The Samling Hotel

Superb tasting menu and the best Sunday lunch we’ve ever had. Service great at all times with all staff very professional and friendly. Really good wine selection. We visited on an unusually hot weekend and there was maybe a lack of good outdoor seating areas. Hotel has stunning grounds and could do with maybe a few more benches to enable guests to take in the views away from the terrace off the restaurant. Comfier/ nicer outdoor furniture and parasols etc in general would be good too. Especially as most of the rooms/ suites don’t seem to have balconies or outdoor space. Probably not an issue for most of the year but on this hot weekend it was noted. |Suite we stayed in was comfortable and had a nice living area with a lovely view over the lake. A 20 minute stroll into Ambleside and possibly quicker than driving due to the traffic situation. Parking in any of the surrounding towns was impossible as so busy. Overall a very beautiful place with an exceptional restaurant and top notch staff.

Heaven on a Cumbrian hillside with the most spectacular views of Windermere of any hotel we know. Michelin food. Attentive staff. A wine list to rival London's best. Calming, elegant, modern decor. The key staff have been there since the present owners bought it 10 years ago - stability like that is always a good sign I feel. We stayed in the main building which has half a dozen suites. There are several more in adjoining buildings. We feel the price is fair value - but if you are going to bitch about it, stay away. They valet park your car - but you look after your own helicopter!

Lovely menu and service with a breathtaking view. The set price lunch menu was good value, with expertly cooked and delicious food. I had the lamb while hubby had the steak. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Was a great way to spend a rainy day in the Lakes.

We enjoyed a superb dinner at the hotel’s Gathering restaurant. We felt pampered the moment we walked in to the stylish lounge for aperitifs. Our jaws dropped at the spectacular views of Lake Windermere from the restaurant. Food and wine were excellent. Service was courteous, friendly and unrushed. All in all a great place to wine and dine in this glorious part of the Lake District.

I had lunch at The Gathering on Saturday which was a lovely birthday treat from a friend. ||It's somewhere I have always wanted to try and would comment on it every time I drove past along the main road towards Ambleside.||The views as you drive up to the car park are incredible and although it was a dull day, the lake is still spectacular. We were taken into the restaurant from the reception area which is very modern yet still in keeping with the rest of the hotel. There are floor to ceiling windows so that every table of guests can enjoy the views.||I avoided the starters as they were not to my taste but had a beautiful cod dish which was delicate and perfectly cooked and followed this with a chocolate mousse type dessert. I was also given a chocolate "Happy Birthday" plate which was a lovely touch. My friend had a cheese souffle starter and followed that with lamb.||The service, as you would expect, was superb - unobtrusive yet attentive. I sadly can't recall the name of our waiter but he was Hungarian and had been at The Samling for several years.||There was absolutely no rush and afterwards we wandered around the gardens to appreciate the building from the outside.

An absolutely amazing hotel with amazing views of Bowness from the restaurant. The architecture of old and new is outstanding 👌. The restaurant is absolutely amazing food, wine cellar and service is excellent. By far one of the best places in The Lake District. Highly recommend

Impressive location. Probably one of the best in the Lake District.|Amazing views from our room, Grasmere. Peaceful too,as the hotel is well set back from the busy Ambleside road. Lots of secure parking in the grounds. Tasting menu on our first night was good, with our individual preferences catered for. We were well looked after by Rebecca and sommelier Nigel. They were both knowledgeable and fun.|Would definitely go back.

A golden wedding anniversary treat we will never forget. The service was first class and the food was absolutely the best we’ve ever eaten. We didn’t stay at the hotel but we would recommend the tasting menu unreservedly!|Thank you Samling you didn’t disappoint!

Visited: October, 2015. One of the finest restaurants in the Lake District, where we enjoyed a relaxed Sunday luncheon. From our cottage near the Brockhole visitor centre, for a little exercise we decided to walk to The Samling [a pleasant twenty-minutes, one-way; yet, one must be mindful of traffic at certain sections along Ambleside Road]. When we arrived we were seated in a very comfortable lounge, where we ordered aperitif, and then creative hors d'oeuvres were served. We were then seated in the main dining room where we ordered from their seasonal a la carte menu (the English lamb, and then the desserts being our favourites). The wine list featured many gems. Service was professional, yet, still friendly. After lunch, stuffed, we strolled through their gardens and enjoyed yet another unique view of Lake Windermere, before we walked back to our cottage for a siesta. Overall, we enjoyed our experience, and we hope to return in future.

After dining at different UK Michelin-starred restaurants, I was pleasantly impressed by The Samling. I slightly prefer Michelin-starred restaurants in other countries, due to a different level of attention to the service and atmosphere, rather than quality of foods. The Samling however positively impressed me with high attention to details, ranging from the reception with canape, to the 'move' to the dining room, and then the invitation to return to the room where we started to finish our wine and have coffee. The atmosphere is great, the venue is beautiful and the staff is nice. Food-wise, great dishes, but wasn't expecting anything lower! Only mistake, they forgot I mentioned on the phone when i was reserving a table that one of the guest was vegetarian, and they served meat-based canapés without even re-asking about our dietary requirements. However, they more than happily brought more vegetarian canapés for the vegetarian guest.

Visited the samling for afternoon tea. Got a great table outside with views overlooking Windermere. To start with you are offered a choice of teas, with samples of each tea leaves offered to help you choose. The Assam tea was great. The food is then their twist on classic afternoon tea, with open sandwiches and cakes served. Some unusual combinations were served with the egg and pea leaf sandwich and carrot cake with citrus and walnut being particularly notable. Service was relaxed bordering on slow, but with the amazing views of the Lakes it didn't really matter taking a bit longer than expected. Well worth a visit!!