Best Restaurants in Ambleside
Ambleside, a charming town nestled in the heart of the Lake District, is not only renowned for its breathtaking landscapes but also for its vibrant culinary scene. This picturesque town is home to a plethora of restaurants, each offering a unique dining experience that caters to a variety of palates. From traditional British fare to exotic international cuisines, the best restaurants in Ambleside promise a gastronomic journey that is as diverse as it is delicious. Whether you're a food connoisseur or a casual diner, this guide will help you discover the culinary gems that make Ambleside a must-visit destination for food lovers.
Lake road kitchen
4.7
(149)
Intimate, dinner-only restaurant presenting creative, locavore tasting menus, with wine pairings.
Reviews:
I had the pleasure of dining at this exquisite restaurant in the heart of the Lake District, and it was truly a culinary delight. My experience was elevated by the incredible 8-sample menu, that left my taste buds dancing with joy. The food was not only delicious but also impeccably presented, showcasing the chef's skill and creativity. What impressed me equally was the impeccable service. The food was delivered promptly, allowing me to savor each course at its freshest. The staff were not only professional but also incredibly friendly, adding a warm and welcoming atmosphere to the entire dining experience. From the moment I walked in, I was captivated by the elegant ambiance and attention to detail, creating the perfect setting for a fine dining experience. Every dish was a masterpiece, expertly crafted with the finest ingredients, leaving a lasting impression on my palate. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking an extraordinary dining experience. Whether you're a food enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable meal, this establishment in the Lake District is a culinary gem that should not be missed. I am already looking forward to my next visit, eager to indulge in their culinary creations once again.
Raquel Pereira
What a great restaurant, deserving of a Michelin star. The 8-course menu was superb - the amount of preparation, the quality ingredients, the attention to detail and most of all the flavours were superb. It was lovely to have Nick and Thomas, the chef's, bring out the dishes and talk about them and the restaurant manager Darren was very knowledgeable and friendly too. It's a very nice restaurant with a good atmosphere and local sheepskins on the chairs. Highly, highly recommended.
P Dobson
One of the best meals we have ever had. We had the 8 course tasting menu and added the Prawn cutlet sandwich, which was my husband's favourite! And we had some of the best bread we have ever eaten. Two small criticisms: Slightly too protein heavy (would have liked more carbs/ veggies) and the decor was disappointing for the standard of food (the toilets looked particularly cheaply furnished). Would definitely return - make sure you get the cookies!
Ellie P
What a wonderful meal! Every dish we had was excellent down to the finest details. While every course was indeed amazing, the tiger prawn was the unexpected star - since I'm generally not a huge fan of prawn. The tastes just worked so well together with the perfectly cooked prawn. The service was great and the chef was delightful, friendly, knowledgeable, and would come out of the kitchen to serve a number of the dishes himself. We'll definitely be back as he promised to make the cheesecake next time I'm in town! But also we'll be back because it was so good 😁
Marc Lefkowitz
Genuinely one of the best dining experiences we have had in our lifetime. Every member of staff gave an incredibly insightful introduction to each course, clearly demonstrating their passion and the love that went into every meal. All incredibly friendly & welcoming also. Every. Single. Dish. Was perfection. Each one has its own brow raising moment and we savoured every bite. Beautiful atmosphere and relaxing ambiance. (This is also coming from someone who suffers with generalised anxiety!) So a big thank you to the owner and all the staff for an incredibly memorable evening! Looking forward to our next trip up to the Lakes!
Robert Leach
Lake Rd, Ambleside LA22 0AD, UK
Jintana thai restaurant ambleside
4.1
(811)
Bright, stylish venue with a classic Southeast Asian menu & decor, plus cocktails & world beers.
Reviews:
A great restaurant and most importantly it’s DOG FRIENDLY!! We had the green curry and the pad see eu- lovely taste, authentic Thai flavours, good portion sizes. The service was just right too. Will be back next time we are at Ambleside. Note - we have been to Thailand many times , and do appreciate authentic Thai flavours !!
Mekala Kannan Bragg
Not very authentic one. Dishes are not spicy and more like sweet and sour. If you have been to Thailand, you will know the difference. If you have not, then it worths a try. Service is great, they serve water with ice which is perfect in Summer! £112 for 5 people dinner!
Abbie Tse
The food is good but it’s the tiniest portion we’ve ever had. We paid £37 for these food on the picture. 🥹 The waiters and waitress are very nice but the service is really slow. Not bad but won’t recommend it.
