If you know anything about English history, then you’ll know just how important the county of Lancashire has been in the development of the country. It’s seen its fair share of war, treachery, and witch trials, and is the oldest of the traditional English counties. As you can guess, there’s a lot to unpack during a trip to Lancashire. And some of the best places to eat in Lancashire are hidden gems, which makes exploring the county even more fun.
If you’re not much of a history buff, and prefer the great outdoors, you’ll have no problem finding unique hiking trails, especially around the Forest of Bowland. And for all you food lovers out there, the county is famed for its fresh vegetables and produce, so you can imagine how popular the Lancashire restaurants are.
There’s no shortage of places to go in Lancashire, and even on a dreary day, the views over the Lancastrian countryside are remarkable. From the Ribble Valley to the Fylde Coast and beyond, you’ll be spoiled for choice in terms of places to eat. But of course, you’ll want to make sure you find the best places to eat in Lancashire, which is why I’ve put together this list to help you plan your trip to this northern English gem.
Best places to eat in Lancashire
Fylde Coast
The Fylde Coast is a stretch of coastline in Lancashire that includes seaside towns such as Blackpool, Fleetwood, Lytham, and St Annes. It’s a very popular part of England, and there are a lot of unique places to eat along the Fylde Coast, with everything from posh restaurants to more family friendly ones.
Lancaster
Cafe Dolce
Lancaster is a beautiful historic city to visit in Lancashire, with plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from. We stopped at Cafe Dolce in the heart of the city centre for afternoon tea during our tour of the county. It’s a very modern two-storey independent cafe and coffee shop, serving breakfast, lunch, and drinks throughout the day. Their traditional afternoon tea is very popular with customers too.
The afternoon tea includes your choice of finger sandwiches, a variety of cakes and traybakes, and freshly prepared scones. There’s also a selection of teas to choose from. To book an afternoon tea at Cafe Dolce, they require 24 hours notice and at the time of booking you can select the types of sandwiches you want. Cafe Dolce is one of the best places to eat in Lancashire if you’re around the Lancaster area.
Preston
Bar Pintxos
It’s quite difficult to find an authentic Spanish restaurant in Lancashire, but I may have done just that. Bar Pintxos is located in the heart of Preston’s city centre, with a menu inspired by the Basque country in the north of Spain. The modern Spanish decor paired with the music and pintxos displayed along the bar give it a great atmosphere.
The menu doesn’t only have pintxos though. Bar Pinxtos offers a delicious selection of tapas dishes on the menu as well. As long as you haven’t over faced yourself with your pintxos and tapas, a tasty dessert is a great way to end your meal. The Burnt Basque Cheesecake is a must-try, and has a slightly different taste and texture than the cheesecake you’re probably used to eating. You won’t find a better Spanish restaurant in Lancashire than Bar Pintxos, so book yourself a table and enjoy.
Haute Dolci
There are dessert houses, and then there’s Haute Dolci. They have several locations across the country, so I was really pleased to find out that they have one in Preston’s city centre. Haute Dolci is known for its luxurious desserts and lavish interiors. There are so many sweet options on the menu, you’ll definitely be spoiled for choice. Everything is made to order in their open kitchen, so when I saw a waffle machine I knew what I had to order.
The “An Offer She Can’t Refuse” waffles consist of milk chocolate, strawberries, and vanilla gelato. The name says it all because you really can’t refuse this dessert. For you pancake lovers out there, try the “Ripe For The Taking!” stack which comes with bananas and caramelized hazelnuts. On the less sweet side of things, their toasties are pretty tasty and a great alternative for a savoury snack. If you still have room, the Fabulous Ferrero milkshake is well worth ordering too. Haute Dolci is one of the best places to eat in Lancashire if you have a sweet tooth.
Delishus by Saladishy
It can be difficult to find healthy places to eat while you’re travelling, but luckily Preston has Saladishy. It’s a healthy food restaurant located in the city centre, and all of their dishes are under 500 calories. You can even indulge in their pancake stack and feel guilt-free afterwards. They have quite a big menu selection, or you can build your own salad or poke bowl if you want. Add a fresh fruit smoothie or alcohol-free cocktail to your meal and you’ll be in heaven.
With its bright pink exterior, it’s probably one of the most noticeable restaurants in Preston’s city centre. It’s definitely one of the top places to eat in Lancashire for healthy food while you’re on the go.
Townhouse Coffee & Brew Bar
There’s nothing better than going out for brunch, and Townhouse Coffee & Brew Bar in the centre of Preston knows how to do it well. They have everything from bagels to smoothie bowls and more traditional brunch dishes like Eggs Benedict and pancakes. The pancakes are topped with fresh fruit and drizzled with your choice of maple syrup or chocolate sauce. If you’re feeling hungry, definitely order this.
