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Food & Drink Trails in Carlisle, The Western Lake District and Coast - Discover the city of Carlisle

As the only city within Cumberland, Carlisle is a melting pot of cultures that have inspired a whole host of cafes, restaurants and producers who call this place home.  It’s compact enough to explore on foot, tasting as you go from morning coffee and delicious cake at John Watt and Son who roast their own coffee blends and create unique tea infusions, through to partying the night away at Print Yard, a funky restaurant and bar that brings a fresh cosmopolitan feel to Carlisle’s restaurant scene.

After starting off the day with coffee, a walk around the city centre will take you through pretty alley ways and open plan pedestrianised areas.  Look out for Pie Demand, a relatively new business that as its name suggests serves sells the most delicious pies and if you don’t want to eat them immediately, pick up one of their pie boxes to take home.

Take in some culture at Carlisle Cathedral where they now offer packages that include their Angel’s View Tour, exploring previously unseen parts of the cathedral, with afternoon tea in their on-site café.  The café also serves up delicious lunches or why not lunch or brunch at some of the city’s other hotspots:

Coco Mill & The Last Zebra – both known for unusual beers, great cocktails and an excellent plant based menu that sits alongside the regular menu.

The Thorne Tree Bistro – Open all day, they offer inventive dishes and particularly creative brunch options.

You could call in to the covered Market or visit Cranstons Food Hall, to pick up hot or cold supplies for a picnic lunch from their range of local produce, or choose a treat from the delicious displays of meat from their own farms to cook at home.

Of course, it’s not only the centre of Carlisle that the best food can be found. If you have a chance top venture a little further out, whether by bus, train or car.  Just on the outskirts of Carlisle you can buy beer direct from the Great Corby Brewhouse or visit Carlisle Brewing Company and sample some local ales in their tap room, or head to Brampton for lunch at The Howard Arms.

Back in Carlisle there are a number of great eateries for evening meals.  Tuck in to tasty Italian cuisine at Casa Romana, indulge in an upmarket spin on pub classics at The Old Bank or go for fun American style food at Eaten by Monsters.

Time to stay over?  The Halston is a beautiful boutique hotel located right in the heart of the city offering chic dining and a fabulous cocktail bar.  The perfect way to end a visit in Carlisle!

           

The Cumberland Food & Drink Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is supported by Cumberland Council and Sellafield.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus