Cornwall has become one of the culinary hotspots of the UK, known far and wide for its wealth of culinary talent and plentiful natural larder. Intertwined with the sea, the county is particularly famed for its incredible seafood, landed by local fishermen and crafted by the county’s gastronomical gurus.
If you have a hankering for fresh seafood and a glass of something crisp, we’ve put together a guide to the best seafood restaurants in Cornwall just for you.
North Cornwall
South Cornwall
West Cornwall
North Cornwall
The Rocket Store, Boscastle
The Rocket Store is a pocket-size seafood bar and restaurant set back from Boscastle Harbour. Run by Alex Key and Freddie Woodruff, two talented chefs well-known on the foodie circuit, this restaurant is popular for its fresh seafood dishes, with ingredients plucked straight from the owners’ boat and nearby farm. For foodie indulgence, the Rocket Store is open for lunch and dinner with classic favourites and daily specials.
Pilchards Café, Port Gaverne
Situated at the head of a pretty pebble beach sheltered between high cliffs, Pilchards Café in Port Gaverne is but yards away from the water’s edge. A contemporary timber and glass restaurant with a sunny terrace garden outside, it appeals to diners with its fantastic seafood menu and sea views. Choose from tapas bites, sharing plates, and hearty individual dishes for taste sensations – the charcoal-grilled whole fish is a particular favourite.
Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac
One of Cornwall’s Michelin star restaurants, Nathan Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen is renowned for its high quality fish and shellfish dishes. Set within a 15th Century fisherman’s cottage in the picturesque village of Port Isaac, its intimate dining area is full of character while its superb menus are dictated by the seasons and the catch. Whatever the best fish the local inshore boats have caught that day, that’s what you’ll find on the menu here.
Outlaw’s New Road, Port Isaac
Sister to Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Outlaw’s New Road is a Michelin star restaurant serving seafood of the finest quality. A celebration of Cornwall’s beautiful coast and its waters, the dishes prepared here are formed in synchronicity with nature. For a truly memorable experience, the restaurant exclusively serves a seafood tasting menu, encouraging you to put your faith in the chefs and let the tastes do the talking.
The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow
Rick Stein’s flagship restaurant in Padstow, The Seafood Restaurant has an international reputation for its fish and shellfish dishes. Served simply with an emphasis on clean, authentic tastes and classic flavours, each dish is prepared in homage to Cornwall’s fertile soils and seas. The restaurant is open throughout the week for lunch and dinner and its seafood menus incorporate a range of appetisers, sharers, starters, and mains.
If you’d like to find out what goes on behind the scenes in the kitchen and learn some new culinary skills, Stein’s Seafood School is also located in Padstow and open to all.
Prawn on the Lawn, Padstow
Working with all local producers, Prawn on the Lawn’s vegetables, herbs, fish, shellfish, wine, beer and more all come from North Cornwall. With a commitment to sustainability and the best local ingredients, the flavours on each plate are fresh, vibrant, and ever-so moreish. It’s no surprise then that Prawn on the Lawn has won Seafish and the Caterer’s Best UK Seafood Restaurant award, and has been featured in the Michelin guide every year since opening in 2015.
Emily Scott, Watergate Bay
Emily Scott of Great British Menu fame is a celebrated author and chef with extensive culinary seasoning. Honing her skills in London and France, she opened her own restaurant in Watergate Bay in 2021 and it’s here that you can savour her menu of expertly spun, effortlessly stylish food in a scenic and laidback setting. A combination of “history, geography and passion”, her six-course set seafood menu is served for lunch and supper.
The Fish House, Fistral
Boasting stunning views over the golden sands of Fistral beach and the open ocean beyond, The Fish House in Newquay is one of the best places to go for fresh seafood in Cornwall. Set within a vibrant hub, the restaurant enjoys a welcoming atmosphere, complementing its friendly service with a menu of delicious, locally-caught fish and shellfish. Here, it’s all about the best seasonal ingredients and rustic dishes full of flavour.
South Cornwall
Sardine Factory, Looe
Seafood pedigree, the Michelin Bib Gourmand Sardine Factory is one for every seafood fan. Set within a former sardine factory, the aptly-named restaurant awaits with harbour views, bright, modern interiors and a menu that’ll set appetites soaring. With each dish crafted with as local produce as possible, you can expect a menu brimming with delights – including mussels from Fowey and fish from Looe’s fish market.
Sam’s on the Beach, Polkerris
A well-known name across Cornwall and beyond, Sam’s on the Beach restaurant in Polkerris near Fowey takes pride of place within a converted 20th Century lifeboat station. Set just above the harbour, it affords gorgeous views and benefits from fresh catch landed by their day fishing boat, the “Emperor”. Fish specialists, their menus naturally champion seafood, offering local fish, lobsters, mussels, scallops and more.
North Street Kitchen, Fowey
North Street Kitchen is sister to Fitzroy in Fowey and is one of the best places to eat in South Cornwall for its amazing seafood offerings. Accepting walk-ins only, this restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday with seasonal hours and is certainly worth turning up early for. Select from a range of quality dishes, including tapas-style goodies featuring oysters, mackerel, ling, and crab.
