The Bristly Hog in South Lakeland

This one of the better eateries in the area. We called at lunchtime and I had the Full English Breakfast and my wide had the Small English Breakfast. The service is excellent, orders taken promptly and not too long a wait for the food to arrive. The quality of the food is very good and extremely tasty. My wife was full after her meal and I was absolutely stuffed. We will return.

Great staff, lovely food. Just popped in for a bit of lunch, had my dog in tow lady brought a blanket and treats for the dog made very welcome.

Cannot fault the food but the customer service was excellent they made us and our 2 dogs very welcome and nothing was too much trouble brilliant team thank you from Mr and Mrs beddlingtons

Out of all the times we visit the Lake District and Kendal, this was our first time visiting the Bristly Hog. I don’t know why we have never gone in before. The staff were so friendly and the food was delicious with an amazing variety. Sitting outside in the sunshine was an added bonus. I had reason to go inside and was hugely impressed at the set up and cleanliness of the restaurant. We will definitely be back.

First time visit today excellent food delicious, really lovely decor very comfy And the staff were superb really friendly and helpful, even though they were rushed off their feet. Very impressed 👏

Fabulous breakfast,staff so friendly,happy to help ,had an all day breakfast which was delicious.Nice environment upstairs but downstairs equally as nice ,outside sitting space is nice too .

The cafe was recommended to us by a lady in the supermarket as somewhere really nice to have a quick lunch. Not wrong, one of our party was gluten free and the choice for him was very good, extra care taken too. Although we all had sandwiches they were large, extremely filling (and filled) with lots of salad on the side, the red velvet cake was delicious. Very good value, staff friendly and efficient, good coffee, would go again next time we visit Kendal.

Great little cafe for breakfast. Lots of choice for all budgets and good deals too. The smoothie was delicious, 1 of the best iv had, and the pancakes were great too. Service was friendly and prompt, and reasonably priced. Recommended for breakfast if you stopping over in Kendal!

Visited for breakfast with our dog, staff were attentive, lovely and friendly. We had one big breakfast and a smaller veggie breakfast, both were delicious! Coffee was great too!

We visited the Bristly Hog on Saturday lunchtime, perhaps we were just unlucky with our experience. There was no real welcome when we arrived, but we were seated promptly. Within a couple of minutes a lady was there asking for our drinks order. I asked for a few moments to look at the menu and felt like this was a bit of an issue for them. Less than a minute later, another lady asked for my order - there was a definite feeling of being rushed. Again, I asked for a few moments which seemed to be a problem for them. The barista shouted across the cafe not to approach my table, which while I understood what she was trying to do, left me feeling somewhat uncomfortable. I put our order in, one open prawn sandwich & two american sausage specials, one completely plain , just a sausage and the bun. I reiterated this multiple times and heard the waitresses discussion how to pass this through to the kitchen but still when the meals came, they had covered the sausage in sauce. sadly I had to send this back as my son wouldn't eat it. the waitress was not impressed and made this VERY clear. (I must add at this point that there was no mention on the menu of any sauce at all, my daughter isn't a fan of ketchup ans certainly not mustard but she didn't feel we could send both meals back!) The plain sausage arrived with no smile or pleasantries from the waitress. The prawn sandwich was average but at £8.75 for one slice of bread, some prawns and side salads, I was totally underwhelmed. We ate our food, and with no offer of additional drinks, we paid and left. £41 for three of us, I felt like I'd paid over the odds for a very disappointing meal.

We fell into this place by chance whilst looking for a nice sit down lunch and what a lucky fall it was. Nice clean, bright place with a lovely ambience as the posh people say. The staff are all excellent and good fun. If you get Reckless Chrissie for you table you are lucky. That girl loves banter. I chose creamy garlic mushrooms on sourdough toast and The Boss followed suit. It was delicious. One nice surprise was the staff recommend a coffee blend for you. It was a good choice. As far as we were concerned this was one of those lucky finds. We were in Kendal for one day only so just the one meal. Although they wouldn’t let me bring my unicorn inside I have no hesitation in recommending The Bristly Hog.

