Occupying the southwestern precipice of England, Cornwall is famed for its lusty cliffs, wooded heaths, heavenly seasides, and glimmering rias. Scores of wanderlusts throng the rural county for its rugged handsomeness and pastoral charm.
Fortunately, with all its fable-like romance, Cornwall’s restaurant landscape wields impeccable culinary prowess, perfect for luring the most fastidious gastronome. Read on to discover the best restaurants in Cornwall.
Nathan Outlaw’s New Road and Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
A boujee pescatarian’s haven, Nathan Outlaw’s is a fine-dining seafood restaurant celebrating briny Cornish delectables.
Reposed by the breathtaking Atlantic Coast, the restaurant is nestled in a simple, 15th-century cottage. Beige walls, floating shelves, and unembellished windows beautifully frame the unabashedly glittering waters. A navy accent wall bearing fish graffiti is a nod to the restaurant’s seafood medley and the exceptional quality of Cornish sea creatures.
The restaurant’s signature offer is “Fish Kitchen to Share,” which is a daily special crafted based on the day’s catch. Crab with St. Enodoc asparagus, bass fennel spider, and the John Dory are some exceptional bits from the menu. Premium wines, such as the South African Mullineux selections, are great pairings with the sea fare.
Crocadon Farm, St. Mellion
Pivoting around an organic farm, Crocadon is an environmentally conscious restaurant, driven by the philosophy of “field to fork.” The owner has emphatically claimed that “Crocadon is first and foremost an organic farm.”
Set in the verdant grounds of Tamar Valley, the interiors of the restaurant are inspired by the farm, which was executed with a modern flair. Vaulted ceilings, a cobblestoned accent wall, and light wooden furniture are zhuzhed up with pasture paraphernalia, such as aesthetically chopped logs of wood. The 120-acre land hosts grazing grounds for the cattle, a dairy, and a vegetable garden.
Crocadon Farm was awarded the Michelin Green Star for its sustainable gastronomy. The farm has created a self-sufficient ecosystem, supporting a restaurant, brewery, and shop. The ambitious goal of “zero waste” has long been conquered by the owners.
Their Sunday lunch is particularly tempting, featuring confit sheep ribs, red deer, and buttercup squash. As a proud eco-friendly establishment, vegan menus are also available on request.
Sardine Factory, Looe
Seafood, steaks, and English burgers galore, Sardine Factory is an acclaimed Bib Gourmand restaurant in the coastal town of Looe.
Overlooking East Harbour, Sardine Factory is a natty little establishment with a modern, eccentric ambience. Slick furniture, panelled flooring, and polka-dot ceiling lights ornament the eatery. The show-stopping accessory, however, is the school of silver fish pendants suspended over the dining area. Unsurprisingly, as indicated by its name, the Sardine Factory takes pride in its seafood.
Cornish crab linguine, their special market fish of the day, dry-aged ribeye, and salmon ceviche are some fan favourites on the a-la-carte menu.
The Mulberry, Falmouth
The Mulberry, nestled near Falmouth’s pier, serves exemplary British classics with a twist.
Honey-hued walls and terracotta floors envelope the sophisticated establishment, littered with modern art, svelte glassware, and potpourri. The restaurant, bathed in golden light, indeed presents a glamorous dining experience.
The Mulberry has been awarded a Bib Gourmand for “good quality, good value cooking.” Oysters, limoncello-cured trout, and duchy venison are some of the stars on the taster menu at the time of writing. Premium aged whiskies and vintages from France, Spain, and Italy grace the bar menu.
Coombeshead Farm in Lewannick
Ensconced in a 66-acre meadow that sprawls the lush greens of rural Cornwall, Coombeshead Farm is a luxury bakery and guest house.
Mediaeval, slate-roofed stone buildings overlook Lewannick’s lustrous pastures. The interiors are richly decked out to evoke an elevated version of an old-school farmland tavern. Pine-fringed vaulted ceilings, fur-shrouded chairs, and cobble-stoned walls embody a happy marriage between trendy infusion and rural charm.
