Rattle Gill Cafe in South Lakeland

We loved this place! Excellent range of hot and cold lunch choices and an equally good selection of cheeses. Staff were friendly and helpful- and it was easy to choose really healthy local produce if you wanted to.

So much wonderful food and drink, a huge selection. The highlight of course is the fresh counter, with a great variety of cheeses, salads and both hot and cold pies and pastries. Staff were lovely and super helpful, prices are moderate to high but the quality absolutely justifies it

The Buddha bowls from here are stunning! Beautiful flavours and top quality ingredients. I've had several over the years, popped in today for one and they're just consistently delicious. Frittatas are also divine and the goods you can buy elsewhere in the shop are just brilliant.

Popped in for dinner. My partner had the mac n cheese pie which he loved. I had the fritata with 3 salads, all absolutely delish. The Asian slaw was stunning. Filled to the brim and great value for money as I certainly won't need any tea now, absolutely stuffed full of healthy goodness. Can't believe I've never been I'm before since I've lived in the lakes all my life. Will be back 🙂

Whenever we are Ambleside, our firat port of call is always Rattle Ghyll deli for a takeaway burrito. (And usually back the next day for a pie…). Tasty and filling - keep up the good work!

FRUIT SCONE.. No! Unlawful false advertising we would say. What is the point in offering a fruit scone when it is laden with so much cinnamon that nothing other than the spice can be tasted? Undedible and uneaten. We rated it as the worst scone ever.

Popped in for some bits to take back to eat in our cottage, but were put off by the prices of many of the non fresh items. Got a couple of pies which were ok, but nothing special. However, the cheeses were fantastic. We bought many local cheeses from many different deli's across the Lakes region and the range and quality in this place was the best by far. The blues particularly were splendid and as we drove back home munching on some cheeses from other places, we wished we'd gone back here to restock instead !

Bought pies, salads, porridge and chocolate to take back to rental cottage. Absolutely wonderful food - actually nicer than the eye-watering costly meal we'd had out in Grasmere the day before and for a fraction of the price. Pies were Lancashire cheese and onion and the Dhal Gobi. Delicious. The owners were lovely too - even though my attempts at the self-serve bit were poor. And the chocolate selection - wow. You will definitely turn your nose up at the overpriced, sugar laden stuff sold elsewhere in Ambleside after eating the brands they stock. Not cheap but actually worth every penny. You get what you pay for and this place stocks healthy,tasty fuel - not calorific rubbish.

The food from the Rattle Ghyll is always fresh and extremely tasty. There is a varying range of delicious pies and pastries and a board of imaginative sandwich options. Yesterday we had Brie and damson chutney sandwich Mac ‘n’ cheese pie (not to be missed) Mini Brie and caramelised onion quiche All excellent. The salad pots are also excellent All good is vegetarian (plenty of vegan too) and the man behind me was offered a big choice of gluten free options. Service is always with a smile too. Thank you

Spoilt for choice! Family of four veggies, stumbled across this real find! Such an incredible selection of freshly prepared savouries! Scotch eggs, sweet potato and goats cheese! Gorgeous! VLT was delicious, vegetable frittata and gorgeous fresh salad, amazing choice of salads! Would highly recommend. DELICIOUS!

We stopped in here for some lunch to bring with us up Helvellyn mountain. There were plenty of options veggie, vegan and gluten free. We opted for the sweet potato and spinach pie as well as some smoked tofu and salad sandwiches and Anzac cookies (all vegan). My goodness were these exactly what we needed when we got to the top of the mountain! SO tasty! The pie in particular was so moist it was a dream. We even returned the next day to pick up some more of the same plus some vegan shortbreads for our journey home. It's a shop as well as cafe so there are plenty of food and drink items to buy.

Called in to browse and bought some pastries and a bowl of mixed salads to take away for a picnic lunch. The brie and onion quiche was yummy. The salad box was huge! The salads were each so different but so fresh and flavourful with enough leftover for tea. Will call in again when next in Ambleside.