Great little cafe, very friendly staff. Stopped for a full Cumberland breakfast x2 clean and tidy, just a very short way from hustle and bustle of Kendal.

A good café right in the centre of the town. We had breakfast, it was good, and staff were friendly. we will return next time we are in Kendal.

Lovely little visit here for lunch, the staff were lovely as was our food. We will definitely be returning and telling our friends

Warm welcome, from all staff. Took care with my allergy and cook came out with rarely seen hair net and exchanged few words.

I had a really nice cappuccino made with locally roasted Ferrers coffee and a really good piece of chocolate cake. Worth going to if you fancy a cup.

Stopped for coffee while visiting Kendal. Lovely welcome from all of the staff we met. Choice of dark or medium roast coffee and a good selection of gluten free cakes on offer (would recommend the apple and caramel pie!) We would definitely return 😀

Omg 1st time in this coffee house welcomed by Kim and sat upstairs as it was a bit packed downstairs , had a lovely latte and a caked called jewelled fruit cake which I had never tried before absolutely amazing 100% reccommend tania and ali from London in holiday mode

On a visit to Kendal, we came across this gem of a café. All the staff are super friendly and welcoming. They have a great selection of tea and coffee, even down to what roast you would like......including the de-caffeinated! The food is just amazing, high quality produce only. The best bit for me was the fab selection of home made cakes and sweets on offer. So if you're ever in Kendal I would highly recommend here for a pit stop. We will definitely be returning.

Had lovely fresh cooked full English breakfast × 2 and hot drink friendly staff and service was great have been before last yr and was just as good can recommend trying

Very disappointed with the quality of the food we received. Ordered sandwiches which said came with chunky chips, salad & homemade coleslaw. The chunky chips turned out to be 6 kettle crisps. The quality of the sandwich fillings was very disappointing and not the greatest of quality. Roast chicken & stuffing was prepackaged sliced chicken and an excessive amount of cheap stuffing. Cumberland sausage & caramelised onions again were cheap sausages and caramelised onions were out of a jar - just really disappointing for the prices that are charged. Personally I would give this a miss unless you only want a coffee and cake.

Went in today for "brunch" , my girlfriend ordered mushrooms on toast , absolutely dreadful ! it tasted offensive and was a pile of mushrooms in a "pinky" kind of sauce, just tasted awful. In fairness to the lady waitress , she did not argue and changed it without question , my girlfriend agreed to have "vegetable soup" as an alternative which when it came was actually carrot and butternut squash , oh dear !! We just thought , lets just eat and go, the soup was just okay and my breakfast was very average , the egg tasted like it had been fried in old oil, not good !! When clearly you have not been satisfied there is nothing worse than the venue trying to defend their food and inferring it is you who has the problem!! The answer in this case was it was because they use "vegan cream" so are we supposed to assume that because it is vegan we should just accept that it doesn't taste good ? Furthermore when you say "well we sell a lot of it" it is directly accusing us as unreasonably having the problem !! This is not dignified and leaves a nastier taste in your mouth than the mushroom dish , which was particularly nasty. There really is no point in trying to discuss these matters with somebody who flatly refuses to accept their food may be of a poor standard. So to protect ourselves from this happening again we will not be returning , and would advise anybody NOT to have the mushrooms, on toast.

Great lunch and reasonably priced. Staff here were friendly too. Didn’t buy any coffee but it looks like they source their beans from a local roaster which is great to see.

I’ve visited this Cafe many times and enjoyed different foods on the menu. In January 2024 when I visited I ordered a breakfast and as the first customer to be served didn’t expect the bacon on the breakfast to be over cooked and hard. I appreciate it is probably batch made due to the cafe being busy but my grumble is at this time of year when it is cold outside and it’s obviously cold inside the cafe over night as well which can’t be helped. The tea I ordered was fine but the cups and teapots are cold so the tea goes cold very quickly in the cup and the pot. I can appreciate it’s not always possible to warm all cups and tea pots but it’s a little disappointing to have tea that’s not as hot as it usually is. Some people might find warm tea fine but personally I prefer hot tea. This is a lovely cafe with friendly staff.

