Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Derbyshire

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Derbyshire? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Stones Restaurant Matlock

4.9

4.9 (2745)

£26 to £40

British

Matlock

About the restaurant

Tucked away in the heart of former spa town Matlock, Stones is a cosy restaurant serving modern British cuisine. The restaurant’s interior is smart and intimate while the kitchen marries British produce with recipes inspired by international cuisine. Don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of the seasonal lunch and dinner menus, every dish demonstrates the culinary imagination, technique and flair of the vibrant kitchen team, led by head chef Kevin Stone. The additional tasting menu offers eight courses partnered with a carefully selected optional flight of wine. Catering for all dietary requirements, Stones offer distinct vegetarian and GF menu. Diners can enjoy views overlooking the coursing waters of the River Derwent. Discreet, informed service with an informal approach, allowing the food to take centre stage, Stones is one of the finest dining experiences in the area, carrying two AA rosettes for culinary excellence. ***Visit www.stones-restaurant.co.uk for up to date menus.***

Top review

Charlotte

Dined 1 day ago

We always enjoy visiting Stones. Beautiful, well considered menu’s. The thing that really makes it special though is the service. Attentive, friendly and polite. Would highly recommend.

Odyssey Greek Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (930)

£26 to £40

Greek

Chesterfield

About the restaurant

Odyssey Restaurant is a little chunk of Greece transported into the heart of Chesterfield, offering customers a journey of authentic flavours, sounds and the atmosphere of Greece.

Owned and run by a Greek family, Odyssey is based in the centre of Chesterfield town on 1-3 Knifesmithgate, in a traditional English building and what used to be known as the old Queen’s Head. The owners have managed to bring the building back to life by marrying old English and Greek tradition, maintaining the beauty of the building, but also enhancing it with sites and the aroma of Greece.

Among the many menu choices, one can find lovely Greek salad (horiatiki) to chicken, pork, vegetable or prawn skewers or a classic moussaka, rabbit stifado or meatballs with goat’s cheese. Mediterranean flavours and love for cooking Greek authentic recipes is the menu inspiration.

Top review

Dean

Dined on Mar 4, 2025

Nice friendly staff and the food is absolutely delicious.

The Barrel Inn

4.8

4.8 (138)

£25 and under

British

Hope Valley

About the restaurant

A Traditional Derbyshire Inn
With A Five Counties View!

The Barrel Inn, a traditional Derbyshire country inn, dates back to 1597 and stands at the head of Bretton Clough, in the heart of the Peak District.

Being one of only five properties in this small hamlet, on a table of land some 1300 feet above sea level, The Barrel Inn proudly claims to be the highest pub in Derbyshire.

Its panoramic views of the majestic Hope Valley and the Peak District National Park are magnificent and on a clear day you are able to enjoy views over five counties.

The pub serves a fine selection of well kept real ales and delicious, freshly cooked, mostly locally sourced food, every day.

Old worldly charm - peaceful oak-beamed bar, real log fires, flagstone floors, studded doors in low doorways, beamed ceilings and polished copper and brass - have all been retained to enhance the overall charm and friendliness of the Inn.

Top review

Rachel

Dined 3 days ago

Good food with excellent presentation. Very tasty and a good range to choose from.

The Bluebell

4.7

4.7 (2047)

£25 and under

British

Alfreton

About the restaurant

The Bluebell is a smart, modern place to relax offering fuss-free food and drinks that retain the reputation for quality we’ve hopefully earned at Stones. Dogs are welcome in our outdoor space and bar area. No dogs will be allowed in the restaurant-style extension. Parking Please note we have a car park on-site however it can get very busy and is limited. Please respect the neighbours when parking on-street by not blocking their driveways. Please do not park opposite other cars therefore making the road too narrow to pass. Come and join us at this beautiful old pub very soon. Please note we are closed on Sunday evenings and all day on Mondays.

Top review

TimVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent service, tasty well cooked and presented meal.

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4.7

4.7 (74)

£26 to £40

British

Tideswell

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Merchant’s Yard in Tideswell!

Located in the heart of the stunning Peak District National Park, this family-run business is the ideal setting for any occasion; whether it be a relaxing lunch, delectable afternoon tea or a mouth-watering three-course dinner from our selection of seasonal menus designed by the head chef. We choose local suppliers to ensure a fresh and high-quality meal.

Our friendly, knowledgeable, Front of House team will be on hand to guide you through our selection of menus. They will also help you with choosing the right cocktail, fine wine or ale to pair with your meal.

At the time of booking please add any dietary requirements and accessibility needs. The restaurant is set over three floors with our ground floor being accessible.

If you are interested in booking our restaurant for private dining, special events or weddings please call 01298 872 442.

