The best restaurants in Ambleside and Grasmere South Lakeland North West

We noticed this cafe when heading into Ambleside and decided to give it a whizz for a coffee and a snack…. What a great find, lovely and clean, comfortable atmosphere and great views. As a lover of pistachio lattes I was not disappointed 😊 and the fruit bread really hit the spot - thank you xx

We were delighted to get a walk in here and sit on stools on half a table. The staff were friendly, helpful and professional, explaining the menu to us. As advised, we went for 2-3 dishes each, including some of the starter range. For those we went for Masala Pad Pad and Dahi Puri. They were a far cry from what you would get in a standard curry house in both presentation and flavour. We were absolutely bowled over by the range of tastes. To follow we picked a variety of mains with different principal ingredients and put with these a garlic paratha and basmati rice. We both absolutely loved the explosion of flavours and the combination of ingredients. Portions were generous. I enjoyed a glass of Austrian red wine, also a new experience. The restaurant is thoroughly deserving of the Casual Dining Award it recently achieved in Cumbria. Highly recommended in all respects.

Reserve a table! Even if you see some tables free, they may not be able to seat you because they want to ensure a great experience so the don't take more people then they can cook and serve for comfortably. The menu is always excellent, with plenty of delicious and varied options and because everything is cooked fresh, they can easily cater to dietary requirements, I am a coeliac (gluten free) and had plenty to choose from. They do note that everything is cooked in a kitchen where allergens are present but they are careful and I have never had an issue. The staff are friendly, welcoming and personable, we had a lovely family dinner. As a family with young children, we got in early which meant we could enjoy the set menu, if you choose off the special boards instead, it cam get a little pricey but the specials board is well, special... it's got the delicious sounding fancy stuff on it. I was perfectly happy with the risotto I enjoyed with a nice house wine and the gluten free sticky toffee pudding! My kids loved their fish fingers and chips, they had all the usual suspects for kids or would also do a small version of the adult meals. Even their fish and chips were a bit special, clearly decent quality. So glad to be back and we'll definitely be back again the next time we visit Ambleside.

Food was great did enjoy thanks

Delightful food. 😍 Good views very nice place. 👍

We visited this restaurant during our trip to the Lake District and ordered the spicy hummus toasted sandwich. Unfortunately, it was quite average and didn't meet our expectations. The chicken tasted bland, as if it was simply boiled and possibly store-bought, lacking freshness and flavor. The spicy hummus itself did not taste like traditional hummus and lacked authenticity. The sandwich would have greatly benefited from being juicier and having more sauce, making it more enjoyable and flavorful. On the positive side, the staff were nice, although they could enhance their hospitality by being a bit more welcoming and smiling, as warmth and friendliness are crucial in the service industry. Overall, our experience was average, and there’s definitely room for improvement.

Called in with the idea of watching the a league 1 playoff final at 1pm, before watching the final premier league matches of the season. When we asked at the bar we were told they were unable to put it on because of the premier league match…when I said the premier league doesn’t kick off until 4pm they still maintained because of a ‘new system’ they couldn’t change the channel! Very disappointed!

Spa needs to be extended to match the growing accommodation. Didn't get chance to do much in the spa because it was so busy. They also stop serving food very early in the spa deli so be prepared to go all day without eating if you have treatments booked in the afternoon. Long waits at reception. Check your bill as they do try to charge for things you haven't had or received.

We chose the 12 course meal with an added course and dessert, and it was worth every penny! Every plate was beautifully plated, and phenomenal. The head chef, James came out to explain several of the dishes in detail, from what makes the ingredient unique, to how it was sourced and prepared. The explanations of every dish made this a fascinating experience that set it apart from other Michelin restaurants since it’s never the chef, and the plates are not always explained in detail. The other servers/chef were all kind and friendly as well. We also loved how certain ingredients were paired with preparations that you would never think of, such as pea miso or barley koji. Being Japanese, I loved how old Japanese methods were used on untypical ingredients. Lastly, James and Darren (sommelier) chose a few wines for us, and they went perfectly with our meal. The wine pairing would be a good choice at this restaurant. The dishes are spaced with enough time that you wouldn’t have to rush drinking every glass, and their wines are incredible. If you are visiting Ambleside, this restaurant is a must! It was the highlight of our time in the UK, and will definitely be back if we’re ever in Ambleside again.

Worth popping for a coffee and a cake. We had a vegatable pastie and a cake. Great coffee and polite freindly staff. Seating inside and out.

Lovely italian restaurant. Had been moving my daughter into accommodation all day and was starving! They fitted us in, as didn't book. Staff were very friendly and food was lovely. Thank you so much.

Pleasant surprise in the lake district. The food more than exceeded my expectations with good flavors and ingredients. Dining was almost impossible and they were always fully booked, but they were allowed to order to take away

A wide variety of sweet treats on offer, all great quality. The staff were friendly and welcoming. The place was clean and bright. I highly recommend hot chocolate and Bailey's Cheesecake.

Beautiful hotel, fell room with great views Great breakfast Lovely friendly staff.

Easily the nicest small plates/tapas I’ve had. If I lived local I’d be here every week. The portion sizes are perfect & the staff were so kind.