Villa Positano in South Lakeland

You will possibly all know the feeling when you have completed a major project, you reward yourself with a weekend away. We chose to return to Windermere in the Lake District after 4 years, and obviously we did look at suggestions on TA to find out the best places to relax and eat. Unfortunately, we wanted to return again the next day to Baha restaurant, but they were fully booked on a weekend so wandered further down the street and went into Villa Positano; a shame they weren’t fully booked. For an Italian restaurant will many customers, you served us with pasta obviously not made on your premises. And the Bolognese sauce you used was also either from a tin or jar, as it just didn’t have that fresh tomato, basil, oregamo taste a true Italian chef would insist on. The pizza was supposed to come with chicken, there was a few little cheese-covered lumps of small pieces of chicken. The waitress spilled coffee on our daughters trousers, she got a cloth wiped it up and never offered to make a fresh one considering it soaked all the sugar in the saucer. The best part was after we paid and was leaving the place, a little, bald Italian gentleman said, ‘I hope you enjoyed the best pizza or pasta for miles around?’ Now I am putting my hand on my heart, I have tasted and enjoyed Bolognese and pizza from Aldi and Lidl more. And we could have done all the meal and drinks for less than £10, they charged £48.40. And the waitress who was serving on Saturday night (7th Sept), she looked and seen we were finished apart from drinks and told a waiter with glasses, ‘Table 13, they’ll be out of here in ten minutes, sit them down stairs and they can have that table.’ Now as a paying customer, she made your establishment seem like a cheap canteen by allowing customers to hear such a comment about themselves. My review is nothing personal, however, any Italian restaurant of quality would make everything from fresh. And I dare say that because you are in such a ‘tourist trap,’ you will get customers as the better ones like Baha are booked out as people want quality.

Booked her for our anniversary and it did not disappoint! The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly and welcoming.

Me and my partner celebrated our engagement here and we honestly couldn’t have picked a better place! Real Italian feel inside, delicious food and the service was fantastic. The tiramisu was amazing 🤩

Please be very careful and check your bill, the food was fantastic, we paid the bill in good faith then thought it seemed expensive, we asked for a receipt and were disappointed we had been over charged over £50, when challenged after we went back into the restaurant we were immediately refunded the difference with no further review of the bill which to be honest didn’t seem right

The hosts were very rude in behaviour and attitude towards us that made us rate them to be poor in quality of service, gave us a look that we were not welcomed

Excellent food. Very good service. Lovely meal. Owner was friendly and interesting and gave us good tips for visiting Lecce.

This was our second visit to Villa Positano. This time with our boys. The staff were very friendly, the service was very prompt and the prices were fair. If you are eating here I would not recommend the pizza or garlic bread, I didn't like the bases. I would recommend the authentic Italian pastas or gnocchi, they were delicious. Last time I was underwhelmed by the lasagne, the rigatoni was exceptional this time.

Wow, what a fabulous restaurant. The ambiance was wonderful we felt like we were in Italy the moment we walked in. Greeted as though we were part of the family, food was out of this world. Lovely Italian restaurant with home cuisine and fabulous staff. Thank you for a great evening. Date of visit 28th May (evening)

Absolutely brilliant - could not fault it in anyway whatsoever. Food delicious and great service as well - we will return!

We have been visiting Villa Positano for years and we’ve always had an amazing experience every time. We’re always made to feel so welcome. The food is amazing and the service is always excellent. The staff were so good with our little boy who is almost 3. Can’t wait to visit again. Best Italian in the lakes.

This place looked great but the food wasn’t. We got the seafood pasta and chicken fettuccine which was absolutely flavourless and bland. The only good thing was the garlic bread. Don’t waste your money going here its very expensive and you could make better at home we were really disappointed.

If you want a warm welcome and the best more authentic Italian food then go to Villa Positano. The family run restaurant has been a favourite of mine for a long time and this is down to the customer experience and amazing food. You feel like you are visiting Italy and the atmosphere is out of this world. We will be back soon , Rob & Jonathan

Unfortunately I was very disappointed by the quality of food at this restaurant, the service wasn't very good also. I Wouldn't recommend.

Delicious pizza and pasta dishes in nice surroundings. Great service. Closed Wednesdays. Fabulous tiramisu for pudding!

