Cornwall's best restaurants for 2025

Where to make a table reservation in 2025

As a team of foodies, we like to keep up-to-date with restaurant openings and menu takeovers across Cornwall. As is tradition on our blog, we’re delighted to showcase this year's exciting new additions and what’s still to come in 2025. Whether you’re craving authentic Italian pasta dishes or Michelin-inspired tasting menus, this year’s line-up promises something for everyone…

Ardor in St Ives

© Meor Design

Hidden along the cobbled streets of St Ives, Ardor is an authentically Mediterranean restaurant serving incredible seafood, dry-aged meats and pintxos. Led by Chef Patron Dorian Janmaat, the menus are inspired by his upbringing in rural Spain. 

Candlelit tables and bar seating create a romantic setting for a light lunch or celebratory supper, with a dedicated "los bambinos" menu ensuring younger diners are catered for. Share several tapas dishes alongside larger grilled plates, with rotisserie chicken and fresh catches from the fish counter taking centre stage. 

Already added to our "must-visit" list, we’ve got our eyes on the crispy salt cod, beef cheek stifado and fried aubergine with honey. 

Good to know: Open for lunch, happy hour and dinner – we recommend booking in advance

Where to stay nearby: Shun Lee in St Ives. Book for incredible ocean views and a central town location. 

Little Ears in Newquay

© Little Ears via Instagram

Having opened its doors in June of this year, Little Ears has quickly become a local favourite with some of our proud team regulars. Cosy and candlelit, you’ll find this bijou Italian restaurant on Fore Street – a stone’s throw from Newquay’s iconic harbour. 

The pasta is homemade on site every day with a menu that changes weekly. Relying on seasonal ingredients and unique flavour pairings, each dish is delicate and delicious. We recommend starting with fresh focaccia and burrata before moving on to plates of cavolo nero orecchiette, Newlyn crab taglioni and ox cheek ragu pappardelle.  

For those seeking something extra special, the Wednesday tasting menus are a must – expect a perfectly curated selection of vibrant Italian dishes paired with fine wines.

Good to know: Open for lunch and dinner, walk-ins are welcome but booking ahead is recommended for Wednesday’s tasting nights. Accessibility-wise, please note that the only toilets are upstairs. 

Where to stay nearby: Sea House in Porth. Sitting just around the corner from Newquay’s foodie mecca, you can walk along the South West Coast Path back to your sea-view home. 

The Tartan Fox in Summercourt

© John Hersey

From the mind behind Ugly Butterfly, Adam Handling’s latest venture blends refined cuisine with nostalgic nods to his Scottish roots. Located on the outskirts of Newquay, The Tartan Fox celebrates local produce with a creative, fine dining twist. 

There’s plenty of outdoor seating for summertime dining while the interior radiates a cosy, inviting feel with a log burner lit on chilly winter days. The bar is stocked with local ales, ciders and wines to pair beautifully with your food of choice. 

Roast lunch is a must on a Sunday but we’re also tempted by the haggis scotch egg, truffle cream hash browns and the barbeque monkfish curry. 

Good to know: Open every day for lunch and supper service with booking recommended. There’s outdoor seating and the restaurant is on the ground floor with level access from the car park. 

The King of Prussia in Fowey

© The King of Prussia via Instagram

Recognisable by its iconic pink façade, The King of Prussia in Fowey has been given a new lease on life this year and is now under fresh ownership. Once a traditional village pub, the interiors have been transformed into a vibrant, contemporary dining space with a fully stocked bar at its centre. 

Overlooking the town quay with outdoor seating available in the warmer months, the restaurant is one of the few spots in Fowey with a stunning estuary view. The new menu celebrates local producers and features plenty of fresh fish dishes, hauled from the River Fowey mere moments away. 

Expect Porthilly oysters, butter-roasted monkfish and lobster ravioli to tempt you with their Sunday lunches always highly sought-after.  

What’s new? The restaurant is under new management, with the previous head chef of The Wig & Pen in Truro at the helm, and an exciting cocktail menu curated by the Bearded Barman of the Longstore Restaurants. 

Good to know: Open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday through to Sunday. Walk-ins are welcomed but the outdoor seating fills up quickly in the summer. Access to the restaurant is via an outdoor staircase. 

Where to stay nearby: Ria Reach in Fowey. Located a short walk from Fowey's best restaurants, Ria Reach enjoys incredible, elevated estuary views.

Onzo Pizzeria in St Ives

Housed in St Ives’ historic lifeboat station, Onzo brings rustic Neapolitan cooking to the town’s bustling harbourfront. Featured in the UK’s top 50 pizzerias, every dish at Onzo is made from scratch, with stand-out dishes including prawn linguine, zucchini fritti, flat iron steak and mortadella pizza.

