Best Cream Tea in Looe: Harbour Views and the Polperro Tea Garden

Short answer: The Lookout on the quay — reviewers describe some of the best scones they've had, freshly baked, with good prices compared with elsewhere and a proper harbour view. Dog-friendly, inside and out.

Looe is a working harbour town, and its cream teas are priced accordingly rather than for tourists.

The Lookout

On the quay with a view over the harbour. Reviewers describe probably the best scones they've had, freshly baked, and specifically note the prices as good compared with other places. Family-run, dog-friendly, with seating inside and out.

Island View Cafe, Hannafore

Over on the West Looe side looking across to Looe Island. Reviewers particularly praise the gluten-free range — several coeliacs describe being surprised by how much choice there was.

The Plantation Tea Rooms, Polperro

A short drive along the coast, with a garden by a stream. Reviewers describe very reasonable prices, generous portions and genuinely friendly staff. Good gluten-free options, including a cheese scone with chilli jam that gets repeated praise. Dog-friendly.

Truly Scrumptious

On the quay, with a cosy coffee lounge upstairs. Spotlessly clean, well priced, and a good option when The Lookout is full.

Jam first — this matters in Cornwall

Cornwall puts jam on first, then clotted cream on top. Devon does it the other way round. This is not a small thing locally, and getting it right is a genuinely easy way to look like you know what you are doing.

There is a practical argument for the Cornish method too: the jam spreads more easily onto a warm scone than cold clotted cream does, and the cream sits better on top than underneath.

How to judge whether a cream tea is worth the money

Cream tea prices across Cornwall vary far more than the product does, and the gap between good value and poor value has very little to do with the headline price. Five things decide it:

• Is the scone warm? A scone straight from the oven is a different thing entirely to one that has sat under a counter since breakfast. This is the single biggest difference between a memorable cream tea and a forgettable one, and it costs the kitchen nothing.
• How much clotted cream? A mean scrape is the most common complaint in Cornwall. A proper serving is a generous dollop, served separately so you apply it yourself.
• Is tea included? This is where prices get misleading. Some places quote a price including a pot of tea, others charge for the drink separately. Two similar-looking prices can be several pounds apart once you have actually paid.
• One scone or two? Also frequently unclear from the menu. A two-scone cream tea at a higher price is often better value than a single-scone one that looked cheaper.
• Is it made on site? Places that bake their own tend to charge similar money to those buying in, so you may as well have the fresh one.

The honest summary: judge on warm scones, generous cream and whether tea is included. A cream tea that ticks those three is good value at almost any Cornish price. One that fails them is poor value even when it looks cheap.