Had a very nice meal here on our first night of our trip. Young waiter chatty and friendly and the food was of a good standard coupled with a decent bottle of wine. Happy return in the future

As we walked in we loved the feel of this place, very authentic with a lovely atmosphere. The staff couldn’t be more welcoming and added a very personal touch. The food really was amazing and full of flavour and reasonably-priced. This is a must-visit if you are in the area.

Visited here with friends on a one night stay in the area. Food was lovely with a good amount of choice. The portion sizes were perfect. The atmosphere was great and friendly staff. The place had a good authentic feeling about it. Would highly recommend.

ordered specials board mussels utterly inedible, been to this restaurant several times, never again, and they made us pay!!

What an absolute fantastic restaurant!! The staff were so friendly and nothing was too much trouble. The food was amazing, and the atmosphere was lovely. Couldn’t recommend this place enough. We’ll definitely be back when visiting the lakes again.

Fantastic foox and atmosphere. Staff were great 😁😁😁😁 Would recommend to everyone. Book though as it gets busy 😊😊

First time we have ever eaten in this little Italian gem. It did not disappoint. Absolutely delicious food. Great food, great service and all within a lovely family friendly atmosphere. We will definitely return.

We always try to visit this idyllic, friendly family run Italian restaurant whenever we are in the lakes. As usual it did not disappoint, from the moment we walked in to sadly leaving. The family and staff are a true credit to this little Italian haven. Very best wishes for the coming year, we'll be seeing you all soon.

Gorgeous authentic italian restaurant. Me and my partner loved every course and the service was great as well. Will definitely be back next time we visit the lakes!

Wow, what an amazing gem, we love our italian food and the place didn't disappoint. the food is very authentic and very tasty, the staff couldn't do enough for you even the chef came and asked me how i would like my steak and boy it was perfect, i even got my mother on the phone to chat to him in italian! lovely wonder people and well worth a visit!

Visited for the second time on Nov 4th 2023. Excellent food and Service. Nice atmosphere and very friendly staff. A taste of Italy! Torneremo Grazie

We were staying in Bowness and had a restaurant booking at a nearby hotel which we cancelled on the second night as the hotel meals weren't as good as advertised. So We found this restaurant in Bowness on the off chance, with a stroke of...

Friends of ours from Liverpool recommended Villa Positano just last night...we live fairly locally in Kirkby Lonsdale,40mins away and didn't know it existed...wow...it was like being in Positano .....excellent authentic Italian ambience, people and food Loved it all...please open up a branch in KLonsdale...we need...

Great dishes, lovely owners and staff. We go there at least twice every time we have a week's stay in the Lakes. Best wishes to you all, particularly lovely Clare, Jeremy

We rang ahead to book a table for 4 and requested a high chair roughly 4 weeks before we were due to holiday in Bowness. On booking the restaurant said no problem for a high chair but no mention was made about not allowing prams....

A lovely cozy traditional Italian restaurant. We had a delicious meal, lovely staff and amazing service. Thank you for squeezing us in. Can’t wait to visit again and try other items on the menu

Excellent food great atmosphere. Would highly recommend this restaurant . Very authentic food and stafff

Very friendly staff but food is very basic. It feels like you are being processed very quickly rather than being given a proper dining experience. Place reminds me of how Italian restaurants used to look and feel in the 80’s. Would not go again.

My husband and I visited whilst on a short break to Windermere. The food was delicious and very tasty. The waiter recommend an amazing pasta dish with garlic and oil. He made it extra spicy for me and I could pick my favourite pasta, very...

The worst Italian restaurant I have eaten in for years. The 'lasagne' looked like a plate of Tesco microwave food. Spaghetti carbonara tasteless. Most restaurants make an effort as they want customers to return. This one seemed to feel that most customers were there for...

Amazing restaurant cannot fault it. Can honestly say it was the best pasta dish I have had in a long time. Would definitely recommend it.

Visited just after opening and was in, ordered, eaten and left within 30 minutes. Both got chicken stroganoff from the specials. It was like boiled up dishwater. Very bland nothing stroganoff about it. Can’t have had any seasonings or cream in that day. Portion size...