What’s more, the wine and cocktail menus have been thoughtfully curated to complement the restaurant’s romantic, vibrant setting. We recommend sipping on a spiced margarita while watching the chefs skilfully prepare the dough and fire your pizza fresh to order.  

Good to know: Open for lunch and dinner – booking is recommended during the summer months

Where to stay nearby: Make Shun Lee your setting for a foodie holiday in the heart of St Ives

Petty Fours in Truro

© Petty Fours

Opened by Alfred Petty in November, this modern Truro bistro elevates seasonal dining with elegant tasting menus. Think classic Michelin refinement but with a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. 

Dishes include grilled Newlyn mackerel, wild mushroom and truffle risotto, and short-rib tortellini, with every meal concluding with an array of Alfred’s signature petit fours. Situated a short walk from Truro Cathedral, this new restaurant is a must-visit for those who love fine dining without the formalities.

Good to know: Open from Tuesday through to Saturday for dinner service and open for lunch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – booking is highly recommended. Due to the layout and location of Petty Fours, the restaurant is regrettably unable to accommodate wheelchairs, scooters or prams. 

Lemon Tree Bistro in Truro

Located on Truro’s Lemon Street, this brand new bistro serves up delicious breakfasts, indulgent lunches and twice-weekly dinners. Quickly gaining a great reviews for its attentive service and generous portion sizes, Lemon Tree is a welcome addition to the city’s vibrant foodie scene.

Menu highlights include crab-loaded fries, steak frites, and wild mushroom arancini, with the limoncello tiramisu proving irresistible for dessert. With it open throughout the day, it’s the perfect place to refuel during a day’s shopping in Truro or before a show at The Hall for Cornwall. 

Good to know: Visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner seven days a week. There’s one step to enter the restaurant and it's dog-friendly. 

TALLO in Porth

© TALLO

Located in the all new SeaSpace in Porth, TALLO is an Italo-American neighbourhood eatery. Their full menu will launch early in 2025, but they’re currently offering a taste of what’s to come with a tempting selection of small plate dishes and mouthwatering desserts. 

Laid-back and beachy, it makes a great pitstop after days spent on Porth’s soft sands with dogs warmly welcomed too. Tuck into plates of arancini, bruchetta and crispy sardines, rounding things off nicely with a slice of brown sugar cheesecake.   

Good to know: TALLO’s website will be live in the new year, with their main launch set to take place in March

Where to stay nearby: a mile away in Sea House on the edge of Porth Beach

Kelp Canteen in Falmouth

© Kelp Canteen

Having arrived on Custom House Quay in spring, Kelp Canteen has been redefining seafood street dining ever since. Open from Thursday through to Sunday, the iconic blue trailer is instantly recognisable – not only for its design but for its queue of people eagerly awaiting a seafood lunch. 

Starting life as a retro ice cream van from the 1980s, owner Elliot has lovingly restored and transformed it into one of the town’s most sought-after spots for the catch of the day. Influenced by the fishermen’s early morning haul, the chalkboard menu changes regularly with the likes of oysters, crab, mussels, cocktails and mackerel cooked to order in their small but perfectly formed kitchen. 

Grab a bite to take to the beach with you or order your food and head to The Front Pub next door – they’ll even deliver straight to your table. 

Good to know: Open Thursday – Saturday, we recommend arriving early for lunch as the shack closes once everything sells out

Cantina in Porthleven

Cantina is shaking things up in Porthleven with its bold, globally inspired flavours and casual dining atmosphere. The harbourside eatery serves up loaded flatbreads, buttermilk chicken pancakes, tacos and sharing platters, paired with a creative cocktail menu.

Overlooking moored boats, it's definitely worth a visit while in the area and on Sundays they offer a unique take on the classic roast. Think sharing dishes, vibrant salads and seasonal veggies with Spanish, Chinese or Italian influences. 

There’s outdoor seating for sunny days and live music sessions throughout the summer – keep an eye on their Instagram for what’s on during your visit to Porthleven. 

Good to know: Open for lunch and dinner with level entry – the closest car park is Kittos Field. 

Where to stay nearby: Salt Spray and Seathrift. All located within walking distance of Porthleven’s restaurants, these contemporary homes all enjoy incredible ocean views. 

Where to stay in 2025

Left: Shun Lee. Right: Ria Reach.

Pair your foodie adventures with a stay in one of our luxury holiday homes. Whether you’re dreaming of a coastal adventure or a spa-like retreat, our expert Concierge team will take care of the finer itinerary details – from booking tables at these incredible restaurants to arranging private chefs and wine tastings for you to enjoy in the comfort of your homestay.

Start planning your 2025 escape now by calling us on 01208 895 570 or browse our properties to get inspired.

 

Image credits: Ardor by Meor Design (including main image) | The Tartan Fox by John Hersey | Kelp Canteen | Petty Fours | TALLO | Little Ears and The King of Prussia via Instagram | All other images are our own.