EAT, DRINK & GATHER
The North Cornwall Food Guide
A curated guide from Cumbrae House, Trebarwith Strand
North Cornwall has quietly become one of Britain's most exciting food destinations. From legendary harbour-side seafood restaurants to new-generation farm-to-table cooking and beloved old stone pubs, the landscape here feeds the soul as much as the table. We've gathered our favourites — places we love, places our guests return to, and one exciting new arrival that's already turning heads.
Right on the Doorstep
Some of the best evenings begin without getting in the car. From Cumbrae House, the sea, the beach path and two of our most-loved local spots are just a short stroll away.
The Port William | Trebarwith Strand · Pub & Dining
Perched on the clifftop directly above Trebarwith Strand's dramatic beach, The Port William is the sort of pub that earns its place in family folklore. Several of our guests mention it by name in their reviews — and it's no wonder. Roaring fires in winter, sun-drenched terraces in summer, and a menu that ranges from fresh seafood curry to proper Cornish pub classics, all enjoyed with one of the most spectacular coastal views in Britain. Whether you're celebrating a birthday with the whole extended family or stealing an evening for two with a glass of something chilled, The Port William never fails to deliver the warmth and atmosphere that defines this corner of Cornwall.
Open all year. Dog-friendly. Just a few minutes' walk from Cumbrae House.
The Mill House Inn | Trebarwith · Inn & Restaurant
A ten-minute stroll up the valley from the beach brings you to The Mill House — an 18th-century former corn mill set within seven acres of woodland gardens and its own private valley. Inside, it's all crackling log fires, locally brewed ales, and a dining room that takes its sourcing seriously: menus change regularly and showcase the finest fish, meat and seasonal produce from in and around North Cornwall. The Mill House appears in the Good Pub Guide and Alastair Sawday's Special Places for good reason. It's the kind of place that makes you want to linger over dessert and order another glass of wine.
Open all year. Lunch Wednesday–Sunday, evening service Monday–Saturday.
The Celebrated Names: Port Isaac & Padstow
Cornwall's food reputation was built, in large part, along this stretch of the north coast. These are the restaurant destinations that guests return to year after year — and for very good reason.
Nathan Outlaw's Fish Kitchen | Port Isaac · Michelin Star
In the lower reaches of one of the most photographed fishing villages in England, Outlaw's Fish Kitchen is a small-plates seafood experience like no other. Relaxed in tone but extraordinary in execution, the menu follows the catch — dishes shift with the tides, and the cooking celebrates the natural flavours of Cornwall's waters without overcomplication. Sister restaurant Outlaw's New Road, sitting at the top of the village with sweeping views over the coast, offers a more formal tasting menu experience. Both hold a Michelin star. For groups staying at Cumbrae House, booking well ahead is essential.
Port Isaac. Booking essential. Both restaurants closed certain days — check ahead.
The Rocket Store | Port Isaac · Seafood Bistro
Down on the harbour front, The Rocket Store captures everything that makes Port Isaac irresistible: fresh local catch, unpretentious cooking, and an atmosphere that hums with genuine life. Crab sandwiches, lobster, grilled fish — food that could only exist this close to the source. Perfect for a relaxed lunch after a coastal walk.
Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant | Padstow · Iconic
Rick Stein's legendary Padstow restaurant has been celebrating Cornish seafood since 1975, and its reputation as one of Britain's finest has only grown in the decades since. Whether you're visiting for the classic fruits de mer, the whole roasted sea bass, or the famous fish and chips at the neighbouring takeaway, a trip to Padstow without visiting something Stein-shaped feels incomplete. The original restaurant on Middle Street remains the definitive experience — beautifully sourced, simply presented, and deeply satisfying.
Padstow. Multiple venues. Booking essential for the main restaurant.
Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 | Padstow · Michelin Star
In a beautiful Georgian townhouse in the heart of Padstow, Paul Ainsworth at No.6 is modern British cooking at its most inspired. The à la carte menu is a celebration of locally sourced Cornish produce, delivered with warmth and genuine flair. No.6 holds a Michelin star and is widely considered one of the most complete dining experiences in the South West. Arrive early for a drink, take your time over dinner, and leave having experienced Cornwall at its absolute finest.
