Eating out in Keswick

Our 'Eating Out in Keswick' mini guide

There are a plethora of places to eat out in Keswick. There's been quite a few new venues open recently and this has been great for Keswick as it has added to the already diverse range of eateries.

So we would like to take this opportunity to mention a few of our recommendations for eating out whilst you are staying at our B&B. I have also provided contact numbers so that you can book in advance to avoid being disappointed as they can get rather busy.

Pubs

There are any number of pubs providing the usual prawn cocktail / scampi and chips / sticky toffee pudding menu but there are also a few that have a little bit more flair and imagination.

The Pheasant - it's on the outskirts of town but the walk there is very pleasant, especially if you go along the river or through the park (we'll give you directions). Really good food and a well thought out menu. 017687 72219. They are here

The Dog & Gun - cosy atmosphere but it can get a little busy. Their Goulash is legendary. In the market square here. 017687 73463.

The George - Another great venue with bags of character. You can either have pub food at your table in the bar area or go through to the dining room area for a more formal sit down approach. Mostly good but it can vary. 017687 72076. They are just before you enter the market square here

The Royal Oak - Originally an 18th Century Coaching House this pub benefits from a great location and has retained plenty of character. You can enjoy pub food at your table in the bar area and sample their selection of fine ales. Booking advised. 017687 74584. They are just before you enter the market square here

The Packhorse Inn - just off the market square and a surprisingly large and slightly quirky layout make this a popular venue. Well worth a try. 017687 71148. They are here

Bars that do meals

If you are after a bite in a bar then look no further than The Round. They do amazing burgers and cocktails (top tip - hold the bun and have the salad instead). The atmosphere is great and it's a very popular spot. Worth queuing for.  017687 73991. They are here

The sister to The Round is Fellpack. Another great spot with a different vibe but definitely worth checking out. They have just moved and are now here

The Crafty Baa has a very quirky interior with lots of upcycled items used for the decor.  017687 85405. They are here

Derwent Walker has a great menu and fab decor and ambience.  Café through the day and Bar / Restaurant at night. Serving Delicious Food, illy Coffee, Beer and Cocktails. 017687 73275. You'll find them here

A recent new venue is Lake Road Brunch. They do Brunch, Pancakes and Cocktails. Enough said. I'd highly recommend a pre dinner visit for a Long Island Iced Tea. 017687 85474. They are here

Last on the list is Lake District Wine which is a very pleasant wine bar - but they only do light nibbles. Worth a visit if you want to sample some great wines and have a chilled experience. 017687 75799. They are here

Restaurants

Casa Bella - A very good spot just around the corner from us. Virtually always jam packed which has got to be a good reflection. They have substantially improved over the years and have also expanded. They do fantastic ice cream, which is home made on the premises, and you can have that as dessert, to eat in their gellateria or to take away in a cone. 017687 75575. They are not far away at all here

The Lodore Falls Hotel - It's out of town but is worth the visit. A spendid building in a spectacular setting. Very traditional in atmosphere but refreshingly modern in the menu department. A brill option is to take the Keswick Launch across the lake and walk from the landing to the hotel (5 mins) and go for Sunday lunch (4 courses + coffee £16.95) and then get the launch back to Keswick again. A real treat. 017687 77285. NOTE - there are times of year when the Lake is a little bit too low for the launch to get to the Lodore Falls landing. In which case why not take the open top bus or walk along the lake shore? Makes a great day out. They are here

Thyme Bistro is slightly tucked away in Museum Square so you may not find it when doing the rounds. A great menu and good service. 017687 74426 They are here

Spicey

Lakeland Spice Cuisine is the best curry house in the National Park. Enough said. 017687 80005. They are here

Barua Street Food is a new addition to the Keswick scene. It's the evening extension to Lake Road Brunch and serves some great Indian street food style spicy dishes and cocktails. Open Weds to Sat from 5:30 to 10:30 it would be worth making a reservation. 017687 85474.They are here

Golden Hills is a great Chinese restaurant. Very busy. They may not take advance bookings but it is worth ringing to check. Failing that turn up earlier rather than later. 017687 73165. They are here

Bar eS - Very good tapas spot. The reviews we were getting from guests were so good that I went and tried it recently and it is brilliant. 017687 75222. They are not far away at all and are here

The Star of Siam - this venue has recently changed to being a Thai restaurant. We were very pleasantly surprised. Very good food by a Thai chef in a nice atmosphere with good service for a fairly decent price. They also do a great lunchtime menu where you get to try a number of dishes. 017687 71444. They are just the other side of town here

Asaya Thai - is another great spot for asian food and is quite close to the B&B. 017687 75111. They are here

Sultan of Keswick are another Indian restaurant in town and I've been getting some good feedback from guests. 017687 72222. It's here

Cafe's

There are a whole host of cafes in town - some are better than the others. The best, though, is:

The Square Orange - A really good cafe / bar. Great coffee and teas in a great setting and nice atmosphere. Really good for reading the Sunday papers over a coffee. They also do Pizzas, paninis and Tapas. Highly recommended. 017687 73888. They are here

Across the lake

If you decide to go for a walk around Derwentwater or perhaps take the launch across for a mooch up and over Cat Bells then be sure to drop in at Lingholm on your way back (they are here). It is situated between the Hawse End and Derwentwater Marina landing stages so can easily be reached using the Keswick launch or you can just call in as part of your walk around the lake. It's a great place for coffee and cake in the morning, a hearty meal for lunch, a delicious afternoon tea or you can just pop in for an ice cream. Indoor and outdoor seating available in amongst the walled garden area (that apparently was the inspiration for Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit).

If Lingholm is full then not far away there is The Chalet in Portinscale which is another great venue. Here

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There are plenty of other places to eat out and we would really appreciate your views and in particular any recommendations.

Happy eating.