Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Western
Take-out
British
Vegetarian cafe hidden away behind a false bookcase in the bookshop. Serves organic food and drinks. Open Mon-Sat 09:30-17:00, Sun 10:00-17:00.
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Last update on 15 Dec 2016 by Guest
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28 Reviews
First Review by dogfox
Vegannet
Points +344
Amazing Quaint Cafe - Edit
Scarthin cafe is a local institution and has been here forever. Incredible selection of new and used books over multiple floors and a small hidden cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. The vegan homity pie is delicious and the cakes are interesting and yummy.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Great cake, Relaxed and friendly
Guest
prisonerofmars
Points +56
hidden treat - Edit
Food amazing, location amazing, sitting areas - amazing. Amazing bookshop to wander round after too. Perfect place for me.
Read morePros: outside seating , simple, humble, perfect food , cheerful and friendly service
Cons: None
Guest
BigSixBass
Points +437
Quite an adventure! - Edit
Went to try the café, but bought a book within a minute of entering..as it is in fact a most extraordinary bookshop, with the added bonus of a lovely quirky café on the top floor, with lots of veggie and vegan options, service with a smile, and a cute outside space too.
Read moreWe were there before lunch was served so had some vegan cake and coffees, all very good.
Cons: They charge extra for plant milks... , Should charge extra for dairy !!, Hence only 4 stars..but do go there 🙂
Guest
yixzy
Points +84
Lovely cafe in a bookshop - Edit
Didn't realise I'd not already reviewed Scarthin - it's a beautiful little cafe in a nice village on the outskirts of the peak district, located on the top floor of a quirky bookshop. Does a good range of vegan options and the coffee and cake are lovely. Soup is also very nice
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-02
Pros: Books! , Cake is lovely
Cons: Not all vegan
Guest
LJL
Points +54
Cosy - Edit
We had a pot of tea between us and shared a vegan victoria sponge cake slice which was really nice. The cafe is located within the bookstore so perfect for spending an afternoon.
Read moreGuest
mockingbird
Points +2802
Cute as a button - Edit
5 stars for the overall unique setting. Scarthin is one of my fave little spots in the UK, a bookshop with a ‘hidden’ veggie cafe behind one of the bookshelves that you have to pull open to enter the cafe.
Read moreI always get the vegan homity pie, it’s homemade, filling and delicious. Tge menu is small - soups, burgers, salads, loads of cake and a brunch menu before 12. If you like books and well as vegan food, you are going to love this place.
Guest
SharonFrazer
Points +470
Tiny cafe at the top of a bookstore - Edit
Lots of vegan cakes and options around hot drinks.
Read morePros: Vegan cakes, Options of different milks
Guest
MarkRickaby
Points +49
Brunch & Books - Edit
This is probably my favourite cafe anywhere. The menu is entirely vegetarian with vegan options for most things. Found tucked away in the unique Scarthin Books, you’ll find delicious homemade food. Cakes, brunch, soups, and hearty lunches - not to mention you get to eat surrounded by books. It’s wonderful. #Veganuary
Read morePros: Entirely vegetarian with plenty of vegan options., A unique and inspiring place to visit., A fantastic location for day trips.
Cons: Seating is limited and you may need to wait.
Guest
Sunflowertofu
Points +25
Absolutely amazing. - Edit
Really lovely visit , more than happy to cater for gf and vegan , friendly staff, really lovely sides with the dishes too.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan dishes , Lots of choice.
Guest
MatthewBartlett
Points +204
Tasty good vegan options - Edit
Such a cute place nestled amongst the books
Read moreWe had curried lentil and spinach soup and homity pie
Really delicious
People were lovely
Pros: Great character
Guest
cfmay
Points +46
Perfect Ploughman’s and Pie - Edit
Right in the middle of a gorgeous bookshop! Great vegan menu and cake, which includes a vegan version of the local Homity pie. Delicious Ploughman’s with mushroom pate too.
Read morePros: Vegan version of local Homity pie, In a bookshop
Cons: Very small (it’s in a bookshop!)
Guest
kittenemma
Points +65
Secret cafe! - Edit
Cafe hidden behind a bookcase! Veggie and vegan options, lovely soup and cakes. Super friendly staff.
Read moreGuest
ShaunMcG
Points +217
Truly a Hidden Gem - Edit
The café is at the back of a wonderful book shop which is housed in a very interesting building overlooking the mill pond in Cromford.
Read moreLots of home-made vegan snacks and meals.
Vegan cakes too.
Pretty good teas and coffees (soya milk available).
Guest
Sopheleena
Points +27
Fascinating, quirky bookshop with amazing cafe upstairs - Edit
A really lovely eating place with delicious veg and vegan options. Best bookshop I've been in and dogs allowed in the small secret garden area.
Read moreGuest
IanV
Points +218
Hidden Gem! - Edit
Lovely little veggie cafe tucked away upstairs in a bookshop. You have to meander through the rows and rows of books to find it. It was the weekend so the menu was limited, both soup and cake were spot on, will definitely visit again.
Read moreGuest
ChristopherHarrop
Points +22
Great café - Edit
Great café nestled in the depths of a characterful book shop. good food but what makes this caf great also turns out to be a small problem. its small and cramped. getting in with a pram is quite tricky for example.
Read morePros: Good food, character , staff
Cons: small
Guest
Bathsheba
Points +177
A Place to Stop Off and Unwind - Edit
Very homely which was just what I needed at the end of my walking holiday. The choice of food for me as a vegan that day was not especially wide but the vegan homity pie with vegan mayonaise on the generous and delicious salads was nice. I decided against a slice of cake too.
Read moreI personally didn't buy a book that day from the historic bookshop but could quite easily have found at least one or two vegan recipe books.
