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The Best Cafés in the Lake District: Our Top Local Picks

There’s a lot to love about the Lake District - rolling fells, mirror-still waters, and slate-built towns that feel like they’ve been pulled from a postcard - but let's be honest, half the fun of a Lakes day out is finding a great spot to refuel. Whether you’re powering up for a hike or winding down with a slice of cake, the Lakes is packed with coffee spots that go beyond the ordinary.

At Lakeland Leather, we’ve been lucky enough to call this place home since 1955. With three stores across the Lakes (Keswick, Bowness and Kendal) plus our Head Office nestled in Ambleside, we like to think we know a thing or two about where to get your flat white fix.

Planning a trip to one of our stores? Staycationing nearby? Here’s our (fiercely debated) guide to some of the best cafés in the Lake District.


📍Keswick 

YONDER

We’re kicking off our café trail in Keswick - the most northerly town in the Lakes and home to one of our original stores. Tucked right in the centre of town, Yonder makes an ideal stop, whether you’re exploring the high street on market day or heading out for a hike. Expect expertly made coffee, an impressive line up of cakes and bakes (crookie, anyone?), as well as a selection of seasonal savoury specials.

The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, with additional seating upstairs and a few tables outside if the weather plays along. Bringing the dog? No problem - they’re more than welcome too. Offering the option to takeaway, Yonder is but a short stroll from our Keswick store - make sure to drop by and say hello!

Honourable Mentions

Because there’s just too many to choose from, here’s a few more local-approved suggestions in the area:

  • 🥐 Lingholm Kitchen | Winner of Cumbria Life’s Best Casual Dining Experience 2024, this artisan café is situated just outside Keswick in Portinscale, within the beautiful Lingholm Estate. Ideal for breakfast, brunch or just a brew - with freshly baked bread and homemade treats.
  • ☕ Elm Café | Recently relocated from the top floor of George Fisher, Elm continues to impress with excellent coffee, a small but well-curated menu, and standout homemade cakes. Don’t just take our word for it - Elm has the Good Food Guide stamp of approval for a reason!
  • 🥞 Lake Road Brunch (LRB) | Tucked between town and the lake, this popular spot serves up standout pancake stacks and classic brunch favourites. A reliable crowd-pleaser by day - and by night, it transforms into Barua, serving up bold street food flavours.

📍Grasmere 

MATHILDE’S

A short drive south along the scenic A591 brings you to Grasmere - a postcard-perfect village known for its literary heritage and independent charm. Among its highlights is Mathilde’s, recently named Cafe of the Year 2025 at the Cumbria Food Awards - and it’s easy to see why.

Housed within the Heaton Cooper Studio, Mathilde’s sits alongside the gallery, making it a natural stop for those browsing the exhibitions, gifts, and art supplies. And after a considered look around, the scent of freshly brewed coffee will almost certainly lure you in.

Inside, you’ll find Scandinavian-inspired interiors, excellent coffee, a carefully curated food menu and homemade bakes that more than live up to the setting. With plenty of seating both indoors and out, it’s a must-visit in an already idyllic village.

More Local Favourites

  • 🧁 Freda + Ray | A local favourite with friendly service, excellent coffee, and a laid-back atmosphere. Welcomes dogs, and has a menu that covers everything from cake and brunch to pizzas and cocktails on select evenings.
  • 📚 Lucia’s | Two locations flank the iconic Sam Read’s Bookseller: a cosy café on one side, and a takeaway hatch on quieter days. Whether it’s a homemade sausage roll or a generous slice of cake, you’re guaranteed something good.

📍Ambleside

GRAIN

Ambleside is another stop where you’re truly spoilt for choice - but our standout pick goes to a newcomer that’s already making its mark. Grain brings something fresh and quietly exceptional to the local cafe scene, combining everyday convenience with standout quality.

The brainchild of Forest Side’s Michelin-starred team, Grain offers restaurant-quality food, ready to grab and go. Inside, bright yet tasteful décor sets the tone, while the even tastier menu delivers on every front - ranging from exceptional breakfast baps to salad bowls and focaccia sandwiches.

Everything is made with care using locally sourced ingredients, and Grain even boasts its own specially roasted coffee blend, with pastries baked fresh each morning to boot. Whether you’re fuelling up for a fell walk or simply exploring the town, Grain proves that ‘on-the-go’ doesn’t mean second best.

Don’t Miss These

  • 🌊 Force Café | Just off the beaten track near Stock Ghyll Force, with views out to Windermere, this spot nails location and flavour. A spectacular pitstop - especially if you’re tackling Wansfell - with food and coffee well worth the climb.
  • 🏙️ ASAP Coffee | Straight from the streets of Manchester to the heart of Ambleside’s Market Place, this newcomer brings a city-smart edge to Lakeside café culture. Deceptively spacious, effortlessly cool, and serving top-quality coffee at very down-to-earth prices.
  • 👋 Fresher’s Café | Known as Ambleside’s friendliest for good reason. This family-run gem dishes up hearty plates, homemade cakes, and the kind of service that keeps locals coming back.

