The Master's House in South Lakeland

AVOID!! This is possibly the worst cafe I have ever been in. As someone previously noted, you can’t see in from the outside so you’ve no idea what you’ve committed to. The building itself is quaint, 17th century. We sat at the window. The window sill was covered in cobwebs. We ordered the afternoon tea which came with shop bought cakes one of the chocolate buns (cupcake would be an exaggeration) was mouldy. When we pointed this out to the owner there was no apology just a look of disdain. She returned with a strawberry one instead “just in case”. There is an abundance of eateries in Kendal - this venue should be considered a last resort!!

We stopped in as a break during a long journey and ended up here to get out of the rain. Unfortunately you can't see in from outside so once you've walked in you feel committed. The menu is fine but the service is pretty dour and unfriendly (the young lad was much friendlier than the older lady). After we sat down the lady just came and stood next to us waiting for our order, no smile, no 'are you ready to order', nothing. The food was OK, nothing special. The toilet was out of order and they were letting visitors know it was OK to use it if they just need a wee. Quite what you're meant to do if you don't at that point I don't know, announce it in the middle of the cafe. It could be very charming there but we sadly wouldn't visit again.

What a beautiful place this is, lots of history in this building On arrival we were greeted by a young man who was very friendly and polite. Took our order promptly The coffee was piping hot and freshly brewed The good was very tasty and decent portion size Husband had open ham sandwich which looked amazing, he said it tasted amazing too Would definitely be going back and would recommend it to anyone Got to try the cakes next time or maybe there afternoon tea What more can I say great service and food in a beautiful historic building

Fantastic Cafe. There is an outside seating area which is a fantastic sun trap, if sun is not your thing then there is a table in the shade and seating inside. There was only 2 people working in there and it was busy, however the staff stayed calm, friendly and polite.

Really good tea room. Had a cream tea and it was delicious. Friendly staff. Would definitely recommend a visit.

We called in for a cream tea. Do not confuse it with an afternoon tea! The scones were very nice and fresh. Staff were friendly. The place is very traditional and nicely decorated.

An historic building and a small but well-laid out cafe. Very experienced staff and simple fayre on offer.

A hidden gem in the heart of Kendal with top quality traditional food. The building is truly historic and the service is traditionally friendly. The outside seating is a good example of the old Kendal yards and a sun trap when the weather is right. Shame people not using the cafe abuse the excellent atmosphere by expecting to take their food bought elsewhere to be eaten in the yard. Some people are simply ignorant. That apart its a brilliant historic building with quality home made food and well worth a visit..

A cold rainy day out in Kendal with our 2 dogs was made so much nicer by calling here for lunch. We really appreciate anywhere we can take our dogs with us. The dogs were given some water which was lovely and we tucked into a lunch of soup and sandwiches as well as coffee and tea. The soup was outstanding and really warmed us up. The lady who served us made us feel welcome and we didn’t have to wait long for food. Lovely spot and highly recommended.

A welcoming tearooms. Jacket potato was excellent. So was the Cinnamon and Raisin bagel. On street parking plus plenty of buses. Toilet somewhat inaccessible, entered through the kitchen.

This tea room is my favourite place to visit whenever I am in Kendal. It is the lovely old fashioned type of tea room, which I think people miss these days. The menu is superb, the food delicious, and well presented by the very friendly staff. It is a joy to visit and hard to leave, its easy to spend a few hours there talking to friends and enjoying lunch or afternoon tea.

Great friendly staff great service and great food in a nice secluded old fashion tea room . We would recommend this tea room .

My wife and I were visiting Kendal for the day and found these tea rooms. My wife went it to enquire about gluten-free food and was told most of the menu could be prepared gluten-free. I had a gluten-free BLT and my wife had a gluten-free Prawn Marie-Rose sandwich. Our pot of tea was huge, providing three cups each without any of the extra hot water supplied. I asked if we could have soya milk and was told it was not available but we could have oat milk instead, which was just as good. The cost of the meal was reasonable and the service was excellent. The tea rooms are very cosy and, if the date carved into the fireplace facia is anything to go by, the building dates back to 1651.