Visited in 2019 and had fabulous gluten free tiffin. Visited again June 2021 and none on display, but we asked and they made it specially for collection the following day - fabulous customer service and the tiffin was still wonderful! Also had take away brie and roasted onion tarts with roasted vegetables as take away for our picnic all of which were to die for! topped off with a slice of really yummy lemon drizzle cake.Lovely cheerful service. We will be back!

We enjoyed our take away lunch, freshly made and full of flavours, very reasonable price for our drinks and sandwiches.

All the five star reviews are spot on. Fantastic food and great value. Can’t recommend it enough, especially the chocolate brownie.

We were looking for a healthy takeaway lunch and thank goodness we tried Rattle Ghyll Deli. Absolutely delicious food. We had a salad bowl crammed with so many tasty ingredients and also a stunning falafel wrap. The food is fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. The staff are lovely.

Now Rattle Ghyll Deli and serving a much wider range of takeaway food. All homemade and delicious. Alec and Clare have stepped up their game and now offer a huge range of vegetarian foods as well as alcohol. Great to see them expanding their business. Well worth a visit and great food for a Lake District walk. We love the Bhudda Bowls and took them on a boat on the lake. We also love their front runner muesli and Belazu products.

Have bee here many times. Sad that it's shut for Covid. makes sense as it's very small. but please come back when you can

Fuimos a un café cercano para almorzar, pero las opciones del menú eran malas, así que decidimos probar suerte en otro lugar. Vimos Rattle Ghyll y pensamos que valía la pena ver lo que tenían para ofrecer. El miembro del personal era encantador, las opciones eran deliciosas y el ambiente era encantador. Ambos disfrutamos mucho de nuestra comida. Es seguro decir que a partir de ahora será mi lugar de comida en Ambleside.

Atraídos inicialmente por la decoración rústica, intentamos pasar por la cafetería para tomar un café, que lamentablemente estaba cerrado (la única razón por la que no dimos 5 estrellas). Sin embargo, entramos en la tienda, que estaba hermosamente diseñada con todo tipo de artículos para los amantes de la comida alternativa.Es literalmente algo para todos los que están allí, sin gluten, vegetariano, vegano, sin azúcar. Incluso yo, con una dieta cetogénica restrictiva, logré disfrutar de un increíble tazón de Buda con solo un par de cambios. , de los cuales el personal fue muy servicial. Nada fue demasiado esfuerzo y fueron muy amables e incluso cuando estaban muy ocupados, encontraron tiempo para conversar con mis chicas. Muy buen precio e ingredientes realmente frescos. Tan bueno de hecho volvimos al día siguiente!

¿Soy un trabajador clave? Dejé productos esenciales hoy, qué lugar tan agradable y la gente que maneja el deli para llevar, me dio un pastel vegano que estaba fuera de este mundo, un café encantador y un lugar para ir cuando finalmente COVID 19 se vaya. 10 de cada 10, salud MICK

Rattle Ghyll is the perfect hidden gem situated right by the river. Everything here is fresh and homemade and tastes incredible - from salads, to cakes to sandwiches and soups, they have everything you could ever want.

Great little place. The chilli was amazing, as was the soft, big bread. The cheese scone special was incredible too, and great value

What a find lovely little cafe just off the Main Street. Very warm welcome in this cosy little cafe. We had coffee and the soup which was Leek and Potato soup which came with lovely bread and butter and some cheese. Excellent.

We were pipped to the last remaining table so we were asked to wait outside until one became available. Not great but there was no room to stand inside so we understood. It’s small with only a few tables. The 15 minute wait outside in the rain was no fun but what really upset us was that when we went back inside after someone left we found the table had been given to a local. If you are a visitor and don’t want to be treated like dirt then you need to avoid this place and try somewhere where you will be welcome.

We popped into Rattle Ghyll on a rainy cold day and the welcome was as warm as always - the cafe is very small and there can sometimes be a little wait for a table, but it is well worth it! The Buddha bowl was a delightful dish with lots of fresh vegetables and every mouthful was different. We've often been too full after our main course (generally because we've partaken of cake somewhere else during the morning) but we had room for one of their yummy cake - the chocolate and cherry cake was rich and tasty without being too sweet. We'll be back for lunch again soon!