📍Windermere

HOMEGROUND

With a queue often stretching right up Main Road, Homeground is one of Windermere’s worst-kept secrets - but it’s well worth the wait in line. Within walking distance of our Bowness store, this much-loved spot is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the same year we mark our 70th - a fitting nod to local favourites that have truly stood the test of time.

Homeground’s charm lies in its easygoing atmosphere, friendly team and food that never fails. Think stacked waffles, flavour-packed breakfast muffins and seasonal specials that keep things fresh. The coffee is reliably excellent, and the generously sized bakes are nothing short of irresistible. And while the place is always buzzing, it never feels rushed.

On select evenings, they open for ad hoc smash burger nights - the kind you’ll want to plan your evening around. Whether you’re stopping in before venturing out on the lake or dropping by post-shop, Homeground remains a standout - ten years on, and still setting the bar.

Also Worth a Visit

  • 🍞 Toast | The clue’s in the name. This cosy spot specialises in freshly baked bread, turned into toasties and sandwiches that hit the mark every time. Fresh pastries line the counter daily, and there’s quality coffee to match.
  • 🪑 Brew Room Cafe | Just across the way on Crescent Road, this laid-back café nails the basics: good coffee, good food, and a warm welcome. A solid choice for a quiet moment or a caffeine refuel mid-wander.

📍Staveley

MORE?

Tucked in the heart of Mill Yard in Staveley, More? The Artisan Bakery is one of those places that feels like a genuine find - just a short detour off the road between Windermere and Kendal, but a world away from your average roadside stop.

Founded by award-winning baker Patrick Moore, More? is known for baking everything fresh, in-house, each day - from pillowy milk rolls to specialist sourdough and treacle loaves. It’s no wonder their bakes supply some of the region’s best-loved eateries. At the heart of it all is a commitment to doing things properly - simple ingredients, crafted with skill, and never rushed.

A Cumbria Food Awards finalist, More? pairs substance with soul. Order at the counter and give your name - no table numbers here, just a friendly, personal touch. Stop in for a deliciously smooth coffee, an unbeatable selection of breakfast and lunch options that go above and beyond, or a slab of something sweet from the counter.

An industrial interior, an eclectic soundtrack, and a steady hum of locals and visitors create an atmosphere that’s every bit as bold as the menu. Occasional pizza pop-ups and ever-changing specials (giant hash browns included) keep things feeling fresh.

Taking the scenic route? Make the stop. You’ll be glad you did.

More to Explore

  • ☕ Duffins | Coffee roasted on-site, lunches made with care, and sweet treats that are hard to pass up. A low-key favourite in the heart of Staveley.
  • 🏡 Wilf’s | More?’s next-door neighbour and a firm fixture in Mill Yard. Set in the old bobbin loft, with riverside decking and a cosy, lived-in charm. From traditional breakfasts to daily specials and home-baked cakes, it’s proper, comforting food done right.

📍Kendal

CRUMB

Bright, bold, and just a short stroll from our Kendal store, Crumb has quickly become a standout on the town’s food scene since opening in 2024. With its eye-catching frontage and easy-going energy, it’s a go-to for quality coffee and light bites done right.

The focus here is on thoughtful, sustainable choices - from award-winning Dark Woods coffee beans to locally baked bread. The menu is compact but well curated, hitting the mark with classic breakfast options, sourdough toasties, and flavour-packed sandwiches. Grab-and-go never means cutting corners: everything is made with care and big on taste.

Whether you’re picking up a quick breakfast or settling in by the window, Crumb delivers a fresh, down-to-earth take on fast food - full of Kendal charm and thoughtfully executed.

Or Check Out...

  • 🍰 Marra 46 | Tucked away in plain sight, this cosy Kendal café is easy to miss - but well worth finding. Great coffee, an excellent cake selection, and a warm, welcoming vibe that makes it more than just a pitstop.
  • 🥐 Bakery at No 4 | Made-from-scratch cakes, pastries, and home of the now-legendary croissant round - complete it and you might just earn a spot on the leaderboard. A firm favourite with Kendal’s running crowd, and a great little place to refuel, whatever your pace.

One for the Road

From mountain-ready toasties to riverside flat whites, the Lake District is full of cafés that offer more than just a caffeine fix - they’re part of the experience. Whether you’re passing through on a walk, refuelling after a long drive, or planning your entire day around a standout slice of cake (no judgement here), there’s no shortage of spots worth a detour.

We’ve shared some of our favourites - the ones we return to time and time again. But half the fun is discovering your own. So next time you're out exploring, follow the smell of fresh coffee, duck down a side street, and see where you end up.

Just don’t forget to tell us where you land.

By Mollie Shepherd

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