Cathy and Charmaine always give everyone a lovely welcome nothing is a bother to them. Best Restaurant in Kendal by far. A must if you are in Kendal. Had a lovely Cheese and Ham Jacket potato and a diet coke. The jacket potato was lovely and hot with melting cheese on the side tasty thick ham and wonderful salad and the diet coke served in a large glass(though coffee is lovely too).The Masters House is a historic building that is a pleasure to eat in. Dont expect Wifi as the walls are thick and its not possible for signal but you wont want use your phone only to take pictures of the stunning building which I think dates back to 1500s. When Christmas shopping call in you dont want to miss out.

Been here twice now when visiting Cumbria. A lovely little tea rooms. Love the building .... very quirky. The young waiting staff are extremely polite and provide great service. Very reasonable prices too.

Me & the misses stopped here for an hour or so last week when we was in Kendal and really enjoyed the experience! We had already eaten so can’t comment on the lunch, but I did see a few come out and it looked delicious. We sat outside in the sunshine and had a coffee & cake each - very tasty and also a very good coffee! The staff we encountered were very friendly and it was a nice cosy little place with a really classic and traditional feel to the place. Would go again, perfect place for a little stop off throughout your day!

We were looking for somewhere for a late lunch and found this gem of a place on our way in to the town. We sat in the little outside courtyard and had soup and a sandwich with some hot drinks. The food was delicious and the service very friendly. Would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a varied menu and good service.

Qué delicia. Parecía ser dirigido por una unidad familiar de mamá, niño y una señorita.El muchacho debe haber tenido unos 13 o 14 años con modales impecables al tomar nuestro pedido, servir y limpiar mesas.La comida era muy buena y se sentía especial tener una gran tetera con agua extra caliente también. Buen toque.Definitivamente regresaremos.

Comida fabulosa. Servicio de primera calidad, atención y atención. Maravilloso escenario del viejo mundo. Tomé papa con jamón y queso con la mejor ensalada de Kendal que no es solo lechuga (zanahoria, coco, uvas, fresa, cebolla, pepino, tomate, naranja) Jamón y queso de muy buena calidad ya un precio muy razonable. Café negro y vaso de agua Todo para menores de 9 años. Si estás en Kendal, es un restaurante que no debes perderte. No puedo recomendarte lo suficiente.

Looking for a late lunch spot on the Bank weekend we tried the Master’s House drawn in by the charm of the window decorations. We were warmly welcomed and served our delicious sandwiches exactly as requested along with tea and coffee. Very friendly service.

Pros: lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. Great large salad with fresh ham, freshly made. Small room, full of character and history. Cons: can't think of any.

Small quirky tea rooms. Not many tables and individually named on their location - ie 'the table by the radiator/window/stairs' etc. Food is good and well priced. Afternoon tea at under £9pp. Staff friendly and helpful.

Just popped in for tea and scones whilst in the area. Very clean restaurant, with good staff and tasty food. Scones were delicious.

This is a lovely little cafe. We ordered the scones which we not only freshly baked but delicious. I have never before had cherry scones but they were worth the try.

Visité aquí para una parada de café y pastel mientras estaba de vacaciones en los lagos. El lugar tiene mucho encanto, un personal amable y servicial y un servicio súper rápido. Encantadora variedad de tartas y pudines, es un placer ver un par de opciones gratuitas, la mejor tarta de limón que he probado en mucho tiempo.

I used to go here regularly and wanted to check out that my daughter who is coeliac and lactose intolerant could eat here. When I went in to ask the response I got was "she makes life difficult for herself doesn't she.Won't be going again - ever

Stopped off for homemade scones with jam and cream. Make sure you ask for the days flavours - delicious

Called in for coffee, café empty, yet the staff chose to ignore us. Crumbs on the table, when the coffee finally came we decided it would be best if we carried on walking into Kendal and try elsewhere.

Went to Kendall for the day to explore the shops. Saw the Masters House and went in for lunch. We decided on a quiche salad. It came with a well-cooked jacket potato and a first class salad (as someone else has said). Really tasty and we ate it in the courtyard at the rear (see picture). Recommended.

