Zeffirellis

You'll find Zeffirellis tucked away on Compston Road, a proper Ambleside institution that's been doing its own thing for decades. It's the kind of place where the locals actually go — not because it's fashionable, but because it genuinely works. Downstairs is a buzzing Italian restaurant with a wood-fired oven that cranks out excellent pizzas and pasta, while upstairs there's a small, atmospheric cinema that shows a decent mix of mainstream and independent films. The whole operation feels like it's run by people who actually care about both good food and good cinema, which is rare enough these days.