Padstow. Booking essential.
The Village Pubs: Where North Cornwall Really Lives
Beyond the celebrated names, the soul of north Cornish dining lives in its village pubs and country inns. These are places shaped by local communities, serving food that changes with the seasons and keeps regulars coming back through every kind of weather.
The Cornish Arms | St Merryn · Village Pub
Owned by Rick Stein and loved by locals and visitors alike, The Cornish Arms in St Merryn is everything a Cornish village pub should be — unpretentious, generous, and rooted in the community. Proper pub food, proper ales, and a roaring fire on colder evenings. The kind of place you duck into for lunch and find yourself still sitting in two hours later, happily.
The St Kew Inn | St Kew · Country Inn
Few places in Cornwall feel as timeless as the St Kew Inn. Set in a sheltered wooded valley in the ancient village of St Kew, this 15th-century inn has been welcoming travellers for centuries. Today it serves excellent seasonal food alongside local ales in a setting so quintessentially Cornish it borders on the cinematic. A particular favourite for Sunday lunch — book ahead.
The Rising Sun | Altarnun · Country Pub
On the edge of Bodmin Moor in the quiet village of Altarnun, The Rising Sun is the kind of country pub that reminds you why you chose Cornwall over anywhere else. Family-friendly, dog-friendly, and serving reliably good seasonal food in a warm, unpretentious atmosphere. Perfect for a midweek evening or a Sunday lunch after a moorland walk.
A New Arrival Worth the Journey
Fern | Nanstallon, nr Bodmin · New Opening · Michelin Guide Listed
Set on a working farm in the quiet village of Nanstallon, just outside Bodmin, Fern is the most exciting new restaurant to open in north Cornwall in recent years. Chef Paul Welburn — formerly Michelin-starred at The Oxford Kitchen and trained under the late Gary Rhodes — has created something that feels genuinely different from anything else in the region: refined cooking with a relaxed, sociable spirit.
The setting is quietly spectacular. A converted barn with floor-to-ceiling glass walls looks out across Cornish farmland, and inside, copper detailing, generous houseplants and high ceilings create a space that is both stylish and surprisingly intimate. The dining style is built around nibbles, small plates and larger dishes that arrive as they are ready — designed to be shared, explored and lingered over. Think savoury custard creams with blueberry ketchup, crispy pig with burnt apple, hash browns with taramasalata; playful cooking with real depth.
Fern was listed in the Michelin Guide just nine weeks after opening — a remarkable achievement, and one that confirms what early visitors have been saying: this is a destination restaurant in the making. For guests at Cumbrae House looking for a special evening out that feels different from the harbour-front classics, this is the one to book.
Pendewey Farm, Stoney Lane, Nanstallon, Nr Bodmin PL31 2QX. Open Wednesday–Sunday. Booking strongly advised: ferncornwall.co.uk
While You're There: Camel Valley Vineyard
No food lover's guide to north Cornwall would be complete without mentioning Camel Valley. One of England's finest and most celebrated vineyards, Camel Valley produces award-winning sparkling wines just a few miles from Cumbrae House, in the rolling valley above Bodmin. Tours and tastings run throughout the season, and their wines — particularly the Pinot Noir Brut — have won international acclaim. It's a wonderful afternoon out for a group, and a beautiful way to understand just how extraordinary this corner of England truly is.
A note from Wendy & Don
North Cornwall's food scene is one of the great pleasures of staying at Cumbrae House, and we love helping our guests find the perfect evening out — whether that's a long, celebratory dinner at No.6, a windy cliff-top pint at The Port William, or a spontaneous visit to a village pub you stumble upon on a afternoon walk. If you'd like any personal recommendations for your stay, we are always happy to help.
"Where getting together is the celebration."
Wendy & Don — Cumbrae House, Trebarwith Strand