On the lighter side of things, an order of their avocado bruschetta will more than hit the spot. For drinks, I’d recommend either one of their coffee brews or a tasty fruit smoothie to top off an amazing brunch experience. And don’t forget to try a bite of their vegan brownies too!
Ribble Valley
Artisan Ribble Valley
If you’re driving around the Ribble Valley and happen to be near Whalley, you have to stop at Artisan Ribble Valley. This city-style restaurant in the middle of the countryside has a massive menu, and can seat 200 people. Their British and regionally inspired menu draws on local produce from all over Lancashire, so you can expect only the freshest ingredients being served. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options as well, so it’s one of the best places to eat in Lancashire for people of all dietary requirements.
If you like seafood, I’d highly recommend starting with the scallops. I’m not a big lover of seafood, but these scallops were cooked to perfection and extremely tasty. If you want to stick with traditional British food, fish and chips or steak and ale pie are both great options for a main dish. Don’t leave Artisan Ribble Valley without trying one of their desserts either, mainly the Lemon & Yuzu Tart. This is one of the best restaurants in the Ribble Valley to dine at, for either lunch or dinner, so add it to your list if you’re touring around Lancashire.
Deux Amis
The Ribble Valley is filled with picturesque, quaint villages nestled between rolling hills and farmland. One of these villages is Whalley, known for its independent shops, restaurants, and the famous 14th century Cistercian Abbey ruins. Just off of the main street is Deux Amis – the perfect place for brunch in Lancashire. Their French inspired menu has everything from traditional croissants to Croque Monsieur. But you can still find English brunch favourites like pancakes and Eggs Benedict on the menu as well.
If you’re feeling a little bit adventurous, I’d recommend trying their Eggs Benedict with black pudding, which is a nice twist on a classic brunch dish. The smashed avocado with feta and poached eggs is very tasty, and is presented beautifully too. My favourite thing on the menu is the Croque Monsieur/Madame, which I added a side of bacon to. Deux Amis is now one of my favourite places to eat in Lancashire and it’ll be yours too if you visit.
The Coach & Horses
Have you ever visited or stayed in a traditional Coaching House before? Located in Bolton-by-Bowland, a small village in the Ribble Valley, is the Coach & Horses. Not only is it a 5-star inn, it also boasts 2 Rosette Stones for culinary excellence. Although it’s recently been renovated, the interior is very traditional and elegant, with soft music adding to the dining experience. They’re open for lunch and dinner, with different menus on offer, including a sandwich menu at lunch. With everything being locally sourced and the head chef’s passion for food shining through, you’re in for an incredible dining experience.
We started things off with the winter vegetable soup, which was perfectly blended and just the right mix of flavours. Our mains were a pea risotto and the Skrei cod, which were beautifully presented. To round things off we had the chocolate pave and the pressed apple terrine for dessert. Like the starter and mains, the desserts were faultless. Coach & Horses is easily one of the best places to eat in Lancashire and you’ll definitely enjoy this unique rural location.
The Dispensary
In the mood for drinks? Then you better head down to Clitheroe and stop by The Dispensary. It’s a very quirky bar, serving craft beer, cocktails, and delicious charcuterie boards to snack on while you socialize. The bar is very cozy, with a back room that has a stunning stone accent wall with a wood burning fire attached to it. You’ll also find lots of vintage items dotted around, many of which have been bought from local auctions.
I’d recommend trying out one of their classic cocktails and sitting next to the nice warm fireplace. They have a few charcuterie boards to choose from as well. We went with the cheeseboard which was great to nibble on. Yes, I know cheese boards are meant to be paired with wine, but I prefer cocktails. It’s one of the more unique places to eat in Lancashire, and it’s only a stone’s throw away from Clitheroe Castle.
Wyre
The Applestore Cafe
If you’re looking for unique places to eat in Lancashire, the Wyre district is full of incredible locally run cafes and restaurants. The village of Scorton is a nice spot to stop for a break, and I’d recommend having lunch at The Applestore Cafe. It’s located inside a walled garden in the Wyresdale Park, and customers can enjoy the sun shining down on them as they sit in the glasshouse. The menu is always changing, and there’s a lovely selection of freshly made baked goods available too.
Planning a trip to Lancashire
Whether you’re exploring Burnley and the Ribble Valley, enjoying the sea along the Fylde Coast, or exploring the stunning countryside, there’s no shortage of fantastic places to eat in Lancashire. You’ll find everything from modern British menus to traditional tea rooms and quirky restaurants in Lancashire. If you love food as much as I do, then you’ll enjoy touring this part of the country even more.
Do you know about any other unique places to eat in Lancashire? There are plenty of hidden gems dotted around the county, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on what other restaurants or cafes I should visit next. And feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions. Remember to follow my travels on Instagram for more travel inspiration!
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