The Lake District Guide

Your guide to great everyday eating in the Lake District!

This is a section of the guide for thus places where you can get good everyday food - little cafes, take-aways, snack bars, everyday cafes - the places that will fill you up when you need good food but you're not in the mood for anything too fancy or expensive!

South Lake District everyday eating places

Kendal - Pumpkins Bistro

Pumpkins has a special emphasis on vegetarian food but they're also very happy to accommodate individual dietary requirements upon request. The restaurant is licensed and has a pleasant ambience enhanced by attractive artwork, some by a local artist, which gives it a Mediterranean feel. The menus are varied and very reasonably priced, all the food is sourced locally and the meat is predominately produced in Cumbria.

All eggs are sourced from free range "happy hens", and a considerable amount of the vegetables used during the summer months are grown by the owners. Opening times are Monday to Wednesday 9.30am until 5.00pm and Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9.30am until 8.30pm. And they will obligingly open other nights of the week for larger bookings (with the exception of Sundays).

Pumpkins Bistro, 7 Allhallows Lane, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4JH
Phone 01539 728722 for reservations and enquiries.

Windermere village - First Floor, Lakeland Limited

Not just the cafe attached to a shopping centre (the famous Lakeland Limited emporium), but a decent everyday cafe in its own right, serving snacks, lunches and high teas. The cooking is inspired by the chef at a local gastropub, so no wonder it's a cut above the average.
Behind the train station, above Lakeland Limited. Phone: 015394 88200

Windermere village - Renoir's coffee shop

Sandwiches, decent coffees, baked potatoes, and so on, are tasty and filling in this cheery little place to eat.
Main Road. Phone 015394 44863

Bowness - 2 Eggcups

A cafe which provides a decent sandwich and a good range of snacks, with daily specials.
6a Ash Street. Phone: 015394 45979

Coniston - The Village Pantry

Bakery, cafe and sandwich bar with a few seats if you want to eat in. Great all-day breakfasts, home-made pies and steak sandwiches.
16 Yewdale Road. Phone: 015394 41155

Hawkshead - The Honey Pot

Provides delicious take away sandwiches and deli food, including bread, sausages, smoked meats - much of which is produced locally - cheese, chutney and so on.
Market Square. Phone: 015394 36267

Central Lake District everyday eating places

Ambleside - Apple Pie

Soup, quiche, baked potatoes, savoury snacks and sandwiches. Obviously the apple pies are a specialty!
Rydal Road. Phone: 015394 33679

Ambleside - Pippins

Pizzas, pastas and burgers. Great value and informal.
10 Lake Road. Phone: 015394 31338

Ambleside - Taste of Lakeland

A coffee shop at the back of a wonderful food shop selling all kinds of delicious Lakeland produce. The coffee shop serves coffee and cakes. Very nice it is, too.
1 - 2 Rydal Road. Phone: 015394 32636

Grasmere - Newby's Deli and Bakery

Sandwiches, baguettes, ciabatta, home made pies and quiches. Tasty and good value food.
Red Lion Square, in the centre of the village. Phone: 015394 35248

Northern Lake District everyday eating places

Borrowdale - the Tea Room at Grange

Delicious snacks, traditional teas and a fantastic view. Open March - October.
Grange Bridge Cottage. Phone: 017687 77201

Keswick - Bryson's

Classic English bakery and tea rooms with highest quality produce made on the premises. Traditional main meals and wonderful bakery products - try the plum bread.

42 Main Street. Phone 017687 72257

Keswick - Mayson's

A self-service restaurant serving very good lasagne, moussaka, pies, curries, stir-fries and so on. A wide choice of well-cooked and imaginative food.
33 Lake Road. Phone: 017687 74104

Keswick - Square Orange

Coffee, cakes, and stone baked pizzas. A fun little place where you can eat and read the paper.
20 St John's Street. Phone: 017687 73888

Keswick - Number XVII Coffee Shop

A few tables located at the back of the deli provide you with the opportunity to eat some tasty light bites - which are delicious. Not just your run-of-the-mill snack shop!
17 Station Street. Phone 017687 71171