Cornwall’s 10 Coolest Beach Bars

Après surf, après beach or simply a sundowner to toast a day beside the sea. We’ve sipped tipples watching many sunsets in Cornwall. So whether you want your toes in the sand, a traditional Cornish boozer or a stylish cocktail bar on sea, here’s our pick of Cornwall’s coolest beach bars.

Blue, Porthtowan

A long-standing favourite of locals and visitors, there are few better places than the Blue beach bar to sink a beer (or coffee, for that matter) gazing out to eye-popping sea views and fiery sunsets. Nudging surf-lashed Porthtowan and boasting Atlantic panoramas from bay window booths and a surfside terrace, it’s arguably the coolest place in Cornwall to kickback beside the waves. Order a pint and a legendary Blue Burger as the sun goes down, and stay on to enjoy the après-beach vibes as the tunes get cranked up and live bands or comedy acts take the stage.
Website: blue-bar.co.uk

Alcatraz, Perranporth

Perranporth’s Watering Hole has long been dubbed one of Cornwall’s coolest beach bars to enjoy cracking sunsets, live music and a front-row view of the surf. And it still is the only place you can enjoy a tipple with your toes in the sand, and catch waves between rounds. However, arguably a little ‘cooler’ is the much newer Alcatraz bar and café, a little higher up the cliff and flaunting breathtaking views from the extraordinary location of what used to be a WWII gun shelter. Affectionately given its name when staff from the Watering Hole were ‘banished’ to work alone here when it was a simple kiosk on the cliff side, these days both staff and punters clamour for a spot on the upper deck – especially at the golden sunset hour.
Website: alcatrazcornwall.co.uk

The Welloe, Praa Sands

After a day on pretty Praa Sands beach, follow the trail of sandy footprints into The Welloe and unwind with the waves at your feet. Cold beer, cocktails, tunes and wood-fired pizzas are on the menu, whether you soak up the last rays on the decking or take a seat behind the floor-to-ceiling windows. The combo of panoramic sea views and style make this a legendary south coast venue, with regular sundowner sessions that will have you tapping your toes and drinking your favourite tipples long after the sun’s gone down.
Website: https://thewelloe.com/

Surf Beach Bar, Sennen

Just a mile from Land’s End, sink into a sofa overlooking a wild, white-sand beach nudging the southwesterly tip of the UK. The Surf Beach Bar epitomises the cool laid-back vibes of the surfing community that thrives on the far edge of our shores, with a stripped-back, beach-inspired setting where the Atlantic rollers on the doorstep do all the talking. Ditch your surfboard at the door and kick back with local ales and cocktails made with Cornish botanicals. And when the sun dips behind the waves, stay to listen to atmospheric beach sounds when resident DJs take over the decks every weekend in the Surf Beach Den.
<10/07/2024 Sennen Beach Bar is temporarily closed, awaiting news.>
Website: surfbeachbar.co.uk

The Rockpool, Godrevy

Another location where you can drop your board and wetsuit at the door, The Rockpool is nestled in the dunes behind the surfing Mecca of Godrevy beach. Views seep in from all angles, merging with the barefoot and rustic style of the interior, that spills out into the garden and decking. Dog-friendly and family-friendly, this buzzing beachside venue is proud of the natural environment in which it stands, and is endorsed by Surfers Against Sewage as one of their ‘Plastic Free Champions’. If you’re peckish between waves, the menu is conjured up from the best seasonal and local produce, and if you’re still full of energy after a day at the beach, stay on for one of the live music sessions.
Website: therockpoolbeachcafe.co.uk

The Driftwood Spars, St Agnes

If you love beer and love the beach, there’s no better match for you than this super-cool brewpub by the sea. A true Cornish coastal pub, essentially The Driftwood Spars is a traditional local boozer with low beams, log fires, Cornish ales on tap – and its own microbrewery, to boot. Add to this a contemporary sea-view dining room serving gourmet seafood, and now, a funky alfresco ‘Crib Shack’ in the garden, which is its own little wave-side outpost for beer and snacks. So whether you want a refreshing local pint, a Tarquin’s gin tasting board, or an ice cream for your dog, this really is one of the hottest venues to cool off after a day at the beach.
Website: driftwoodspars.com

Fistral Beach Bar, Newquay

A landmark bar that’s bang beside the waves on Cornwall’s most famous surfing beach, Fistral Beach Bar oozes with the après surf vibe that Newquay is renowned for. Bask on the decking for a refreshing brewskie while you watch the pros cut their teeth on the waves, or get your party hat on for Mambo Mondays, electrifying party nights and legendary silent discos. Sandy feet, sandy paws and salty locks welcome – in fact it’s all part of the attire.
Website: fistralbeachbar.co.uk

Fire Engine, Marazion

One of Cornwall’s lesser-known pubs boasting sublime sea views, the Fire Engine Inn is nestled on the edge of Mounts Bay – making it an incredible spot to watch dramatic sunsets over the sea-bound fortress of St Michael’s Mount. Whether you bag a window table or a garden bench is up to you. But scenery and location aside, what makes this one of the coolest coastal pubs in Cornwall is that it’s a proper Cornish boozer, with community at its heart. There are quiz nights, live music and finger-licking pub grub, as well as plenty of Cornish ales, lagers and ciders on tap.
Website: Fire Engine Inn

Gylly Beach Cafe, Falmouth

This stylish seaside café is Falmouth’s hottest hangout, whether you fancy coffee or cocktails on the beach. If you’ve been dipping with the cohort of local wild swimmers, you can warm up under a heater on the decking and gaze out to sea, or lap up the bay and castle views from the glass-walled interior. With an artisan bakery on the beach, and a Fishbar and Grill adding to the exceptional menu of Cornish delights, whether you’ve been busy building sandcastles, out on the water or taking a twirl around the beachside gardens, you can fill yourself to the gills on the beach or in the restaurant.
Website: gyllybeach.com

The Bay View Inn, Bude

Fancy some gin-spiration as the sun goes down? Settle into a sea-view seat overlooking Widemouth Bay and sip a world-class gin as the horizon turns from blue to orange and fuzzy shades of pink. You might prefer a local Tarquin’s Gin – handcrafted on the wild North Cornish Coast; a Hernö Tom – crowned the world’s best gin for two years straight; or even a Dr Squid Ink Gin, made with genuine squid ink that changes colour when you add tonic. There are over 50 gins in the Surf Bar to choose from, making this a pretty cool place to drink in the vista.
Website: bayviewinn.co.uk

Discover More Awesome Beach Bars in Cornwall

This is just a small selection of the amazing beach bars scattered along the Cornish coast. There are also numerous pubs, hotel bars and cafes to discover for sundowner drinks in beautiful destinations. Get out there and explore these coastal drinking gems and please let us know if you discover something amazing.