The Best Restaurants in Cornwall

It may be located in the seaside town of Newquay, but it’s another coastal destination that provides the inspiration at Counter Culture – namely the sun-soaked shores of San Sebastián. The Basque city’s tradition of relaxed pintxos bars serving simple dishes packed with flavour have influenced both the vibe and the menu here. The Cornish larder ensures the formula’s success, with British ingredients being the bedrock of the Spanish-inspired sharing plates. A nicely curated wine list adds to the appeal and fits well with the bar-like aesthetic.

When talking about Cornish cuisine, it’s impossible not to mention its seafood. Some of the best fish and shellfish in the world is landed off these coasts – something which Nathan Outlaw is an expert at showing off. He’s made a lovely home for himself in picturesque Port Isaac, running both his Guest House and this cosy, simply styled restaurant. The menu is designed around sharing and includes daily cuts of fish served with the kitchen’s signature sauces, underlining his understated style where the focus is always on the ingredients.

Just 35 minutes along the coast from Port Isaac lies perhaps Cornwall’s most famous foodie hub: Padstow. Home to a number of top eateries in a relatively small space, its crown jewel is this MICHELIN-Starred restaurant where Paul Ainsworth brings a combination of well-honed technique and inventive flourishes to fine Cornish produce. Service comes from an enthusiastic team and the overall experience is a memorable one. Ainsworth also oversees the Mediterranean cooking at the buzzy Caffè Rojano nearby.

Long before Paul Ainsworth arrived, it was Rick Stein who held the mantle of Mr. Padstow – and he continues to play a huge role in the town today, with a deli, a fishmonger’s and a fish & chip shop among his stable. This ‘café’ is the most relaxed and attractively priced of his restaurant options, taking inspiration from his well-documented travels around Asia. Cornish seafood is of course still at the heart of things, but it could arrive in dishes like miso salmon or mussel masala.

Family and locality are the abiding principles at this proudly run seafood spot. Chef-Owner Alex Key works predominantly with produce supplied by his own father, Chris, who takes his fishing boat out every day and brings the fresh catch straight to the kitchen – many of the non-seafood ingredients are provided by the family’s nearby farm. This results in a constantly changing menu of unfussy, produce-driven plates bursting with freshness. Take the time to explore the gorgeous surrounding village.

Another part of the Paul Ainsworth stable, this handsome pub is situated in Rock, a small village just over the water from Padstow that’s sometimes referred to as ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’ for its affluence and enviable properties. The Mariners is a perfect pit-stop for locals and holidaymakers alike, offering crowd-pleasing dishes without skimping on quality. The main menu changes seasonally, supplemented by a ‘Mariners Classics’ menu where you can expect the likes of a king prawn cocktail and ‘The Rock Chip Butty’.

Padstow is now renowned for its food, with multiple Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth joints helping keep it in the culinary spotlight, but this groundbreaking restaurant is where it all started. Still the flagship of the Rick Stein group, he opened it in 1975 – meaning visitors to Padstow have enjoyed his pared-back, produce-led cooking for five whole decades. Showing off the very best of Cornish fish and shellfish has always been the kitchen’s mission and it continues to succeed with a skilful elegance.

Located around 20 minutes inland from Newquay, a surfer’s paradise, The Tartan Fox is part of the Adam Handling stable – so it’s no surprise to find that it’s a well-run place with a menu oozing appeal. A kind of smart gastropub that suits its location well, the cooking ranges from steaks cooked on the grill to firm pub favourites such as burgers, pork chops and trifles. The Cornish coastline plays a role too – look out for the day-boat fish – as do playful nods to Handling’s Scottish heritage, like the deep-fried Mars bar dessert.

Formerly located in Carbis Bay but now overlooking the splendid sands of Fistral Beach, this “2.0” version of Adam Handling’s flagship Cornish restaurant has fast become one of the county’s premier dining destinations. Both its setting and its cooking show off Cornwall at its best, with wonderful views over the water and top-drawer local produce being at the heart of the experience. Handling’s cooking is clean, confident and refined, each bite spotlighting the quality of the ingredients with the help of well-judged accompaniments.

Even if you’ve never been to Cornwall, you might have heard of Coombeshead Farm – thanks to their home-baked sourdough bread that’s used in numerous other top restaurants. Coming straight to the source means you’ll get a taste at its freshest however, along with a bounty of other produce from their farm presented in unfussy, pure dishes bursting with natural flavour. This wonderful nature-to-plate experience sits further inland than most restaurants and offers a lovely alternative to the Cornish coast.

Offering something a little different, this unassuming spot showcases everything that’s great about family-run restaurants. Kelly and her daughter, the eponymous Edie, will welcome you with a smile and a friendly, relaxed air that puts you instantly at ease. Dad Nigel is in the kitchen, showing strong craft in unpretentious dishes that deliver crisp, satisfying flavours. The location just outside St Austell is ideal for exploring the surrounding area, known for its China clay and the spectacular Eden Project.

