The best places to eat and drink in Keswick

Keswick is one of the busiest towns in Lakeland; with so many activities on offer, it’s likely you will work up a big appetite. Luckily, Keswick is crammed with tasty eateries, cafes and traditional pubs to enjoy a locally brewed pint and some hearty pub grub!  If pub food isn’t your thing, Keswick offers a variety of restaurants inspired by world cuisine including Indian, Mexican, Chinese and pizza houses.

  • The George Hotel 

Open everyday 11am-11p

For a spot of traditional, pub grub, the characterful 16th century George Hotel offers classic home cooked dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers. Highlights from the menu include the famous farmhouse pie, sizzling duck platter and the black pudding stack. The pub is renowned for its extra generous portions, so make sure you enter on an empty stomach! The oldest coaching in Keswick, the bar oozes a cosy atmosphere with a snug area serving local cask ale beside a roaring fire. The hotel also offers traditional Cumbrian fry-ups every morning for both hotel guests and visitors.

  • The Dog & Gun 

Open everyday 11am-11pm, serving food from 12pm-9pm

No trip to Keswick is complete without trying the Dog & Gun’s famous Hungarian goulash; a thick hearty beef dish popular amongst herdsmen in Hungary and served from the pubs kitchen for over 60 years! Other popular dishes on the traditional pub menu include beef & ale pie, fish and chips and chicken and woodland mushroom pie. The friendly atmosphere set in a venue with timber beams and a cosy fire, alongside the amazing food makes this a must visit place for Keswick.

  • Inn on the Square 

Open Sunday- Thursday 12pm-2:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 12pm-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm

Located within a popular 4 star hotel on the market square, Inn on the Square boasts an AA Rosette- award winning steakhouse alongside two modern bars. The family-owned hotel describe themselves as ‘laid-back luxury’ mixing sophistication with adventure. The Brossen Steakhouse offers succulent meat including oak-smoked rump, rib eye, tender fillets with a choice of over 15 sides and 50 wines!

  • The Fellpack Restaurant 

Open Tuesday- Saturday 5pm-11pm

One of the most popular restaurants in Keswick, the Fellpack prides itself on being a community hub for adventurers, mountain lovers and food enthusiasts providing a comfortable place to relax together after a day in the fells. Opening in 2017, the evening restaurant boasts unique comfort food with a twist, combining local flavours with world cuisine in dishes such as their Cumbrian beef ragu and chicken and wild garlic tartiflette.  The menu often varies due to the seasonal nature of dishes.

  • Bar eS

Open Sunday- Thursday 5pm-11pm, Friday 5pm-12pm, Saturday 4pm-12pm

Inspired by Mexican cuisine, Bar eS provides a picking menu of tapas dishes cooked using fresh ingredients, colourful cocktails, craft beers and spirits all in a relaxed, rustic interior in the heart of Keswick. Vegan options are also available and the bar is dog friendly.

  • The Square Orange Café 

Open Wednesday- Monday 10:30 am-10:30pm, food is served 12pm- 9pm

Known by locals as the ‘Squorange’, this quirky little café and bar is nestled in the heart of Keswick, serving hot stone pizzas, Cumbrian roasted coffee, local beer, guest wines and European inspired tapas. The café is a friendly place with a lively atmosphere, hosting evenings of live music and offering a selection of board games.

  • The Sizzling Stone 

Open Thursday- Saturday 5pm-10pm

A quirky restaurant for meat lovers, The Sizzling Stone provides a unique dining experience allowing guests to cook their own steaks and other meats on a hot stone slate right at their table, offering a perfectly cooked steak every time. All meat is locally reared and the restaurant accompanies meals with exclusive wines, real ales and a selection of gins.

  • The Cottage in the Wood

Open Tuesday and Wednesday 6:30pm-11pm, Thursday- Saturday 12:30- 4pm, 6:30-11pm

For an exquisite fine-dining experience, The Cottage in the Wood is a sophisticated Michelin star restaurant sitting 1000ft up above Keswick in the woodland of Whinlatter Forest. The interior is charming yet cosy featuring snug seating areas, wood burning stoves, books and board games. Highlights from the award-winning menu include the Cumbrian Herdwick hogget and foraged mushrooms and duck with chanterelle mushrooms and greengage plums. If you fancy a stay after your meal, the cottage host’s boutique styled rooms!

  • Woodstone Pizza & Flame Grill 

Open everyday 12pm-10:30pm

A cosy pizzeria in Keswick town centre serving wood-fired Italian cuisine alongside meat from the flame grill, Woodstone Pizza & Flame Grill is the perfect place to satisfy a pizza craving! The menu offers a range of smoky flavoured pizzas, flame grilled burgers, steaks, kebabs and pasta dishes. Ingredients are locally sourced with the pizzeria proudly using beef and chicken from Cumbrian farms.

  • Sultan of Keswick 

Open everyday 5pm-10:30pm

A beautiful Indian restaurant in the centre of Keswick, the Sultan of Keswick serves a variety of Indian inspired dishes inside a colourful, Hindu themed interior with a bustling atmosphere. Popular dishes from the restaurants authentic menu include ‘Captian Pathia’, rogan josh and chicken madras.

  • Golden Hills Chinese Restaurant 

Open for diners Friday- Sunday 5:30pm- 10pm, Monday-Thursday is takeaway only.

For a taste of Asia in Keswick, Golden Hills Chinese is a highly rated, family run restaurant in the area, which has been operating for over a decade. The menu is built on seasonal produce using fresh ingredients for dishes inspired by the family’s own unique Cantonese and Peking recipes. The venue is small and intimate with a friendly atmosphere.