Real, curated ideas for Polperro: the harbour, coves, the coast path, cream teas, pasties and the best pubs — filtered by who's actually with you.
Polperro is the fishing village people picture when they think of Cornwall: a tight harbour of whitewashed cottages wedged into a steep valley, where smuggling was the family business for centuries and around a dozen boats still work. You can't drive in. Everyone parks at Crumplehorn at the top (coins only) and walks about half a mile down beside the stream, or takes the tuk-tuk in summer. Come for the harbour, the Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing, a pasty or cream tea, and the coast path east to Talland Bay and Looe.
Listings last checked: October 2026
Short answer: Our Polperro guide lists 30 real places (4 beaches, 6 days out and 20 pubs, restaurants and cafés), each with its Google rating and a plain-English note on who it suits. The highest rated with 30+ reviews are Cones and Scones (5.0), Turntable Pizzeria (4.9) and Clements & Hope (4.9). Parking, food and seasonal guides are linked below.
The highest rated days out in Polperro on Google are Chapel Pool (4.8), Polperro Harbour (4.6) and Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling & Fishing (4.6). The full list, with notes on who each suits, is on this page.
The highest rated places to eat in Polperro on Google, with at least 30 reviews, are Cones and Scones (5.0), Turntable Pizzeria (4.9) and Clements & Hope (4.9).
17 of the 30 places in our Polperro guide are marked dog friendly, including The Three Pilchards, Blue Peter Inn and The Ship Inn. Use the 'Dog with us' filter on this page to see them all.
We have a dedicated parking guide: Polperro Parking: Crumplehorn Prices and the Tuk-Tuk.
A small beach beside the harbour wall. Sand appears outside the old harbour walls at low tide, so check tide times. Dogs are not allowed from Easter Day to 1 October but are fine outside those dates. There is no lifeguard; toilets are in the village.
A sheltered cove with rock pools and a café, on the coast path between Polperro and Looe. The access lane is single-track and very steep. Reviewers say the small private car park charges about £6.80–£7.50 for the day (coins at the machine, or pay by card in the café). The beach is stony, so beach shoes help. Portaloos only.
A secluded shingle cove about 15 minutes' walk downhill through woodland from the National Trust car park at Lansallos church (free for NT members). There are no facilities, and it is best at low tide. Reviewers say kids and dogs loved the rock pools.
A National Trust bay near Polruan, about 20–30 minutes down a steep, rocky path from the car park, and a hard climb back up. There are no facilities. Reviewers praise the white sand and clear water but warn the sea can be rough.
A working fishing harbour that was once a smugglers' haven, lined with cottages, pubs and small shops. You can't drive in: park at Crumplehorn at the top of the village (coins only, £7 minimum) and walk down, which is about half a mile. From April to October a tuk-tuk shuttle runs from the car park.
A small harbourside museum in an old fish-processing warehouse, covering smuggling, pilchard fishing and village life. It is seasonal (roughly April–October); Google lists 10:30–4:30 daily. A July 2026 reviewer paid £5 per adult and suggested bringing cash.
A miniature Polperro on Mill Hill, open since the late 1940s, with the Land of Legend automata on the same site. Recent reviewers paid £4 for adults and £3 for children, and most visits take about 20 minutes. Google currently lists it as closed on Saturdays.
A tidal rock pool on the cliffs just west of the harbour, good for a swim. Steep stone steps and some scrambling over rocks lead down to it. Reviewers say it is best around low tide.
A free gallery of local artists' work, glass and ceramics on The Coombes, close to the car park. Google lists 11am–4pm daily. It is up a staircase, so not wheelchair accessible.
A small rescue-focused wildlife park near Lanreath, about 6 miles inland from Polperro, reached by narrow lanes with passing places. Google lists 10:30am–4pm daily; check admission prices on its website before you go.
Polperro's oldest pub, on the quay. Google lists 11am–8pm daily. Reviewers praise the fish and chips, fish pie and generous portions. Dogs are welcome inside, and the 2025 guides say it serves Sunday roasts from mid-October to March.