We've passed this place before and it is always busy, today was our lucky day a table for 5 vacant in the window. I didn't know when I came in it was Vegan but I'm glad we stayed. I had the chilli nachos and it was absolutely DELICIOUS. We all really enjoyed our food and nice friendly service despite being really busy. Am I concerted to Vegan....no.....Would I return here 1000%

Quaint vintage decor, nice atmosphere, friendly staff and a good selection of delicious food and drinks.

Hve visited before on a sunnier day and enjoyed sitting outside by the stream. Friendly staff. Very good Coffee, but you may want a double shot if you like your coffee strong. Normally pop into Gandhis but they are cloesed on Mondays.

It was a busy day but there was no excuse for the way I was spoken to. I'm local but will never set foot inside there again. I ordered soup which wasn't that warm. I didn't say anything about that because they were busy. However, halfway through my soup I was ordered to move! There were three people arriving and behind me a table for 5 with 2 people sitting at it. The new arrivals could have sat there but the person who seemed to be in charge insisted I move. He had such an unpleasant manner. As previously stated I'll not set foot in there again.

This is still the no.1 place to eat lunch in Ambleside, if not The Lakes. We had cheese on toast but it was far from your average cheese on toast, gorgeous especially with the damson chutney.

An outstanding cafe with very good vibe and food! Highly recommended! We really enjoyed our stop this afternoon. Super staff, great food. Very enjoyable, making a superb day out in the Lakes. Thanks lots.

Visited for lunch and managed to share a communal table in the window. It's always busy. Ordered two beetroot houmous avocado sunblush tomato sandwiches with a bowl of tomato and lentil soup for my husband. Ordered Earl Grey tea and it was served in a big teapot so plenty of top ups.

Fab cafe in ambleside ,food lovely ,staff very helpful and nice .very quaint,next to the river ,seating outside too .we visited every day we were there .

Lovely little independent cafe tucked away from the main hustle and bustle of Ambleside. Friendly service, great coffee and superb cake - recommend the bread and butter pudding served warm with cream.

Excellent lunch - the food was absolutely delicious and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We’ll certainly be returning soon!

We are local and the food here is usually good and so we navigate here when we're in town and hungry..I have been spoken to like an idiot here before but as my other half loves It i decided to overlook it as busy syndrome...today we spotted a table just being vacated and as we went inside we were told to wait outside until the table was cleared...really!!!!!!!

Lovely quaint tea room with a modern feel. Shared a pot of tea and each had a cheese scone. Served hot with butter and a tasty chutney.

We had a lovely lunch during an early Christmas break in Ambleside, this little cafe is a real gem and is very popular. We were lucky to find a table and thoroughly enjoyed our lunch - I had the special, a festive quiche and my husband had the burrito. Both dishes came with salad and were beautifully presented - the couscous was divine! The staff were friendly and the meal was excellent value. We'd had coffee and cake at Rydall Gardens so didn't have any space for a cake but we will definitely be back for coffee and cake!

Popped in for a late lunch after walking to Rydal and back. The place was packed but a table soon became free after a chat with the friendly waitress. The food was amazing and just what we needed after our walk. We will be back sson

Pequeño y encantador café, muy pequeño, muy afortunado de conseguir una mesa. Deliciosa comida, casera.

A little bit hidden off the main street, but worth finding. Wonderful vegetarian burritos. Lovely staff. Excellent value.

We called in to Rattle Ghyll and were so pleased to get a seat as it is so busy, we went in three days running ,first day for lunch , chilli on baked potato with colourful side salad followed by delicious chocolate and cherry cake then two following days for coffee and cake. Sat outside the last day as so busy with Xmas special day being on. Lovely staff, cosy when you manage to get inside. Definitely calling in next time .

Quick stop off in Ambleside for a coffee and cake. Had a delicious homemade brownie, definiatly recommend!

EXCELLENT. Fantastic food, friendly staff a great little gem (dog friendly) I had the chili and cannot recommend it enough, very tasty!

I really recommend this place. It’s small, intimate and cosy inside, and well worth the wait (if you have to queue) as the food is absolutely delicious. I would happily come back here for a couple of weeks to work my way through their menu. Plus it’s all vegetarian, it’s great!

