The Lake District has ample to offer for wine and dining. It's home to many award-wining chefs and some of the best restaurants in the UK for you to visit whilst staying in our luxury holiday cottages in the Lake District. Many of these establishments are surrounded by incredible countryside, so if you are looking for a dinner with a view, the Lake District is undoubtedly the place to visit.
The Michelin Star Explained
A Michelin Star represents outstanding cooking and embodies incredible dishes and techniques. The award is given for flavour, creativity, skill, and overall presentation. The stars themselves indicate the outstanding quality of soley the food, however the Michelin Guide evaluates the entire experience, including the staff, ambience, décor and service standards.
Michelin inspectors will only consider awarding a star if the food is consistently outstanding, meaning not just a single dish but the entire menu must be incredible. The Michelin Star is re-assessed annually to make sure patrons receive the same standard of food that earned the restaurant the award. It is a great honour within hospitality to receive this distinguished achievement.
Situated within Cartmel and known for its sustainable approach to dining, L'enclume has set its high standard by using seasonal ingredients. The Michelin Guide describes the restaurant as representing its local region with its dishes. They provide a "traceable dining experience reflecting my farm to table philosophy", as laid out by owner Simon Rogan.
The restaurant is praised for its ability to evolve and develop its meals with enthusiasm and is commended for the pride it denotes within its beautiful classic dishes. This old smithy receives nothing but glowing recommendations from all of its visitors.
Rogan & Co
Cousin to the aforementioned L'enclume, Rogan & Co is a cottage-style restaurant based in the centre of Cartmel Village, adjacent to a beautiful picturesque stream. It has a casual, laid-back ambience and features open fires and beautiful hardwood beams. Simon Rogan has once again, with another restaurant, perfected the staple classics with skilful presentation and homegrown ingredients.
This establishment offers a weekly changing set price lunch, providing incredible flavours and even better value for money. Simon uses a creative combination of tastes in a very talented presentation which will have your taste buds in a gasp.
Whilst staying at our cottages in Kirkby Lonsdale, make the most of being close to the charming and historical area of the Lake District with a day trip. Askham Hall is a beautiful establishment with outstanding grounds set in the outskirts of Lowther Castle and Gardens, Penrith. This handsome Cumbrian hideaway is home to a restaurant of high-quality food and award-winning dishes.
They take pride in their ingredients, sourcing much of their food from the surrounding estate grounds and woodlands. Allium also offers an impressive selection of wine from their own cellars and stunning garden views as you enjoy the delicious meals elevated with their signature sauces. The estate gardener informs the menu, playing a vital role in advising which ingredients are in peak season and what should be planted for future dishes.
Raising the bar for excellence, The Cottage in the Wood is located in Braithwaite, near Keswick. With two decades of expertise, chef Ben Wilkinson offers sophisticated flavours combined with incredible attention to detail among his dishes. Michelin commends his food for being natural and honest with high-quality ingredients.
This cosy cottage style restaurant provides seasonal menus whilst catering to dietary requirements where possible. Their ingredients are sourced from local produce suppliers, promising you an experience that will leave you feeling cared for and well looked after.
In Ambleside, you will find The Old Stamp House, whose food is inspired by Cumbria's heritage, people and landscape. Housed in the former office of Williams Wordsworth, it is connected to the heart of the Lake District and honours the great poet with its name. History has influenced the dishes with the area's past connection to the seafaring trade with distant lands in the Americas, Caribbean, and India.
The chef Ryan Blackburn employs this connection with his innovative and creative dishes, using imported spices which were once brought ashore through the nearby ports of Whitehaven and Maryport. This quaint and quirky establishment offers carefully curated, mouthwatering dishes that are both bold and delicate in flavour.
We have an incredible range of properties only a stone's throw away from the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, including our hot tub cottages in Cumbria. Check our availability online or get in touch and book the luxury stay you deserve today.
