14 Best Vegan Restaurants in Cornwall
Being a vegan in Cornwall has never been so good! There’s more vegan-friendly and vegan restaurants in Cornwall than...
The perfect destination for a foodie break, Cornwall is home to some of the UK’s most loved restaurants. A rich fishing history and celebrity chefs like Rick Stein have helped put Cornwall on the map as a culinary powerhouse which specialises in local dishes. From the freshest seafood you’ve ever had to the perfect Cornish cream tea, there’s sure to be something for any taste or budget.
With hundreds of great eateries to choose from, we’ve listed a few of the best restaurants in Cornwall for your next candlelit dinner or sun soaked brunch.
Use the quick links below to learn about restaurants in a certain area, or read on for some of the best restaurants in Cornwall.
With locally caught seafood and a spot in the Michelin Guide, The Fish House in Fistral is one of the best seafood restaurants in Cornwall. Paul Harwood, the restaurant’s expert chef founder, learned the trade working under Cornwall’s celebrity chef, Rick Stein, for 14 years. Situated right on one of Cornwall’s most famous surfing beaches, the terrace at The Fish House offers a sunset dining experience which is not to be missed!
Prices for mains start at £22.95.
If you’d like to learn to surf (preferably before your meal!) the restaurant is partnered with Fins Surf School, who offer family-friendly lessons which can be booked in advance. For more great places to surf in Cornwall, read the blog on 8 of our favourite cornish surfing beaches.
Talking of Rick Stein, the celebrity chef also has his own restaurant nearby on Fistral Beach. Again, seafood is the jewel in the crown of Rick Stein’s at Fistral Beach, but the menu is varied, offering a range of fish and chips, curry and noodle dishes. The venue benefits from a relaxed, casual atmosphere, views over the beach and a lovely outdoor seating area. There’s also a takeaway option available, in case you’d like to enjoy your fish and chips down on the beach in the traditional manner.
Prices are affordable, with mains starting at £11.95 for a small cod and chips.
Anyone for a kangaroo steak? Located in the center of Newquay, Bush Pepper serves up a variety of Australian-inspired dishes that fit the town’s surfer clientele perfectly, using a mix of Australian and Cornish ingredients. If that’s not enough to tempt you, Bush Pepper won the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award in 2022, putting them up amongst the top 10% of restaurants in the world! With a relaxed atmosphere and a menu you don’t see every day, this place is certainly worth a visit for breakfast, brunch or dinner.
Prices for mains on the dinner menu start at £18.50.
Nestled in the middle of Penzance, The Shore is a cosy family restaurant with only one member of staff: Its owner, Bruce Rennie. It’s mentioned in the Michelin Guide for good reason, with a Japanese ‘Omotenashi’ dining style, meaning great hospitality is at the center of the whole experience. The restaurant serves a pescatarian dinner menu which focuses on local vegetables, some even sourced from Bruce’s garden!
With only 14 seats, it’s essential to book your table in advance. If you’d like to learn more before you book, take a look at Bruce’s inspiring and mouth-watering video about the restaurant.
It costs £90 per person to reserve and eat at The Shore. This is a set price for an evening of food, although drinks cost extra at the restaurant.
Mermaid Alley is hailed by some as being one of Cornwall’s best hidden gems. Here you’ll find an exciting menu of world food and classic Cornish meals with a twist. They’re well-known for extravagant milkshakes, excellent cocktails and a unique atmosphere which leaves you wanting more! Expect amazing comfort food at reasonable prices, from mac and cheese to curry!
Prices start at £7 for lunch and £14.50 for dinner mains.
With a mouth-watering menu and a warm, friendly atmosphere, The Mexico Inn in nearby Longrock is perfect for a meal with the family or a couple of pints with friends. This popular pub is less than 10 minutes from the center of Penzance and owners Tom and Amy have experience at some of Cornwall’s finest eating establishments. The menu focuses on using local ingredients and features delights from around the world, including lamb & merguez sausage rigatoni, potato & cauliflower dhansak curry, and of course, Newlyn market fish and chips!
Mains start at £15.50, though there are small plates from £8 and offers on different days of the week.
Not quite in Penzance, the much-loved Mackerel Sky is based in one of Cornwall’s most famous fishing towns, Newlyn. This seasonal seafood bar only serves small plates, making an ideal opportunity to taste plenty of Newlyn’s seafood tapas-style! The restaurant is quite small and doesn’t take bookings, operating a queue system at busy times, although there is extra seating outside. With nearly 1,600 google reviews and 4.8 stars at the time of writing, Mackerel Sky must be one of the best restaurants in Cornwall!