We stumbled across this cute little café whilst looking for a café that had actually shut down, and what a find! Amazing food, coffee and ambience. The staff were really friendly and helpful as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Our annual visit was perfection as usual!! The Best food and company from Alex and Claire! Warm Apple Cake and cream just amazing. We need to move up to the lakes just so we can make a visit on a daily basis!! 5* as standard! Maybe a light bit of Celine Playing x

We really likes this place, yes it is small, yes it is vegetarian but it’s great. It has a nice atmosphere and the food is very good. It is fresh, well thought out and healthy. Service is quick and the staff are pleasant. Sometimes you have to wait but so what? If the food is good people will wait a bit, sit outside and watch the mill wheel turning. Next time in Ambleside we will go again, thanks folks.

Mi esposa y yo visitamos este café en noviembre. Tomé un té con crema. Mi esposa tenía un bollo con mermelada.

Visité aquí el otro día después de tener una experiencia tan buena en agosto. Aunque este lugar es una cafetería vegetariana, la comida es muy buena y el personal muy amable. El lugar es muy pequeño, por lo que puede esperar un poco o compartir una mesa con un extraño como yo y mi mamá, y conversar con ellos. Pedí la papa con chile y mi mamá tenía el burrito de chile (ambos venían con ensalada) que ambos disfrutamos, así como un capuchino y un jugo de manzana. También obtuvimos el plato de degustación de pasteles que definitivamente fue la mejor parte de la comida: 5 pedazos de pastel que incluyeron: pastel de pera y almendras, pastel de manzana y jengibre, flapjack de fecha y canela, brownie y pastel de café y nuez. Sin embargo, estos sabores pueden cambiar en cada visita, ya que son caseros. En general, la comida llegó a 25, que me pareció razonable. Definitivamente regresaría en mi próxima visita a Ambleside.

We had lunch at the café after reading the reviews on best places to eat in Ambleside. Completely agree that it was gorgeous. I wanted to eat everything on the menu as so many delicious veggie options, but decided on the burrito which couldn't have been better. Great salads served with most options too, not just a piece of limp lettuce and a slice of cucumber. The staff were really helpful and friendly too. A thoroughly good cafe. Thank you.

Absolutely tiny cafe which makes excellent toasted sandwiches and desserts. The feta sandwich was particularly good

Visited on a very wet (Well it is the Lake District) Tuesday last week. Had to wait 20 minutes for a table but the food was delicious and worth the wait. Couldn't manage cake as too full up so bought a piece of chocolate Tiffin to take away.

Saw the shop on the high street and all the tempting food and then noticed the cafe sign so went to visit.. we were not disappointed the scones were amazing. This is a small popular place. Service was prompt too and friendly staff.

Lovely, if not a little small, cafe selling beautiful home cooked food. Loved the burrito and the homemade cakes, especially the chocolate brownie!! Very friendly staff and some lovely outside seating beside the stream of the weather is ok. Definitely be back there on our next trip to Ambleside.

What’s not to like about sitting in the sun by a chattering river eating freshly made chicken salad? Great home made dishes and friendly staff. You might have to wait for a seat as it’s very popular in Ambleside.

Found here by chance as most other places were either closed or full. In a nice setting, would have been nice to sit outside if not for the constant rain. Inside is very small, staff friendly and tasty food. Had the baked potato with chilli veg and cheese scone with humous, both good.

Popped in for a drink and cake which was excellent, loose leaf tea and decent coffee and a brownie to die for, all the food looked great and dog friendly too. Would definitely recommend and return.

Beautifully situated, cosy, tucked away little café. We had the afternoon tea for two which included a teapot big enough for 3 cups of tea each, two delicious scones, jam and clotted cream. Staff are really friendly too, definitely recommend a visit if you are in Ambleside.

My favourite coffee shop in Ambleside. Staff are so lovely and pleasant. Also, they make a really nice coffees.

Love this place, always have, always will. Coffee is excellent as was the chocolate brownie. MUST be the best cafe in the Lake District!

We go to this cafe every time we visit Ambleside. Fantastic fresh healthy food, amazing flavours and lovely friendly staff. Not many tables but somehow they always seem to manage to find a space and if you're too full for cake you can get it to take away!

