From Michelin-starred restaurants to snug old pubs; superb seafood to giant eat-on-the-move steak pasties, Cornwall scores top marks for its foodie offerings. Thanks to its long coastline and local ports, there is some excellent seafood on offer. Locally caught salmon, mackerel and scallops are just a handful of the must-eats. Being a seaside destination, there is also no shortage of opportunities to eat fish and chips by the beach. Besides seafood, you’ll find plenty of lamb, dozens of bakeries claiming to sell the best traditional Cornish pasties, farm shops stuffed with speciality cheeses and quaint cafés serving Cornish cream teas.
At Healey’s award-winning, multi-million pound HQ, fruity preserves simmer in the jam kitchen, England’s oldest whisky ages in the cellars, and a range of famous cyders are produced in the press house. In short, there is plenty for foodies to see. The biggest cyder-maker in Cornwall, this place brews the likes of Rattler, Cornish Gold and Healey’s Cornish juices. You can take guided tours of the farm, cellars and huge orchard, before taste-testing the full range of products. Families are more than welcome, with tractor rides and a petting farm open for younger visitors.
They are a laid-back bunch at the Camel Valley vineyard, so don’t fret about snobbery if you’re not a complete wine buff. Everyone is welcome to take a tour of the place, discover the winemaking methods and road-test the vinos, including the team’s most famous label: Cornwall Brut. The winemakers themselves lead the tours, which usually include five tastings. And if you’d prefer to skip the tour, you can simply relax with a glass of wine on the terrace, taking in views of the countryside.
The team at Chough Bakery sell 1,000 pasties a day at the height of summer, so they’re clearly doing something right. They stuff pastry with a mix of steak, potatoes, turnips and cream and mark it with the trademark Cornish side crimp. These are some of the best pasties in the south-west, and no trip to Padstow is complete without trying one. Not hungry when you’re passing? No problem. These guys run a mail order service too. Just give them your address and they’ll pop a pasty in the post.
With huge windows overlooking the rugged sands of one of Cornwall’s best beaches, the dining room at this family-friendly restaurant is as impressive as the food. Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients dominate the laid-back menu, which majors in brunches, burgers and fresh seafood. It’s a family-owned business with Michelin-starred chef Ben Tunnicliffe heading up the kitchen, so expect a warm atmosphere and plenty of top-quality cooking. Kids are welcomed with open arms and even have their own mini menu.
5. Sam’s Cornwall, various locationsSam’s Cornwall, various locations
With more than 25 years in the business and eateries all over the county, Sam’s is a treasured Cornish restaurant brand. While they’ve got a handful of things in common, including a laid-back vibe, loads of fresh seafood and menus featuring original family recipes, each joint has its own unique personality. Music memorabilia covers the walls at Sam’s In The City in Truro, which majors in burgers and cocktails; Sam’s at Polkerris harbour is housed in a historical lifeboat station and features a wood-fired pizza oven; while Sam’s at Crinnis hosts live music in a beachfront tiki hut. So take your pick…
Sandwiched between the Tate St. Ives art gallery and a long stretch of Blue Flag approved golden sand, the Porthmeor Beach Café, which specialises in tapas and serves food all day long, has a seriously enviable location. But there is more to this spot than sea-view dining. The school here is considered one of Cornwall’s top places to learn how to surf, with beginners and seasoned surfers alike making use of its instructors and hire equipment. If you’re as charmed with this stretch of beach as most folks are, you’ll want to consider hiring one of the café’s beach huts to stash all your gear for a few days.
Most dishes at Jamie Oliver’s sea-view restaurant in Watergate Bay are inspired by Italian cuisine but with a Cornish twist, and everything is made to a seriously high standard. If that is not enough to tempt you to eat here, the restaurant’s ethos might swing it. Dine out at Fifteen and you’ll be supporting an award-winning scheme that gives disadvantaged youngsters a second chance. Like Jamie Oliver’s London-based Fifteen restaurant, the Cornish outpost is staffed by young apprentice chefs. Plus, all profits go to the restaurant’s registered charity, the Cornwall Food Foundation.
You can’t leave Cornwall without trying a Cornish cream tea (or two, or three) and at Woods Café they bake their scones fresh every morning. Located in the beauty spot of Cardinham Woods, this family-run café serves home-cooked grub, freshly baked sweet treats and hot pots of tea and coffee. The food is much like the venue, rustic and packed with charm. You’ll find the likes of pulled pork ciabatta with apple coleslaw in the summer, when dishes are served on the pretty outdoor patio, and slow cooked beef chili in winter, which is dished up alongside a roaring log fire.
The battered fish and chips at the Coddy Shack is a Cornish staple, but there is a lot more to this place than takeaway. There is a lively sit-down restaurant here too, serving the best of Cornwall’s foodie offerings. From local scallops to Cornish brie and fillet steaks sourced from nearby farms, you’ll get a real taste of the area here. Live music is also a key weekend feature at this quirky venue, with local bands playing on Saturday nights. Feeling hungry? Tackle the Coddy Shack’s eating challenge: a two-pound fillet of cod, the same again in chips and a pound of mushy peas. Get it down you in half an hour and not only is it on the house, but you’ll also get your name on the leader board.
