A food lover’s guide: Cornwall
The hidden coves, dramatic clifftops, and quaint fishing villages make the county one of the UK’s most treasured holiday destinations – and it's got a food scene to match.
The revolution in British cuisine owes a lot to Cornwall. It was here back in the 1980s that pioneering restaurants set up by the likes of local legend Rick Stein shone a spotlight on local fishing and farming communities to supply fresh produce directly to the kitchen door. Today the region has an astonishing amount of variety – from Michelin-starred flagships to seafront spots the kids will love.
No matter what time of year, it’s a fantastic place for a food-filled trip. To get you started, we’ve pinpointed a selection of the dining spots that’ll provide a glimpse of the innovation, energy, and passion of the Cornish food scene.
Cornish culinary pioneers
Despite its challenges, there’s still a strong small-boat fishing industry across the county and the most well-regarded chefs get the pick of the daily catch. Of course, nowhere is as established as The Seafood Restaurant by Rick Stein in Padstow, which has been serving some of the freshest seafood in Cornwall for more than 40 years.
Stein has inspired a generation of passionate chefs, but few have gone to such heights as protégé Nathan Outlaw who now has three excellent restaurants in Port Isaac. Don't miss Michelin-starred Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen overlooking the platt – the fish on the menu is landed by the handful of boats you can see bobbing inside the harbour walls.
Back in Padstow, it’s all about precise Michelin-starred dishes at Paul Ainsworth at No6. Diners are required to go all-in with a multi-course menu that sweeps across Cornwall to handpick the finest seasonal produce – expect delights such as kelp-cured cod with scallop blanquette and Camel Valley Chardonnay sauce.
Family favourites and beachside hangouts
On the south coast in Looe, local Benjamin Palmer is impressing with his cooking at The Sardine Factory Restaurant and the kids will love riding the foot ferry from East Looe to get there. It'll get them in the mood for mini portions of fish and chips or grilled market fish with potatoes for more adventurous eaters.
If you find yourself splashing around on the beach at St Ives, why not dry off on the terrace of Porthmeor Beach Café? Open seven days a week from 8.30am until late, it’s got all bases covered, with stacks of pancakes and syrup for breakfast; sausage, chips and beans for lunch; and – perhaps most importantly – a great choice of ice cream to keep the troops happy.
Things are just as child friendly at Sam’s on the Beach, which has four locations dotted across the county, including a converted RNLI lifeboat station overlooking the sand in Pokerris which is renowned for excellent pizza.
Local produce and unrivalled views
Incredible views come as standard in Cornwall and there are some wonderful, well-priced restaurants that allow you to cast your eye across glittering harbours, hidden bays, and the rolling Atlantic.
The Lizard Peninsula is regarded as one of the most spectacular places in Cornwall (and that’s saying something). Those in the know should book a table at Flora – a family run restaurant on the unspoilt Trelowarren Estate. With most of the ingredients coming from the walled gardens and surrounding farmland, you’ll never know exactly what’s on menu, but it’s guaranteed to be hyper-seasonal and very tasty.
Over on the south coast in the tiny village of Flushing lies Harbour House, helmed by Great British Menu regular Andrew Tuck. He’s renowned for cooking over open flames everything from the grilled hispi cabbage with miso butter to the charred mackerel is a smokey, umami-rich journey for the pallette. In summer, perch on the sea wall for pre-dinner drinks and winter is all about a table by the fire.