Yummy breakfast, polite helpful staff, spotlessly clean. Would definitely recommend and will definitely be returning! The Christmas decorations are lovely too! X

Called in on a Friday morning, not too busy. After small delay in being given menus, we both chose small breakfasts. Good quality produce, very tasty breakfast and just the right size. Would return.

Only had a light lunch here but the sweetcorn soup and the cakes were great. All the staff were friendly and very efficient. Lovely atmosphere and great location.

Called in for a couple of breakfasts at a busy lunchtime. We were seated quickly and didn’t have too long to wait for our food despite how busy it was. These were proper breakfasts, quality produce, well cooked and served cheerfully. This is a must return to eatery.

I had the open pulled pork sandwich, it’s possibly the best cold pulled pork I’ve ever tasted. And I just had to have the layered ginger cake to finish.

Great food, service (from Chrissie) and just an overall lovely surrounding and experience. Would absolutely recommend

Called in off chance as passing on a visit to Kendal as the front looked clean, professional and inviting. The cafe is spotless, the staff are excellent and the coffee is even better. We sat down stairs but the upstairs is fabulous. Worth a return...

While on holiday thought we would try here. Sat outside in the sun, lots of seating in and out upstairs also and toilets are very clean. We were served by a lovely lady very happy and sociable. I had tuna cheese melt with hand cut...

A lovely warm greeting upon entering we were early so had a choice of seat, not only a choice of coffee but what type of roast we wanted. While the price may seem higher than others close by so not let that put you off,...

An excellent find in the busy town of Kendal. The Bristly Hog is a wonderful place with friendly and welcoming staff. It has to be the most dog friendly place we have ever come across. A blanket for them to lie on, a bowl of...

Was on a coast to coast ride and had been riding our bikes for 4 hour in the constant rain. We found this cafe and asked the pleasant staff if it’s ok to come in? They were very helpful as we were dripping wet. We...

After walking in and asking for a table to 2, we were shown to a bench table, in between other diners (sat too close for my liking) or a sofa upstairs. We asked for the sofa upstairs but we’re really confused as there were empty...

Found this lovely eatery in Kendall. Dog friendly, the food was delicious and freshly cooked large portions. Staff were great looked after us and our dog who had water and a couple of biscuits given to her for free, plenty of parking around town. I...

We were staying in Kendal for a couple of nights and didn't fancy the "all you can eat breakfast" at the hotel so walk round the corner and found this cafe. Came in both mornings, the food is freshly cooked and very reasonably priced. The staff are very friendly and a hive of local knowledge. Would definitely visit again if we're back in Kendal.

Amazing meat platter with home made dipping oils, nicely varied salad and root veg crisps with excellent ham and salamis served by attentive caring staff, great value and in comfortable surroundings. Definitely worth a visit and there's no doubt we'll be back. Thanks to our...

What a fantastic find in Kendall! The food was delicious and the portions were generous. Coffee was excellent too. The staff were extremely friendly, very attentive and food was served quickly. They also have the best fruit scones in the Lake District! We will definitely...

Had a bacon baguette which I thought was a little stingy on the bacon but followed up with the most wonderful substantial apple crumble and fantastic Farrer's coffee. My companions' meals and teas were excellent as was the service.

Went for breakfast for the first time since before covid and I'm wondering why we haven't been back since. This will be our go to breakfast cafe. I had the potatoe rosti with mushroom, spinach, egg and a side of thee best tomatoes slow cooked...

Came for lunch recently, excellent choice of food so we had trouble deciding. My soup was good, with lovely fresh bread. Hubby had potato skins with bacon and cheese, really tasty and a bigger portion than he expected. The cakes looked delicious but we were...

Used to go in here regularly every week but on our last visit we had a very bad experience with one of the older staff members who made us feel very unwelcome so we left, never to return. Their loss - there are plenty more...

We popped in here for breakfast and we’re not disappointed. The cafe was spotless and the staff constantly cleaning when they could. Breakfast was delicious and the service was faultless. Staff were very friendly and helpful in suggestions for local places to visit. Highly recommended...

