Cornwall is about lots of things, sea-sand-surf comes to mind but really what we're all thinking is food, drink, beach bars and sunsets... If you're down for a holiday, the ultimate challenge is 'how the hell do we choose' 🤔 Well we're here to help!
Bringing you our top 15 beach bars, beach restaurants, riverside and seaside, places to watch sunset, eat brunch and day-drink...
1. Porthmeor Cafe, St Ives
Indoor/outdoor bookings taken (and recommended all year round - book early!!)
Open year round
Why can't this beach cafe be multiplied and copied all over the county?!!? Ok, so hands down this is one of our favourite ever places for an evening out, it's a particularly good spot to take friends and family for a bit of an occasion. Chilled Provençal rosé, delicious seafood tapas and sharing plates, wonderful service and the best beach in St Ives (controversial but it's true!) there's literally nothing not to like.
Ok, except for how it's the worst kept secret and insanely popular - I book random evenings here throughout summer in May so I know I've got my table - you've been warned! 😅🏖
2. Schooners, St Agnes
Walk-in only
Open April - September
A true favourite for us, not only is Schooners close to home (easy walking distance if staying in St Agnes or even Trevellas *low tide only!!*), it's also just really damn cool.
Found just off Trevaunance slipway and overlooking the whole beach, it has an outdoor terrace and minimalist indoor too if the weather's not playing ball. Dog-friendly and the perfect place to roll in off the sand to watch the sunset, the burgers and tacos will have you seriously well fed 🙌🌮
3. Indidog, Falmouth
Indoor bookings taken
Open year round
Wanting somewhere less sandy and maybe a little more grown up? Then is has to be Indidog every time. Overlooking the bobbing boats of Falmouth harbour, this place is quite well hidden but well worth the search. Terrace seats are popular and un-bookable so you may not get lucky every time but the inside decor is so well done we never even mind!
Brunch is our go-to with a cheeky espresso martini to finish although their set menus (and I hear roasts are back on the cards!) always sound incredible, whenever you make it down there you'll leave already planning your next trip back! 🥐🍳🍸
4. Sam's On The Beach, Polkerris
Indoor bookings taken. Outdoor walk-in only
Open year round
One of only 2 drinking spot on Polkerris beach, this one has to be worth a sun-downer visit. A slightly nightmare road access situation (think single track road and expect to reverse uphill at some point!) but well worth the ice cold Aperol waiting for you when you make it down.
Food is a must with plenty of fresh local seafood - all of which is delicious! That linguine was SOMETHING ELSE 🐟🦀🍤
5. Blue Bar, Porthtowan
Walk-in only
Open year round
Ok, so this one has definitely already featured on the blog but how could we not include it In our top 10?! July or December this place is always wonderful on a blue-skied day. It's the kind of place you can roll out of the sea (wetsuit/swimwear/bodyboard etc) and spend all evening just knocking back local beer.
Ps. Dirty Chips are pretty much everyone's favourite so you should probably order some of those if you visit 🍟🏄♀️
6. Shipwright's Arms, Helford
Indoor/outdoor bookings taken
Open year round
A little different, our favourite river-side spot! Helford Village is pretty stunning and worth a trip anyway, but it's really topped off with a pitstop at The Shipwrights Arms for a fish & chips lunch plus a Bloody Mary.
You can even arrive by boat/kayak/SUP and jump on to the pub pontoon for direct river access! Honestly, on a sunny day this place feels so far from UK (the photo was taken in October!) 🌴⛵️
7. The Watering Hole, Perranporth
Walk-in only
Open year round
Probably one of the best known spots in Perranporth and it's not hard to see why! This pub is *literally* on the beach, so kids - take your bucket and spade, and parents - prepare for hours of pint drinking with free child entertainment!
It's also home to summer music gigs Tunes in the Dunes, Bands in the Sands plus a hub for food/cocktail lovers all while being one of the best places to watch a sunset ☀️🎧
8. 12 Beach Road, Newquay
Indoor/outdoor bookings taken
Open year round
Of course Newquay, the surfer's hub, has to feature on here! Towan beach being one of the most central to town is overlooked by the bustling 12 Beach Road. It's a bit of a rattan, plant-lovers paradise with all round glass windows and fantastic views of the waves, we particularly like it here on a sunny-but-cold spring day.
