Best Places to Eat in Cornwall
Recommendations for the Best Places to Eat in Cornwall
Cornwall is home to some of the best places to eat in the country and for good reason. This beautiful County is so much more than its dramatic coastline and sub-tropical vegetation. Stay a while and you’ll see why. Home to some of the best produce in the Southwest, we promise you’ll want to return here year after year.
The sheer number and variety of great places to eat is impressive. Here are our pick of best places to eat in Cornwall right now. Set to inspire you, this could just land you in one of the best places to eat in Cornwall.
The Mariners – Rock
The Mariners boasts one of the best water views in North Cornwall on the waterfront of the Camel Estuary. Now ran by Cornwall-based chef Paul Ainsworth, the menu always leaves us wanting to return. Previously known for its sumptuous specials by Nathan Outlaw, the food here has to make it one of the best places to eat in Cornwall. Now ran in collaboration with Cornish Brewery, Sharp’s, expect a modern interior that’s cosy, friendly and relaxed. Remembered by our fellow foodies as some of the most delicious ‘pub grub’ they’ve had, it should most certainly make your best places to eat list.
The menus, designed by Paul and head chef Joe Rozier, focus on British classics while championing the best of local produce.The Mariners offers classic food done exceptionally well and with Ainsworth at the helm, you wouldn’t be surprised that the food is incredible.
If you need a recommendation, the ‘Dogs Pollock’ is amazing and the Cornish Rarebit is something else! Add it to your best places to eat list for your next holiday and don’t forget to book early !!
Porthminster Cafe – St Ives
With views like these, it’s easy to see why Porthminster Cafe is a firm foodie favourite. Porthminster Cafe has stunning coastal views of the white sandy beaches and turquoise seas that surround St Ives. Head Chef Michael Smith is the man behind the mains, and he was one of the first chefs in Cornwall to introduce foraged produce into his menus.
Unsurprisingly, fish is the name of the game at Porthminster, and you can tuck into some of the finest bounty that the Cornish waters have to offer. Cornish crab linguine, whole grilled lobster and monkfish curry are just some of the dishes that have graced the menu with seafood sourced locally from St Ives, Newlyn, Looe and Mevagissey. Vegetables, herbs and salad are taken from the Café’s on-site Porthminster garden.
There is a generous selection of Cornish wines on the wine list, including bottles of Global Award Winning sparkling wine from Polgoon and crisp whites from Camel Valley. With so much choice and food set to tickle any fish-lovers taste buds, it has to be Porthminster. As well as one of the best places to eat in Cornwall, it’s also one of the best views. Book here and don’t forget to check out our St Ives Cottages for further stay inspiration.
Rojano’s In The Square – Padstow
A beloved local trattoria, Rojano’s was taken over by Paul Ainsworth (who had a Michelin star nearby) in 2010. Although he has revamped the interiors and added an outside terrace, Ainsworth hasn’t messed with the true identity. This is still a classic, reasonably priced Italian, with mouth-watering pizzas topped with only the best quality ingredients.
There are pizzas with Parma ham, mushrooms and gorgonzola, or goat’s cheese, peppers and spinach, and they also serve a great pasta carbonara. Mackerel on toast is combined with flavours of coriander and basil, and the roasted sea bream is served with chorizo.
The presentation and attention to detail are second to none, and the terrific ingredients are mostly from local suppliers. The fish comes off Cornish boats and the meats are local or supplied by Italian artisans. Telling their own story are the vegetables grown in Paul’s own allotment. I can’t help but think even the Italians would approve of this !! Italian a favourite of yours and deserving a place on your best places to eat list?
The Gurnards Head – Zennor
A drive along the West Cornwall Coast Road is known to be one of the most scenic stretches in the UK. It will have you ooh-ing and aah-ing as it winds around the remote Cornish coastline towards Zennor. Having the added bonus of leading to the yellow beacon, this has to be one of our favourite destinations in the west. A warm welcome awaits you at the Gurnard’s Head – a ‘proper’ pub, with a menu brimming with local goodies.
Top notch beers and ales sit alongside an award-winning wine list, wittily written and clearly put together with love.
The menu is short but very sweet, featuring seasonally-rotating plates of regional meat, fish and greenery. Highlights include the local gurnard with tomato, anchovy, olive and samphire. And lets not forget the perfectly-cooked rump of beef and pork belly with fennel kimchi. The Gurnards is a place for wellies and walking boots and it’s love for our doggies makes it a favourite. This is most definitely one of our best places to eat in Cornwall especially if you love a roast!! So which day will it be? Book here and don’t forget to check out our cottage in nearby St Ives if you’re looking for a romantic couples escape.
