Boutique Cottages in Porthleven

Porthleven’s foodie acumen would leave many up-country cities wide-eyed in its wake. With some very rich pickings, you can be treated at any time of day to mouth-watering cuisine sourced from the surrounding area and cooked by world-class chefs. Celebrating this culinary pedigree, Porthleven Food Festival takes place each April and hosts national and international chefs, food stalls, bands and entertainment around the harbour over the course of a fun-packed weekend.

Particularly popular options, the Square, Kota Kai, Amelie’s and Rick Stein’s are all worthy of your consideration and offer saliva-inducing menus. For a more laidback dining experience, you can head over to the homely Harbour View Café or the cleverly-named Nauti But Ice, where ice cream is the order of the day. Alternatively, you can pick up some fish n’ chips or a pasty from Ann’s and sit on the harbour, or wander back up to your luxury cottage with some bits from the Corner Deli and tuck into a mouth-watering spread surrounded by home comforts.

Lodged in the heart of the community, the Ship Inn is a 17th century Cornish pub overlooking the harbour. Brimming with atmosphere, the pub’s whitewashed façade belies its busy interiors; heading inside you’ll immediately notice the hundreds of beer mats plastering the ceiling, the walls adorned with old pictures and the mishmash of wooden chairs and tables. Especially cosy in winter when an open fire casts its glow, you can curl up in a quiet corner or gather at the bar to sample locally-brewed beers and chat away with old friends and new.

Tucked away on the clock tower side of the harbour with fantastic views you’ll find the Atlantic Inn, whilst down by the water’s edge the Harbour Inn has a great patio overlooking the harbour – perfect for watching the fishermen come and go. If you’re after a cuppa, Nauti But Ice do great teas (and cake), as does the Hideaway. For the perfect brew to take back to your Porthleven holiday cottage, the fantastic Origin, one of the UK’s leading speciality coffee roasters, has a café and shop on Porthleven harbour front.

As beautiful in summer when rays of sunshine shimmer on flat-calm seas as when winter storms hurl heaving waves over the clock tower, Porthleven will leave you spellbound. Venture out onto the pier to take in the fantastic views, or if the orange ball is up, head up the hill and enjoy the vantage point from there. When the swell picks up, turn your attention to the surfers carving shapes and the bodyboarders shooting through barrels out on the town’s famous reef break. If you fancy a dip, lifeguards monitor a small part of the beach in the town in summer – great for cooling off. 

Situated on the South West Coast Path, there’s plenty of walking to be had around Porthleven – head beyond the beach towards the impressive Loe Bar and Penrose Estate, or go west towards Rinsey and Praa Sands – both have spectacular views. For a bit of retail therapy, there are also some great little shops to explore – make sure to check out Four Crows Gallery which showcases handmade crafts by local artists and the Salt Cellar Workshops which often have artists in residence.