Visit Britain Graded
3 Star ***
Copyright © M Thornton
A personal choice of pubs and restaurants around Ambleside, Grasmere and Hawkshead.
www.oakapplebarn.com
www.rockwood-lakedistrict.com
Ambleside
Doi Intanon, Market Place, Tel: 015394 32119
– excellent Thai cuisine, some of the best we have had! Excellent friendly service,
and small intimate number of tables. Closed all January.
The Jade Garden, Compston
Road, Tel: 015394 31888 – Chinese eat in or takeaway, good quality with large portions.
Luigi’s,
Kelsick Road, Tel: 015394 33676. Cosy, small excellent Italian bistro, intimate.
Nice.
Priesthole, Church Street, Tel: 015394 33332. English and Med food. Haven’t
tried it yet, but it looks very good! Supposed to be one of the best in Ambleside.
Spice
of Bengal, Kelsick Road. Tel: 015394 31250. Good quality Indian food and takeaway
Stampers,
Church Street, Tel: 015394 32775. Cosy candlelit cellar restaurant
Tagore, Compston
Road, tel: 015394 34346. Good quality Indian food and takeaway, probably a bit better
than The Spice of Bengal.
The Log House, Lake Road, Tel: 015394 31077, elegant, fine
dining
Zeffirellis Vegetarian, Compston Road, Tel 015394 33845. Even if you are not
vegetarian, this place really is special, with an amazing modern atmosphere and excellent
food. You definitely have to book. Well worth it! Impossible to get in without reservation.
Grasmere
Villa Colombina, Keswick Rd, Tel: 015394 35268 (just by Dove Cottage). Our
personal favourite. 20 mins walk from Rockwood, reasonably priced, excellent quality
Italian food (and lots of it) lovely ambiance and décor. Definitely worth going to.
It’s also good for children early evening, with food choices to appeal. Next to Dove
cottage on the main Ambleside road.
The Traveller’s Rest, Keswick Road Tel: 015394
35604. 16th century coaching inn, and a beautiful 15 minute walk from Rockwood (turn
right out of Rockwood, right at the end of the road, right again on the Keswick Road,
200 metres). This used to be our favourite pub in Grasmere but we have recently had
some bad reports from guests about the staff and food.
The Lamb Inn, Red Lion Square
Tel: 015394 35456. The pub attached to the Red Lion Hotel, very much a local’s pub,
with quick basic food. Really nice buzzing atmosphere.
The Swan Inn & Hotel, Keswick
Road Tel: 0870 400 8132. Easy walk from the village centre. Really excellent food
in the main restaurant, lacking a bit in atmosphere as a pub. Quite up-market.
The
Jumble Rooms, Langdale Road, Tel 015394 35188. Open Wed- Sun. Highly commended but
tiny restaurant. Well worth going to for a special occasion.
The Wordsworth Hotel
Tel: 015394 35592. 4 star hotel and restaurant, with food and prices to match! AA
2 Rosettes for food.
The Britannia Inn, Elterwater. Although not in Grasmere, it’s
only 10 minute drive away (if you cut across Red Bank, instead of driving through
Ambleside). Worth a mention, as it’s a really lovely pub for lunches. If you’re feeling
energetic, it’s a 3 mile walk each way – about 1hr 15 mins. Good beers, excellent
hot roll sandwiches, good restaurant with loads of character.