The Best Independent Cafes In The Lake District

18 February 2017

The Lake District is home to wonderful walks, spectacular views, and fantastic wildlife. Making it a great destination to come for a visit, whether it’s just for a day out or a holiday.

While you’re in the area, there are also many independent Lake District cafes that are well worth a visit for a spot of lunch. Keep reading for our list of the best!

Mallard Tea Shop

Find It In: Cartmel

In Unsworth’s Yard in Cartmel is the Mallard Tea Shop. A unique little cafe themed on the local ducks who waddle around the area, and specialising in cakes and desserts, it is popular with walkers and cyclists, as well as the locals.

Homeground Coffee + Kitchen

Find It In: Windermere

Homeground Coffee + Kitchen in Windermere is a real favourite, having scooped the Cumbrialife award for Best Cafe in 2016.

A great spot for brunch, they serve specialty coffee alongside great dishes, from huevos rancheros and eggs Benedict, to cakes and brownies.

Brambles Tea Room

Find It In: Windermere

This busy cafe in Windermere is frequently visited by locals and visitors alike. Homemade light bites, soup, cakes, scones and great coffee make this a great spot for lunch. And they’re also dog friendly!

Choccobar

Find It In: Bowness-on-Windermere

Choccobar in Bowness is, as the name suggests, a chocolate lover’s heaven. They serve up tea, coffee, cakes, and paninis, but their real specialty is their chocolate focused offerings.

Fresh Belgian waffles, churros, and of course their indulgent hot chocolate draws visitors from far and wide!

Hazelmere Cafe

Find It In: Grange-over-sands

The Hazelmere cafe has won several Tea Guild awards, and is renowned for their afternoon teas. Everything they serve is made on the premises, and they have an adjoining bakery and shop.

Aside from afternoon tea, they serve up a great range of dishes using local ingredients. From their sausage and mash featuring Cumberland sausages from local butcher Higginson’s, to potted Morecambe Bay Shrimps, and of course sandwiches, to local beers to wash it all down with!

Angel Lane Chippie

Find It In: Penrith

Penrith’s longest established fish and chip shop has been open since 1928 and has won a number of awards in recent years. Prompting regular visits from the locals, and those from further afield to even plan a visit into their trips, due to it’s proximity to the M6!

Broughton Village Bakery & Cafe

Find It In: Broughton in Furness

The Village Bakery and Cafe in Broughton serves up a range of baked goods, sandwiches, and hot meals using local, organic, and Fairtrade ingredients.

The cafe itself is cosy and welcoming, with a woodburning stove in the winter time, and comfortable sofas to sink into after going for a walk on the near-by fells!

Baba Ganoush

Find It In: Kendal

Tucked down an alleyway in Kendal, the Baba Ganoush Canteen is one of the great Lake District cafes. Featuring an all-day brunch menu, daily soups, sandwiches, salads and specials, their dishes are imaginative and delicious.

Vegetarians will have plenty of delicious options. And so will those after a drink, as they serve a great range of both hot drinks and local ales and lagers.

Wilf’s Cafe

Find It In: Staveley

Wilf’s Cafe in Staveley is a great spot to stop on your way to the nearby fells if you’re off for a day of walking or cycling. They offer great breakfasts and meals, and hold a Tripadvisor certificate of excellence.

Besides the cafe, Wilf’s also do outside catering, weddings, and host events such as their Slide & Supper Evenings at which various adventurers give talks and share their experiences.

Low Sizergh Barn

Find It In: Kendal

For a slightly different dining experience, at Low Sizergh Barn on the outskirts of Kendal you can enjoy breakfast or lunch. Or if you happen to be visiting at 3.30pm you can watch the cows come in to be milked through the cafe’s gallery windows while you enjoy afternoon tea.

You can be sure that all of the produce is local. Even the tea is blended to suit the local water.

Abraham’s Cafe

Find It In: Keswick

On the top floor of the George Fisher’s shop in Keswick is Abraham’s Cafe. This spot offers spectacular views, and serves locally sourced produce on their varied menu.

You can even pick up an Abraham’s Cafe recipe book full of their favourite recipes to recreate at home!

The Rattle Gill Cafe

Find It In: Ambleside

The Rattle Gill Cafe is a vegetarian cafe, feeding the locals and visitors to Ambleside a variety of sweet and savoury treats, as well as fair trade teas and coffees.

Owners Alec and Claire dreamed up this venture while on a bush walk in Australia. And their love of adventure means plenty of the food is inspired by their travels!

We hope you get the chance to try some of these great independent Lake District cafes the next time you are in Cumbria!

We’re based in one of the UK’s best areas to experience the very finest in cafe dining and these are just a small selection of all of the fantastic eateries on offer!