My wife and I popped in for a snack and a coffee, in passing on our way to Scotland. A quaint little tea room with baking second to none. Lovely, friendly staff, served home-baked cakes. All I can say is that it was the best lemon drizzle cake I've ever tasted. Managed to speak to the baker - who sometimes bakes gluten-free - to order, or to be generally available. It turns out that the piece of cake we had was gluten free. Believe me when I say that the texture and flavour were still the best we've ever had. Wonderfull little place, and well worth a visit.

Fantastic quaint little cafe, love it. Can't wait to come back. Lovely homemade soup. the staff very friendly. Also good selection of teas and cakes

Visited this quirky, pretty little tearoom on a very cold day and it was lovely.Olde worlde house with really lovely, reasonable priced food.Pleasant staff too.Recommend if you want a nice, top quality lunch.

I only went in for a quick cup of tea after passing by and saw the sign outside said 1659 AC. Really out standing character and different from your everyday or hip cafe worth stepping in and check it out. Many variety teas and coffees , cakes & foodies and believe it or not this is so old school they still selling a cup of hot water with a piece of lemon ! Since this place used to be a hospital in the old day I can't see why not you might have a sour throat ,hey? Fun and reasonable price.

Lovely little cafe with very welcoming staff, a quirky layout and very small but delicious food. Only slightly niggle is the toilet could do with a dust but that’s just picking at things it was beautiful x

Stopped to eat here as we love history and had been reading about the place outside. Cafe like in decor pleasantly surprised at the food we ordered which was very tasty and well priced. Recommend the milkshake and the salad.

Very loyal cafe they're always quick with making food, the prices are cheap, they have extremely polite staff.

Really wished we had gone elsewhere as didn’t find the staff welcoming or friendly so didn’t linger. The menu looked ok but not for us.

A quaint looking place for a cup of tea. Staff welcomed us with a smile and were polite throughout. Prices charged along with the menu are very competitive. It is tight for room but don’t let that put you off.

Had afternoon tea for my lunch, my husband had baked potatoe with cheese and salad. Very filling, reasonable price and lovely staff.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is great. The food is either excellent (eg the starters garlic mushrooms, best I've ever...

Almorzamos tarde hoy aquí. Yo tenía una chaqueta de patata con queso y jamón. Pero era tan mucho más que eso. Tiene que ser uno de los mejores almuerzos que he tenido en mucho tiempo.

Una buena ensalada vale la sándwich. Hay al menos 3 habitaciones pequeñas en esta vieja casa haciendo el café

An exceptional small establishment on the end of a yard which is the entrance/archway which leads to a very historical part of Kendal - almshouses and a former "Bluecoats School" at the top. It is public access, but you cannot enter the small gardens or cottages , (NOT a museum) but you can wander up the path. If you look at the photo , the "Master's House" ( I presume the head teacher of the Bluecoats School?) is the right hand side of the building and stretches behind it. This is the area occupied by the present café/restaurant.Strangely this whole area was almost destroyed in the 1960s for slum clearance/ town centre redevelopment. Much of Kendal Town centre was, but this did survive. Thoroughly recommend going there, even just for a coffee and bit of cake. Actually some coach companies drop you almost outside in front of HSBC/ Shakespeare pub - just look left over your shoulder..

lovely old atmosphere occupying a jumble of rooms for a lunchtime snack - sandwiches/toasties/baked potatoes all served with a salad - and cakes and puddings. Children' s menu Flagged floors and kindly staff with a small outside area as well

My partner and I stopped off here on Saturday for tea and a bit of cake! Apart from them not having any Carmel shortbread, which I thought was slightly unusual for a tea room, the chocolate brownie and chocolate milkshake I had were to die for! My partner had the Tiffin cake which was also delicious and a latte to rival even the best coffee shops. Didn't have any lunch type food so can't comment on that I'm afraid. Staff were very friendly and I really loved the quaintness of the tearoom and building itself. Would def go back if we're in Kendal again.

Lovely old fashioned Tea rooms with a limited but sufficient menu and great serviceI enjoyed the Local Ham/Salad and my wife enjoyed Jacket potato with Tuna + Salad a really generous portionsPlease Note that alcohol is NOT served here and they do not accept credit cards

Made a nice change from the 'conveyor belt' coffee shops and modern tea rooms. Quaint small rooms with traditional decor. Surprisingly comprehensive menu. Friendly service at reasonable prices.