Situated in a lovely location next to the river with outdoor seating, healthy tasty food, friendly staff, will definitely visit again and recommend the Buddha Bowl!

Dropped across this little cafe quite by chance. What a find! Wonderful interesting veggie/vegan menu. I had the buddha bowl and my partner had the lemon and courgette soup. Both were absolutely delicious. I can highly recommend this cafe. Fabulous!

Lovely smooth flat white presented neatly along with a delicious scone cream and jam! My boyfriend able to have a dairy alternative for his flat white. Two scones and two flat whites £11 for Ambleside that’s average price around. But for me was the best coffee I had in the two days at Ambleside! Small cafe so be ready to wait for a table.

When we walked along the small stream, we passed by this little cafe. I sat outside with a cup of tea, just soaking in the atmosphere. A "must"!

On the one day it bucketed it down, we needed a place to shelter and take refreshments. This place is an absolute gem: small and intimate but with so much character. The large pot of tea with two fruit scones with cream and jam for £10 was an absolute treat. There was an array of cakes and tray bakes that we could have indulged in. It was a popular cafe and several people came in looking for a table whilst we were eating but there was no pressure to curtail our stay. A real pleasure to eat there and one that we will repeat soon.

Located in a quiet spot just off the centre of Ambleside this is an extremely popular place to visit and easy to see why. Staff are very friendly.

Beautiful fresh tasty food and lovely staff. Love this place! Will definitely be returning. Won’t disappoint!

Went here for lunch. It was raining heavily so the outside tables were not in use and we had to wait for a few minutes for an inside table as it seems to be very popular. It is a tiny place which is vegetarian (didn’t realise until I sat down and looked at the menu). Not expensive at all (certainly by Lake District standards). Staff are young and very friendly. Menu is good but not extensive. I am a confirmed meat eater but happy to eat vegetarian lunches and we both had the chilli (£6.50). This was served with a big chunk of (granary?) bread and butter, grated cheese and crème fraiche. Could have done with a bit more chilli heat but was very nice nonetheless. Wife had a pot of tea and flap jack and I had a (good quality) coffee. Bill was £20.50 and we would certainly go back for lunch if in Ambleside.

Sat outside by the lively Ghyll ( narrow mountain stream) and enjoyed the Rattle Ghyll Burritto, rhubarb and custard cake with a long black coffee. All freshly made and brought out by friendly staff. Well done!

Both visits were lovely. We sat outside both times. I'm a meat eater but was well satisfied with the veggie menu. The burrito is really filling and accompanied by a lovely salad. The toasties are great too. The cakes were impressive, very generous sizes. The prices aren't what you'd call cheap, but are definitely reasonable for the high quality ingredients and great customer service. We will definitely be coming again.

Found when wandering off Main Street. Lovely location and sat out by stream and water mill. Interesting choice of food with great service and friendly staff.Highly recommend

Cosy surroundings and welcoming staff. We tried scones jacket potatoes and there was a wide choice of cake. We were served promptly and weren't rushed. Delicious food

I had the buddha bowl, really tasty, just enough for a light lunch. Really liked this little cafe, tucked away it was a chance find and worth a visit.

We had lunch there with our 2 children. As children can be they were fussy as ever. However the staff were more than accommodating and our lunch was lovely. A great little find and definitely worth a visit.

Bijou and welcoming with friendly, cheerful staff. We enjoyed a vegan date & cinnamon flapjack with a toasted teacake, served with dairy free spread, jam and nicely complimented by two robust and flavoursome long blacks.

Loved the location overlooking the waterwheel. Excellent vegetarian food. Plenty of options for vegans. Only a small cafe so best to arrive early to get a table. Some riverside seating

We never travel to this area without going to Rattle Ghyll. I had leek & potato soup, served with a good pot of cheese & butter, plus a berry smoothie - all of which was delicious. Hubby had a cheese & tomato panini with salad, but it's not just a few leaves as a garnish - good chick pea & lentil salad. Wonderful food.

Had a wonderful late lunch here. Jacket potato with chilli arrived with potato salad, lentils and couscous. Delightful taste in a cafe with a wonderful atmosphere. Clearly well used by the locals which is a testament to the small team which runs this busy place with tables inside and out. Do not leave before trying their flapjack. It is to die for and so light. Garlanded with all sorts of seeds.

