We are all in need of an inviting café to relax in now that Covid restrictions have been lifted, and where better to get one from than one of our region’s impressive array?

In today’s Readers’ Choice, we look at the cafés named as the area’s favourites.

  • Whytes Coffee Bar, in Carlisle

The café boasts a loyal customer base and impressive reviews.

The café is rated five out of five stars on Trip Advisor, based on 332 reviews.
Geoff Stewart said of his visit there: “Home baking at its best, and if it’s breakfast, lunch, tea coffee, cakes or a take-out, they will always look after you and serve amazing food.

“The staff are just wonderful and I cannot day enough good things about them.

“In a great location and my pick is usually cheese and chilli scones, warm with a coffee, superb.”

  • If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, then perhaps a visit is better spent at The Creme Cafe, Carlisle, which is also rated five out of five stars.

Sue Grieg said of her visit: “A little off the beaten track, but well worth looking out for it.

“Warm welcome.

“I had fish finger sandwich with salad and crisps, well cooked and delicious, very good value.”

  • Moving on, you may also enjoy a visit to Old Hall Café, also in Carlisle, and rated eighth out of 211 restaurants in Carlisle.

Eden Thom spoke highly of the café: “I recently used the Old Hall services to cater for an event and I cannot express enough how much of a good job they had done.

“I was highly impressed with the high standard of delivery and also the aesthetics of the food were outstanding.

“What made it even better the staff were very friendly, helpful and very respectable when delivering and displaying the buffet.

“I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for caterers as they will not be disappointed.

“Delicious food. All I can say is wow!”

  • Foxes Cafe Lounge also placed highly for Carlisle’s favourite cafés, and a rating of almost five stars can’t be totally unreliable.

Offering a low price bracket as well, the café serves all the staples.

Rifka Noctis visited Carlisle and said the café was great: “I went there while on a solo tour around northern England and I arrived to their café really tired and waiting for the check in time in my hostel.

“The service was incredibly welcoming and there was a really nice atmosphere around both among workers and with customers.

“I asked a waitress called Becky what would she recommend to someone who doesn’t like the taste of coffee but really needs one, since I wanted to walk a tour around Carlisle, but I was literally falling, she made the most amazing coffee I have ever tried, basically a chocolate with hazelnut topping, concealing the taste of the coffee I needed so badly.”

  • Finally, if home-baking is your favourite, then visit Anazao Tearoom.

Sarah Foster visited and said: “Absolutely amazing afternoon tea, all clearly homemade, there was a range of sandwiches with lovely flavours, sausage roll, quiche and scones along with unbelievably delicious cakes."