If its food you’re after in Cornwall then its hard to argue against Falmouth being the place to beat for culinary greatness. With access to rich fishing grounds off the south coast, and to the ecosystems of the Fal and Helford rivers to provide the area’s prized shellfish, alongside some of the county’s most fertile farmland, this corner of Cornwall produces the region’s best ingredients.
What’s more, with a diverse crowd to cater for, ranging from students through to super yacht owners and all thats in between, its safe to say there’s somewhere great to eat for every budget.
So from pasties to paella, from burgers to baba ghanoush and from ramen to roast beef, and in no particular order here’s our pick of the best places to eat in the area…
Is your favourite on the list? Let us know!
The New Inn, Mabe
You can’t beat a hearty feed at a village pub, and the New Inn in Mabe provides that and some. Offering great food and a lovely homely atmosphere, right on the edge of Falmouth and Penryn the New Inn is not to be missed. We also love the fact that this pub acts as an important community hub, often hosting events that bring the community such as barbeques, sales and seed swaps!
Daaku
The team behind this amazing Indian place are Jasmine who has her roots in Jajasthan, and her hubby Ben, a local lad. Enter Daaku, or ‘outlaw’ in English, a colourful little place overlooking the Penryn River which produces the finest of fine south Asian food made from fantastically fresh Cornish ingredients. This place really isn’t one to be missed.
Bango
Pitching in as ‘your streetfood fix’, this Asian fusion kitchen in Penryn offers some decent versions of comfort food from around east Asia including dumplings, bao, sushi and ramen. Although you can takeaway, we recommend the laid back vibe to be had eating in.
Amanzi
Great African fusion food offering choices that are otherwise quite sparse down these parts. Their kebabs are raved about far and wide!
Red Chilli (take away only)
Excellent Indian food in Penryn (they also deliver). Their jalfrezi options (although on the spicy side) are really fantastic.
Mariners Fish and Chips
In our opinion the best in the area! Mariners consistently manage to deliver food that isn’t greasy, and your order is more often than not fried in front of you.
Pip’s Pasties and Cafe
Often mentioned in dispatches as Cornwall’s best pasty. Nice and peppery, we wouldn’t disagree with that claim!
INDIdog
Another waterfront favourite, INDIdog’s open dining area and great views make it a lovely place to chow down. Their seafood options are good… like really good. They serve with seasonal menus which is great for those making repeat visits. Keep eye out for anything with mackerel. Yum!
Pennycomequick
Apparently Pennycomequick is the old Celtic name for Falmouth and mean head of the creek. These days to Falmouthians, Pennycomequick means homely old English pub atmosphere garnished with some good old hearty pub grub based around whatever local ingredients are in season. This of course makes for a menu that changes throughout the year and means plenty of excuses to keep coming back… and that!s just fine with us!
La Peniche
Situated at Falmouth’s north quay and housed on a boat, your La Peniche experience will be a little bit different from the get go. The food, French with ‘a modern twist’ is always a treat. You’ll be treated very well by their very attentive waiting staff, who incidentally are great with wine recommendations.
Windjammer
If you’re shopping in Trago, or visiting the Maritime Museum, then it’s a no brainer to drop into Windjammer to have a drink and a bite to eat. The food is great and they offer different deals during every weekday. We love their burgers, and their fish ‘n’ chips are also very good. The view however is the hottest thing not on the menu. Many a happy afternoon can be spent enjoying the view at their full length window bar.
CJ’s
Located in Budock Water, CJ’s are based in an old chapel, and their food is great in biblical proportions. With a menu based on locally sourced faire, this is one of those places that you can really only experience whilst you’re here. Their lamb burgers are exceptional, and you really can’t go wrong with the seafood selection either.
Like tasting some of the finest food that Cornwall has to offer? If you’re heading this way then Trewena Cottages near Falmouth are perfect setting for your visit to Cornwall. Just 10 minutes from the centre of Falmouth and some of Cornwall’s best eateries and drinking holes, you can choose from ‘Little Avalon’ our 1850s labourers cottage, or ‘The Pigsty’ our converted barn.
