Short answer: Top picks across Cornwall include Prawn on the Lawn in Padstow, Porthminster Kitchen in St Ives, The Verdant Seafood Bar in Falmouth, Hooked! in Truro, Barbican Bistro in Penzance and Edie's near St Austell. Most good restaurants book up, and several close Sunday and Monday, so reserve ahead.
Cornwall's best restaurants are spread along the coast, so it helps to pick a town and eat well there. These are places rated 4.5 or higher on Google with plenty of reviews, grouped from the north coast round to the far west and back along the south. Hours below are what Google lists, so check before you go.
4.7 from 575 Google reviews. Reviewers rave about the crab-stuffed tempura courgette flower, the monkfish in a curry sauce and the seared tuna. It is a small room and a few people found the tables close together. It suits couples and adventurous eaters. Google shows it closed Monday and Sunday, open 12pm to 10pm Tuesday to Saturday, so book ahead.
4.6 from 1,620 Google reviews. A relaxed Italian-style place open every day from 8:30am to 10:45pm. Diners single out the arancini, pasta and pizza, and there is a full vegetarian menu. It works for families and for a no-fuss dinner after a day on the Camel Trail. One reviewer notes dogs are welcome. See also where to get breakfast in Padstow.
4.5 from 2,310 Google reviews. The smart, special-occasion option, open for lunch and dinner every day. Reviewers praise the steamed clams in garlic, the lobster risotto and the bluefin tuna special, and several mention the four-course tasting menu. Expect a high-end bill and book early. For cheaper harbour food, read best fish and chips in Padstow.
4.6 from 1,163 Google reviews. Mussels, Cornish sole, mussel and crab linguine and scallops with mac and cheese all get praise, along with the harbour views. It is open 12pm to 9pm every day and suits a long lunch or a dressed-up dinner. Staff held one late diner's table when a train was delayed.
4.7 from 457 Google reviews. Small plates by the Wharf, with the lentil fritters named as a favourite and a cucumber spritz to go with them. Reviewers say it took a party of five without a booking, and there is a happy hour. Open 11am to 10:30pm daily. Good for sharing and for people who do not want a heavy three courses.
4.6 from 705 Google reviews. A small, cosy fish restaurant on Fish Street with seafood sourced from Newlyn. Reviewers mention scallops, monkfish and prawn skewers and the Mermaid Mess pudding. It is open 6pm to 9pm, closed Sunday, and people book weeks or months ahead. More options in best fish and chips in St Ives and on the St Ives town page.
4.9 from 823 Google reviews. One of the highest ratings on this list. Reviewers like the small plates, the tacos and the Verdant beers, and say it feels calm even when Falmouth is packed. Prices are on the high side for the portion size, according to one visitor. Google shows it closed Monday and Sunday and open 12pm to 11pm Tuesday to Saturday.
4.8 from 213 Google reviews. A small open-kitchen restaurant with a short menu. Diners mention the mushroom pâté, pork and mash and the kale, and say children are looked after well. It is not cheap but portions are generous. Open 6pm to 9:30pm Monday to Saturday. Book. For a roast, see best Sunday roast in Falmouth.
4.6 from 693 Google reviews. A fish and seafood restaurant where reviewers single out the scallops, homemade bread, fresh oysters and a catch of the day with red mullet and lemon sole. It is open for lunch and evenings Tuesday to Saturday (12pm to 3pm, then 5:15pm to 10:30pm) and closed Sunday and Monday. If you do not eat fish, pick somewhere else. More in best fish and chips in Truro and best Sunday roast in Truro.
4.8 from 347 Google reviews. A restored stone building overlooking Penzance harbour. Reviewers name the mussels as the best dish, plus scallops, squid, red mullet and grilled fish, and some call the prices fair for the quality. Open 12pm to 10:30pm every day. Ask for a window table.
4.8 from 2,670 Google reviews. The most-reviewed place here, in Newlyn beside the stream. It is small, with only five or six tables according to one visitor, but one reviewer was seated within ten minutes at the busiest time of year. Open 12pm to 8:30pm daily. Go early or off-peak. See best fish and chips in Penzance.
4.6 from 967 Google reviews. In Mousehole, serving from 9am to 9pm daily. Diners mention the Newlyn crab soup, chicken liver parfait and crab with parmesan soufflé, and a light, spacious room. A reviewer says dogs can sit in the back garden. Compare it with the options in where to eat in Mousehole.
4.7 from 1,635 Google reviews. Right by Fistral Beach in the International Surfing Centre, open 12pm to 9pm every day. Reviewers praise the sea bass and the service, and one couple had a table decorated for their anniversary. Good for a family treat after a surf lesson. Also read lunch with a beach view in Newquay.
4.7 from 500 Google reviews. A tapas restaurant on a quiet street on the Esplanade. Reviewers like the variety, the presentation and the authentic flavours, and one got a table outside for lunch. Open 5pm to 9pm Monday to Friday and 12pm to 9pm Saturday, closed Sunday. Read best fish and chips in Fowey for something cheaper.
4.9 from 637 Google reviews. Near Carlyon Bay, with one of the highest ratings here. Reviewers mention the two-course set lunch, an ever-changing menu and a good welcome for children. It is open Wednesday to Saturday only, with lunch on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and dinner Wednesday to Saturday. Book well ahead. More on the St Austell town page.
4.7 from 432 Google reviews. Small, seafood-led and praised for imaginative dishes, local produce and Cornish wines. A visitor with food intolerances said they were catered for well. Google shows dinner from 6pm to 9pm Monday to Saturday and lunch 12pm to 3pm Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday. See Port Isaac seafood restaurants with outdoor seating.
4.9 from 316 Google reviews. In Wadebridge, with the hake and a three-fish medley picked out by reviewers. One group could not get an evening table at short notice and ate on a Sunday instead. Open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday 12pm to 3pm. For pubs nearby, see best pubs in Wadebridge.
For the small, highly rated places, yes. Reviewers of The Mermaid, Stepping Stone and Prawn on the Lawn all describe booking ahead or struggling to find a table. For the harbour towns, see our guides to Mevagissey, Porthleven and Polperro.
There is no single answer. On Google, The Verdant Seafood Bar in Falmouth has 4.9 from 823 reviews, while The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow has the most reviews of the fine-dining places (4.5 from 2,310).
Padstow, St Ives and Falmouth each have three or more places rated 4.5 or higher with hundreds of reviews. Penzance and Newlyn are strong for seafood.
Book the small or popular ones, especially in school holidays. Reviewers report booking weeks or months ahead for The Mermaid in St Ives and struggling to get an evening table at Stepping Stone.
Many are. Google shows Prawn on the Lawn, The Verdant Seafood Bar, Hooked! and Outlaw's Fish Kitchen closed on at least one of those days, so check the day before you travel.
Mackerel Sky in Newlyn, Barbican Bistro in Penzance, Outlaw's Fish Kitchen in Port Isaac and Hooked! in Truro are all rated 4.6 or higher with reviewers praising fresh fish.
Times, prices and dates are the businesses' and organisers' to change, so check before you travel. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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