The Hidden Hut – Rosevine
To many people, this is Cornwall’s best kept foodie secret. The Hidden Hut is found tucked away along the coast path near Portscatho on the remote Roseland Peninsula.
By day, fresh seasonal lunches are served from the outdoor beachside kitchen. On summer evenings, the hut hosts open-air feast nights right on the beach. Past events have included seafood paellas, mackerel grills, lobster week, and spider crab boat landings. Gathering around long trestle tables, The Hidden Hut invites you to their family picnic. Bring cutlery and drinks, whilst they provide food and fire and you’ll be welcomed into a friendly atmosphere.
No need to book- just turn up and order everything your heart desires. All items can be packed to takeaway onto the beach, this really is Cornwall personified. No deep-fat fryers, just a simple outdoor stove and indoor bakery oven. The menu is always sourced from the best pick of local ingredients and made fresh each morning by their chefs. Whilst it’s rumoured to be Cornwall’s best kept foodie secret, we advise you to set out early.
The Cove – Falmouth
Nestled on the shoreline of Maenporth Beach, The Cove offers uninterrupted views across Falmouth Bay. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this is one of our best and favourite places to eat. The Cove is an oasis of taste and visual beauty, where you can enjoy the real flavour of Cornish produce.
A sanctuary from the bustle of reality, where you can enjoy your foodie favourites no matter what the time of day. Sip tea and feast on croissants al-fresco as you unwind on the open air terrace. Or wind down the day with friends and family and experience Michael Caines dining at its best.
Dining at The Cove is a wonderful, leisurely affair in all seasons. No matter the time of year, you can always be assured of a very warm welcome at The Cove. Rest assured, it really is up there with the best places to eat in Cornwall. Treat yourself to a well stocked selection of delicious tipples and indulge in the heart of the cove.
The Seafood Restaurant – Padstow
Opened by Rick Stein and Jill Stein in 1975, this is where it all began for the couple. Boasting an international reputation for serving the freshest fish and shellfish, Head Chef Pete Murt, and the team celebrates Cornish produce, with ingredients sourced locally to create simple seafood dishes and classic flavours.
The heart of the restaurant is a seafood bar where the chefs assemble platters of oysters, langoustines and sashimi.
Upstairs, the terrace offers the ideal place to soak up the summer sun, whilst gazing across the scenic Camel Estuary.
There are dishes from all over the Stein repertoire: Spain, India and Mexico, but also simple options, perfectly executed: Shellfish in a delicate olive-oil and mild chilli sauce, John Dory with asparagus and wild garlic in a shellfish reduction. The Singapore crab is delicious (and the size of a small trawler), and the wine list is brilliant… In fact the wall of empty bottles as you walk in is the hint!
Paul Ainsworth At No6 – Padstow
A warm and friendly welcome awaits you. Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Give our Guest Relations team a call on 01841 532 093 to make a reservation – they’re here to help from 9am to 5pm every day. Or book your table online. We do sometimes have last minute table cancellations so if you are planning a trip to Padstow but don’t yet have a reservation give our team a call.
Ugly Butterfly – St Ives
The Longstore – Truro and Charlestown
The Tolcarne Inn – Newlyn
Chef and restaurateur Ben Tunnicliffe has created an irresistible dining destination for seafood lovers, where a chalkboard menu evolves to reflect seasonal abundance.
The catch of the day is served alongside fresh produce sourced from small local growers; Ben’s ethos is to combine flavours simply and instinctively, letting the quality of the ingredients speak for themselves.
With a friendly welcomed guaranteed, well-kept local ales and ciders, and a wine list specially designed to enhance the seafood offering, The Tolcarne Inn is a relaxed setting in which to enjoy Cornwall’s famous food culture at its very best.
Kota Kai – Porthleven
Perfectly situated at the head of the harbour in Porthleven, Kota Kai enjoys uncompromised views over the inner port, the nationally recognisable Clock Tower and beyond to the swelling surf of the Atlantic. With the option to Eat and Sleep in our B&B rooms above Kota 50 yards away, guests could turn an evening out into a short break away and really embrace the charms of Porthleven.
Hooked on the Rocks – Falmouth
The Ferry Boat Inn – Helford Passage
Lewinnick Lodge – Newquay
Gylly Beach Cafe – Falmouth
Family-run and award-winning, our café offers a warm welcome, outstanding service and locally sourced food, served in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The Watering Hole – Perranporth Beach
We are found in the middle of Cornwall’s finest beach on the west coast, with a 3 mile stretch of sand shadowed by dunes and sea as far as the eye can go, with Holywell on our right shoulder and St Agnes on our left.