Prices start at £8.50 for tasting plates, and sides are all around £5.
If you’re looking for a restaurant that’s featured in the Michelin Guide, with seasonal seafood and a relaxed atmosphere, Porthminster Café is perfect. Delicious Cornish fish and shellfish are served with Asian and Mediterranean influences, while the balcony overlooking Porthminster Beach makes for a perfect dinner setting. Porthminster Café has been awarded the 2 AA Rosette award multiple years in a row.
Prices for mains start at £21.50.
Another eatery featured in the Michelin Guide, The Gurnard’s Head could be one of the best restaurants in Cornwall. It’s situated in Treen, a rural location 15 minutes from St Ives, with a countryside outlook and relaxed atmosphere that make for an excellent dining experience. The menu focuses on local and foraged produce, with a wide range of dishes, including some traditional favourites. This restaurant is dog friendly, so your pooch can get in on the Michelin dining experience too!
Prices are £37.00 for 2 courses, or £45.00 for 3.
Dubbing itself ‘St Ives’ most romantic restaurant’, The Mermaid is situated in St Ives’ fishing quarter and, not surprisingly, serves great quality, fresh seafood. Their menu is packed with fresh fish and shellfish, as well as locally farmed meat and poultry.
The Mermaid’s traditional décor creates a homely feel, reflecting the history of St Ives with vintage photographs of local people, fishing nets and even local church pews for seating! If you’re in St Ives and looking to sample some local delicacies, The Mermaid is perfect.
Prices for mains start at £13.95.
For more ideas of great places to eat in St Ives, read Carbis Bay Holidays’ ultimate ‘where to eat’ guide.
We couldn’t write about places to eat in Padstow without mentioning Rick Stein’s original venture, The Seafood Restaurant. This Cornish institution is now getting on for 50 years old, after it was opened in 1975 by Rick and Jill Stein long before Rick’s fame as a celebrity chef. Today you’ll find a luxurious daily menu made with the freshest ingredients.
Dishes range from classic fish and chips to the ‘Fruits de mer’ – a shellfish feast involving lobster, brown crab, scallops, oysters, mussels, winkles, cockles, whelks, razor clams and langoustines! Providing a Cornish gourmet experience and a real seafood treat, The Seafood Restaurant is certainly one of the best restaurants in Cornwall. Needless to say, it’s mentioned in the Michelin Guide.
Mains for one person range from £18.95 to £80.00, depending on how much you’d like to treat yourself!
Winner of the Best UK Seafood Restaurant and mentioned in the Michelin Guide every year since opening, Prawn on the Lawn is a Padstow culinary experience that can’t be missed. Dining here means ordering small plates from a menu that changes every day, though you can also order whole crab, lobster or fish for the table for a fresh and local feast. The atmosphere is fun and laid-back, with upbeat staff serving up the finest seafood you can get.
Prices for small plates on the sample menu start at £11.
It’s no surprise that Paul Ainsworth at No 6 is one of only 3 Michelin-Starred restaurants in Cornwall. Here you’ll find a truly high quality, upmarket dining experience. Guests are treated to the highest standard in hospitality and customer service, as well as a showstopping menu. The restaurant describe their offering as ‘modern British food’, with only the freshest local Cornish ingredients used. The setting is a stunning Georgian townhouse with tasteful interior décor and an open kitchen in one of the dining rooms, giving you the chance to watch expert chefs at work.
The 3-course set menu costs £150 per person.
The Old Sail Loft is set in one of Looe’s oldest buildings – you guessed it, an old sail loft! It has a rich history of use by smugglers and sailors dating back to the 16th century, but all you’ll find here now is a warm welcome and amazing food. The menu focuses on seafood, as you’d expect, but quality local steaks and poultry are also served. Last year The Old Sail Loft were awarded their first AA Rosette, a testament to the amazing dining experience to be had here.
Prices for mains start at £22.
Photo: The Sardine Factory
Not only is The Sardine Factory listed in the Michelin Guide, it’s also been awarded a Bib Gourmand – Michelin’s accolade for a restaurant which serves high quality food at affordable prices.
The setting of a converted sardine factory on Looe’s quayside is unique and authentic, reminding diners just how fresh their seafood is. The fish served is landed in Looe itself and the mussels are from nearby Fowey. Prices are reasonable too, so you can enjoy Michelin-grade food without breaking the bank.
Prices for small plates start at £5, while mains start at £18.
This popular Italian restaurant is situated in Looe’s bustling town centre, just a 2 minute walk from East Looe Beach. Papa Nino has a menu that’s made up of well-priced pasta, seafood and steak mains, as well as some signature dishes like the house special, lobster thermadore. The seafood is fresh and local, and the service is highly rated by locals and tourists alike.
