Kim
08 February 2022
Italian restaurants are a big favourite for eating out. Mouthwatering pizzas, tasty pastas, succulent meats… it’s no wonder that this is one of the nation’s top types of food!
Fortunately, there are a whole host of quality Italian restaurants in the Lake District, from cosy trattorias to bustling pizzerias. Read our guide to them all here.
Skip to Italian restaurants in:
Italian restaurants in Keswick
Casa Bella
Offering an authentic taste in the heart of Keswick’s bustling St John’s Street, Casa Bella has grown over the years to include its own gelateria and bar selling a whole range of international beverages. Its range of pizzas include classic favourites as well as some unusual guest flavours.
Open: Mon-Sun, 12pm-3pm and 5pm-9.15pm
Woodstone Pizza & Flame Grill
The centrepiece at Woodstone Pizza & Flame Grill is an impressive wood-fired oven where pizza, meats and pasta dishes are freshly cooked throughout the day for a wonderfully authentic smoky taste. Watch your food get made as you sit back and enjoy some down time.
Open: Mon-Sun, 12pm-10:30pm (11pm on Saturdays)
Italian restaurants in Ambleside
Luigis
This lovely little Italian restaurant has been run by the same family since it opened 30 years ago. The food is based on traditional Italian recipes passed down through the generations, offering a small but delicious menu that’s sure to delight. They even have a dog-friendly area so you can bring along your pooch!
Open: Mon-Sat, 6pm-9pm
Dodd’s Restaurant
Promising a warm welcome and food to suit all tastes, Dodd’s Restaurant serves “local produce with an Italian twist”. It offers everything from light lunches to good seafood, with plenty of wines and beers available on the side.
Open: Mon-Sun, 12pm-3pm and 5pm-late (last orders at 9pm)
Misto
Misto is a relaxed Italian restaurant in the heart of Ambleside, with a cosy interior and food to rave about. It doesn’t take reservations, so be sure to get there early if you can, or wait in a short queue for a table. Past visitors will tell you it’s worth it for the good prices, excellent nosh, and exceptional service!
Open: Mon-Sun, 5pm-9pm
Zeffirellis
This vegetarian pizzeria is really special, combining an award-winning restaurant with an attached cinema! It also hosts regular live music nights in its very own jazz bar and has a wonderful Art Deco vibe. The food is excellent and you can even book a meal and cinema deal for a full night out.
Open: Mon-Sun, 10am-5pm
Italian restaurants in Bowness-on-Windermere
Trattoria
Stepping into this cute restaurant is like stepping into a mini Italy, with its traditional terracotta rooves and murals of quintessentially Italian villages. You can enjoy coffee and cake in the morning, before treating yourself to a tasty lunch or dinner later on. The portions are very generous, with many ingredients imported directly from Italy for that truly authentic taste.
Open: Mon-Sun, 10am-10pm (10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
Villa Positano
Tucked away down a side street, keep your eyes peeled for Villa Positano. This rustic retreat is a real treat with the feel of a genuine Italian trattoria and food that will have you coming back for more. They’re known for their very friendly service and particularly excellent desserts!
Open: Tue-Sat, 5pm-9pm
Rastelli’s Pizzeria
Rastelli’s Pizzeria is a colourful Italian-American style restaurant that you will often find brimming with guests enjoying their meals. As well as excellent pizza, they have ginormous portions of pasta, tasty seafood, and yummy meats. The service is top-notch too, making for an all-round excellent dining experience.
Open: Wed-Mon, 5pm-9pm (9.15pm on Friday and 9.30pm on Saturday). Early bird special prices daily from 5pm to 6pm.
Caffe Riva
This contemporary Italian pizzeria and bar is a fabulous place to head to after a day in the Lake District. As well as pizza, pasta and risotto, you’ll find a menu full of traditional fish and meat dishes. On those warmer days, head out onto the terrace for al fresco dining. And feel free to bring your pooch, as Caffe Riva is dog friendly!