Great staff, nice atmosphere and fantastic food. This was a much better option than all the chip shops and burger places

My wife and I booked a table for 7.30pm we were seated almost immediately. The restaurant was full, we were so glad we booked. Drinks order taken, followed by our food order. The starters were delicious. The main courses divine and the deserts were to...

Absolutely amazing meal and service. Our food was delicious on a very busy summer evening and yet they gave us time, tweaked the meals slightly to accommodate our needs. Faultless. We would definitely come back. Thank you for making the day of the internment of...

Beautiful food and super friendly staff. I’d highly recommend the home made tiramisu for dessert which is the nicest I’ve ever had.

Went for my husband's 60th birthday. Was really excited as we had been to this restaurant a few years ago. I have never written a review before and wish I had complained at the time, but didn't want ruin our evening. The service and atmosphere...

Not sure what all the 1 star reviews are about, but I had a great meal here last night, service was great aswell. We ordered sea food spaghetti and carbonara and both were brilliant, really enjoyed the garlic bread/tomato bread.

First time visiting villa positano this evening for my daughters 16th birthday, we were all really impressed, authentic Italian food we had an array of starters, mains and deserts the tiramisu in particular was outstanding! friendly staff and lovely atmosphere! We will definitely be returning.

10 of us are here, even though we had a friendly welcome the staff were in no uniform just jeans & t shirts & the food was tasteless. Everyone in our party was disappointed by the blandness, antiquated decor & presentation. What a shame.

I was disappointed with the poor standard of food. Oily, vegs uncooked and very little chicken in one dish. Would not return to this restaurant.

Have visited several times before we were looking forward to another visit during our week holiday in Bowness. My husband called in to book a table. However he soon reappeared stating we will never go in again. The old man who was working there was...

Table was booked in advance. Staff were very quick to take orders and food arrived 20 minutes after ordering which is always a worry. Lasagna had clearly been pre-cooked and thrown in the oven to heat up. It was dry and burnt ontop then the...

An absolute delight for lovers of Italian food - authentic cuisine in a restaurant with a great ambience .friendly staff and prompt service .

Fabulous small family run restaurant in Bo'ness not far from the lake. Excellent choices on the menu, very homely, staff very helpful and friendly. A taste of Italy in the Lakes booking highly recommended.

Visited the restaurant whilst on holiday in Bowness, couldn’t fault anything from the friendly greeting to excellent food. We both had starters and mains, I can certainly recommend the pasta along with the excellent red wine. A little bit of Italy in the lakes, would...

Absolutely Fantastico! Very friendly Pompeii family runs the authentic recipe restaurant. You would think you walked into a Sorrento establishment. I’d advise you phone in a reservation for parties more than two. We were very fortunate to be seated early on a Saturday night. Always...

Villa Positano came highly recommended and didn’t disappoint. The restaurant was lovely with great food and service. We wished we had more time to make a return visit. It was amazing.

We were recommended this restaurant by a couple that have been coming to the Lake District for the past 25 years. And the food was delicious! We had the caprese salad and cannellini beans with sausage to start. Then followed that with the salmon pasta...

We came here a week last Friday and the food was amazing. It was our second visit after a visit a few years ago and it didn’t disappoint. Authentic pizzas and lasagna. The staff were very friendly. Lovely restaurant

Lovely authentic Italian food. I had pasta and others had pizza. Everyone was happy with their meals. Advise to book in advance.

We booked this as it looked like a good bet after reading reviews on here. Staff were a bit slack and there were two young lads who were obviously just cheap as they had no real idea. The food was just average. We both said...

Visited Villa Positano for my birthday on Saturday 6th May 2023 with my wife and son. The food was delicious and service impeccable. The restaurant is a little hidden gem and had a wonderful ambiance. The staff were friendly and attentive. All in all a...

Such a welcome Italian treat after so many days of British food in the Lakes. My favourite was classic Arrabiata.

Without a shadow of a doubt the best Italian restaurant on the planet!! Brought my sister and brother in law for a meal who claim it's the best Italian food they have ever eaten and they've been to Italy!!!

Visited for a family meal while in the lakes for my husband's birthday. We had both been there some 20 years ago and I was keen for our children to experience it too. It did not disappoint with my son rating the carbonara as the...