Top review

Joanne

Dined on Mar 2, 2025

Fabulous place , the Sunday roast was beautiful, lovely staff, great service. Very tempting to come every Sunday as we live local

The Duncombe Arms

4.6

4.6 (2308)

£26 to £40

British

Ashbourne

About the restaurant

The Duncombe Arms is a beautiful, traditional country pub situated at the heart of the lovely rural village of Ellastone on the Staffordshire / Derbyshire border. Located on the edge of the Peak District near the towns of Ashbourne and Uttoxeter it is a great place to visit providing a delightful setting in which to enjoy a drink, some lovely food, as well as a chat with friends or family.

Come inside and enjoy a roaring log fire, sample our excellent range of beers and wines or enjoy fabulous food from our award-winning chef Scott Law. Or in the summer you can laze in our large garden overlooking the view to Worthy Island Wood.

Top review

Jane

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food - a la carte menu had a lot of fish dishes. No burger available Limited vegetarian options

The Three Cottages

4.5

4.5 (485)

£25 and under

Pub

Chesterfield

About the restaurant

Soak up our friendly service and homely charm when nestled on the outskirts of Hasland, a small village on the south side of the historic market town of Chesterfield town. Here at The Three Cottages, we are the perfect retreat to sit back, relax and indulge in our delicious food with your favourite drink in hand. Our traditional pub classics are expertly crafted from our seasonal menus and the bar is crammed with local ales and tipples to tempt any taste buds. Using the most seasonal ingredients and decadent flavours, there's a dish for every desire.

Top review

Jon

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent service, atmosphere very relaxed welcoming from all staff Overall a very nice place to eat and visit

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Experience

Mother's Day Five Course Menu

Darleys Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (234)

£26 to £40

British

Derby

About the restaurant

We are an award-winning restaurant with a beautiful waterfront location in Derby. We offer you classic British and European dishes with a modern twist, within a 200-year old former mill building: Darley Abbey Mills.

We also have two outdoor terraces so if you prefer, you can enjoy al-fresco drinks overlooking the River Derwent prior to your dining experience. We’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Darleys creates incredible flavours and stunningly-presented dishes that will delight you, all paired with the perfect wine or cocktail to make your experience complete.

Darleys has won several awards and accolades:

Included in the Michelin Guide 2024
AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence 2024

Everything we do is about bringing together wonderful ingredients with beautiful presentation. Our chefs are culinary superheroes. They work tirelessly to deliver amazing, consistent tastes, day in, day out.

Top review

Cheryl

Dined today

Breakfast treat for my husband and as usual, did not disappoint. Wonderful service and excellent food of the finest quality and very tasty

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Experience

Breakfast - English sparkling - locally sourced

Experience

Traditional Sunday Lunch

Experience

Set Menu

The Devonshire Arms

4.2

4.2 (341)

£25 and under

Pub

Hartington

About the restaurant

Soak up our friendly service and homely charm when nestled in the heart of Hartington. The Devonshire Arms sits proudly in a beautiful village at the northern end of Dovedale in the scenic and ever popular Derbyshire Peak District. We are the perfect retreat to sit back, relax and indulge in our delicious food with your favourite drink in hand. Our traditional pub classics are expertly crafted from our seasonal menus and the bar is crammed with local ales and tipples to tempt any taste buds. Using the most seasonal ingredients and decadent flavours, there's a dish for every desire. Turn your fleeting visit into a welcomed stay by resting your head in one of our three luxury ensuite rooms. All decorated with cosy interiors and homely touches you'll be able to unwind in comfort and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in a home away from home.

Top review

Linda

Dined on Mar 5, 2025

The vegetarian choice was good, food excellent very hot, plenty of it and the service was lovely. The meat option was also very good. So nice to have really hot food. We had a sharing pudding which was ample and very delicious. The service was wonderful. I had a very nice glass of wine. The atmosphere is very nice and the noise level was perfect.

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Experience

Mother's Day Five Course Menu

BEAR Ashbourne

3.8

3.8 (126)

£25 and under

Café

Ashbourne

About the restaurant

BEAR Ashbourne is housed in the historic ex-Bennetts department store, breathing new life in to the space whilst taking care to preserve any historic architectural features that remain. BEAR was born on the Staffordshire / Derbyshire border, so investing in such an iconic location in Ashbourne feels like a great way to pay homage to the space and our history across the two counties.

From brunch to burgers, and coffee to cocktails, BEAR Ashbourne is open 7 days a week and has everything you need to move from day to night. ✨

Top review

Sarah

Dined on Feb 8, 2025

Lovely meal, amazing cocktails, attentive service. Special mention to Luke and Evan. We will be back!

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