Best Restaurants in Mawgan Porth

If you’ve wandered down onto the golden sands of Mawgan Porth recently you’ll already know the village feels livelier than ever – the national press have even started calling it “Hollywood-on-Sea” thanks to a sprinkling of celebrity homeowners and some seriously stylish new builds, not forgetting its spotlight on ITV’s drama Playing Nice.

Yet beneath the headlines it’s still the same laid-back surf spot loved by locals: a place where flip-flops are perfectly acceptable at breakfast, and sunset suppers come with seagulls wheeling overhead and the Atlantic rumbling just beyond the dunes. And when it comes to finding the best places to eat, there’s something for everyone. 

A few local tips before you tuck in…
• Summer weekends see tables snapped up fast – book restaurants like Scarlet, Ogo or Catch as soon as you lock in your accommodation.
• Many kitchens close briefly between lunch and dinner outside peak season; if in doubt ring ahead.
• Parking at beach level fills early on hot days; consider the cliff-top car park behind the Merrymoor or simply stroll down, the coastpath around this stretch is epic if you’re staying nearby.
• Lastly, remember the Cornish rule of cream first, jam second, that’s non negotiable.

From sunrise coffee huts to starry-eyed tasting menus, Mawgan Porth’s food scene now rivals any in Cornwall yet still feels refreshingly unpretentious. Whether it’s a romantic adult-only affair, to laidback beach hangouts, here’s our favourite places to eat in Mawgan Porth…

The Merrymoor Inn

Best for: pint and proper grub by the beach
Drop down off the coast road and the first place you’ll clock is the Merrymoor: a family-run inn that’s been pouring pints and frying local catch since the sixties. These days head chef John Fish (yes, really!) keeps things refreshingly unfussy: scallops from Newlyn seared with seaweed butter, proper homemade chips, and Sunday roasts. Grab a table on the front terrace for a pint of Firebrand pale ale and watch the tide roll in – it’s hard to imagine anything more Cornish. Food is served all day, seven days a week, so it’s also the handiest option if you’ve lost track of time on the sand. New for 2025 is the Garden Stage & Snug – the perfect spot for some live music in Mawgan Porth. 

Catch Seafood Bar & Grill

Best for: cocktail and catch of the day
A few steps further along the seafront sits Catch, a glass-fronted beach-house that as the name suggests… showcases seafood aplenty. The menu changes with the landings – mackerel tacos at lunchtime, whole Newlyn sole with samphire in the evening, and a sticky ginger pudding locals still talk about mid-winter. They’ll happily shake you a Cornish Negroni while you choose, and in summer the big windows concertina back so you’re practically dining on the beach itself.

The Scarlet Restaurant

Best for: adults-only occasion
If you’re after something a touch more polished, book ahead at the Scarlet Hotel (non-residents welcome for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner). The dining room is all floor-to-ceiling glass, so wherever you sit the view is of rolling surf and gorse-spiked headlands. Dishes arrive like little still-lifes – think Porthilly oysters under cucumber snow or venison with pickled spruce tips – and you can opt for a seven-course tasting menu with matched biodynamic wines if you’re really pushing the boat out. Do bear in mind the hotel keeps things serene by remaining adults-only: handy for a child-free celebration, less so if you’ve a toddler in tow.

Ogo at Bedruthan

Best for: a family gathering
Just above the village in the Bedruthan Hotel you’ll find Ogo, the re-imagining of the much-loved Herring restaurant. Chef Jake Mason’s team build every plate around vegetables pulled from their own garden or neighbouring farms: courgette tempura with fennel pollen, or beetroot glazed with blackcurrant molasses alongside day-boat hake. Children aged five plus can dine here, but the children’s menu is only available from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

Travellers Rest

Best for: a cosy pint between beach breaks
Halfway up Trevarrian Hill the Travellers Rest has been welcoming surfers, walkers and the odd windswept spaniel since the 17th century. Inside is all low beams and slate flagstones; outside, picnic benches with cracking sunset views across Watergate Bay. The kitchen isn’t shy of global flavours, with its famous curry of the day, selection of steaks, hearty pies and a vegan option too. At the weekends you’ll find a pizza truck added to the offerings, perfectly washed down with a St Austell Tribute, particularly after a stomp along the coast path.

Mojo Bistro

Best for: dogs dine too
Within The Park holiday resort sits this breezy café-restaurant, which has recently been renamed Mojo Bistro. An all-day hang-out loved by both residents and villagers. Breakfast might be Cornish-smoked-salmon bagels, lunch a generous crab-and-lobster roll, and Sundays bring a bang-on roast with Yorkies the size of body-boards. It’s proudly dog-friendly, the coffee’s Origin, and there’s often a wood-fired pizza oven firing up on summer evenings – ideal for post-beach refuelling.

Retorrick Mill

Best for: live music
Tucked in a leafy valley a mile inland, Retorrick is where you go when you fancy something a bit wild. The old farmyard morphs into a live music hangout in the spring and summer months. Expect Live bands, DJs and the annual “Chill at the Mill” festival keep things merry; check their socials for pop-up dates, or swing by on a Friday or Saturday when Ansom Food Co. will be slingin’ pizzas in the evening. 

Off the Path Coffee

Best for: pretty pitstop
Follow the wooded footpath that links the beach with St Mawgan village and you’ll stumble upon a little timber shack serving silky flat whites, brioche bacon baps and slabs of sticky ginger cake. There are canvas shelters if Cornish mizzle drifts in, plenty of water bowls for thirsty dogs, and a dreamy valley view that makes you linger longer than intended. 

Carnewas Tearooms

Best for: Cream-tea detour
When only a warm scone will do (and plenty of jam, and lashings of Cornish clotted cream), head up the coast path from Mawgan Porth to Carnewas Tea Room. The tearooms have been run by the same local family for 30 years, where the traditional kitchen turns out towering cream teas – sometimes baking up to 300 scones a day – and lemon drizzle that’s worth every crumb of the climb.