United Kingdom
This is a service stop in Cumbria, on the edge of the lake district. However it serves lovely food overlooking a lake and fountain which is home to many birds and wildfowl. It also sells local farm produce, handmade cakes, local beers etc to take away.
www.westmorland.com/tebay-services
Westmorland Place, Orton, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3SB
+44(0)15396 24511
Google map: bit.ly/qWS5EH
Tucked away from Kendal's busy main shopping street in one of the few riverside locations in Kendal. The Waterside Cafe is hidden away on a traffic-free, pedestrianised area beside the River Kent, making it a longstanding favourite of many locals, but easily missed by visitors. It meets all the requirements of even the strictest veggies; there's a new menu everyday, vegan and vegetarian meals are cooked on the premises with Fairtrade and organic ingredients, served by very friendly staff. If the weather's good enough, eat at the outside tables and watch the river flow by. Then, after a quiet, healthy veggie lunch it will be time to get back to the shopping, or walk off your lunch with a hike across the river to Kendal Castle to see the view that makes Kendal the gateway to the English Lake District.
www.watersidewholefood.co.uk
Kent View, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4DZ
+44(0)1539 729743
Google map: bit.ly/g3uwqi
Obviously the name is fantastic, but also were the cakes which were all homemade and delicious (and served in massive slices). Staff were also lovely and there's a cute window seat.
Tucked down an alley in Hawkshead.
This has to be the best veggie cafe in the Lakes.
I had an awesome breakfast, looking over the mountains, in the (very rare!) lakeland sunshine. Great food, good portions, and a cool bike shop upstairs too.
Bell Close, Keswick, Cumbria
www.lakelandpedlar.co.uk
017687 74492
Cafe in the building of Lakeland Plastics flagship Windermere store.
breakfastliverpool.blogspot.com/2007/11/029-first-floor-cafe.html
This traditional village cafe uses mainly organic and local produce and the food is fresh, simple, and satisfying - they bake their own bread and you can really taste the difference.
Princes Street, Broughton-in-Furness
A bit slow, and a little pricey, the World Peace Cafe is still a must for the altruistic or the plain curious. Run by the Manjushri Buddhists from nearby Conishead Priory, from 11.30 to 2.30 it serves only organic, fair-trade vegetarian food (mains £5.00, sandwiches £4), cakes and a selection of teas from Earl Grey to Ayurvedic.
The cafe also offers evening sessions in its very own meditation room (cost £9.50) - there's even a lunchtime guided meditation (£4.50) followed by soup of the day...
5 Cavendish Street, Ulverston
01229 587793
www.worldpeacecafe.org
Friendly cafe in a converted woodmill in Staveley (between Kendal and Windermere). Good menu - I recommend the tasty veggie chilli and homemade cakes. There are also some tables outside, including some that overlook the river at the back.
Mill Yard, Staveley, LA8 9LR
01539 822329
www.wilfs-cafe.co.uk
Nearest station: Staveley
Restaurant, cafe, jazz bar and cinema all rolled into one! Located in Ambleside, I have been visiting this place for over 20 years. In that time it’s gone through some changes but it still remains a wonderful place to go especially now with the addition of a jazz bar playing live jazz most Saturdays.
The restaurant and cafe are veggie but the kind of veggie that makes you want to convert! Cinema has four screens – two in the main building and two just down the road on the edge of the beautiful park. Go for the ‘movie deal’ (cinema ticket and meal) then afterwards listen to jazz for one of the best nights out in the Lakes!
Zeffirellis
Compston Road
Ambleside
LA22 9AD
www.zeffirellis.com
Tel: 015394 33845
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