The 1657 Chocolate House

Our 1657 Chocolate House is believed to have been built in the 1630’s, originally as a private home in Kendal.

Long before it became a Lake District tourist attraction, the Chocolate House was a bakery - the old outlines of the bread ovens are still visible in the restaurant - as well as an antiques shop, a travel agent and a ladies fashion shop.

As many of our English traditions are fast disappearing, we are committed to retaining a few of the best from the 1600’s.

Our lovely ladies still dress in period costume, and many of our speciality chocolate drinks and dishes have names from that era, such as the well known Nell Gwynne - one of Charles II’s mistresses. No wonder chocolate is said to have aphrodisiac properties!