Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Cumbria

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Cumbria? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Stag Inn Low Crosby

4.9

4.9 (47)

£25 and under

Pub

Carlisle

About the restaurant

We’re Sarah and Dan, the new owners of The Stag Inn, Low Crosby, and we couldn’t be more excited to breathe new life into this charming, historic pub. After viewing The Stag Inn, we immediately fell in love with the character of the building and knew it needed someone to give it heart and soul again.

We have big plans for the future of the business, and we’re excited to share them with the wonderful local community. Whether you're popping in for a pint, a meal, or just a chat, we can’t wait to welcome you to The Stag Inn!

Top review

Rachel

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food enjoyed by everyone In a lovely cosy pub

The Highland Drove Inn

4.7

4.7 (58)

£25 and under

British

Penrith

About the restaurant

We’re a 17th century dog friendly coaching inn run by husband and wife team Tom and Claire. There isn’t a straight line in the place and we’ve kept the old character of the pub while injecting some more contemporary charm of our own. Our monthly menu showcases the best the local area has to offer featuring things like hogget reared in the village and wild garlic picked from local woodland. Our bar is stocked with locally brewed hand pulled ales, a wide variety of spirits and a good selection on tap with bar snacks alongside at the weekend. New for this year we now have a beautiful outdoor seating and dining area where you can catch the afternoon and early evening sun.
DOGS
We are dog friendly in the restaurant but we do have to limit the number of dogs per table to 2. On busy days we may have to limit the number of dogs in the restaurant completely to ensure all our customers are comfortable so please let us know if you are bringing a dog as we may not be able to accommodate you.

Top review

Christine

Dined 3 days ago

We had a good welcome ( the only people dining at 16.00). The service was good and the food of good quality. We did feel that the menu was rather overpriced. We have had meals of similar quality and better in cities such as London and Edinburgh at a cheaper price. Not sure why the overheads would be more expensive in a small pub off the beaten track. Would recommend this restaurant as offering good food from a small menu but rather overpriced.

The Cavendish Arms

4.8

4.8 (1999)

£26 to £40

British

Grange-Over-Sands

About the restaurant

Please note we cannot guarantee specific tables when booking on line or at busy times.

The Cavendish Arms is a 450 year old Coaching inn set in the heart of Cartmel. With Simon Rogan and his famous Lenclume restaurant we have some very high standards to maintain. Our food is fresh and sourced locally to ensure the freshest ingredients are on your plate at all times. Our menu changes often and is always being developed by our very talented Head Chef and his team. Along with a great food offering, we are challenging boundaries with our selection of 25 gins, 10 whiskeys and many more superior sprits, we always try to have an alternative rather than using main stream brands behind the bar, ensuring our guests receive the best possible value for money we can provide whilst experiencing a better than expected product. In short our aim is to make sure you leave having had a memorable time and be wearing a huge smile.

Top review

Darryl

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

The Cavendish Arms is just wonderful, food and service absolutely top class, would highly recommend

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Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

The Ivy House Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (698)

£25 and under

British

Keswick

About the restaurant

Located in the centre of Braithwaite village, within the Holiday Property Bond Hotel, Ivy House Restaurant offers its guests contemporary Cumbrian classics, in a breathtaking Lake District setting.

From succulent Cumbrian classics to modern European delicacies – the team have designed their daily changing menu to delight and inspire.

Just 2 and a half miles from Keswick and 10 minutes from Bassenthwaite Lake- the elegant restaurant and peaceful village of Braithwaite, is the perfect location for a relaxing evening meal out, after a exhilarating day in the Lakeland Fells.

We apologise as we are not pet friendly. But our sister restaurant Merienda in Keswick www.merienda.co.uk is pet friendly.

Top review

Julie

Dined 1 day ago

The meal was absolutely gorgeous, the service was great we all had a fabulous evening. Thank you.

Crooklands Hotel - the restaurant

4.7

4.7 (899)

£25 and under

British

Kendal

About the restaurant

The Restaurant
Our main restaurant is modern with a lantern light ceiling which allows in plenty of natural light to flood in. A great piece of real architectural design. The restaurant boast some wonderful bespoke ironwork along with a vintage industrial feel . This restaurant offers a modern ambiance an ideal place to catch up with family and friends and enjoy our mouthwatering local dishes.