Staff are really welcoming and friendly and we loved the history of the building. Cheese toasties went down well, as did the tuna sandwich. Jacket potato with tuna was OK but would have been better if baked... Think it was microwaved? And the coconut sprinkles on the salad was a bit odd. Would definitely return though.

My friend and I visited the tea room last week and had a lovely cream tea ,when we left we didn't discover until a few hours later that my friend had left her phone on the table ,I phoned then and they said that they had it ,as we were on a coach we couldn't go back for it so they took my friends address and posted it to her home in Scotland ,now that's what I call great service ,will definately make a return visit when we are back in Kendal

This tearoom is amazing, it is spotless and quaint, the food is excellent and they do an amazing afternoon tea, well worth a visit anytime of year and the staff are lovely

We stopped here for some lunch whilst passing through Kendal. The staff are really friendly and attentive. The food was lovely. Had a really homely feel.

what a super time we had there, range of food and drink was fabulous, really warm welcoming staff who went above and beyond to make sure all our needs were catered for, all in a lovely cosy setting. Will definitely be going back again and again.

Saw 2 mice in kitchen while paying for our lunch, not very nice, especially when we had just eaten there

We got a wonderful welcome from the very caring and helpful staff. A wide-ranging menu offered tasty options for everybody in our group. Many aspects of the menu can be adapted for those who need a gluten free diet. Tea and coffee were excellent and the food of very high quality and well presented. We had a lovely, leisurely pre-Christmas lunch.

Popped in for afternoon tea and it did not disappoint. Great range of sandwiches and cakes and a steal for the price of it! Cosy setting with very friendly staff.

have had many visits to kendal over the years but had never even spotted this place before, with its entrance set back from the main road. Always intrigued by a building with some character and history about it. Inside is a low beamed delight and small bustling cafe with young, energetic and happy-to-please staff. Light lunch of tuna baked potato for me and toasted sandwich for my colleague, both of which came with a very acceptable and generous salad and home-made coleslaw (although I admit that the coconut sprinkles on the salad were a bit of a surprise). Very pleasant, cost effective and efficient experience and a nice chance from the many chains and fast food outlets in town. Well worth supporting!

Had a lovely light lunch, staff very polite and helpful. Would come back again. Inside is a bit tight but working.

A very cute tea room in an historic building. Make time to look at the back of the building to see the houses and what I think was a school. Also the old poor box on the wall. Friendly service from the staff. Good menu of sandwiches etc, the usual fare. We had flan with jacket potato, this came with a fabulous salad. The flan was good, salad great but the potato left it down, it wasn't fresh enough. It must have been precooked, shame as everything else was great.

We stopped here for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. As it was a nice day we sat outside in the courtyard which was lovely. We both had baked potatoes and the fillings were on the generous side. It also came with one of the best side salads I have had - delicious! The staff were really friendly and the whole lunch was very relaxing. Don't miss this place if you are in Kendal.

Beautiful beverages, a pleasant outdoor area - perfection! There is a smoking area outside, which is much appreciated. The waitress service was courteous and professional.

I was travelling with a kiwi friend who is always eager to find unusual, and preferably charming places to eat. This tea shop fitted the bill and, to make matters even better, provided a well cooked and presented lunch in convivial surroundings. The friendly staff were happy to accommodate my somewhat fussy eater of a friend. To be recommended.

We stopped at The Masters House for lunch when visiting Kendal on our way to the Lake District. There was an excellent choice on the menu. I had a baked potato with tuna mayonnaise. It came with the best salad I have ever had and was beautifully presented. There was lots of tasty filling for the potato too. As it was so filling I didn't have room to sample the delicious looking cakes. The cafe was very busy many being locals as well as visitors. The staff were very pleasant and took time to speak to everyone, not just taking their order.Well worth a visit.

Very nice selection of gf crumpets cake gf bread rolls to make for sandwiches went at lunchtime had pot of tea and gf crumpets reasonable prices

We popped in to the Masters house on a whim and we're delighted with our afternoon tea! The quality and quantity were just right, service was provided with a chat and a smile on an extremely hot and wearying day. It was good value too! We'll definitely make it our regular stop for refreshments from now on.