Very lovely Italian food and family. Get booked. Authentic Italian. Great service. Little hidden gem in Bowness

Fabulous authentic Italian restaurant, family owned and operated, great service, food and atmosphere, good value for money.A must go in Bowness, go early or book

Very friendly and great with children. Food came extremely quickly which made the experience so much easier with two young children. Very flexible and accommodating with children’s portions. Pizza and pasta were both good, as were the desserts.

Food was good but attitude of the male staff was quite off & you wasn't made to feel welcome. However they were friendly & smiling with larger groups of people. Don't know if this was because they were locals or would spend more. Sadly wouldn't...

Beautiful restaurant. Very welcoming. Decor was authentic. Food delicious something for everyone. The house wine was good value and very tasty. I had chicken livers followed by pasta carbonara (minus the cream) real Italian carbonara does not have cream. Will visit again

Having decided last minute to spend the night in Windermere to make the most of the beautiful clear and cold weather we had no bookings for dinner. The B&B we had booked recommended this restaurant and having stayed out a little later than planned (...

We both had chicken meals. Although edible, both meals were very bland. Been loads of times in the past but this was very forgettable.

Absolutely beautiful. We were warmly welcomed in by the owner to this hidden gem(we had booked & I’m glad we did as the dining room soon filled up) Great atmosphere, all staff very friendly & food is excellent(& reasonably priced) This is somewhere to get...

We last visited this cozy Italian restaurant many years ago before moving to the USA, when we spent a memorable evening here with old friends. One always wonders how returning after so long will go. Well, the experience was just as great as ever: an...

Where do I start?! I visited Windermere with my partner and his family and we were looking for tasty Italian food, that was reasonably priced and we got this and more. Firstly, the staff kindly squeezed us in after being fully booked and were so...

I booked based on the Trip Advisor reviews and was not disappointed. The food is gorgeous, the staff are SO lovely as are the management. Sadly there are no pics of the food as it was so tasty I forgot to take to any pictures...

We ended up in Villa Positano by accident as we had intended to go to the nearby tapas bar, only to find that it was closed for the staff christmas dinner. Villa Positano became "Plan B" and I'm so glad it did. There were four...

A perfect Italian meal in a very traditional setting. I had spaghetti off the specials board, very tasty.

Me and partner popped in here last night for dinner luckily there was a reservation available. I can honnestly say it was one of the best meals we have had all year ! My partner has not had food so good since he travelled Italy....

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. The staff are really knowledgeable about the menu and especially their supply of great wines. A real go-to for beautifully presented, tasty food 10/10.

Visited here and the staff found us a seat (hadn’t booked). Friendly helpful staff but the food wasn’t up to much unfortunately, had the salmon pasta and whilst it ok, it wasn’t very flavoursome and a little light on the salmon so unfortunately can only...

Booked for a birthday treat after a friends recommendations. Not disappointed at all. Staff friendly and welcoming, choice of food was great, including gluten free options. Great atmosphere. Enjoyed so much, returned a few days later for seconds! Word of wise - booking is essential...

This is a small restaurant and booking in advance is desirable, possibly essential. Good friendly welcome and service and good rustic Italian dishes. We had Garlic prawns and chicken livers for starters. The chicken livers were a “main course” size portion so a bit too...

We visit this restaurant each year when we come up to Bowness. The children especially love it which was originally what drew us to it. We always try and book it as soon as we arrive in Bowness as not had much luck calling them...

Gave us a table on a busy night when we had assumed we wouldn't get one and were trying to book for the following night. The food, service, and atmosphere were superb throughout the evening. Would highly recommend!

The food and service was amazing. A strong family run restaurant. I had the lobster ravioli, it was the best italian food I have ever eaten,. I have been to Italy on a few occasions but not eaten food as good as this.

Had dinner for two on a Tuesday evening (day after bank holiday). Had booked in advance as we know it can get busy. Table for two upstairs & attentive service from lady host. Starters, mains & coffees all came in good time & were delicious,...

Booked this 3 weeks in advance as i learned from our trip last year that it’s hard to get a table. Food was absolutely delicious, the service was spot on and staff were very pleasant. Would definitely go back next time I’m in the lakes.