The Inn
The Inn is full of old world charm with little hidden nucks for dining. This restaurant is full of character and is used at lunch times primarily, but in the evenings, it offers a cosy ambiance lit by candle light ideal for a more casual approach to dining.

The Inn also offers an afternoon tea which is simply divine. Served between 2pm-5pm by prior bookings only.

The Bar and Snug is a relaxed and super cosy space sticking with the old charm of the Inn which this part of the building offers. It has an impressive wood burning stove and is dog friendly.

Top review

Kate

Dined 3 days ago

A lovely evening, good food and very dog friendly

Greenhead Hotel

4.8

4.8 (375)

£25 and under

British

Carlisle

About the restaurant

The Greenhead Hotel was taken over in June 2020 by local proprietor Jordan Dodwell & his partner Anna Pearson. After a complete refurb they opened the doors on the 14th August 2020.

Head Chef, Dan, & his young, eager team use the finest ingredients available using local butchers, suppliers and even forage in the nearby woodland. During the shooting season we source game from the local shoot which features on our specials board.

Situated on the Northumberland and Cumbrian border, with Hadrian's wall on our doorstep, the hotel offers a cosy drinking area with locally sourced ale, a chic restaurant serving homemade classic pub food with a modern twist and 7 newly refurbished dog friendly en-suite guest bedrooms, alongside a 45 bed Hostel, providing the perfect base for your trip.

Top review

Samantha

Dined 2 days ago

Sunday roast was excellent and friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Number 11 Market Place

4.8

4.8 (1112)

£25 and under

Tex-Mex

Whitehaven

About the restaurant

Welcome to Number 11 restaurant and bar,
You will be treated to delicious locally sourced home cooked food in a relaxed and chilled setting where you can wash down your food with a fantastic choice of wines (including our own Number 11 label wine), locally brewed beers and hand crafted cocktails.
Huge range of Gluten Free options and we are always more than happy to cater for all dietary requirements.

Top review

Cheryll

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

We really enjoy the number 11 experience. A lot of gluten free options available. The food is very good. However it would be nice to be able to finish the meal with the option of tea or coffee which at the moment is not available.

Merienda

4.7

4.7 (428)

£25 and under

British

Keswick

About the restaurant

Keswick is one of the most scenic parts of the Lake District – which in itself is up there with the most scenic parts of the United Kingdom – and in the very heart of the town, you can find Merienda on the Main Street, whose food is about as beautiful as the surroundings. We offer wholesome, uncomplicated food in a homely ambience, and you can enjoy it any time of day, from a quality morning pick-me-up (We are serious about coffee and use quality Merienda's exclusive espresso blend from Darkhouse Coffee Roasters, Keswick) and hearty breakfast, to a range of delicious cakes and filling sandwiches, to a scintillating evening dinner menu accompanied by a range of fine wines and quality beers. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are the focus of a menu filled with British classics and dishes inspired from around the world – reserve a table and head on down.

Top review

Chirsty

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Lovely little restaurant with good food and great service. Lovely staff.

Pooley bridge inn

4.4

4.4 (902)

£25 and under

British

Penrith

About the restaurant

This wonderful inn is located in the centre of the pretty little village of Pooley Bridge, only moments from the edge of Ullswater Lake. Our spacious, traditional bar features open fires, free WIFI and a relaxing ambiance, which welcomes both dogs and children. On warmer days, enjoy our pleasant outside tables both in our beautiful front garden, and the peace of the Stable Courtyard away from the village bustle. Call us or pop in and say hello!

Top review

Deborah

Dined 5 days ago

Food was hot and order came quick. Jess waitress was outstanding and very pleasant. Nice atmosphere in pub.

Rickerby Retreat

4.5

4.5 (328)

£25 and under

Bistro

Carlisle

About the restaurant

Rickerby Retreat Bar has a Rooftop terrace and serves light lunches and Afternoon Tea. We also have a Spa which offer luxurious ESPA treatments, CND Nails, Lycon waxing and a swimming pool.

Top review

Natalie

Dined on Jun 19, 2025

Lovely lunch spot. Sharing board was massive and well thought out. Service always attentive.

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