MY LAKE DISTRICT MUST-VISIT CAFES

Lifestyle | Travel

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

These are the 'best' cafés in my opinion. However, as a regular café frequenter, I would say that I am highly qualified to make that claim.

Not only is the Lake District home to many walking routes and beautiful villages, but it hosts a range of the best cafes (in my humble opinion) in the country.

Whilst a part of me would love to keep these hidden for myself, they deserve to be shared.

- MY TOP RECOMMENDATIONS (by location) -

Grasmere:

Mathildes

Heaton Cooper Studio, Grasmere, LA22 9SX

There was no other café that could take the top spot, as Mathilde's is quite possibly one of the nicest cafes I have ever visited (high praise, I know!).

Aside from the gorgeous minimalist décor, this café, connected to an art gallery, provides the perfect little place to enjoy a coffee.

The outdoor seating sits you in a mini patio area that feels nicely secluded from the passing footfall and traffic. However, you still get a glimpse of the gorgeous streets of Grasmere peeking over the hedge at the front of the café.

Not only is the setting, quite frankly, perfect, but the food and drink hits the spot, as no one in our group was disappointed in the selection of cakes that we ordered. Particular praise must be handed to the chocolate and orange muffins, as well as the flapjack.

Although slightly pricey, much like many cafés in the Lakes, this is a must-visit-café if ever I knew one.

Ambleside:

Cornish Bakery

Central Buildings, Ambleside LA22 9BS

The pastries here are some of my favourites in the Lakes, but a new discovery of mine was that they have a table in the window at the front of the store.

Whilst this one table does bring out my competitive side, we did sit at this table a number of times when we saw it was free.

The pastries on offer, displayed in the store window, are endless and delicious.

Additionally, they are constantly being topped up. I had popped in one afternoon, an hour or so before closing, and most of the pastries were still available, even though they always have a constant flow of customers.

Apple Pie Shop

Rydal Rd, Ambleside LA22 9AN

Whilst this is a pretty well-known spot, it had to make the café list.

Although known for their apple pie, this store offers a wide range of food options and a relaxed setting. For the first time since visiting the Lakes, we actually sat down to have the famous apple pie - and it did not disappoint (and neither did the takeaway apple pie slices that we picked up immediately after).

I also highly recommend the bakery at the front of the shop, as the bread is super yummy.

Hawkshead:

The Little Ice Cream Shop

Laburnum House, The Square, Hawkshead LA22 0NZ

I remember visiting Hawkshead before this ice cream shop opened, and it is a winning addition to the area.

A few years ago, before the ice cream store opened, the future owner asked us to be part of a survey, picking which ice cream toppings and cones we would go for. Little did we know that this ice cream shop would become one of the big success stories of the area.

It was super exciting when we first visited for an ice cream a few years ago and the sprinkle cones that I picked in the survey were actually being sold.

Aside from my belief that the ice cream should be TikTok famous, this shop takes 'one scoop' to another level. One scoop is equivalent to at least a double (if not a triple) scoop in most ice cream shops, and never disappoints.

Other various locations:

Chesters by the River

Ambleside LA22 9NJ

A true hidden gem in every sense of the word. This café is tucked away along the River Brathay, just outside of the centre of Ambleside.

Chesters has many dietary options, and one of the largest cake, pastry, and food displays I have ever seen.

Although in recent years they have had many revamps to their brand identity, the fundamental good food and drink has remained.

They have turned to using recyclable, takeaway cups and plates, and provide the perfect location to sit and enjoy a coffee with the sound of the river rushing past.

Bluebird Café

12 Lake Rd, Coniston LA21 8AN

This final location is also neighbours with water. However, this water is not a river, but Lake Coniston. Coniston is the fifth largest lake in the Lake District and it provides the ideal location for a café.

This café is a winner because of its location, but I also highly recommend the shortbread.

You can sit with a drink and a snack, watching the boats go by, and feed the ducks afterwards.

Let me know if you have visited this beautiful location, and if there are any other cafés that I should visit!