Proud to be both the longest-running Indian restaurant in Cornwall and the only one in the country located on a sea-view clifftop, Maharajah is a Cornish institution. Take in the vistas through the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows while you tuck into dishes from every corner of India. The menu is extensive, with a mix of authentic Indian cuisine and British favourites, but the team are happy to help you navigate through it and will accommodate just about any request.
Oliver’s Travels Presents: The Ultimate Food & Wine Pairing Guide
Next
Best Group Activities in Cornwall
Popular Articles
The 10 Best Beaches in Cyprus
Cyprus has beaches for almost every kind of holiday, from soft, pale sands and shallow family bays to turtle-nesting shores, watersports hubs, and quiet coves beneath cliffs. Better still, the island makes it easy to combine time beside the sea with ancient ruins, mountain villages, and lunches in coastal tavernas. The best beaches in Cyprus […]
The 10 Best Beaches in Mykonos
Mykonos may be known for its whitewashed lanes, late-night parties, and famous beach clubs, but its coastline has more range than the headlines suggest. Long sandy bays curve around the south of the island, while the north coast feels wilder, more exposed to the Aegean wind. The best beaches in Mykonos cover almost every mood. […]
10 Best Villas in Ibiza
The fabled ‘White Island’ is a place of many faces. On the one hand, Ibiza is renowned as a prime clubbing destination with a vibrant nightlife that’s a magnet for partygoers. But there’s more to the island than exclusive clubs and dancing ’til dawn! Further inland, you’ll find there’s a much more laid-back atmosphere among […]
The Most Iconic Filming Locations in the UK (and where to stay nearby!)
Thanks to more than 150 years of the silver screen, we’ve spent a lifetime watching a variety of films and TV shows. As well as their entertainment factor, a great movie in an amazing setting can inspire us to visit famous filming locations around the world and closer to home. Over the decades, there have […]
Top UK Holiday Homes for the Ultimate Staycation
We offer a vast selection of charming holiday homes in the UK, perfect for families or large groups to visit. Avoiding the stress and queues at passport control is one of the many highlights of going on a staycation! Whether you’re looking for party houses to celebrate in or luxury country escapes, the UK boasts an abundance of choices. We’ve […]
Best Vineyards in England (and where to stay nearby!)
When one thinks of world-renowned wine regions, England may not be the first place that comes to mind. However, in recent years, English vineyards have been making waves in the wine industry, producing exceptional wines that have garnered international acclaim. The unique terrain and climate of Southern England, across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset, create […]
Top 10 Holiday Cottages and Houses in South West England
The South West is one of England’s treasured gems. With a beautiful coastline, stunning scenery, and some of the best British attractions, it’s a top destination for families and couples alike. Foodies can indulge in divine culinary seafood treats, while little explorers will love splashing about on the beaches of Cornwall, Dorset, and Devon. With […]
Top 10 Beach Houses in the UK
Brits have a new-found (or maybe rediscovered) love for staycations. Gone are the days when holidaying in the UK meant drab caravan accommodation, miserable weather, and bored children. Holidays in the UK are now about outdoor adventures, culture-filled weekends, pretty scenery, and downright stylish places to stay – and yes, even beach breaks. The UK coastline […]
Top 10 Dog-Friendly Cottages for a UK Break
Your pooch is part of the family, so it’s no wonder it tugs at your heartstrings when you have to leave them behind to go on holiday. Gone are the days when you couldn’t take Fido anywhere, though, because as staycations have grown in popularity, so has the demand for dog-friendly cottages and holiday homes. […]
Our Top Homes with Royal Connections
Looking for a truly exceptional getaway? We’ve handpicked the most captivating holiday homes with royal connections across the UK – from estates designed by royal architects to homes set on regal grounds still frequented by the monarchy. These one-of-a-kind stays offer more than just luxury – they offer a rare chance to step into Britain’s […]
Top 10 UK Cottages with Hot Tubs
Here at Oliver’s Travels, we have plenty of luxury UK holiday homes in our portfolio. However, some are more luxurious than others. We’ve decided to share our secrets with you and have assembled a selection of our top 10 UK cottages with hot tubs so you can enjoy your holiday in style. Here are our most […]
Top 10 Unusual Places to Stay in the UK
Not all holiday homes were created equal, and that’s particularly true of this list of unusual places to stay in the UK. Delve into your very own fantasy world, whether you’re staying in a fortress, a barn, a princess castle or a cottage that looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a storybook. These […]
The 10 Best Beaches Near London
We don’t usually associate Britain’s southeast shores with beautiful beaches, but if you know where to look, you’ll find some unrivalled marvels. Londoners needn’t trek the Earth for brilliant sands; the capital is connected to some of the UK’s best beaches, and our favourites here at Oliver’s Travels are all within a 90-minute drive. Cop […]