Prices for mains start at £8.95.
Temple is one of 2 places to eat in Bude that are mentioned in the Michelin Guide, and it’s not hard to tell why! They operate as a café in the day and as a restaurant for dinner in the evening, with a set menu which changes regularly. In addition to the set menu, there are plenty of small plates which you can add on to taste even more of their dishes.
Temple is praised by Michelin for its focus on ethically sourced, high quality produce and its casual yet lively setting. The menu features a range of dishes from around the world, with plenty of interesting options that you don’t get to try every day. Prices are fairly affordable, so it’s definitely worth popping in when you’re next in Bude!
The 2 course set menu costs £37 per person.
Bude’s other Michelin-featured restaurant, Potters, is located in the busy town centre. It’s run by Chef Oly Clarke and his wife, Nikki, with a passion for the best Cornish ingredients. Their menu has the seaside staple of fish and chips at it’s core, making the most of Bude’s local seafood. If you fancy a tipple, the cocktails come highly recommended!
As well as their Michelin recognition, Potters have been awarded the Tripadviser Traveller’s Choice Award 2022 and the Taste of the West Gold Award 2020/2021.
Prices for mains start at £16.
Located in the heart of Fowey town centre, Andy and Lyndsey Appleton’s restaurant focuses on a fusion of Cornish ingredients and Italian cuisine. Every item on their menu is special, and it’s clear that quality and artisanal produce is used throughout.
There’s also an impressive bar which is well-stocked with interesting and unique spirits, mainly from Italy or Cornwall. Unlike many of Cornwall’s fine dining restaurants, dogs are more than welcome to join you for your meal! Appleton’s is another of the best restaurants in Cornwall which is featured in the Michelin Guide.
Mains on Appleton’s sample menu start at £19.
Owned by two experienced London restauranteurs, Fitzroy brings a bit of capital class to Cornwall that won’t disappoint. The service and ambience is loved by locals and visitors, with the décor and setting of an old bank making for an exciting place to eat dinner. The owner’s love for seasonal and local ingredients makes the seafood-centred menu a joy to read, let alone taste!
Fitzroy is also in the Michelin Guide, helping Fowey to stand out as a great Cornish destination for a fancy meal!
The menu at Fitzroy changes daily, but prices for mains tend to range roughly from £20 to £35.
Where better to experience the magic of this small, exciting and Cornish chain than in it’s birthplace? Sam’s Fowey was launched in 1987 and has since made way for 3 other restaurants in Cornwall. The setting is eccentric and fun, while the food is delicious and local. The menu is built around seafood and award-winning burgers, though there are steaks, salads and some other mains, as well as very tempting sharing platters.
Mains prices start at £14.
Launched in 2020 to replace the prestigious 2-Michelin-Starred Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Outlaw’s New Road is a slightly more laid back and less formal venture for the veteran chef. This new restaurant has already been awarded 1 Michelin Star. With Nathan described by Michelin as one of the UK’s best seafood chefs, there are few better places to taste the finest seafood on offer than this restaurant.
The dinner menu changes regularly here, with a seafood tasting menu for July that’s packed with delicious local seafood cooked in a simple yet highly skilled way. They also currently run a limited edition à la carte lunch menu, which showcases Nathan’s favourite dishes since he opened his first restaurant 20 years ago.
If you’re in Port Isaac and set on treating yourself to a gourmet menu, Nathan’s other restaurant, Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, also has a Michelin Star! Is there anything this chef can’t do?
July’s tasting menu costs £175 per person. Mains on the à la carte lunch menu start at £25.
Photo: The Angry Anchovy
For a more casual experience and some amazing pizza, The Angry Anchovy is perfect. Port Isaac’s only pizzeria serves up a Cornish take on the Italian classic, available to eat in or take away. They make fresh dough every day and only use Italian tomatoes for the sauce, giving customers a little slice of Italy in this quaint fishing village. If that wasn’t enough for you, they’ve certainly got creativity in spades, with self-described ‘kooky’ décor and even a pizza named ‘Cornish Pastis’!
To say The Angry Anchovy are dog-friendly would be an understatement – they even offer dogs their own mini pizza and a spot in the ‘dog gallery’, a whole feature wall dedicated to canine companions.
Looking for somewhere to base yourself while you eat your way through Cornwall?
Cornish Cottage Holidays have a wide range of self-catering properties available to book across Cornwall, so you can enjoy a culinary adventure fit for a restaurant connoisseur! Discover our collection, including dog friendly cottages, coastal cottages, holiday homes with hot tubs and much more.
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