The Best Restaurants in Cornwall

Cornwall’s lucky enough to have a huge and beautiful coastline, along with bundles of rolling countryside, meaning homegrown, quality food has always been important here. So, it’s no surprise it’s also home to some of the UK’s most exciting and notable restaurants, where seafood reigns and locally sourced produce is always on the menu. 

As well as the top notch pasties, ice-cream and Cornish cream teas the county is known for, there’s a whole host of incredibly talented and inspiring restaurant owners and chefs that reflect the beauty and quality of their surroundings, which are more than worth travelling for – just remember to book ahead!

Here’s our review of the best restaurants to book when visiting the county.

The Shore, Penzance

Owner and chef of The Shore, Bruce Renie, is one of the most passionate people in the business when it comes to using quality food. So much so, he’s often at Newlyn harbour, buying fish before it even gets to market. His whole ethos is using the freshest, best quality local produce he can to serve up his innovative food. 

The restaurant might be simple and unassuming, but Bruce’s Cornish menu is full of fish, and inspired by Japanese flavours and cooking techniques. He seamlessly brings the two together, creating a perfectly formed multi-course menu (or a more casual mid-week offering). His food undoubtedly deserves a Michelin star, especially considering it’s just a two person operation.

theshorerestaurant.uk

©Charlie McKay

Coombeshead, nr Launceston

Coombeshead is now one of Cornwall’s most popular restaurants, which has a real sustainability focus. After well-known chefs Tom Adams and April Bloomfield took over the dairy farm, opening the restaurant and rooms in 2016, it’s been tricky to secure a dinner booking. It’s best known for its exceptional organic sourdough bread, which is even on menus as far away as London. The restaurant’s inside one of the old barns and serves rustic and exceptionally good food that’s full of flavour. Little is wasted or has travelled far, as most of it comes from the farm, and it’s the spirit at Coombeshead which really kick-started Cornwall’s farm to fork revolution.

coombesheadfarm.co.uk

©Lateef Photography

Paul Ainsworth, No 6, Padstow

Paul and Emma Ainsworth took over the Georgian townhouse at number 6 in Padstow in 2005 and turned it into a fine dining restaurant with rooms. They rightly earned a Michelin star in 2013 and have successfully managed to retain it ever since. The food is modern British, and celebrates the best of local Cornish produce. Among the nine courses on the tasting menu, expect dishes like hay-aged pigeon with salted plum, which of course change seasonally, too.

paul-ainsworth.co.uk

©Jake Eastham

The Pig, Harlyn Bay, nr Padstow

Cornwall’s outpost of the Pig hotel’s litter, sits just above Padstow in Harlyn Bay, and opened in the challenging summer of 2020. As is the case with all of the Pig hotels, it’s taken over a grand old manor house, which dates back to the 15th century, and has been lovingly brought back to life with its luxe take on shabby chic decor. The signature 25-mile radius menu features food and drinks from excellent local producers, such as Philip Warren butchers and Camel Valley Vineyard, as well as using its own kitchen garden, too. The cooking is down to earth, but elevated by the quality ingredients. Although if you’re after something more casual, the outdoor eatery, the Lobster Shed, specialises in grilled seafood.

thepighotel.com

Prawn on the Lawn, Padstow

Rick and Katie Toogood, the duo behind Prawn On The Lawn, are big on local produce, mainly the fruits of the sea. On the menu are excellent small fish-focused plates, which are so fresh thanks to the restaurant being right in the heart of Padstow. It’s also seen them scoop the Trencherman’s Award for the Best Restaurant a few years ago.

Dishes change daily, depending on the catch and are often doused in well-balanced Asian flavourings, which go well with the hyper-local wine from Trevibban Mill, just outside Padstow. Be sure not to overlook the side dish of crispy crushed spiced potatoes either.

prawnonthelawn.com

Ugly Butterfly

Last year Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling moved to The Headland Hotel in Newquay, and not long after scooped a Michelin star. Overlooking Fistral Beach, Ugly Butterfly 2.0 promises a relaxed yet theatrical dining experience with sustainability at its core.

The menu follows a ‘4×4’ format, letting diners explore Cornish produce in a creative way. Highlights include Cornish tuna with preserved truffle, a luxurious take on lobster and wagyu using local St. Ives lobster, and showstopping Cornish apple tarts served tableside. This exciting new chapter brings fine dining flair to one of Cornwall’s most iconic coastal spots.

uglybutterfly.co.uk