, to more unusual dishes such as pan-fried guinea fowl and Persian lamb curry. Will you pick your favourites or are you keen to sample something new?

After you’ve filled up, you can settle back into some of the comfiest restaurant seating you’ve ever known and continue your evening with a few delightful cocktails from the bar!

Fermento

Recreating the friendly, informal atmosphere of traditional Italian family meals, Fermento is a bijoux pizzeria that is perfect for a couple looking for an intimate meal of delicious Mediterranean fare. All pizzas are made to order and follow the seasons with their flavourful toppings.

The Manor House Hotel

Set in an imposing building flagged by stone pillars, the outside belies the warm welcome you will receive inside the Manor House Hotel. The family-run, 19^th-century, Georgian, Grade II-listed building (now that’s a mouthful!) is full of period features and the delicious food is prepared by Swiss-trained chef, Edward Bassam.

Shills of Cockermouth

Shills is a bright and colourful spot that’s all about good food and great wine. With a menu that changes monthly, there’s still always a place for their best-loved meals. Catering for gluten-free and other diets, there’s also a cocktail and gin menu that’s not to be missed!

If you love what you’ve tasted, why not stop off at their on-site deli on the way out? There’s a range of wines, cheeses and gift hampers to browse and buy.

Portofinos Bistro

The staff at Portofinos Bistro take a lot of pride in their Italian restaurant, and you can certainly tell! Everyone is super friendly and welcoming, and the food is top notch. Their ethos follows the traditional Mediterranean outlook on group dining: you’re encouraged to enjoy your meal at your own pace, and to relish the company you’re in. For an extended, relaxed evening, this is the restaurant to choose.

The Spice Club

The Spice Club brings a taste of India to Cumbria, with a vibrant atmosphere and deliciously fresh food. As the only Indian restaurant in Cockermouth, it lives up to its responsibilities by putting on a varied spread of North Indian and Bangladeshi delights, from the spiciest curries to mild and creamy dishes.

The Castle Bar

With an excellent gastro pub menu served alongside local ales across four dining rooms, The Castle Bar is a CAMRA national Design Awards winner and is included in CAMRA’s annual Good Beer Guide. There’s a rustic and relaxed feel about the place, and even a sun terrace where you can soak in some rays over a drink. Dogs are also welcome downstairs.

The Belle Vue

Though not technically in the town itself, this restaurant is near to Cockermouth and we thought it was well worth a mention! The Belle Vue is in the satellite village of Papcastle, just a 2-minute drive (or a 20-minute walk) from the centre of Cockermouth. A lovely village pub, you’ll sit under rustic beams and next to crackling wood burners. The food is just as wonderful: traditional pub dishes with a little something extra. The portions are good, the tastes are amazing, and the atmosphere is delightful!

Self-catering in Cockermouth

Have you been inspired by these places to eat in Cockermouth? They’re all within easy walking distance of our self-catering holiday cottages in the town, so you can leave the car at home and enjoy a pleasant stroll back home after your evening out.