Popped in this afternoon for a cuppa n a scone. The tearoom was clean, friendly staff, variety on the menu plus specials. Fab prices, 3 drinks 3 cakes-/desserts for under £10 and all were lovely!! Only minor comment was the choice of plastic flowers as decoration - not necessary but otherwise all was good! Lovely lil garden area for sunshine eating! Would definately return!!!

The history of the Masters House is interesting as are the alms houses to the rear. The tea rooms are always keen to please and if it's warm there are the two tables to the rear. Menu is adequate and the service is homely, we often visit and always enjoy it. Carry on giving Kendal the unique service.

We called into this cafe for lunch on the recommendation of another customer and were not disappointed. We opted for the quiche salad. The quiche was home-baked and was served with jacket potato and a lovely salad. The food was reasonably priced.The staff were friendly, service was good and the restaurant had a traditional charm with 3 different seating areas. It was clean and tables were cleared quickly after use. .

First ever visit to Kendal while on a weekend coach holiday alone, just recently (22nd - 25th April 2016). Arrived in Kendal at 10:20 on Saturday morning and I needed to eat my lunch somewhere that was near where the coach had dropped off / picked up, so arrived in the café at 11:45am to ensure I was able to make the coach pick-up, at 1:45pm. The food was lovely, was served fairly quickly and the waitress was very friendly too. Would definitely visit here again and definitely recommend this café to anyone on a budget, but looking for somewhere decent and central, also dog-friendly.

First trip to Kendal, and we looked for a nice tea room for a spot of lunch. Came across this quaint Tudor beamed tea rooms. We ordered the high tea each , very pleased with it, great selection of sandwiches and cakes plus cream scone. Pot of tea filled our cups several times. Well worth the £7.50 each!,, great value. Staff were extremely pleasant and helpful and a very atmospheric building.

Visited by chance what a lovely Tea Room. The ladies are lovely and even though they were busy found time to chat. Food excellent and freshly made a teapot for tea not a small cup a double the price.

We had a lovely afternoon tea here. Assorted sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and one of the best lemon drizzle cakes ever! Our dog was made most welcome which was much better than having to sit out in the cold. Wonderful service too.

We popped in here twice for tea and cake whilst visiting friends in the area, it was very reasonable in price. The staff we friendly and the service was very good. Nice and clean, perfect for a snack.

The charm of this tiny café attracted us on a coffee stop in comparison to several brash specialist coffee houses nearby. The coffee was great, my cake was perfect and the service was charming. The menu was interesting and we will probably go back for more food when we are back in Kendal next time. Excellent!

Once again I visited this wonderful little gem of a cafe and was delighted that the food was still as scrumptious as it was on my previous visits. So if you want consistently good food, this is the place to come and eat.

Have visited several times this is homely welcoming excellent homemade food venue all are welcome. Traditional and historic place of kendal and afternoon teas to die for!!! Well worth a visit!! Five Star will be visiting again soon. Highly recommended

The Master's House is my favourite spot for lunch or afternoon tea. I love their home-made coleslaw so for lunch I often choose the baked potato with cheese and coleslaw, this come with a lovely salad.The staff are wonderful, they go out of their way to make you feel welcome and they make a really effort to get to know their regulars. This is a place that I feel comfortable dining alone. It is also a place that I am happy to take the children!

What a great find, without doubt the best tearoom in Kendal. The salads are particularly scrumptious but all of the food looked amazing. Really worth a visit.

Love to visit here when I am in Kendal as it is so quaint.Good choice of menu,I had just tea and a cake this time.Only small inside so you might not always get in!

Stopped at the masters house for tea and a scone this morning. What a charming, welcoming little place this is. Good menu and the staff were really nice. It's tiny but well worth a visit if you can get in !

A great little place on the high street in Kendal. We sat outside in the small court yard I the sunshine and it really was a delight. We only had a sandwich and a tea but the food others were having looked equally as nice as ours. Friendly and efficient staff, well priced.

Stopped here for lunch as it looked very traditional. A big selling point wash at it was dog friendly. Had an egg mayonnaise sandwich and a grilled tuna sandwich. Could not fault these at all. We then decided to have pudding - ginger pudding and chocolate sponge pudding. These were served with ice cream and custard. Whilst these were nice, the custard tasted like powdered custard - home made would have been preferred. The service was very nice and the establishment was very warm and welcoming.