MARIA REVECA MENDOZA
Celebrating my husband's birthday at this restaurant was an absolute culinary delight. The Popia Tod Vegetable Spring Rolls were a delightful start, offering a crispy exterior and a burst of flavors within. The Kanom Pung Na Moo Sesame Pork Toast was a unique and savory treat, showcasing a perfect balance of textures. Moving on to the mains, the Pad Thai was a fragrant masterpiece, with each ingredient harmonizing to create a satisfying dish. The Khao Pad Rot Fai Railway Fried Rice was a flavorful journey of its own, boasting a medley of tastes that truly stood out. Complementing these dishes was the Khao Suay Jasmine Rice, a simple yet essential companion. However, the star of the meal was the Thai Green Curry. Its creamy, aromatic blend of spices and tender ingredients left an unforgettable impression. Overall, the restaurant's offerings made for an unforgettable birthday celebration, and I look forward to returning for more of their delectable Thai cuisine.
Vindyani Saranga
Beautiful interior, amazing food, lovely hosts. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options, including a starter platter!
salamander
Compston Rd, Ambleside LA22 9DJ, UK
The lily bar
4.4
(494)
Low-key outpost for British dishes, cask ales & live music & comedy amid homely furnishings.
Reviews:
Really great place this, we stopped for drinks twice and food once during our week in Ambleside. The food was terrific, with the burger truly one of the best I've tasted. 👌 It was perfect after coming off the fells. Kids enjoyed thier portions which I didn't even think they did a kids menu so that was another bonus. Great service as well including making sure we were aware of live music times as we had the kids with us. On top was the beer - had Loweswater Gold each time, check out the picture for how good that was.
Neil Holloway
Visited twice on our holiday. Lovely bar with great food and superb service. Small choice but food is fantastic. Dog friendly with biscuits and water provided. We were served by Natasha both nights and her customer service was impeccable, a credit to her employer. The bar is showing Rugby World Cup and also has music and comedy nights, well worth a visit.
Steve Davies
Fantastic food, great beer, great service and wonderful people. What more could you ask for!?
Owen Wilson
Quite quiet when we arrived at 7.30pm but did get a bit busier later. Has a pub type vibe/feel with quite loud music but food was very nice and much more of restaurant than pub quality. Seem to be starting out with cocktails so not too many options but the one I had - a raspberry and elderflower Collins was large and tasty (£8.50). Service was very good. Food arrived promptly portions were large. The sea bass risotto was delicious and the seafood spaghetti had loads of seafood 👍 All in all a very good experience. Like another reviewer however we also noticed a bit of a problem with lots of flies buzzing about which was quite off putting while trying to eat. Dogs were allowed .
Allison McKie
Spending a few days in Ambleside and this venue was near our guest house. Had a great local vibe, good atmosphere, nice music playing and friendly staff. They offer an early bird dinner special with a discount on 1-3 courses and this was perfect for us after spending a long day out touring the lakes. My mum and I thoroughly enjoyed the risotto and the chicken, ham and leek pie, and our profiteroles dessert were simply beautiful! . Special mention of ‘Natasha’ who demonstrates exceptional customer service, so friendly and efficient, she really added to our positive experience at The Lily Bar, Ambleside.
Linda Holm
12-14 Lake Rd, Ambleside LA22 0AD, UK
The priest hole restaurant
4.5
(1032)
Warm, relaxed venue offering British comfort food & pub grub plus cocktails, wine & beer.
Reviews:
This was the best lunch we had in the Lake District. It was family friendly. The building was very cool. Everyone enjoyed their meal. My daughter wanted to go back again for the kids chicken. The meat pie was outstanding!
Khristina Ballard
We’ve been to Ambleside twice but have managed to dine at The Priest Hole 4 times - it really is that good! This is a notch above your average gastropub. High quality, changing menu that delivers every time. As you’d expect, the food is accompanied with an extensive drinks menu. The service is truly excellent here with the front of house being extremely warm and knowledgeable about the menu. The ultimate cosy location to refuel after a long day walking - will be visiting again when next in Ambleside.
Dominic Smith
So full of atmosphere and the history in the walls can be felt!! Food outdtanding, happy smiley attentive service, welcoming but not pretentious. 10/10* all round for us
Creating Memories
A really great discovery. We have had the best lamb shank ever. The other dishes were also delicious. The food here is really good and authentic. Kitchen and the service, which is super, attentive and fast, respond to special requests in an uncomplicated manner. Gluten-free is also no problem for most dishes. This restaurant is highly recommendable.
