Short answer: For a date night in Tintagel, book a window table at Port William above Trebarwith Strand for the sea view, a castle-view table at Irina's at Camelot Castle, or dinner at The Olde Malthouse and a fire at the King Arthur's Arms on Fore Street. The castle is daytime only, so build the evening around dinner.
Tintagel is a date-night village with one real problem: the castle, the thing everyone comes for, is a daytime attraction. After dark you are left with a headland, a handful of dining rooms and a lot of sky. That can be a good thing. This guide to date night in Tintagel gives you three ways to spend an evening, depending on whether you want a sea view, a castle-view dinner or a warm fire, and tells you what to book and what to skip.
The most romantic setup is a short drive south to Trebarwith Strand. Port William stands on the cliff above the beach and is rated 4.4 from 2,021 Google reviews. Two reviewers who booked for birthdays asked for a window seat and describe a lovely view over the bay. Others mention panko squid rings, Thai sweet potato soup, catch of the day and pork belly, and describe the menu as not extensive but good. Reviewers describe a surprisingly large space with plenty of outdoor seating if the evening is mild. Book and request a window in advance.
Tide matters on the beach below, so read our notes on Trebarwith Strand and the other beaches near Tintagel before you go down, and see where to watch the sunset in Tintagel for more places to watch the light go. Light and sunset times change a lot between summer and winter, so check the time for your date.
Camelot Castle Hotel stands on the cliff near the castle, and its restaurant, Irina's, is the setting for the evening many couples remember. It is rated 4.1 from 58 Google reviews, which is a small sample. Reviewers praise window tables with sea views, elegant decor, good wine choice, quiet music and dishes such as a salmon mousse, roasted pork with cranberry and mustard sauce, and a stir-fried butternut squash. They also note a limited food selection, a language barrier with some staff and windows that could be cleaner, and reviewers of the hotel mention that renovation work is ongoing, so expect atmosphere rather than polish. Ring the hotel to check food times and menu before you book, and ask for a table facing the sea.
On Fore Street, The Olde Malthouse is the better dinner reservation (4.6 from 1,299 Google reviews). Reviewers praise a wagyu burger, slow-cooked belly pork, lamb kofta, crab pasta and sticky toffee pudding, and describe good local ales including Tintagel Brewery. Reviewers describe it as busy, so book ahead for a Saturday night. King Arthur's Arms has a log fire, peg solitaire on the tables and large portions of stew and pie, so it works for a more relaxed night. See our guide to the best pubs in Tintagel for the full list of places to drink.
The village is lively at lunch and quieter at night, so a stroll down Fore Street past the Tintagel Old Post Office is short. The Old Post Office is a National Trust site that is a daytime visit, so plan it for the afternoon.
If you arrive early, make an afternoon of it. Charlie's on Fore Street is a daytime café in a 14th-century cottage, rated 4.8 from 662 Google reviews, where reviewers praise the lunches, cakes and a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows. It is a daytime stop, not a pre-dinner one, so check opening times before you go. Our guide to what to do in Tintagel besides the castle has other daytime ideas. For the castle itself, check Tintagel Castle in winter, since opening days change in the colder months.
It can be, with caveats. The village is small, kitchen hours can shorten in the off season, and the headland is exposed to the wind. Dress warmly and book dinner. Consider a taxi, or an overnight stay, if you plan to drink. In winter, a firelit pub and an early table beat a long walk.
It is the easiest way to avoid driving after a glass of wine. Several of the places above also have rooms: the King Arthur's Arms, The Olde Malthouse, the Cornishman Inn, Port William and Camelot Castle Hotel (4.2 from 2,141 Google reviews), where guests praise the staff and sea views but several mention small bathrooms and a building still being renovated. Rooms vary, so read recent reviews and ask about noise, parking and breakfast times when you book. The Old Post Office, close to the King Arthur's Arms on Fore Street, makes a good landmark if you arrive after dark.
Drive up the coast to Boscastle, where Napoleon Inn (4.6 from 791 Google reviews) gets warm reviews for its home-made pies and fish and chips and its friendly welcome. Our Boscastle pubs guide and the Boscastle town page help you choose. Back in Tintagel, our Tintagel parking guide explains where to leave the car, and the Tintagel town page covers the rest.
Irina's at Camelot Castle for the castle and sea view (4.1 from 58 Google reviews) or Port William at Trebarwith Strand for a cliff-top view over the bay. Book and request a window.
No. It is a daytime English Heritage site, and opening days change in winter. See our winter guide for details.
Yes, especially at weekends. Reviewers describe The Olde Malthouse as busy on Saturday evenings, so book ahead.
Ring Camelot Castle Hotel to check food times and the current menu before you book.
Evening options are limited. Plan a drink by a pub fire on Fore Street or a cliff-top dinner at Port William, and consider driving to Boscastle for a bigger choice.
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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