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. Fellinis

    $$

    Billing itself as "Vegeterranean" to reflect its Mediterranean culinary influences, Fellinis is one of Cumbria's finest foodie destinations and a particular treat for vegetarians. Upstairs is a plush studio cinema screening art-house releases, while downstairs the restaurant rustles up sumptuous concoctions for a sophisticated crowd. The large, open dining room has soft seating, bold patterns, oversize lamp shades, and a chill, jazzy soundtrack. White tablecloths, contemporary art, and fresh flowers enhance the modern sensibility. Service is attentive without being fussy. Sister property Zeffirellis, a 5-minute walk away on Compston Street, also offers a fine-dining-and-cinema combination with a jazz bar to boot.

    Church St., Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0BT, England
    01539-432487

    Known For

    • Unpretentious fine dining
    • Vegetarian and vegan dishes
    • Romantic dinner-and-a-movie ambience

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 2. Four and Twenty

    $$

    High ceilings, shabby-chic chairs, and old-fashioned filament bulbs in jars set the scene for this handsome conversion of what was once a bank: the family-run bistro's name references the financially themed nursery rhyme. Although there is an a la carte menu, the set menu is a particularly good value at £26 for 3 courses, including delights such as homemade mackerel pate with Isle of Wight tomatoes and elderflower balsamic and grilled cannon of Cumbrian pork with wild mushrooms. Book ahead, especially for weekend evenings.

    42 King St., Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7AY, England
    01768-210231

    Known For

    • Cocktails and whiskies
    • Beautifully presented food
    • Busy nights should be booked in advance
  • 3. Henrock

    $$$$

    An informal restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, Henrock is a superb addition to the dining scene in Bowness. Much of the fresh produce is grown on Rogan's farm in nearby Cartmel, and all of the dishes are seasonal with strong roots in British cooking. In addition to lunch and dinner, Henrock also has an imaginative afternoon tea menu with sweet treats such as chocolate and passion fruit tartelette and pink pepper, raspberry, and rose choux buns.

    Crook Rd., Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JA, England
    015395-87766

    Known For

    • Local ingredients
    • Creative afternoon tea menu
    • Michelin-starred chef

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No lunch weekdays
  • 4. L'Enclume

    $$$$

    The village of Cartmel has earned a place on England's culinary map with this ambitious Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms. Chef Simon Rogan's innovative food incorporates long-forgotten herbs and cutting-edge techinques. The restaurant is in what was once a forge, now converted to a bright, contemporary, and airy space with dark wooden beams, stark white walls, and splashes of color. The set menu comes with up to 16 courses and includes delights such as dry aged Herdwick lamb with fermented cabbage and fennel sauce, and a fritter of Duroc pig and smoked eel with lovage. L'Enclume's 16 elegant rooms are in three different buildings around the village.

    Cavendish St., Cartmel, Cumbria, LA11 6QA, England
    01539-536362

    Known For

    • Fresh seasonal ingredients
    • Carefully chosen wine pairings
    • Decadent tasting menus

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Mon., Reservations essential
  • 5. Old Stamp House

    $$$$

    The quality of locally sourced and foraged food has been raised to a new level by this Michelin-starred restaurant, which, together with the Lake Road Kitchen, has given Ambleside unexpected status on the British gastro map. Chef Ryan Blackburn has created a menu anchored to Cumbrian traditions but at the same time mouthwateringly creative and contemporary. Look for hand-dived scallops with pumpkin, braised daube of beef with smoked celeriac, and Cumbrian gingerbread with rhubarb soufflé. The restaurant has an unprepossessing setting, down steps in a dim room, but there's history in the whitewashed, rough-hewn walls: Wordsworth once worked here as "Distributer of Stamps.” A tasting menu is also available at lunch and dinner.

    Church St., Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0BU, England
    01539-432775

    Known For

    • Creative seasonal menu
    • Celebrity chef
    • Excellent wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues., Reservations essential
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  • 6. The Fellpack

    $$

    Created by four friends who have returned home to the Lakes, the menu at the Fellpack is designed as a celebration of Cumbria's ingredients and traditional recipes, albeit with a quirky twist. The space has both indoor and outdoor seating, plus a vintage Airstream trailer serving burritos and fries.

    34 Lake Rd., Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DQ, England
    01768-774999

    Known For

    • Food served in handmade dishes
    • Delicious, hearty cuisine
    • Awesome landscape photography

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
  • 7. The Jumble Room

    $$

    A small stone building dating to the 18th century, Grasmere's first shop is now a quirky, family-run restaurant. The food is an eclectic mix of international and traditional British; think porcini mushroom arancini, beetroot and pumpkin ravioli, or Lebanese chicken with clementine and fennel. A dedicated local fan base means the place always buzzes, and the owners' enthusiasm is contagious.

    Langdale Rd., Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9SU, England
    01539-435188

    Known For

    • Freshly baked bread
    • Lively atmosphere
    • Imaginative menu

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Wed. No lunch
  • 8. Tower Bank Arms

    $

    With a porch that appears in a Beatrix Potter story and a location just a rabbit's hop from the author's home, you might expect this pub to be something of a tourist trap, but luckily it's anything but. The meals are tasty and copious, making use of local ingredients. There's a slate floor, a crackling open fire, and a bar that stocks some of the best beers around. Four bedrooms upstairs offer a good-value alternative to pricier lodgings.

    Off B5285, Near Sawrey, Cumbria, LA22 0LF, England
    01539-436334

    Known For

    • Literary influences
    • Standard pub fare
    • Some of the area's best ales

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. in winter

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