Dropped in on a bitterly cold December Friday for some drinks, and light brunch. The bacon and sausage rolls (or baps if you'd prefer) were very tasty. Had both coffee and tea and finished off with a couple of the freshly baked cakes which were...

Warm welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. Good quality food with plenty of choice at a reasonable price. Daily specials and Yorkshire wraps on the menu!

Called in for lunch with the good Lady and the furry boy, can confirm previous TA reviews that dog friendly surroundings are here. Ordered the full breakfast and a soup and roll for the other half,could not resist cakes for afters,and we came away very...

While visiting Kendal on Saturday we popped in here for a Soup and Coffee. We were exceptionally happy with the service we got and snack was very enjoyable. We would also like to say the mannerly and friendly way all staff done job was fantastic...

We popped in for breakfast. The coffee was exceptionally good, and our bacon rolls were very nice too. The staff were very friendly, attentive and informative. The loos were not only spotless, but like something out of a five/star hotel. A well-deserved 5 stars from...

Called in here twice on my recent holiday. The property is a former brush factory and the staff showed us photos taken many years ago with factory workers manufacturing brushes. Now, to get to the coffee, delicious coffee, full of flavour but not bitter, and...

This cafe is a little Gem, we stopped here for a lite bite whilst visiting Kendal, it was a very wet day, we had a delicious bowl of broccoli and Stilton soup, and hot drinks the staff were very helpful.

Blown away by the customer service, food , drinks, facilities of this place. Came in for family lunch and the service was amazing.

Had breakfast . Lots of choices on the menu, tailored to what we requested. Choices of coffee strength too. A busy place even though it was early morning. Quality of the food was great , staff were were good

We were visiting Kendal and decided to stop here for some brunch as it was pet friendly! We sat outside and the staff were very attentive, even provided a bowl of water and dog biscuit for our dog. We had the scrambled eggs and salmon...

Absolutely fantastic service right from the moment we arrived!! Asked for a chair to be swapped outside to an indoor chair and there was no question in the matter!! the staff did it for us .. Breakfast was delicious!! Scrambled eggs went down a treat...

Fantastic little cafe We sat outside in the sun The staff are very friendly and welcoming Coffee comes in different roasts I had the avocado and courgette cake which was scrumptious Very dog friendly aswel Would return

This was a fantastic find in Kendal. Met by very friendly staff and served delicious freshly prepared food. We both chose open sandwiches and cup of soup served with fresh salad and hand cooked crisps. Would have loved to try the cakes but were so...

We were in Kendal for the day. This lovely coffee shop was a perfect stop, the food was hot & plentiful. The coffee was lovely too. We were so impressed with the cleanliness &;polite happy staff we booked tea for later on in the day...

Such a lovely lunch at this friendly cafe in Kendal! We wanted a quick bite to eat and felt very happy with our choice of cafe. Great selection of veggie options on the menu, both of our meals were delicious and good portions. Loved that...

Friendly staff very efficient, food was excellent well worth the visit. Nothing was to much trouble, hygiene excellent.

We stopped for breakfast at about 9.30am. We both chose avocado and poached egg on granary bread with smoked salmon. Cappuccino coffee and fresh orange. The quality of the food and drinks were excellent and the service very prompt and friendly. All of the staff...

Stopped in for lunch. Very friendly staff and lovely food! Sat on comfy sofas upstairs - would definitely recommend!!!

First place we came across having parked up and seemed a good option based on TA. Nice clean cafe with a decent sounding menu of all days breakfasts, sandwiches, jackets etc. We had the Yorkshire pudding wrap with chicken and stuffing served with a cup...

I've been to the Bristly Hog twice recently and found both occasions to have great food, exceptionally good service and a nice atmosphere. Will definitely be going again!

We stopped here for lunch and an iced coffee, the food was delicious and the staff were so welcoming and friendly. Would definitely recommend!

Only 20 minutes away from lake Windermere. Visited for lunch on a Sunday. Relatively busy. Very nice interior, dog friendly, value for money and really clean toilets. The service was impeccable. It really made the experience outstanding. Very helpful people, very accommodating for us and...

I visited here several months ago and was very happy with the vegan options. However, on my recent visit the menu had changed and was much more limited. I had a piece of cake which was poor, allegedly spiced apple but I only found one...