The decor was very quirky and I was slightly troubled by the antlers on the wall above me.
Pros: An interesting and unconventional but cosy atmosph
Cons: The set of antlers.
Guest
colonelpanic
Points +86
Good vegan savoury range but limited sweet/cakes - Edit
May have picked a bad day to visit but when we did there were sadly no sweet options that were suitable for vegans - all five cake-type offerings had dairy or eggs. Soya milk available but no other non-dairy milks, which is a shame. Savoury food looked decent and the book shop itself is great with lots of little rambling rooms (but well-organised). Worth a visit and a look around, and has a good vegan cookery book section.
Read moreGuest
RJS
Points +191
Well worth a drive out. - Edit
Cute little cafe hidden in a book shop. Great menu, staff, decor. Tasty food.
Read moreGood range of soft drinks and Teas.
Pros: Clearly marked vegan options.
Cons: Not open in the evenings
Guest
Libra77
Points +2912
Unique place - Edit
I have visited here a few times and love this little place. The village is beautiful and the building so quirky. I'm sure there is not another place quite like this.
Read moreThe cafe is upstairs and is part of the book shop. If you love books you will spend hours wandering around here! There is a conservatory which I prefer to sit in rather than the main cafe if it isn't already full.
There is a good selection of vegan options. Everything I've had so far I've enjoyed. Staff are really friendly too.
Pros: Great atmosphere and unusual, Good choice for vegans
Guest
Tierneyb95
Points +27
excellent service and food! - Edit
We were in the area searching for vegan food and came across this place! They did a takeaway for us to eat later as we couldn't find many places open after five and we worried we wouldn't be able to find anywhere to eat that caters for vegans! Jules the manager knew her stuff and even gave us some vegan butter to take away for our toast in the morning at the hotel. The Thai wraps were super tasty and all the dishes came with a big salad with bulgar wheat and beans and overall just a great experience! Fully recommend and the book shop is the cutest little thing tucked away up a steep village road.
Read moreGuest
BeccySpurr
Points +20
Simply Wonderful - Edit
I was treated to lunch in the café at Scarthian Books ( http://www.scarthinbooks.com/scarthin-cafe/ ) yesterday and it was gorgeous, it took me ages to make up my mind what to have as I wanted all of it! Those of you who have suffered the chore of eating out with me or my endless complaining about the poor choice veggies/vegans suffer, will know that is a very rare occurrence. In the end I opted for homity pie through the medium of eeny meeny miny mo! It was sumptuous I couldn’t fit in a slice of the devilishly handsome-looking cakes so I'm going back to claim a piece of the banana and pistachio heaven. I whole heartedly recommend that you visit should the opportunity arise and if it doesn't orchestrate it, you wont be sorry!
Read morePros: Excellent veggie/vegan food, Friendly service
Guest
damon
Points +46
Gorgeous! - Edit
A lovely calm in the storm on a wet misty day. Very friendly people. The cafe is hard to spot as it's upstairs in a warren of bookshelves. Had a fantastic Homity pie with loads of lovely salad. Even had vegan cake! Loads of choice for vegans.
Read morePros: Good for vegans, Friendly , Great home made food
Cons: Needs better Wi-Fi
Guest
nigeltart
Points +101
Magical bookshop - Edit
I instantly fell in love with this rambling old higgledy-piggledy bookshop, with every last nook and cranny filled with books.
Read moreI couldn't believe my luck when I found a veggie cafe. It's over half vegan. I had a delicious homity pie and salad with a soya latte. My friend said her scone (not vegan) was the best she'd ever tasted - and she's quite a connoisseur.
We ate in the garden - it's built on a steep hillside; the cafe's upstairs then you go out the back door and up some more steps to a sunny little terrace among the rooftops.
The staff were really friendly, but it's not fast food. I think I waited 25 mins.
Pros: Wide vegan choice, Garden, Amazing building!
Cons: Slow service
Guest
apriltui
Points +53
Best location for a cafe! - Edit
We have visited this cafe many times over the last few years. Behind a bookshelf in this wonderful bookstore, it is a great find for hungry walkers & cyclists. I do have to say we were disappointed this time with the food quality having slipped a bit. The cakes were old and then still out 2 days later! The menu needs changing and there is a lady during the week serving who is a hit grumpy- a shame in such a lovely space.
Read morePros: Location, Wide choice of food, Well priced
Cons: Menu hasn't changed, Grumpy staff , Stale cakes
Joolz2
Hi i just wondered how you assessed the cakes were old and how you think they were the same ones 2 days later. isnt it possible that cakes were got out and were unfortunately the same flavours again? Also i happen to know that one of the women that worked there had been ill (and had to have a major operation last year ) maybe she was having a bad day with pain.
Read moreapriltui
Well, they could have been different but as they were some kinds with less slices we figure they were the same. I have baked for years. so I know an old cake when I taste one. Its unfortunate if the person serving was ill, but she is always grumpy and we go a lot. I wouldn't say massively rude, but a shame for such a lovely cafe not to have friendly happy staff. The menu does need to change though.
Read moreGuest
ravenswing
Points +35
Yummy food, cute little place and great priced :-) - Edit
Place was lovely, surrounded by books with a really original feel. The food came quickly and was sooo delicious!! Vegan choccy cake was very moist and tastey. Would recomend
Read morePros: Great food, great price, cute place
Guest
Joolz2
Points +24
Amazing Food - Edit
Since a change of hands last year I can honestly say the quality and quantity of the food has changed for the better. It is wonderful tasty food, lots of choices, vegan, vegi, dairy free and gluten free. Last week there was even a gluten and dairy free dessert, it was yummy well worth a visit. 10 gold stars to the cook.
Read morePros: Cheerful staff, Amazing food, Lots of choice
Guest
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