Italian restaurants in Windermere
San Pietro
With a focus on fresh seafood, San Pietro is a place of dim ambient lighting, wooden shutters and brick archways. You’ll feel like you’re in a distant Italian village the moment you walk through the door! San Pietro has won a number of awards, and you’ll definitely want to check out why.
Open: Wed-Sun, 5pm-9pm
Italian restaurants in Coniston
Enzo’s Caffe & Pizzeria
Part of the Yewdale Inn, Enzo’s Caffe & Pizzeria is open daily (subject to seasonal changes) for all your meals! Pizzas are fired on a traditional wood-burning oven and the large terrace outside is the perfect location to eat on warm summer evenings. Feel free to bring your dogs along too!
Open: Varies seasonally, please check the website for full details.
Italian restaurants in Cockermouth
Tarantella, Cockermouth
Italian-style meals in the oven, Italian beers on tap, and a great selection of wines and cocktails: what more could you want? Tarantella in Cockermouth has reasonably priced food that’s full of taste and so light that you’ll be full without feeling over-stuffed!
Open: Wed-Sat, 4pm - 9pm
Fermento
If you’re specifically seeking pizzerias in the Lake District, then look no further than Fermento. Styling themselves as an Italian family kitchen, they aim to recreate the social family meals that are so familiar in Italy. The menu is primarily pizzas created with love and the wonderful tastes of the country.
Open: Thur-Sat, 6pm-10pm
Italian restaurants in Kendal
Sapore
Sapore boasts “an elevated food experience” in a cosy rustic setting that includes exposed stone walls, comfy leather seating, and wood burners. The best of modern and traditional are combined for the décor, and the food follows suit. Expect a selection of quality Italian meats and seafood, plus a good choice of pizzas
Open: Tue-Sat, 12pm-2.30pm and 5pm-9pm
Pekora Nera
How does stuffed mussels, rustic pizza, a well stocked bar, a large choice of coffees, and homemade panettone sound to you? If, like us, you think that sounds pretty good, then take a look at Pekora Nera, which has all this and more! You can expect a warm welcome, a relaxed vibe, and a delicious meal!
Open: Tue-Sat, 4.30pm-9pm (from 12pm on Saturday)
Italian restaurants in Penrith
Gianni’s Ristorante Pizzeria
Imagine eating your pizza and pasta under beautiful wooden beams in a 17th-century inn in the heart of historic Penrith. Well, Gianni’s Ristorante Pizzeria has you covered! This family-run restaurant has been serving authentic Italian food for over 25 years and it’s as good now as it was at the start!
Open: Tue-Sat, 12pm-2pm, 5pm-9pm (9.30pm Friday and Saturday)
Villa Bianca
Villa Bianca is a multi-award winning Italian restaurant in the heart of Penrith. The menu is huge, with seafood, meats, pizza, pasta, antipasti… you name it, they’ve got it! Owner Tiberio hails from Sardinia so brings authentic Italian tastes with him, as well as a friendly welcome and chilled out atmosphere.
Open: Mon-Sat, 5.30pm-9.30pm
Woodstone Pizza & Flame Grill
This Italian restaurant is sister to the one in Keswick. You can expect the same delicious food on the edge of the Lake District in an atmospheric building that includes exposed stone walls and tall windows. The food is comforting Italian that will leave you feeling satisfied and completely full. It’s just the ticket after a day on the fells.
Open: Mon-Sun, 12pm-10pm (9.30pm Mon-Thu)
Italian restaurants in Gosforth
The Wild Olive
An Italian restaurant like The Wild Olive in the small village of Gosforth is a welcome surprise! They promise a modern take on traditional pizza from a wood-fired oven, and you’ll enjoy mouthwatering desserts too. If you’re visiting in the festive season, stop by for their Christmas-themed pizzas!
Open: Tue-Sat, 12pm-2pm and 5pm-8.30pm
Self-catering cottages in the Lake District
After you’ve had your fill of delicious Italian food, head back to a nearby holiday cottage. Why not plan your next eating adventure with the help of our food lovers’ guide to the Lake District?
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.