We weren't looking for anything specific to quench our hunger but the tables and awning led us to this lovely little spot. Food was tasty with some nice little touches which left us both full, ciabatta sandwich and soup for us both. Coke and a...

Popped in here on a busy Saturday afternoon. Staff so attentive and friendly, service really good and food lovely. Thanks again

Lovely Full English - outstanding sausages!! Great service from the staff; even my dog got her own water and treats ❤️ Definitely recommend… didn’t have any cakes but they look AMAZING!!

Kim and her staff are the best ever,friendly and considerate always. Food is excellent and well presented. Dogs welcomed and are given water and treats. In these difficult times the staff have all been brilliant. Definitely worth a visit.Thank you all

I’m a local and a regular at Bristly Hog. Love the decor, the food, the coffee and the staff are totally brilliant, always! They have battled cheerfully and tirelessly through the difficulties caused by the pandemic and I want to say a BIG THANK YOU...

Highly recommend! This isn’t my first visit and definitely won’t be my last. The staff are so friendly and will always do their best to accommodate. The food is outstanding and although I would normally have a coffee (which are amazing) I was tempted by...

Beautiful decor and got served quickly. Just hugely disappointed after reading other reviews. The staff weren’t friendly and I wasn’t made to feel welcome. Would not return

Your food is incredible, I have been on a few occasions and it’s my favourite place to eat in kendal. The staff are so lovely and very attentive. Thank-you for another fab meal and great service

We have always stopped at this place when stopping in Kendal we have for a number of years.The food is fabulous and such friendly staff.When we arrived last Wednesday it was very busy .I ask a young waitress if their were empty tables upstairs she took us upstairs gave us menus and said she will come back to take our order.The first thing I was aware of was the sticky table , but it could of been the sanitiser spray they previously used.We sat and wait for her to come back so 10/15 mins later my husband went down to order, she was very apologetic , but the same happened again the ladies waited then one of them went down to order.But the service and the friendly staff was what we liked even the older lady on the till looked harassed Food was lovely.We never returned in the days we stopped in Kendal.

Stopped here for lunch because the name of the place sounded great! Was greeted by super-friendly staff and given a table outside for myself and my dog, who was immediately supplied with water and biscuits. The lunch - beetroot and walnut salad - was first rate, absolutely delicious. Highly recommended.

Nice find in a high street full of competing eateries. Food was good home cooked stuff and the service was truly excellent - quick, friendly and attentive. The dog got a bowl of water and a biscuit too. First class

Absolutely love everything about this little eatery ! The staff are very welcoming, something for everyone on the menu and the food is delicious, what more could you want ?

Very rare for me to give 5 stars, but this place did it! Stopped for brunch, with our dog. Invited inside and no longer had we been seated than a water bowl, blanket & treat had arrived for our furry companion. Nothing was too much trouble, staff extremely friendly & knowledgeable about their menu. Food very tasty, so was coffee. Toilets very clean too. Well done, keep it up as we’ll be back…..Thank you

Just called in for a quick snack had breakfast special which was coffee and bacon sandwich it was one of the best bacon sandwiches i have had and staff very helpful will be back.

...there was a hair underneath the food. I didn't want to make a scene so I pointed it out to one of the ladies. I just showed it to her when she collected the plates, and she said is it a hair. I said it was, and that it came from underneath the food. I couldn't finish my breakfast after finding that. She didn't even offer me an apology, she just took the plate to the kitchen where I saw her discussing it with someone else. I didn't even get an offer of a refund, which I wasn't after, it was just ignored. This was my first time of visiting, and because of this I won't go back !

We stopped off for a late lunch, but didn't fancy a sandwich. We were delighted to find they were still serving breakfast. My partner had eggs benedict and I had a full a English. They were both beautiful.The coffee was delicious, we had the choice of mild, medium or dark roast. We chose dark, liking the bitter side of life. Our weimaraner was greeted with a couple of biscuits and a bowl of water. All in all a pleasant experience!