For me, it's a brunch-time favourite (breakfast taco YES PLEASE) but really these guys are open day and night for all your beach-bar needs 🏄♀️🍸
9. The Unicorn on the Beach, Porthtowan
Indoor/outdoor bookings taken (and recommended in high season)
Open year round
Another top spot in Porthtowan, The Unicorn is set a little further back from the beach but has the most generous outdoor seating around. It has a totally fun and lively atmosphere day and night, plus is the most perfect spot for relaxing sunset viewing. 👀
A truly varied and original cocktail list plus some seriously tasty crab nachos, we love it here any time of year! As do the dogs post-beach walk, one of the most dog-friendly spots around 🐶🐩
10. Lula, Hayle
Walk-in only
Open year round
Only just 18 months old, Lula has quickly gained popularity thanks to its laid back, beanbags on the beach feel.
Hot/cold/soft/hard drinks are all on offer plus lobster rolls, shrimp and all other kinds of wonderful 'murican-style bar food. Dogs, children-friendly, it's a real hit for a warm summer evening. Parking is a little confusing so park up at Hayle beach car park down at the bottom (basically drive past Lula!) and walk up is your easiest bet 🍤🦞
11. Summerhouse, Perranporth
Indoor/outdoor walk-ins only
Open year round (we hope!)
If you've ever visited Perranporth then you'll know exactly where Summerhouse is and its proximity to the beach...
With a fresh new look and menu but still the best positioned terrace overlooking the beach, it‘a a prime sunset watching spot that is a winner for anyone wanting a good night out!
After joining forces with the Canteen team, the new menu is simple yet delicious. Whoever thought of scallops with fresh ginger, chilli and lime served in the shell is a GENUIS 👌
Secretly hoping they venture into the world of brunches and supper clubs next… We’ll be willing taste testers please!! 🙋🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️
12. Fistral Beach Bar, Fistral
Walk-in only
Open year round
Probably the best known summer-vibezzz bar in Newquay, Fistral Beach Bar is one cool cucumber.
It seems to appeal to everyone, old and young, surfers and dog walkers, all united in their need for one of the best sunset viewing spots around. Their pizzas are damn good too! Just expect it to be busy, so park with plenty of time and keeps your eyes peeled for a free table as they go quick 🍕🤘
13. WEST, St Ives
Bookings taken
Open year round
The sister resto to Porthmeor Beach Cafe, WEST is an altogether more relaxed affair perched at the end if Porthmeor beach all outside although tables partially undercover plus heaters.
With mainly takeaway customers needing beach pizza and evening drinkers needing cocktails... and pizza! Saying that, this year they introduced The Fish Bar upstairs with a changing menu of super fresh and unusual seafood sharing plates 🦀🐙
14. Hotel Tresanton, St Mawes
Bookings taken
Open year round
Well this option is pretty different to the others! Ok so it's polar opposites to the sand-covered, beer-on-tap kind of beach bars featured so far!
But seriously worth a look if you love fine dining, fantastic food and wine while also overlooking one of the most beautiful stretches of the Percuil River. We have only visited the once and managed to pick a sunny day for lunch on the terrace - honestly, it's the only way to do it! Save your trip for a warm day and you'll seriously feel like you must be abroad ✈️✨
15. The Hidden Hut, Portscatho
Walk-in only (*takeaway only too!!)
Open April - October
Ok, so probably Cornwall's worst kept secret of all, but HH has to feature on this list. While the queues do get ridiculously long in height of summer (to be fair which don't?!), the outdoor cooking and tastiest boxes of hot, steaming food are worth any kind of wait. And hey - the food seems to taste even better on a colder, misty, day anyway so just visit in October instead!
Ps. Jonny *genuinely* feels the pasties these guys make are the county's best so you should probably grab one of those while you're down too 🔥🐟🥟
*BONUS ADDITION*
Argoe, Newlyn
Indoor/outdoor bookings taken
Open year round *we assume but this place is barely 2 months old
This is a bit of a cheat as officially we said top 15 - but Argoe is brand new and so lovely I felt it would be unfair not to include it!
Selling themselves as a 'fish & wine' restaurant, this place is just where you need to be if enjoy the freshest and most delicately prepared fish all while gazing out at the harbour where it was caught. Small menu with a big heart, the staff known their stuff and are super efficient - we're already looking for an excuse to visit again and we only ate there last week! 🎣⚓️