We visited this lovely looking restaurant after walking past one evening. It looks very authentic from the outside and also the decor inside felt very Italian. The staff were very welcoming and we were taken to our table and offered a drink with no issues...

It is always nice when you go to an italian that actual Italian servers greet you in a very charming and excitable way. almost boisterous and larger than life personalities. oh and food was nice too

We last came here about 15 years ago and haven't been to Bowness since. It was a very pleasant surprise to find the restaurant as good as ever with good food and great service. Be warned though - it does get busy so you will need to book. On the evening we were there (a Thursday in September) the restaurant was full and a least 30 people were turned away. The best time to ring to book is in the early evening and it sometimes takes a while to get through but be patient, it is worth it! Thanks to everyone at El Positano for a lovely evening.

It was absolutely lovely, we were passing through and didn’t book and they got us in straight away, service was friendly and fast and the food was divine

The best Italian food I’ve ever had outside of Italy. The agnolotti and the homemade tiramisu are not to be missed! The family that run the restaurant are so lovely, friendly and attentive. We will definitely return when we’re in the area again.

We were struggling to find anywhere to eat while staying at Windermere everywhere booked up. We found this place that kindly found a table for us. What a great find, family run traditional Italian run restaurant. Fab Italian good, good wine and great service. It was so good we have booked again for Thursday night. Highly recommend

We walked in on a busy evening after an issue with a booking elsewhere and were lucky to get a table.The staff were really friendly -especially when we left late and they were enjoying a well deserved evening meal together.The food was stunning, not your basic Italian by a long shot! We will certainly be returning next time we are in the area!Also the best pudding ever recommend by the lovely lady that served us! We ate the rest of the food too quickly before thinking to take a photo as it was so nice!

Fantastic Italian restaurant. Really cute and authentic inside.The pasta dishes are very tasty, we had a dish off the special board and one on the main menu and they were both excellent. The garlic pizza bread with tomato was good starter and the tomato and basil salad went well with the pasta.The staff were very friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend.

This place is amazing, from the moment you walked in you felt you was in Italy The menu had a really good choice & the specials board was good also, The food was amazing & will definitely be going back when we are in the area again.The staff where friendly & helpful in fact it was a very pleasant evening in lovely surroundings. Definitely worth booking you won’t regret it

Avoid at all costs. Rude aggressive man running things. Cold main course. Would not go back. I could go into detail but I’ll leave it there.

We found this restaurant on trip advisor but thought we would need to pre-book, however this was our only night here so chanced our luck by arriving at 6.15pm. The waiter made a negative face but very pleasingly found us a table which was lovely. This lived up to all reviews. honestly one of the nicest Italian meals we have ever had, run by true Italian family, they certainly know how to prepare delicious food. All the other diners were also impressed by the service and there was a lovely jovial atmosphere with locals also dining there. This really is a hidden gem and a class above most of the other eateries in Bowness.

When you enter Villa Positano you feel like you have actually entered Italy, the atmosphere, food, drink and Italian personalities make for an excellent evening. Highly recommended. Book in advance.

The best Italian food ever absolutely fantastic been here four times now will be coming back soon brilliant staff and service and credit to the chef

We had the loveliest meal at Villa Positano at the weekend. The food was delicious, the service fab and the environment so lovely. If you are looking for delicious and traditional italian fare you must visit Villa Positano!!!

We booked in for the first night of our holiday after eating here last year because it had been our favourite meal. It didn't disappoint again! The pizzas were very yummy, pasta cooked to perfection. Very friendly staff and a good wine list. We're going again for the last night of our holiday and we can't wait!

Excellent food and service. A great Italian food experience in Bowness.My starter of Calamari was gorgeous. My wife’s mushrooms were delicious.Our mains of Salmon Tagliatelle and Chicken Marengo were exquisite. The wine list was great value and quality. Tiramisu Desert was the best ever.Staff were so nice. Very attentive and covid aware. The music and ambience were very authentic and there was plenty of space and fresh air. Definitely one of the highlight of our dining experience this week so far.

Words cannot describe the food at this restaurant. Will definitely be returning again and again. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly with staff that interact with the customers as friends. If your looking for food which tastes out of this world this is the place. Get yourself there!