Hariolf
Glad we booked as it filled up quickly at 17:00. Roast Beef and Lamb Sunday Dinners with sticky toffee pudding for afters. Washed down with a bottle of Rosé and some local beers for me. Top notch food, drinks and service. Bare in mind the tables need to be vacated after a set time at busy periods but two & 1/2 hours is ample time.
Howie Davison
Church St, Ambleside LA22 0BU, UK
Dodds restaurant
4.6
(1200)
Open kitchen cooking up classic Mediterranean dishes from local produce in a cheery modern setting.
Reviews:
We went to this place for dinner as it was very well rated. We ordered soup and lobster ravioli. The latter was highly recommended by the reviews so my expectations were high. I ended up disappointed. The soup was good, but the ravioli sauce was very salty, hard to eat.
Raquel Pereira
This is a restaurant that does not accept reservations. The menu is quite simple. We ordered the soup of the day, Fritto Misto, and Spaghetti Bolognese as appetizers. The Fritto Misto was very fresh, and the Spaghetti Bolognese was unexpectedly delicious. For the main course, we ordered chili pizza, seafood spaghetti, and Pork belly. The seafood spaghetti was decent, and the pork belly was rich but not greasy, with a perfectly balanced flavor and tender meat. The chili pizza, perhaps due to the beef sauce, was too moist, which significantly affected the texture of the pizza, making it the only downside of the evening. I highly recommend the iced coffee and strawberry ice cream. The service was decent, making it a restaurant worth trying.
Summer
Whilst it's frustrating the restaurant does not accept reservations, we just dined slighter earlier than we normally would. We could not fault the service, extremely fast and very accommodating to dietary requirements (off menu requests). Would highly recommend and would definitely return.
M F
It’s a bliss that the restaurant is walk-in only — a fair game for wanderers in the busy summer season. We were able to register our phone number and waited in the parking lot nearby :P Food is mostly good, rounded to almost 5 because of the friendly service. Lamb Ragu gnocchi combines two of my favorite things. Lamb is cooked tender with lean and tendon parts, full of flavors. The gnocchis are huge (larger than the lam chunks!), al dente, a little cheesy and bouncy. Makes me so happy. Special seafood risotto is wonderful too. Rice is also perfectly cooked, with a little chewiness. Chimichurri tastes more like pesto but delicious nonetheless. Shrimps and squid pieces are nice. The mussels can be a little plumper and fresher. It’s probably frozen— acceptable for the price, though it will help elevate the restaurant (and all non-fine dining Italian restaurants) if fresh products are used in pasta and risotto dishes. Hazelnut tiramisu is one of the best tiramisu I’ve had. The mascarpone layer is supper fluffy and airy— and hazelnut flavored! The base layer is well soaked in espresso. White chocolate biscotti is a little too sweet. Ice creams are too sweet. Garlic aroma was wafting out of the kitchen so we ordered garlic bread. It can be a bit more garlic but the good side is that it’s not too oily either. Honey mustard wings and olives are alright. Service is very friendly and helpful.
X
Had the mushroom carbonara with truffle oil. It was absolutely fantastic! The espresso was served with a piece of homemade fudge which was the best fudge I’d had in a while! Lovely staff and warm atmosphere!
Marissa Fernandes
Rydal Rd, Ambleside LA22 9AN, UK
Rothay manor boutique hotel & restaurant
4.6
(246)
Upscale hotel offering free Wi-Fi and full English breakfast, plus an elegant restaurant.
Reviews:
I had an absolutely fabulous day at Rothay Manor! From the moment we arrived, we were exceptionally well looked after. The highlight was the dream-like three-course meal, which was a culinary delight. We received a complimentary upgrade to one of the brand new pavilion rooms, which was hugely appreciated for our “mini moon” and it was an absolutely gorgeous space. There were stunning interiors throughout the hotel and no detail has been missed. We really loved the welcome cocktails and snacks which were much needed after a big hike! I highly recommend Rothay Manor for a fantastic stay in the Lake District. It was our first time there, but we'll definitely be returning.
