The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Options in the Lake District

22 July 2018

If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, it has become easier in recent years to find places that cater to your dietary requirements. However, when visiting somewhere new, it doesn’t hurt to do a little bit of research and scout out a few places that you like the look of before you set off.

If that sounds like you, or if you’d just like to discover your new favourite place to eat out, then you’re in luck, because we’ve had a think about our favourite spots to eat out that offer a vegan or veggie option and compiled this list for you.

Vegan Options in the Lake District:

Fellinis

Ambleside

Fellinis is a modern ‘vegeterranean’ restaurant. It serves up vegetarian food with a Mediterranean theme. There is also a cinema above the restaurant which screens the latest arthouse and niche films. Making it the perfect destination for a date night!

Even non-vegetarians will be impressed by the imaginative and delicious dishes. And veggies will be able to choose absolutely anything from the menu, which will come as a welcome change for many. Vegans are catered to as well, and everything on the menu is clearly labelled.

Kat’s Kitchen

Keswick

Kat’s Kitchen is a vegetarian and vegan cafe in Keswick, where you’ll find a great range of lunch options, as well as cakes. Vegans can enjoy such dishes as curried chickpea and carrot burger with homemade kimchi mayo served with sweet potato fries and salad.

Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

Grasmere

Not everybody knows this, but Grasmere Gingerbread is actually completely dairy free. So, if you’re a vegan, there’s no need to miss out on this Lake District delicacy. Grasmere Gingerbread is the perfect treat after a long walk!

Gandhi’s Cafe

Ambleside

A relative newcomer to Ambleside, Gandhi’s Cafe is the new permanent home for the owners of catering company Gandhi’s Flip Flop. You may be familiar with their food if you’ve been to festivals such as Glastonbury, Green Man or Kendal Calling. They serve up delicious vegetarian and vegan Indian dishes.

At their new cafe, they’re broadening the range of food they offer to include Thai, Japanese, burgers, soups and sandwiches. And of course, there are plenty of treats for those with a sweet tooth too! Everything is vegetarian and can be adapted to be vegan, so there’s something for everybody.

Rattle Ghyll Cafe

Ambleside

Another vegetarian gem in Ambleside is the Rattle Gill Cafe. It has been around for several years and is popular with locals, walkers and cyclists who pass through the area.

All the food is vegetarian, and they cater to vegans too. You can expect homemade cakes, soups, sandwiches, lunch options. Along with plenty of drinks options, from organic fair-trade tea and coffee to milkshakes and juice.

Quince & Medlar

Cockermouth

Slightly outside the boundary of the Lake District, but well worth a visit, you’ll find Quince & Medlar in Cockermouth, which is the birthplace of William Wordsworth. It is recommended that you book ahead if you plan on giving it a try as they get rather busy, which gives you some idea of how popular this spot is.

Colin and Louisa Le Voi have lived in the area their whole lives, and have been serving up fantastic vegetarian dishes for decades now, in a warm and relaxing space packed full of character. Vegans can enjoy beautiful plant-based dishes too, and even vegan-friendly wine!

The Garden Vegan Takeaway

Kendal

If you’re in the Kendal area, you can pay a trip to The Garden to grab vegan food to go. With everything from pasties and cakes to vegan bockwurst having been featured on the menu!

Check out their Facebook page to see what they’re serving each day, and to check whether they’re open.

We hope that this little rundown of our favourite vegan options in the Lake District has given you some inspiration for your next visit. Our Lake District holiday parks offer the perfect base to explore this beautiful region more, so be sure to take a look at our accommodation options if you’re planning a trip soon.