The 10 Best Restaurants in Cornwall

Best Overall: Edie's Kitchen

A family restaurant helmed by an acclaimed chef with prestigious international experience, Edie's Kitchen offers a seasonal, local menu that changes on a monthly basis. Examples of the kind of fare you can expect include Cornish crab linguine in a prawn and orange sauce followed by cherry soufflé with pistachio ice cream. This is fine dining in terms of quality, but with generous portions and generally unfussy plating. Service is a particular highlight, with reviews praising the wait staff’s attentive, friendly attitude. The restaurant offers brunch, a la carte, and prix fixe menus, and is open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Edie’s is also open for lunch. 

Best Traditional Pub: The Blue Peter Inn

If you’re looking for an authentic Cornish pub experience, look no further than the award-winning Blue Peter Inn. Housed in a whitewashed, slate-roofed building flanked by the historic fishermen’s cottages of picture-perfect Polperro, it overlooks the harbor and is just as atmospheric inside. Expect live music every Friday and Saturday in season, and a roaring log fire in winter. The menu focuses on local seafood and meat with top choices including fish and chips, beef burgers, and salt and pepper squid. There are options for vegetarians and vegans too, and the drinks menu is just as diverse. Regularly featured in the Good Beer Guide, the pub has a wide selection of real ales on tap, as well as Cornish gins and rums. Kids and dogs are, of course, welcome.

Best Seafood: The Fish House

The Fish House is located on Newquay’s Fistral Beach, the most famous surfing beach in the U.K. From your table, you can watch the pros in action while you peruse a menu of fish and shellfish purchased daily from Newquay Harbour. Owner and chef Paul Harwood is a Cornwall native who earned his credentials working for celebrity seafood chef Rick Stein. Now, his own restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide. Savor classics like moules marinière and cod tempura, or opt for something more adventurous such as a Sri Lankan prawn curry or a Balinese skewered monkfish. Sharing boards for two cater to those on a romantic date, while vegan and children’s menus keep every member of your party happy. Pair your meal with a bottle from the comprehensive wine list, which even features options from Cornwall’s own Camel Valley winery.

Best Italian: Mangia

If you’re headed to Falmouth to explore top attractions such as Pendennis Castle and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, make sure to book a table at Mangia in between stops on your itinerary. This independent, family-run bistro may be small in size, but it packs a punch with a simple menu of classic Italian favorites.

Chef and owner Valter Floris comes from an extensive background in Italian baking so be sure to order the bruschetta. Then, give in to the temptation of freshly-made linguine and ravioli, crisp pizzas topped with mozzarella, or local mussels. Can’t decide? Get the best of both worlds with a seafood pizza. The desserts are just as indulgent, whether you opt for creamy pannacotta or melt-in-the-mouth tiramisu. Advance booking is almost always required at Mangia. The restaurant opens for dinner only from Tuesday to Saturday. 

Best Cheap Eats: Nice Baps

From the outside, Wadebridge’s Nice Baps may seem like any other roadside cafe, albeit with a slightly cheeky name. However, the budget diner is considered one of the best restaurants in Cornwall. This is due in part to the flavor and quality of its eponymous baps (fresh buns filled with all kinds of savory goodness such as bacon or even a full English breakfast). Not in the mood for a bap? The cafe also offers freshly made sausage rolls, foot-long hot dogs, and the original Cornish lunch staple: the pasty. 

Best Indian: Daaku

Daaku is the passion project of a husband-and-wife team, designed to bring together their respective Cornish and Rajasthani roots. The business began by importing authentic spices to sell and then grew to include Indian pop-up restaurant events and cookery classes. These proved so popular that Daaku the restaurant was born, now providing guests with a vibrant, colorful space in which to find refuge from Cornwall’s sometimes fretful weather. Adorned with old Bollywood posters, traditional Rajasthani decorations, and Indian artwork, the dining room is the perfect backdrop for a small menu that changes weekly to feature the best seasonal produce. Complement your selection with an Indian-themed cocktail or local cider, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. 

Best Fine Dining: The Dining Room

The Dining Room, listed in the Michelin Guide, stands out amongst the county’s many fine-dining establishments for its intimate atmosphere and friendly yet unobtrusive service. Chef and proprietor Fred Beedles creates a new prix fixe menu every day in collaboration with the region’s best artisan growers and suppliers. All food is prepared from scratch on-site. Opt for two or three courses, with amuse-bouche to start and petit fours and coffee to finish. There’s also a 12-page wine list featuring no fewer than three different Cornish wineries.

Best Cream Teas: Lakeside Cabin Cafe

Lakeside Cabin Cafe may be tricky to find, but this quaint establishment on the outskirts of St. Ives has a devoted following and an idyllic lakeside location. It also offers one of the best cream teas in Cornwall; a big deal in a county famous for its rendering of this uniquely British tradition. Lakeside’s version incorporates huge, fresh scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam. It's the perfect addition to the quintessential summer’s day but if you prefer something savory Lakeside Cabin also offers soups, baguettes, ploughman’s lunches, and award-winning homemade pasties. Choose a traditional steak pasty or vegetarian-friendly cheese and vegetables.

Best Location: Kynance Cove Cafe

For one of the most scenic lunch destinations in Cornwall, head to Kynance Cove Cafe. Housed in an old fisherman’s cottage, it is located on the steep cliff path leading down to Kynance Cove, a hidden beach and National Trust Site famous for its white sand beach, towering rock stacks, and crystal clear, turquoise water. The cafe was established in 1927 and has been operated by the present family for over 20 years. Tradition runs deep here, and the menu features typical Cornish cafe fare—think fresh sandwiches, pasties, jacket potatoes, and homemade cakes. All of these are made on the premises or sourced locally.

Best Plant-Based: The Cornish Vegan

The Cornish capital of Truro is home to the county’s best destination for plant-based diners: The Cornish Vegan. With zero animal products used in any of its dishes, the restaurant focuses on vegan comfort food. These include cruelty-free favorites such as hot dogs, f’sh and chips, and poutine. Many dishes are also gluten-free, including the pasta (if you like). Not hungry enough for a main meal? Browse the cafe’s delicious range of cakes and baked goods, then pair yours with an artisan coffee. =

The Cornish Vegan also has a liquor license and serves cocktails, wines, and small-batch Cornish beers and gins. Eat in the dining room surrounded by the nature-inspired creations of local artist Lisa Harker, or out in the secluded garden when the weather permits. The restaurant is only open from Thursday to Sunday.