Fallowfields is one of those restaurants where its location alone demands a visit. Situated on the Lizard peninsula, it provides a great opportunity to explore the natural beauty around mainland Britain’s most southerly point. Speaking of natural beauty, the restaurant itself sits on top of a cliff overlooking Housel Bay and the views are as spectacular as you’d expect. It’s well worth taking a minute before you arrive to drink it all in. Fortunately, the creative and ambitious cooking is a fitting accompaniment for the setting.

One of the biggest and most famous towns in South Cornwall, Falmouth is at the heart of the region’s appeal and makes a particularly great base for sailing enthusiasts and history buffs – thanks to its regattas and the National Maritime Museum. Nicely located on the High Street near the waterfront, MINE provides the perfect pit-stop thanks to its welcoming atmosphere, relaxed vibe and the strong technique underpinning tried-and-tested dishes that are sure to satisfy – look out for the crab fritters with bisque mayo.

Sometimes the simplest places are the ones that provide the most joy. That’s certainly true at this rustic converted boat house, where the design and the cooking share a straightforward ethos. Sit at the communal table, wall-facing counter or one of the barrel tables that spill out onto the pavement, while you enjoy fuss-free dishes that celebrate the purity of seafood with pared-back but flavour-packed dishes. At lunchtime it’s walk-ins only, so make sure you get down here early in the summer.

There are no prizes for guessing what this big seafood brasserie used to be. Where sardines were once processed, now they are served, among a wide-ranging menu where fish lovers are simply spoilt for choice. The team pride themselves on freshness, with the daily catch swiftly making its way onto your plate, be it in a fish pie or a crab linguine. Visitors to Looe can unwind not just here but across the river at Yamas, a bustling Greek restaurant from the same team where the chefs don’t skimp on flavour.

A trip to West Cornwall is rarely complete without stopping by in St Ives, the coastal town known not just for its beaches but its artistic bent. And for culture lovers there are few restaurants better located than Ardor, sandwiched between the Tate St Ives gallery on the seafront and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. The menu is a delectable tour through Mediterranean flavours, with a particular focus on Spanish favourites like jamón croquetas and fideuà pasta. When the sun’s shining, it’s easy to forget you’re in Cornwall.

There’s a glorious simplicity to argoe that’s impossible to resist. The compact interior dispenses with bells and whistles for a pared-back chic and the cooking follows suit, with various fresh fish and shellfish cooked over the grill and served with minimal adornment. It’s an approach that relies on the quality of the ingredients, but the chefs source them superbly, with many coming from Newlyn Harbour right outside the restaurant. Occupying a former RNLI store room and named after a fishing boat, this is a place with the sea in its bones.

Personable chef-owner Jude Kereama is behind this friendly spot overlooking the harbour in Porthleven. Given its location and that its name means ‘shellfish’ in Maori, you might expect it to be a full-on fish fest, but the menu of snacks and sharing plates in fact puts as much emphasis on its ‘From the Land’ and ‘From the Ground’ sections as ‘From the Sea’. Understated international touches are used throughout, including occasional influences from Kereama’s Maori, Chinese and Malaysian heritage.

A long-standing fixture of the St Ives dining scene, Porthminster Beach Café is one of the most renowned restaurants in West Cornwall – and it’s not just down to its location. Yes, it is situated in an almost too-good-to-be-true spot by the beachfront, with the glass-enclosed terrace overlooking the golden sands and lapping waves; but the food is a match for the setting, with care and attention lavished on high-quality produce from scallops to skate wing. The smooth and unhurried service helps maintain a relaxed air.

‘The Simple Things in Life Done Well’ is the tagline at this properly rural restaurant that feels like a welcoming beacon amongst the surrounding countryside. The team deliver on their promise with endearing service and unpretentious dishes that showcase the kitchen’s knack for sourcing naturally flavoursome produce. Imagine the likes of lemon sole with wild garlic and caper butter or lamb rump with roast garlic mash. The same owner also operates The Old Coastguard in Mousehole, which boasts brilliant sea views.

Dining experiences don’t come much more personalised than this. Nestled in the famous market town of Penzance, it’s a proper one-man show with Chef-Owner Bruce Rennie doing all the cooking and leading the service himself. All 10 diners are served at the same time, with the dining room acting as a stage for the gregarious Rennie to interact with his guests and explain each dish. His love of prime Cornish produce is clear to see, with the quality of the ingredients being the highlight throughout the menu.

Just along the coast from Penzance, Newlyn is perhaps best known for being home to the Newlyn School, a colony of artists who based themselves here in the late 1800s. Art-loving visitors can get their cultural fix at Newlyn Art Gallery, before recharging the batteries at the 18th-century Tolcarne Inn. Here, seafood once again leads the way in dishes that don’t reinvent the wheel but are sure to satisfy. Whether they be mussels, monkfish, hake or turbot, you can bet the ingredients will provide delicious natural flavours.