Short answer: On the harbour, the Golden Lion has the highest Google rating (4.7), the Harbour Inn builds its menu around the day's catch and has a dog menu, Shipwrights is the relaxed dog-and-family choice, and the London Inn has a proper children's menu. The Mariners across the ferry in Rock has the estuary terrace.
Padstow's pubs are packed into a few hundred metres of harbour, which makes choosing easier than it looks: they differ less on location than on what each does best. Four are within about a tenth of a mile of the harbour; two more are a ferry ride or a short drive away.
The Harbour Inn (4.5 from 1,272 Google reviews) is the one that builds a proper pub menu around the day's fresh catch. It has a dedicated dog menu and a log burner for cooler months, and our Padstow fish and chips guide names it the best pub fish and chips for the money. It sits at harbour level, which also helps if you have a pram.
The Golden Lion (4.7 from 662 Google reviews) is the highest-rated of the four. It's a traditional pub with a separate restaurant area, and reviewers single out the fish pie and the consistently friendly service.
Shipwrights (4.4 from 1,880 Google reviews) is a relaxed pub with indoor and outdoor seating and a warm welcome for families with dogs; it has harbour views. Harbour Inn and Shipwrights are the two our dogs at Padstow harbour guide rates as properly dog-friendly, with water bowls offered without asking, while the Golden Lion and the London Inn are a good middle ground. For more, see our dog-friendly pubs and beer gardens guide.
The London Inn (4.3 from 797 Google reviews) is a recently refreshed pub with a fusion small-plates menu and a genuine children's menu, popular with local families. It is also the pick in our guide to booking a child-friendly meal in Padstow. Shipwrights has step-free access from harbour level, which our buggy-friendly dining guide covers.
The Mariners in Rock (4.6 from 2,145 Google reviews) is a short ferry ride from Padstow and has a terrace overlooking the estuary; reviewers say it's worth the trip for the view alone, and it's dog-friendly. See how the crossing works in our Padstow guide.
The Cornish Arms in St Merryn (4.1 from 2,510 Google reviews) is a Rick Stein-owned village pub about a mile and a half from Padstow. It's popular for Sunday lunch, though reviewers have mixed views on portion size and price. Our Padstow Sunday roast guide puts it in context.
More in the Padstow guide.
Ratings and review counts are Google's when we last checked (July 2026) and move over time. Opening hours, menus and dog policies change, so phone before a special trip. No pub pays to be listed here. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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