Spring is the season when doors fling open to a fresh wave of bars and restaurants in Cornwall. Here are the newbies on the block – from pop-ups and beach eats to sundowners and fine-dining feasts.
Padstow’s most talked-about opening of the season is PL28 Café on The Drang. Chef Thomas Hine is returning to his hometown to helm what’s a buzzing harbourside café by day, transforming into an intimate chef’s table supper club by night. With genuine Cornish heart, Hine is joined by his cousin Will Derry front of house and his brother Fred in the kitchen. Book early.
Marking a new chapter on the sand at one of Falmouth’s most-loved venues, The Beach House has taken over the former Hooked on the Rocks on Swanpool Beach. With a fresh, produce-led menu and laid-back coastal interiors, you can expect wood-fired cooking, seasonal small plates and a heated terrace bar made for sociable spring evenings. One for slow lunches or a post-walk pint that turns into dinner.
One of Cornwall’s most understated new openings, Fern champions flavour, provenance and effortless dining. Chef Paul Welburn puts a Cornish twist on nostalgic British dishes, with ingredients sourced from trusted local suppliers. Plates are made for sharing — think smoked octopus, glazed celeriac, teriyaki bream and seafood-led suppers that nod to the nearby coast — while Sunday lunch is a proper, slow‑paced affair you’ll want to linger over.
Made for slow mornings and warming up beside the beach, Lanow Coffee and Sauna has opened its hatch on the clifftops overlooking Crantock Beach. Our new favourite hangout for post-surf coffee, homemade cakes and banter by the waves, it’s the perfect pit-stop for any coastal adventure on West Pentire.
Our top new harbour hang? Whether it’s Harissa Eggs Royale before tackling the Hall Walk or Fowey Mussels picked from the river in view, Samphire’s coastal kitchen is the place to pile sharing plates on the table and tuck-in with a waterfront view. Chef Richard Massey brings his passion for Cornwall into every bite, while creating a sociable, seasonal eatery where you can fling open the doors and soak up the deliciousness of spring.
Not every great night out in Newquay needs a chef in the kitchen. Wasted Grapes focuses on getting the drinks right – with fine wines and rule-breaking cocktails, served alongside ‘snacky bits’. With vinyl sessions, paint and sip evenings, and chess nights thrown into the mix, this is Newquay’s new home for good times. Avocado martini and a game of chess? Don’t mind if we do.
Anyone who knows Mawgan Porth will feel the hole left when Scott and Babs closed their wood-fired kitchen at Retorrick Mill. But two brothers have stepped in and stepped up — bringing artisanal small plates, handcrafted pizzettas and fire-roasted feasts back to this legendary barn tucked in the woods. Bold flavours, seasonal produce and food made for sharing — Buccas has brought the soul back into fireside evenings and music nights at the mill.
And one to watch out for this summer…
When Ainsworth took the reins at Rock’s famous St Enodoc Hotel last year, we all wondered what the reincarnation of this regal waterside hotspot would look like. And it’s not long to go until we can experience the brand new bar and grill with rooftop terraces, landscaped gardens and banqueting spaces. With Ainsworth behind it, the food’s bound to be some of Cornwall’s best – and by the looks of it the venue is set to match it.
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