Welcoming staff. Excellent and friendly service. Very dog friendly even providing bowl of water for dog. Super food. Great cup of tea.

Lovely little tea shop, great selection of teas. We stopped for a cake to keep us going until dinner. Cake selection was excellent and the arrangement of tables quirky. Loved the table names to go with the numbers. could do with a bit of pain on the walls upstairs to improve the aesthetics.

One of the oldest buildings in kendal don't be fooled by its exterior.Dog friendly down stairs and dog free upstairs I love the quiche,open sandwiches and afternoon tea and kids nibbles.Friendly staff who will do anything they can to meet your dietary needs for fussy kiddies.

This lovely, cozy tearoom oozes character and charm. The homemade fayre ranges from delicious cakes and snacks to more substantial salads and are accompanied by some excellent coffees and teas. The young staff are very attentive.

My partner and I visited this beautiful little cafe at the weekend. We called in for a small snack but found we were spoilt for choice by the treats on offer and the specials for the day. My partner is a vegetarian and struggles to find things he likes to eat, he was very impressed with the choices here though and the owner was very flexible offering to make something from scratch if there was nothing he fancied from the menu.All in all it was a lovely visit and we will definitely be going back.

We stopped here for tea and a bite to eat whilst in Kendal. We wanted something light but tasty. I had Tuna sandwich with salad and my husband had jacket potato with salad. Everything was so tasty and well presented, the salads were especially nice with a great variety of fresh produce. This was all washed down with a big pot of tea. Do not be put off by it being small and very busy we were served quickly and efficiently.

A quaint old town house in Kendal. Good selection of teas,coffees and hot chocolate. Nice stop for a lunchtime snack. Staff were very nice and the service was good. Masters house did it for us. A nice change from the chain coffee shops. Looking forward to our next visit.

We had a lovely lunch here today we had 3 different meals all excellent then to top it of we had 4 different sweets all deliciousLovely friendly people run this tea roomworth a visit if you are in kendal

This cafe is simply the best in Kendal. fresh food and amazing hot chocolate. no processed food either and great Value

We called in The Masters Tea Rooms for a hot chocolate and Cappuccino it was badly needed as it was cold and raining hard. The service was good and the drinks hot and tasty. The place was pleasant.

Excellent tea room. will cert visit again. Nice choice of tea/ food. Could maybe do with some gluten free options too.

I have reviewed this lovely cafe/restaurant before. The building has so much character and is one if the most photographed in Kendal. The owner is always on hand to look after her customers and sets high standards. The coffees and teas are excellent and they serve everything from a light snack through to a hearty meal. The interior is cosy and original and this is a very popular place with locals, which is always a good sign!The location is very central and just a few yards from the Town Hall.

In the centre of the small town, this charming period cafe is just lovely and a warm haven on a typically cold and wet autumn lunch time.The scones and "proper" tea duly arrived and were extremely good. As previously commennted on, the tea pot was one large enough to satisfy the three of us and came with extra water and an extra tea bag. No skimping here.An extensive lunch menu to choose from (no chips) and a lovely ambiance in which to eat what ever takes your fancy.We would definitely return to The Master's House when in the area again and recommend it whole heartedly.Try it. You won't be disappointed.

Delicious home made cakes, wholesome snacks and friendly service await anyone exploring this charming market town and looking for somewhere central to recharge the batteries. The ancient building, formerly a school, provides a great atmosphere.

A proper tea pot! Every cafe should be made to serve with a proper size tea pot and extra water! This was wonderful, for once not having to squeeze a bit more tea from a skimpy little pot! The staff were friendly and welcoming, looking forward to tea and scones there again soon.

Great setting in Kendal, lovely food and a great variety to choose from and the food is well presented.They do a great Coffee toohighly recommend

I'd been past this ancient building many times on Kendal's main thoroughfare but never been inside. And what had I been missing. I liked it so much I went twice in one day. The waitress couldn't have been more welcoming and the very tasty food was presented as though they really care. The historical and cosy find oozes with atmosphere and has a charming and relaxed ambience in which to dine. Of equal importance there is a comprehensive menu of light bites and a lovely range of home-made cakes, all with sensible prices.