Looking for the best places to eat in Cornwall? Want to try the best of Cornish seafood on the coast? We’ve rounded up the best foodie spots in Cornwall, from French-inspired wine bars to rustic outdoor beach cafes, as well as restaurants offering the best views of Cornwall…

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Looking for a place to stay? Check out our round up of the best places to stay in Cornwall.


Ugly Butterfly, Carbis Bay

The latest addition to Adam Handling’s restaurant group and his first in the south-west, Ugly Butterfly is built into the beachside Carbis Bay Estate in Cornwall. The luxurious, airy space has breathtaking views over the waves through floor-to-ceiling windows. The tasting menus on offer (five or seven courses) make the most of local suppliers, showcasing ingredients such as Harlyn Bay crab, Porthilly oysters and Cornish gouda. There's an emphasis on sustainability, too – anything not used on the main menu is utilised in snacks and drinks. The experience is full of theatre and storytelling, as knowledgeable servers and chefs guide you through delicate dishes like buttery lobster, carrot and purslane in a rich bisque sauce, melt-in-the mouth potato agnolotti and dry aged Cornish beef with a creamy celeriac purée. And, with the ‘snacks’ course – consisting of four different canapés and a surprise pre-dessert – the menu is very generous. For maximum drama, bag a seat at sunset and experience the glorious Cornish light that's attracted artists to this area for decades. uglybutterfly.co.uk

A spacious modern restaurant with floor to ceiling windows offering a view of a Cornish beach

The Bottle, Newquay

Tucked away in a quiet street in Newquay is The Bottle, a French-inspired wine bar and deli run by locals Rob and Toyah. Inside, the cosy ambience reflects its seaside surroundings, with hanging plants, blues and pastel pinks. We enjoyed a cluster of carefully designed small plates, including a creamy burrata with homemade tangerine dust, sliced heritage tomatoes enriched with a boozy armagnac butter, and Spanish pickled white anchovy fillets.

There’s an option to build your own cheese and charcuterie board, with a wide selection of cheeses from small British producers and European staples; fans of Stilton should try the Cropwell Bishop, a hand-ladled cheese boasting a smooth, creamy texture with a buttery and complex flavour. Vegans are not forgotten, with a speciality vegan cheeseboard and vegan wines. If you’re in town for longer than an evening, attend one of the events hosted by the owners, such as the introduction to orange wine. thebottlenqy.co.uk

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Tapas sharing board on the menu at The Bottle, Newquay

The Mariners, Rock

Paul Ainsworth’s name is nothing new in Cornwall – first for his Michelin-starred restaurant Paul Ainsworth at No 6, then for his second restaurant, Rojano’s in the Square, then a hotel and now a cookery school in Padstow – but 2019 saw his first foray into the pub world. Taking over from Nathan Outlaw, Paul and wife Emma reopened The Mariners in Rock, in partnership with the town’s local Sharp’s Brewery.

Expect the likes of Manu Bay, Atlantic and Doom Bar on tap, while the menu is a refined take on pub classics, using top local suppliers (Kernow Sausage Company, Flying Fish Seafoods and Padstow Kitchen Garden). There’s a selection of oysters from “500 yards that way”, salads and sandwiches, pies (including warm hand-raised pork pies and Cornish toad in the hole with clotted-cream potatoes) and desserts are all proudly served with custard.

In the dining room, with clear views out over the estuary, you’ll also find Philip Warren bangers, mustard mash and slow-cooked onion and parsley gravy, alongside battered Cornish haddock and triple-cooked chips, and an aged beef burger with Davidstow cheddar and salty skinny fries. paul-ainsworth.co.uk/the-mariners

The exterior at The Mariners, Cornwall

Hooked on the Rocks, Falmouth

Perched proudly on Swanpool Beach, Falmouth’s Hooked on the Rocks hogs an enviable location. Offering sensationally Cornish seafood, from lobster and crab to oysters, it offers a relaxed, inspirational dining experience (don’t miss the signature seafood platter). What we love most about Hooked on the Rocks is its versatility. Whether you’re in search of morning coffee in the sunshine, a long and lazy al fresco lunch or an end-of-the-day blowout it works. Our favourite dish? The Cajun spiced monkfish and prawn skewers. hookedontherocksfalmouth.com


The Hidden Hut, Porthcurnick Beach

A small rustic outdoor beach cafe located just outside Portscatho, on the Roseland Peninsula, The Hidden Hut is a welcoming, friendly place run by local couple, Simon Stallard and Jemma Glass, and their team.

It’s a great place to eat and unwind in a beach atmosphere (you can take your four- legged friend along too) and is the epitome of outdoor living, offering pop-up feast nights in the summer months. Similar in style to a catered picnic, you bring along your own plates, cutlery and alcoholic drinks and enjoy a meal made by Simon and his team. If you’re in Cornwall, these are unmissable! hiddenhut.co.uk


Sandbar, Praa Sands

A hybrid of Mediterranean-influenced food and Cornish culinary creations, SandBar at Praa Sands serves up stone-baked pizzas, gourmet burgers and pot-roast chicken and chorizo alongside seafood favourites such as crab, crayfish and spinach linguine, dressed Cornish crab salad and crab bisque.

To add to the venue’s pulling power there’s a seriously good schedule of live music, and a rota of themed food events, from Monday’s fish and chips evenings to Friday’s steak nights and Sunday’s ‘Roasts on the Coast’. sandbarpraasands.co.uk


The Fish House, Newquay

Overlooking the waves on Fistral beach, the kitchen at The Fish House is headed up by surfer chef Paul Harwood. Having spent a decade under the tutelage of Rick Stein he’s now put his skills to good use in his own restaurant, serving elegant, rustic dishes that are influenced by his surf trips around the globe.

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Ingredients may be local and seasonal dishes but there’s a strong Asian influence; don’t miss the Indian fish curries and Malaysian-style local crab. What better way to finish a day on the beach than by watching the sunset while eating the bounty of the waves below it? thefishhousefistral.com

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