Quick info
About Chesters By The River
Chesters By The River is a vegetarian cafe in Ambleside where almost everything on the menu is vegan. Separate breakfast and lunch menus run through the day, and the counter offers bhaji-based items such as an onion bhaji alongside scone options including fruit and blueberry. A wide selection of cakes and pastries sits at the counter, with vegan options throughout. Seating is available outside by the river. The cafe operates on a walk-in basis, and busy times bring a queue, though food arrives quickly once ordered.
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Menu & Prices
107 dishes · mains £4–14- Toast£5.00
- Hash Browns, Baked Beans + Chestnut Mushrooms In Herb Butter£10.00
- Breakfast Naan£9.00
- Granola£7.00
- Soup & Sourdough£8.00
- Fresh Baked Naan£4.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vegan pastries and cakes, samosa and onion bhaji, bakewell slice and sausage rolls.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vegan pastries and cakes, samosa and onion bhaji, bakewell slice and sausage rolls.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return above all for the vegan cakes and pastries at the counter, naming a Bakewell slice, a Jaffa cake cake, a gingerbread buckwheat cookie, a chocolate hazelnut croissant and sausage rolls. One praises the pastry for its texture and another calls the dessert selection huge. Close behind are the savoury plates, including a kale, carrot and onion bhaji sandwich on ciabatta, samosas, a tofu burrito, jackfruit gyros and harissa rice with cabbage. Diners describe the food as delicious, the staff as friendly, and the outside seating by the water as a reward after a walk. The recurring complaint is the queue when the cafe is busy. One reviewer found it long, though the food arrived quickly once ordered, while another found the place quiet. One reviewer notes that most items show no prices, and another found the cake icing too sweet. One takeaway order came with the wrong cake, and when the customer called, the cafe offered a refund and a replacement.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return above all for the vegan cakes and pastries at the counter, naming a Bakewell slice, a Jaffa cake cake, a gingerbread buckwheat cookie, a chocolate hazelnut croissant and sausage rolls. One praises the pastry for its texture and another calls the dessert selection huge. Close behind are the savoury plates, including a kale, carrot and onion bhaji sandwich on ciabatta, samosas, a tofu burrito, jackfruit gyros and harissa rice with cabbage. Diners describe the food as delicious, the staff as friendly, and the outside seating by the water as a reward after a walk. The recurring complaint is the queue when the cafe is busy. One reviewer found it long, though the food arrived quickly once ordered, while another found the place quiet. One reviewer notes that most items show no prices, and another found the cake icing too sweet. One takeaway order came with the wrong cake, and when the customer called, the cafe offered a refund and a replacement.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Outstanding service and quality of food. My favourite cafe in The Lakes and even when busy, the queue is worth the wait. A great team, always striving to make your visit enjoyable. Everything is delicious! We were given the wrong cake when getting a takeaway and didn’t notice until later. We called and they remembered my brother (we’ve now named him Me Bakewell) and they offered a refund AND replacement. They make the Bakewell slices we’ve ever tasted! Vegan and gluten free!! I can’t wait to go back.”
- Google user
“Delicious food served here, and there are plenty of different things to choose from! The setting is great at the water stream and the staff is helpful and friendly. I got a blueberry scone with coffee, a great combo!”
- Google user
“An absolute gem of a café tucked away near Skelwith Bridge near Ambleside. If you're vegan, you must (!!!) visit as almost everything is vegan bar a few veggie options. The counter is filled with freshly baked pastries, sausage rolls, buns, cakes and sandwiches. They also have a separate breakfast and lunch menu if you fancy a fry up or flatbread. I visited three times in four days and took food away as well - when you're spoilt for choice, you have to make the most of it! I went for breakfast twice during the week at 9am and lunch at 12pm on a sunny Saturday. Reading other comments, I was prepared for the place to be rammed but it I found it quiet and not as busy as people suggest. Super lovely service and beautiful location. I spent a small fortune and would be visiting weekly if I lived nearer. Highlights were the chocolate hazelnut croissant, sausage rolls and maple pecan hun. Even the chips are lush. I recommend walking from Ambleside via Loughrigg and back to make a day of it. 10/10 for the dreamiest café (-:”
- Google user
“Really enjoyed our visit here. After 2 hours on the motorbikes, this was a well needed stop and we could park right outside. We ordered the harissa rice with cabbage, a samosa and Jaffa cake cake. All of it was excellent! It was so good, we ordered two more samosas, an onion bhaji, carrot cake and strawberry and rhubarb cake to take home with us. We will definitely be back!”
- Google user
“We came here a few years ago and really enjoyed it (especially the doughnuts!) As we were in the area we did a walk from the Elterwater National Trust car park to Chester's for a reward after the walk! Was busy when we got there but managed to get an outside table. Stood in the queue for over 30 mins which felt like a really long time. However once the food was ordered it did come very quickly. I got the kale, carrot and onion Bahji sandwich with mint and coriander and tamarind chutney, and it was amazing! Very large Bhaji which was perfectly crisp on the outside and had very interesting flavours. Served in an amazingly soft fresh Ciabatta style bread. Have no idea how much it cost as there isn't prices on most of their items on display but I really enjoyed it and would happily have it again! I also got a really really good gingerbread buckwheat cookie. Big and very strong gingerbread flavour. My wife enjoyed a fruit scone with jam and cream and what I thought was a cheese and onion pastie (maybe I read the sign wrong but it was full of cooked onions and potato, no sign of cheese) Got a sourdough loaf to take away which was also really really good (although again no prices so no idea how much it cost) I highly recommend the food here, and we will definitely come back next time we're in the area. Yes the queues can be long but worth it for the quality of the food!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Bright, modern cafe with riverside deck, serving homemade lunch, wood-fired pizza and classic cakes.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Cafes near Chesters By The River
- Great North Pie Company4.83842 mi£10–20
pies and gravy, beef and ale pie, ham and black pudding pie
- Fresher's Cafe4.91,0362 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
homemade quiches, soup, homemade cakes
- Stiles Coffee Bar4.68452.1 mi£10–20Vegetarian optionsVegan optionsReservations
vegan bacon butty, spam and egg butty, breakfast
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesters By The River | 4.42,489 | — | — | vegan pastries and cakes, samosa and onion bhaji, bakewell slice |
| Great North Pie Company | 4.8384 | 2 mi | £10–20 | pies and gravy, beef and ale pie, ham and black pudding pie |
| Fresher's CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.91,036 | 2 mi | £10–20 | homemade quiches, soup, homemade cakes |
| Stiles Coffee BarVegetarian options · Vegan options · Reservations | 4.6845 | 2.1 mi | £10–20 | vegan bacon butty, spam and egg butty, breakfast |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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