15 Cafes & Coffee Shops to visit in the Lake District
Fortunately the Lake District has an abundance of terrific cafes and coffee shops scattered across its National park.
In this blog I have listed 15 delightful cafes which are definitely worth visiting.
I haven’t visited all 15 (not yet) but I have enlisted the help of friends who do live in the local area to give their suggestions.
I have also tried to choose cafes which are located in all regions of the National Park.
So no matter which area of the Lake District you are exploring, there should be a place you can grab a hot drink and a bite to eat nearby.
Lucias Bakehouse | Grasmere - A quaint little bakery and coffee house situated in the heart of Grasmere which sells homemade pastries, sourdough, and speciality coffee. Also home to some of the best sausage rolls in the Lake District it’s a a must visit if you are in the village.
Freshers café | Ambleside - A famously friendly family run café on the edge of Ambleside. Wheelchair accessible and dog friendly, the café serves and endless variety of homemade food including all-day breakfast and cakes galore at at very reasonable price. Vegan and GF options are also available .
Homeground | Windermere - A brilliant brunch option which won the Cumbria life award for Best café in 2016. Despite being walk-ins only, Homeground often has a queue out the door. It serves great food and coffee which is definitely worth waiting for.
More Bakery | Staveley - An award winning artesian café and coffee shop. A little out of the way, this shop is a must visit if you are tackling the Kentmere horseshoe. It is so good recommend stopping to pick up some hill walking snacks on the way and returning for a hearty post hike meal
Helvellyn Country Kitchen | Glenridding - Situated at the foot of Helvellyn on the edge of Ullswater, this cosy family run café provides hearty home cooked food freshly prepared on the premises. A great option for a post hike re-fuel if you are tackling Helvellyn.
THE BLUEBIRD CAFÉ | Coniston - This dog friendly café is located on the waters edge of Coniston Water and serves up a broad menu of fresh food, cakes and hot drinks. It looks out over the jetties belonging to Coniston Launch and Steam Yacht Gondola and is perfect for a post hike brew or bite to eat.
The Square Orange Café | Keswick - Located in the heart of the town, this cosy bar and eatery serves terrific stone-baked pizzas, tapas, desserts, coffees, wine & beer. The café also has a the weekly live music sets.
Slates Coffee & Kitchen | Elterwater - Fabulous food from brunch to supper in a relaxed and friendly setting. They serve home cooked breakfast & brunch options all complimented by a selection of fresh coffee, cakes, local draught ales & quality wines.
The Sawmill | Wasdale - Standing on the banks of the river Irt with working waterwheel and millrace running through the heart of the building, the Sawmill offers an idyllic setting to enjoy delicious food and refreshments or browse the delights to be found in their farm shop.
Syke Farm Tearoom | Buttermere - A rustic, farmhouse café in the heart of the Buttermere Valley. The tea room has its own dairy farm and serves quality food in a casual, family-friendly environment, from sandwiches, and soups to home-baked cakes, pasties, and and scones.
Copper Pot |Ambleside - A cosy hub in the centre of Ambleside, crammed full of delicious home cooked food and cakes, fantastic roasted coffee, and great music.
Chesters by the River | Skelwith Bridge - Tucked away next to the River Brathay at Skelwith Bridge, this bright, modern café offers a relaxing escape. It has a great vegan menu and serves homemade lunch, wood-fired pizza and classic cakes.
Graze | Bowness-on-Windermere - A Small, dog friendly coffee shop which offers coffee, tea, cakes,. and fusion healthy dishes.
Method Café | Kendal - A modern relax café, located in the market town of Kendal. Specialists in vegan baking, they have a fresh and creative menu cooked to order and serve everything from celebration cakes, bespoke treats and wholesale baked goods.
The Lingholm Kitchen | Portinscale - The café serves barista coffee and homemade food alongside artisan breads and cakes all made in the adjoining Lingholm bakery. It also has a 100 ft-long glass wall looking out onto garden that was the inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in the Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.
So there we have it, my list of 15 Cafes & Coffee Shops to visit in the Lake District.
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You can find more Lake District inspiration in the following blogs;
The best viewpoints in the Lake District - 12 easy to access locations
The hardest hikes in the Lake District National Park - 14 challenging routes
35 of the best hikes in the Lake district - From beginner to advanced
3 must visit Quarries and Caves in the Lake District
For more Welsh travel inspiration check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite Welsh regions below.