What a great family friendly place to eat. We stayed in a nearby hotel where the food wasn’t great so we headed out to find somewhere to have breakfast and came across this lovely little cafe on Kendal Main Street. The staff were very friendly and the breakfast was made with good quality products. Coffee is offered with varying strengths of bean. The tea arrives with a three minute timer. Great attention to detail and choice to the full menu.

Visited this morning for breakfast with my grandchildren. The service was friendly and efficient. The whole place was extremely clean, including the toilets. Very family friendly. Food was delicious. Highly recommended!!!

Sat outside and had Eggs Benedict & a Brie, smoked bacon ciabatta. Two excellent coffees. Nice to be asked how I liked my flat white (dark). Lovely friendly staff. A little gem of a place.

Popped in for a gin with my cousin to celebrate results day. Served by Kim who was a very friendly, chatty and polite lady with a smiley face. Would 10/10 recommend this cute little cafe for a bite to eat or an afternoon drink. Lovely experience overall x

Had afternoon tea and cake here. The tea was served to perfection.even given an egg timer to tell me when it was done. Nice touch I thought. Good selection of cakes. I didn't have it personally, but the sharing platter look amazing and I'd we visit again would definitely give that a go.

The Bristly Hog is a lovely Coffee House which I had the pleasure of visiting during a trip to the Lake District. Kim and her team are skilled in really friendly, efficient customer service. The food and drink is fantastic, and very varied depending on what you are looking for. I had the Full English Breakfast which was so delicious (pictures attached), I had it two days running, along my family too! There is a range of seating, both inside and out, and upstairs has lovely tables for an afternoon tea in groups of 4-6. Overall, I would definitely recommend The Bristly Hog Coffee House for a catch up with family or friends or a solo bite to eat for breakfast and/or lunch!

This is a really lovely café. The staff members are very friendly and the food is great, and arrived very quickly.

Delicious roll, and great coffee. Superior service from the staff. Highly recommended, why would someone go to McD next door?

Lovely people, great food, awesome coffee, very clean and comfortable sitting outside. I cannot recommend this place highly enough for a leisurely breakfast.

So great to see the brilliant Bristly Hog open again after yet another lockdown. Thanks, Kim and your fab team. I’ve missed the best coffee and shortbread in Kendal! Best wishes to you all, Sue H

Been a few times for coffee and it's always great. Friendly and attentive staff. Definately worth a visit if in town.

Today the fantastic Bristly Hog re-opened after second lockdown. Big thanks to Kim and her amazing team - Melissa, Carol etc. The gorgeous coffee and shortbread have been greatly missed.... Kendal’s just not the same when the Bristly Hog is closed! Thanks to all! Sue H

We sat outside on a sunny October lunchtime, sausage on ciabatta hit the spot for me, Helen has a very tasty open coronation chicken sandwich. Friendly staff and efficient service. Lovely looking building inside and out

Nos encantó nuestra visita para tomar un brunch el domingo. El café era excelente y a todos nos encantó nuestra comida, ni siquiera pudimos terminar la mía porque la porción era muy grande. Todo parecía fresco y elaborado con ingredientes de calidad. La camarera que tomó nuestro pedido parecía un poco nerviosa ya que era nueva, pero fue absolutamente encantadora y muy educada, ¡me encantaría que supiera que está haciendo un gran trabajo! Sin duda volveremos la próxima vez que estemos en Kendal, una pena que lo hayamos encontrado en nuestro último día de visita. ¡5 estrellas!

Went with a friend when visiting Kendal for the week. Stumbled on this place by chance. It was a little awkward entering and some off the staff were a little abrupt at times but the food was actually really good. My friend had a coffee which was so good we had to get one for the road! Only negative I can mention was the panini wasn't toasted more warmed. It was odd there was no chips but the cous cous was surprisingly good!!!

Excelente pequeña cafetería. El propietario se asegura de que obtenga la mezcla perfecta de café. La comida es excelente y bien presentada. Saludo cálido y amable, se admiten perros, muy limpio, el personal usa máscaras y los baños y se revisan y limpian cada hora. ¡Incluso tienen pañales para los bebés! ! A nuestro pequeño Yorkie le encanta ir allí porque lo miman y hacen un escándalo con él.