Springtide, Charlestown
Perched upon Charlestown’s historic harbour is Springtide, a seafood restaurant promising relaxed dining by the sea. With something for everyone, the menus here cater to all ages and palates with a range of plates, from classic fish and chips to hearty fish chowder to crispy fried calamari and more. A great family-friendly restaurant that welcomes all generations of seafood fans, Springtide also has its own children’s options for youngsters.
Hooked Seafood Restaurant, Truro
Located on Tabernacle Street in Truro is Hooked!, a specialist restaurant serving the finest seafood Cornwall’s waters have to offer. Making dining extra special here, the restaurant has an open-plan layout which allows you to gaze into the kitchen and see the chefs at work as they masterfully prepare their award-winning food. Take a seat and browse the menu, ready to thrill your taste buds with burst after burst of flavour.
The Watch House, St Mawes
Offering harbourside dining in the exclusive seaside village of St Mawes, The Watch House beckons seafood fans from near and far. Open for walk-ins, bookings and private parties, this restaurant makes for the perfect place to relish great food and great company together. What’s more, they also offer a convenient takeaway service, so that you can enjoy the great tastes of the county’s fruits de mer from your luxury cottage.
Verdant Seafood Bar, Falmouth
Located on Quay Street in Falmouth, Verdant’s Seafood Bar is dedicated to serving the freshest seafood available. Changing its menu daily, it focuses on small plates of high-quality food for bitesize morsels that pack a punch. Along with eight lines of beer from its brewery in Penryn, Verdant complements its seafood dishes with a wide range of tipples, including tasty wines, spirits, and soft drinks.
Hooked on the Rocks, Falmouth
Visit Hooked on the Rocks next to Swanpool beach to discover the restaurant’s simple yet scrumptious menu of Cornish cuisine. With ingredients sourced on their doorstep wherever possible, dishes include local specialities like Falmouth Bay scallops with seaweed pangrattato, and Falmouth Bay lobster and crab with seaweed and garlic aioli. Authentic and unpretentious, fripperies and frills are kept to a minimum, letting the briny delicacies take the limelight.
West Cornwall
Porthminster Beach Café, St Ives
Porthminster Beach Café’s enviable reputation sees locals and holidaymakers alike flock to its doors. Set above the white sands of Porthminster beach, the restaurant harnesses its 25 years’ experience to create tantalising seafood dishes, enjoyed inside the restaurant or outside on the alfresco terrace. Head over and look forward to dishes inspired by Cornwall, Asia, and the Mediterranean, and crafted with local seafood as well as foraged and garden-grown ingredients.
The Rum & Crab Shack, St Ives
The hugely popular harbourfront Rum & Crab Shack in St Ives offers the complete experience with its cool, rustic interiors, quirky nautical décor, and atmospheric ambience. With real soul-food, the menus here are filled with sea-faring fodder influenced by Cornwall and beyond, with many Caribbean and Deep South-inspired dishes. The home of Dead Man’s Fingers and Stargazy rum, they also have over 100 rums to choose from.
Shore, Penzance
Run by Head Chef and owner Bruce Rennie, originally from Scotland, Shore restaurant has found far-reaching acclaim for its small, Japanese-style menu refreshed each day with seasonal Cornish produce. Embodying the Japanese spirit of hospitality, the restaurant’s intimate setting invites food-lovers in for an all-but communal eating experience, with guests all being served their pescatarian dishes at the same time for an unforgettable evening.
The Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar, Newlyn
Nothing quite captures the essence of a Cornish escape more than a coastal wander next to azure waters, followed by a plate of your favourite seafood. And where better to enjoy the best seafood than in one of the most famous fishing villages in the county? Fortunately, Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar in Newlyn awaits with a menu of locally-caught and sourced delights (including their famous crab nachos), ready to be enjoyed inhouse or to take away.
Tolcarne Inn, Newlyn
If seafood is your thing, you’ll be in for a treat (or several) at the historic Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn where, courtesy of local fishing boats, chef Ben Tunnicliffe serves up deliciously fresh seafood each day. With the serving du jour changing with the daily catch, you can expect an ever-updating menu at this Michelin-recommended waterside pub. What’s more, it’s dog-friendly too, so your pup can enjoy the experience with you.
Argoe, Newlyn
Piquing the interest of every salt-tousled gourmet, Argoe is one of Newlyn’s latest instalments paying homage to the village’s, and the county’s, rich maritime history. In tribute to Newlyn’s fishing heritage and working closely with the fishermen of today, the restaurant reverently brings the freshest local catches from sea to table. On the Michelin watchlist, it’s one every seafood fan should visit at least once.
2 Fore Street, Mousehole
The harbourfront 2 Fore Street bistro-restaurant has a relaxed, continental feel with its chilled-out vibes and friendly service. With Mousehole-born Kerry in front-of-house and Raymond Blanc-trained Joe in the kitchen, the team here delivers gloriously fresh seafood. Served with the highest quality ingredients and finely tuned by the expert craftsmanship of the kitchen team, each dish is a mouth-watering masterpiece, as perfect for leisurely lunches as candlelit dinners.
Looking forward to trying some of Cornwall’s finest seafood? Take a look at our luxury cottages in Cornwall here.