Presenting enviable “field to fork” dining, traditional cooking methods are employed, such as curing, pickling, and cooking over wooden embers. Farm-bred cattle make for excellent meat dishes, and the homemade breads have received rave reviews. Red devon beef, sourdough bread with farm-made butter, and crumbed pig cheek are some popular bites from the most recent menu.
Appleton’s, Fowey
Appleton’s is the go-to restaurant for authentic Italian cuisine made soulfully with Cornish produce.
Spanning two floors, the plush white walls, generous open expanses, and quirky black-and-white posters embody the quintessential mid-century aesthetic. Minimalism, symmetry, and muteness characterise the chic establishment – Appleton’s has indeed mastered the “less is more” design ethos.
A harmony between the best of Italy and Cornwall, the handmade pasta is the crown jewel of Appleton’s menu. Flat iron steak, made with carefully handpicked aged meat, is another popular dish on offer, in addition to Cornish lobster and cured sea trout.
Fallowfields, Lizard
Fallowfields, a clifftop establishment with astounding views of the boundless ocean, is a Michelin-recommended, three-rosette restaurant.
Perched on the cliffs of the Lizard Peninsula, the westerly pinnacle of England, Fallowfields is the embodiment of modern decadence. Clean windows frame the glistening azure waters, which imbue an appealing pop of colour into the predominantly white interiors. Snazzy pendants, a wooden-webbed accent wall, and a shabby-chic fireplace fashioned with faux logs fill the atmosphere with panache and character.
Fallowfields’ menu changes every six weeks. At the time of writing, their newest menu is titled “Jewels of the English Sun,” celebrating the bounties of the English summer – sea lettuce loaf, roasted baby beets, Cadgwith lobster, and the cucumber tart are a few marvels that feature on this taster menu.
Old Coastguard, Penzance
Located in a humble fishing village, Old Coastguard is a bolthole restaurant, completely unspoiled, untethered to modern qualms.
The establishment is an open-planned, laid-back bistro set in a coastal cottage. Wooden panelled floors and walls, antique furniture, and sea-inspired art adorn the restaurant. Guests are treated to stupendous ocean views with ceiling-high fiesta windows. A traditional fireplace injects the restaurant with archaic character, underscoring Old Coastguard’s tryst with the bygone.
Old Coastguard’s Michelin-recommended menu dances to the tunes of Cornwall’s weather – chicken liver parfait, celeriac and caraway seed soup, and burrata with blood orange are some delights on the seasonal menu at the time of writing.
Culture, Falmouth
Nature is the showstopper at Culture, a Michelin-recommended harbourside restaurant that prides itself on sustainable gastronomy. Its concept menu “allows nature and the seasons to dictate the menu and not the other way around." Culture has undoubtedly redefined ecological cooking.
Brisk wood-panelled flooring, exposed brick pillars, timbre ceilings, and an open kitchen harmonise to create a relaxed, seaside restaurant. The chirpy vibrance of the coastal town is lauded in the ocean-centric artwork littering the walls. Hues of industrial finesse have been woven in with metal light pendants, blackened steel countertops, and the glass-walled wine cellar.
Culture has unique “Journey” menus that are inspired by intimate experiences in nature, such as sailing or trekking in the forests. A story is narrated over several courses, creating an engaging dining affair. Guests may begin their culinary expedition with sourdough bread at the Falmouth harbour and end with a cheese board while taking in the utopian Cornish horizon. Duck egg custard, reared venison cooked over charcoal, and rosemary potato are some stellar picks on Culture’s taster menu.
Few things in life are as gratifying as sumptuous meals, and Cornwall’s restaurants certainly cook to impress. Here, you are in for wholesome local delights as well as elevated classics guaranteed to tease your tastebuds, satiate your appetite, and ultimately allow you to deeply connect with the rural paradise. It’s time to take off to Cornwall and embark on an unforgettable culinary voyage.