An independent pub at the far end of the quay, reached up winding stone steps. It is in the Good Beer Guide and listed as an Asset of Community Value. Live music usually runs at weekends. CAMRA lists food daily from noon to 8:30pm, with dogs allowed in the bar only.
A family-friendly pub on Fore Street with a beer garden beside the stream. Reviewers praise the Sunday carvery and the seafood chowder. 2026 reviewers call it dog friendly throughout and recommend booking for Sunday roast.
A pub with rooms on Lansallos Street, which shares premises with OXOX Restaurant. Reviewers praise the huge battered cod and the steak and Stilton pie. One Sunday-lunch reviewer found the food excellent but the service slow. A 2026 guide says dogs are welcome but to mention them when booking.
Fine dining in a historic house by Saxon Bridge. Google lists Tuesday–Saturday from 6:30pm. Booking is essential, no children under 7, and no dogs except assistance dogs. It closes in winter: a reviewer attended the reopening night on 27 February.
A small, family-run evening restaurant a few metres from the harbour, in the Noughts and Crosses building. Google lists Wednesday–Saturday 6:30–9:30pm. Reviewers praise the fresh local fish and the friendly service. Booking is advised; a 2025 guide says it is not suited to young children.
A small family-run restaurant on Little Green (older reviews call it Michelle's). Google lists Wednesday–Saturday evenings from 6:30pm and Sunday lunch 12:30–5pm, and local listings promote its "famous Sunday roast", with booking advised.
Neapolitan-style pizza on Big Green, to eat in or take away. Google lists Tuesday–Saturday 5–9:30pm. No bookings, and gluten-free bases are available. Reviewers call it the best pizza they've had.
A café-restaurant on Fore Street serving breakfast, lunch and evening meals, with indoor and outdoor seating. Reviewers say dogs are welcomed with treats and recommend the cream tea.
A quayside seafood counter selling local lobster, crab, oysters and seafood platters, much of it landed by Polperro boats. Google lists 10am–2pm, closed Fridays. Reviewers praise the loaded crab and the platters.
The nearest well-reviewed dedicated chippy, in East Looe about 4 miles from Polperro. Google lists evenings daily, plus lunch Wednesday to Saturday. Reviewers praise the crisp batter and the curry sauce. Gluten-free is available, and there is easy street parking.
A coffee shop and tearoom on Fore Street. Google lists 10am–4pm, closed Fridays and Sundays. It opens year-round with a reduced menu from November to March. Reviewers praise the warm scones, the cream teas and the blueberry matcha.
A traditional tearoom on The Coombes with a garden courtyard beside the stream. It is known for cream teas and cooked breakfasts; reviewers rate the gluten-free cheese scone with chilli jam. Dogs are welcome inside and out.
A harbourside café and B&B serving breakfast and lunch daily all year, with evening meals in high season. Reviewers praise the freshly baked scones and the chowder. A February reviewer found it the only place open on a Monday morning, and it is dog friendly.
A small, newer café selling homemade scones (including apple crumble flavour), cream teas, sundaes and ice cream. Google lists Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm. Reviewers say it is dog friendly.
A beach café a few metres from the sand at Talland Bay, roughly halfway along the Looe–Polperro coast path. Google lists daily from 10am (9:30am at weekends). It serves crab sandwiches, cream teas and ice cream, with seating in beach huts. Portaloos only.
A mostly takeaway pasty and bake shop on The Coombe. Google lists 10:30am–4:30pm daily. Reviewers rate the traditional pasties as the best in the village. Vegan and gluten-free pasties are available, and reviewers mention a pasty meal deal.
A bakery and café on Little Green open daily (8:30am–4pm on Google, Sunday from 9:30am). Reviewers call its pasties the biggest in Polperro and recommend the steak and Stilton. Reviewers also say it is good with dogs and open in winter.
A pasty shop on Fore Street with traditional, vegan and vegetarian pasties, with a couple of tables but mostly takeaway. Reviewers praise the steak and Stilton and say it keeps treats for dogs. Hours vary with the season.
A harbour-area ice cream shop on Lansallos Street; a reviewer counted around 40 Cornish ice cream flavours. Hours vary with the season and the weather.