Your guide to the best restaurants in Cornwall
Tickle your taste buds and visit Cornwall
for a little piece of foodie heaven!
Food and drink is something of a celebration in Cornwall and not just for the success of the traditional miner’s pasty! Naturally seafood is a Cornish food speciality but it is complimented by Cornish cream, ice cream, cheese, meat produce, traditional baking and home grown Cornish drinks such as beer, cider, wine, mead, and even tea production to list just a few of the superb offerings from large scale companies through to small artisan providers.
It would be quite possible to spend a fortnights holiday restaurant, bistro and café hopping interspersed with visits to farmers markets, food shops and foodie festivals. Unsurprisingly, as a result, Cornwall has attracted some famous chefs. We take a look at some of the best restaurants in Cornwall in order to to whet your appetite.
Famous Cornish Chefs and Restaurants
= Michelin Star
= Michelin Plate
= AA Rosette
Paul Ainsworth
- Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
À la carte and children’s menu based on good wholesome local ingredients and perhaps some unusual ones! Padstow. - Rojano’s
Paul Ainsworth’s Italian Cuisine bar and restaurant. Padstow.
Rick Stein
Unsurprisingly this famous sea food chef was attracted to the beautiful north Cornish coast, and has several businesses situated around the fisheries accessible from Padstow. Passionate about his role as a Cornish businessman and promoter of fresh simply cooked seafood, Rick can often be caught presenting programmes from the area, whilst running cookery schools and his selection of eateries. Visit:
- The Seafood Restaurant
Situated by the pretty harbour in Padstow, serving fresh seafood everyday. - St Petroc’s Bistro
Rustic charm and Mediterranean influenced cuisine. Grill, bar and lounge as well as al fresco dining. New Street, Padstow. - Rick Stein’s Café
Family friendly, serving a range of breakfast items from 8am-10:30am followed by coffee and homemade cakes until 12pm, a lunch menu from 12-2:30pm. In the evening dinner reservations can be booked from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Middle Street Padstow. - Stein’s Fish and Chips
Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus in a family friendly relaxed atmosphere. Restaurant and take away with a twist including specialist beers and mackerel breakfasts.
South Quay, Padstow. - The Cornish Arms
Log fires and a fantastic British pub menu. Reservations for Sunday roasts. Churchtown, St Merryn. - Rick Stein’s Fish
Classic fish and chip restaurant and takeaway. Private bookable dining room for parties of over 14 people. ‘Vintage lunches’ for the over 60’s every Tuesday. Falmouth. - Rick Stein Porthleven
Fresh fish and seafood. Porthleven.
Top Restaurants
Driftwood

Serving fish and shellfish dishes based on local ingredients. Portscatho.
Oliver’s

Modern, traditional British cuisine favouring fresh, local ingredients. Falmouth.
Tabbs

Fine dining with a selection of menus including a lunchtime tapas menu. Truro.
Watch House 
European menu and daily fish specials. St Mawes.
Cove 
Modern British with À la Carte and Prix Fixte menus. Maenporth.
Restaurant Tresanton

Fresh locally caught seafood and traditional British. St Mawes.
Samphire 

Modern British cuisine. Fistral Beach.
Fowey Hall 
Traditional Cornish menu with local fresh ingredients including seafood. Fowey.
Asquiths

Modern British food served in comfortable and elegant surroundings. Lostwithiel.