On our first visit I had soup and a cheese sandwich and my partner the salad. On our second I went for the burrito and my partner once again had the salad.

En nuestro camino desde Edimburgo, este pequeño café llegó a nuestra vista y tuvimos que detenernos. Dijo bondad hecha en casa. Nos encantó todo sobre este restaurante? ¡Desde la buena comida hasta el buen servicio! Este lugar es una visita obligada.

We had 4 different dishes from the menu and it was fantastic. The service was really good despite the fact that there was only one waitress and it was packed.

We sat outside to enjoy the idyllic views of the river and water mill. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our food came quickly and was truly delicious. Could’ve sat there for hours. Very reasonably priced. We will definitely be back to try the cream teas and cake!

Super charming cafe overlooking the small river in Ambleside. Selection of cakes very dangerous as they were all so good. Probably THE best flat white I've ever had globally! Service was ultra friendly, funny and second to none .. I would highly recomend if visiting the small town.. its really worth it seeking it out ... 5 Star !

Brilliant service and food Would definitely recommend if you’re in the lakes. Great scones and cakes will be returning in the summer. Keep all the hard work going.

Vinimos aquí dos veces en nuestra visita a los lagos. Este café está escondido y podría ser difícil de encontrar.

Encontré este café por accidente mientras deambulaba por Ambleside y muy contentos de haberlo hecho!

Siempre vamos aquí cuando en Ambleside. No somos veganos o vegetarianos, nos encanta la comida fresca que se ofrece aquí. Mi marido y yo elegimos la sopa y el combo de panini (calabacín y limón y queso maduro y panini de chutney de ciruela) a las 8. Cada una de las cuales tomamos un poco de té excelente y terminamos con una torta cada una, la torta de café y nueces, y mi marido, la mezcla de baya y esponja de palenta. Bill tenía 27 años. 00. 2 clientes felices y platos limpios. Definitivamente lo recomiendo. Me encanta la mesa del lago Windermere en la ventana, tuvimos suerte hoy porque estaba vacía cuando llegamos y podíamos sentarnos allí.

Efter en god gåtur skulle vi nyde en kop te i denne hyggelig the shop, og det må siges at stedet bare er super hyggelig i en super atmosfære. Te og kager kan der ikke udsættes noget på. Absolut et besøg værd

I have been trying to get in here for years. Every time I've tried they have either been closed or were full.

A good option for coffee and cakes when in Ambleside. This place offers a great selection of freshly made cakes and uses good blend of ground coffee. Indoor seating is also available.

We came across this lovely little gem while wondering around Ambleside lovely coffee and the best cheese scones with chutney I've tasted. We are coming back to the lakes very soon and will definitely pay a visit. They had a good selection of cakes and salads with quiches all looked scrumptious.

We nipped in after a walk up Wansfell for a brew and a piece of cake. This small cosy café had been recommended to us a few nights earlier by a couple of locals, so we thought we would give it a go.

We sat on the window seat at the Windermere table which is the shape of the lack, with a great view to the stream running through the town. Service was friendly and prompt, food was wholesome and tasty and good value. Could not ask for more for a quick brunch.

Pouring rain and miserable when we wandered around Ambleside. Dinosaur outside a nearby building caught our attention and we then spotted a waterwheel and thus saw this little gem. Fab choice of GF tasty bites, gorgeous Earl Grey tea and friendly helpful staff. Brill

A small café doing great food well off the beaten track, if you find it the only disappointment you will have is that you can't get in! A lovely menu with great values food super salads and sumptuous soup. We had such a lovely meal no room left for cake!

We popped in for coffee/ cakes whilst out shopping , it's a lovely little quirky cafe on Bridge St only small inside with a few outside tables with views over the redundant waterwheel, with the water flowing downstream beneath.

My husband and I have just had a coffee and cake. I had an amazing ginger cake and my husband had a slice of Victoria sandwich which he said was the best he had tasted. The service was exceptional. Our only problem was what to choose which is a nice problem to have. Highly reccommend.