The Lake District Restaurants

Lakeland restaurants increasingly reflect a growing British awareness of good food. Local sourcing and international influences are common, and even old Cumberland favorites are being creatively reinvented. Pub dining in the Lake District can be excellent—the hearty fare often makes use of local ingredients such as Herdwick lamb, and real ales are a good accompaniment. If you're going walking, ask your hotel or B&B about making you a packed lunch. Some local delicatessens also offer this service.

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  • 1. Angel Inn

    $$

    Up the steep slope from the water's edge in Bowness, this spacious, stylish pub serves good home-cooked fare as well as a fine collection of beers that includes its own Hawkshead brew. The seasonal menu includes a traditional Cumbrian sausage ring and breaded whole tail scampi from Whitby. Leather sofas and open fires make the Angel a cozy place; service is low-key and friendly, with crayons for kids and games to play. The decoration is bright, minimal, and contemporary, with wooden floors and off-white walls. Thirteen comfortable, good-value bedrooms complete the picture.

    Helm Rd., Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3BU, England
    01539-444080

    Known For

    • Draft beers and ciders
    • Landscaped gardens
    • Local, seasonal food
  • 2. Heidi's Grasmere Lodge & Cafe

    $

    This bustling, cozy little café and deli is lined with jars of locally made jams and chutneys. Bang in the center of Grasmere, it's great for coffee and a homemade pastry or flapjack (bars made with syrup, butter, and oats). Heidi's also offers a B&B experience in the six-room lodge.

    Red Lion Sq., Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SP, England
    01539-435248

    Known For

    • Locally made products
    • Delicious coffee
    • Cozy breakfast spot
  • 3. Masons Arms

    $

    With fabulous views over the rolling countryside of the Winster Valley to the east of Windermere, the Masons Arms is a slate-floored traditional old inn serving local ales and good pub food. Old mirrors and tankards decorate the walls, and there's a speciality gin list as well as a menu showcasing the best local ingredients. Favorite dishes include slow-cooked pork belly, Cartmel lamb with a rosemary and garlic mash, and a particularly good glazed ham hock to share. In winter there's an open log fire; in summer outdoor seating beckons. Five suites and two cottages provide stylish places to sleep, should you wish to stay.

    Strawberry Bank, Windermere, Cumbria, LA11 6NW, England
    01539-568486

    Known For

    • Locally farmed meats
    • Housemade desserts
    • Popular children's menu
  • 4. Matthew's Bistro

    $$

    Matthew Colley is a charismatic chef who opened his own restaurant in 2001 to serve "retro classic" dishes to hungry Lake District walkers. He's passionate about local, artisanal produce and makes almost everything from scratch, including his own Cumbrian sausages. The early evening set menu is an exceptionally good value (three courses for £25 if you order before 7 pm); opt for the creamy deep-fried brie, the Pollo Marsala with shallots, and whatever the special dessert of the day is. The atmosphere is warm, leaning towards lively on the weekends, and families are welcome. There's a separate children's menu.

    Compston Rd., Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9DJ, England
    01539-431234

    Known For

    • Family-friendly atmosphere
    • Good value set menu
    • Special (and tasty) dessert of the day

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 5. The Famous 1657 Chocolate House

    $

    Chocolate rules at this old spot serving 16 chocolate drinks. You can choose among 300 kinds of chocolates in the shop, too. Aztec Experience hot chocolate blends five spices; the milk-chocolate truffle cake is scrumptious. Servers in period costumes also deliver traditional English fare such as potted shrimps.

    54 Branthwaite Brow, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4TX, England
    01539-740702

    Known For

    • Period costumed staff
    • Traditional English desserts
    • All things chocolate

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner
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  • 6. The Round

    $

    Situated in Keswick’s iconic Market Square, the Round is the starting point and finishing line for the Bob Graham Round, the most famous and grueling physical challenge in the Lake District. It's a vibrant restaurant and bar serving gourmet burgers with names inspired by the national park's peaks, such as Katsu Bells and Pullvellyn.

    21 Main St., Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5BL, England
    01768-773991

    Known For

    • Great burgers
    • Hearty meals
    • Lively atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 7. The Tap Yard

    $

    Situated in Ambleside’s old mill yard, the Tap Yard serves craft beers fresh from the tanks. It's a lively spot in the evenings, popular with locals as well as visitors, and there's a wide menu of wood-fired pizzas, gourmet burgers, and antipasti to share. Dogs are welcome, and there's a separate children's menu.

    Rydal Rd., Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9AN, England
    01539-423234

    Known For

    • Laid-back atmosphere
    • Great for families and dog-lovers
    • Beer from local breweries

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