Emma Wilson
My husband, dog and I enjoyed a wonderful 2 nights in a Pavilion Suite. Lots of nice hotels think they are dog friendly, but with this one, you can tell someone actually thought about a dog’s comforts, beyond just leaving biscuits and an old pillow to sleep on. We had a ground floor suite with a decent sized patio leading straight out to the enclosed garden area. The dog shower was easily accessible, right next to reception. it worked beautifully and came with shampoo and towels. We also were able to have an impressive daily breakfast spread with our pooch as they had separate dining areas for those with and without dogs. For humans they also made it rather comfortable. The bed was perfect, we slept so soundly. The couch was clean and comfy too. There was a Nespresso machine and kettle, and they kindly stocked the mini fridge (yes!) with fresh milk and cocktails(!). The weather was rather warm in June so we were relieved to find a large Dyson fan to keep the room cool. The shower was heavenly and had decent pressure. Despite staying here on a weekend in peak season and staying in a dog-friendly wing of the hotel, we loved how quiet the room was. No barking, no traffic, just a nice peace. It really felt like an escape. Well done, Rothay Manor.
Nadine Finucane
An absolutely brilliant stay, from arriving to leaving. Really helpful and friendly staff,we had an evening meal, overnight stay and breakfast.We had a fantastic time in the restaurant, we were really well looked after by Craig the head waiter, quite a bit of banter between us, as we'd been here 17 months ago & he remembered us, so we had a bit of a laugh, mind all the other staff who were on that night were equally friendly and helpful. I think when Craig goes he'll be sadly missed for a while, sad news but all the very best to him. ABSOLUTELY SMASHING GREAT!!! 😀😀
John Lee
Of course putting 5 stars for every category is not necessarily very useful. However, we have had an amazing stay at Rothay Manor and deserve top marks. The biggest and most important praise goes to the staff, and every one of them are exceptional for courtesy, effort and especially welcoming our dog. The hotel is not just dog friendly but dog welcoming. Our room has a dog bed, food bowls and treats, and in the restaurant the dogs are always treated like valued guests, with blankets and more biscuits. The staff make Rothay Manor an absolute joy to visit.
Mark Checksfield
Despite the claim, this is far from a luxury hotel. The rooms with low ceilings and stuffy air make the space feel cramped. Absence of air conditioning and ionizer left the rooms stale (like old wardrobe) and hot when it was 30 degrees outside. The provided ventilator was outdated and hardly made a difference. Simply impossible to sleep at night. The beds have SPRING mattresses (!) that made me notice every turn of my partner. To cool the room temperature we kept the window open at night which exposed us to a mild sewage smell. Cleanliness seemed to be another significant oversight. The bathtubs weren't properly cleaned, and the soap dispensers gave the impression of being refilled, with plastic bottles turning yellow around the edges. Additionally, there was no bottled water provided in the rooms. The guests are expected to drink tap water! There is no concierge or reception services after 8 pm. The quality of concierge itself is quite questionable. I was provided with a hiking map (with the hotel logo) which unfortunately proved more misleading than helpful. If you're planning to hike in the mountains, I'd advise using the AllTrails app. I firmly believe this is no more than 3 stars and definitely not luxury. P.S. The hotel would greatly benefit if the team were to attend a hotel school.
A S
Borrans Rd, Ambleside LA22 0EH, UK
Bar es ambleside
4.7
(613)
Easygoing, warmly decorated hangout with a patio serving Mexican tapas, cocktails & craft beer.
Reviews:
Really enjoyed our stop here. Nice drinks, just had a couple tapas but very nice. Food service rather slow, with things coming when they are ready (meaning very sporadically). Nonetheless, very enjoyable and would return
Scott
Visited Ambleside this weekend for the first time, a friend recommended Bar Es so I booked us a table Friday evening, due to car issues we arrived later than we expected but the team were happy to push back our reservation, I had previously mentioned I had allergies and listed them for the team, when I arrived they had already looked through their menu and highlighted what I could have and what changes could be made to allow me to have certain items! Really appreciated all the effort they went to to make me feel so safe and welcome. The food was delicious, and so were the cocktails. We had the best time here and would definitely come back/recommend to any of our friends in the future.
Poppy Campen
Great experience all around. The staff were helpful and friendly. The atmosphere was nice not too busy when we visited on a Thursday evening. Food was really delicious and fresh.
hannah horsman
Always have a fab time at Bar Es! Lovely staff who always do their best for you. Plus they always have Fell Brewery's Session IPA and a good range of guest beers 😋 Only down side is that the food can be a bit inconsistent in quality depending on the night you go. Always tastes nice however ☺️
Josie Channing
Really nice restaurant which also has the bonus of being dog friendly. We enjoyed everything about the place. We chose 4 tapas dishes (Chorizo, Prawns, goats cheese salad and Patatas Bravos) alongside the nachos and the Tacos although we wasn’t really impressed with the flavours of the tacos and thats why i marked the food star down slightly. Everything else was really tasty.
Chris
2 St Mary's Ln, Ambleside LA22 9DG, UK