A guide to Cornwall’s top cafés and places to eat
There are so many unique and wonderful places to visit while in Cornwall, and luckily there are just as many delicious places to grab a bite to eat as you are sure to work up an appetite while touring the county’s many marvellous attractions. So with that in mind, we found it prudent to put together a list of the top cafes and places to eat in Cornwall, while also letting you know what else you can do when in the area.
The Melting Pot Café – Redruth
The Melting Pot Café in the heritage town of Redruth, is built in the shell of a former grammar school and is a truly vibrant and eccentric place to spend your time indulging in tasty and reasonably priced food. Whether its breakfast, lunch, or even a quick snack, the relaxing atmosphere found here will hold you in good stead. And with free Wi-Fi to go along with your delicious homemade soup, you’ll feel right at home no matter the company.
After you’ve gotten a bite to eat at The Melting Pot Café, taking a trip to Feadon Farm is a sure fire way to finish off a great day in the area. This wildlife wonderland is a great place for families to embrace Cornwall’s amazing natural world and even feed the animals.
“We have a great choice of wildlife activities on offer; including our Wildlife Experience, Meet the Animals, Badger Watch, Falconry, Night Walks and Rock Pooling.” Said Feadon Farm when speaking to us.
“Our activities give our visitors an experience to get up close and personal with some amazing wildlife and learn all about our friendly residents at the farm.”
Snails Pace Café – Bodmin Moor
Offering quality food and drink, Snails Pace Café in St Breward near Bodmin Moor, is not only a fabulous place to eat but also a popular cycleway with bike hire. Built with locally sourced timber, you can sit out in the café’s conservatory extension which is a wonderful place to relax the afternoon away. With outdoor seating, along with the regularly changing menu comprised of healthy meals, big breakfast dishes, and popular cakes, there is something for everyone here.
Snail Pace Cafe was kind enough to speak to us about the services they offer.
“Snail’s Pace Cafe is a family run quirky eco-cafe situated at the start of the beautiful Camel Trail. We serve fresh homemade food – from Cornish breakfasts and Cornish roasted coffee through to light lunches and delicious homemade cakes and cream teas.”
Before popping into Snails Pace, a visit to Pencarrow House and Gardens in Bodmin would certainly kick the day off right. Pencarrow, at the foot of a picturesque sweeping valley, is a Georgian mansion dating back to the 1500s. Lined with fine art and paintings there is plenty to see and do without even mentioning the attractive gardens surrounding the premises.
Speaking about the house itself, Pencarrow say that, “Open to the public since the 1970s, Pencarrow House and Gardens is a great day out for families, history enthusiasts, nature and garden lovers, and of course the dogs.”
Cabin Café – Crackington Haven
If you find yourself in the lovely village of Crackington Haven anytime soon, Cabin Café is an ideal spot to stop by for an assortment of homemade food. From pasties and pizzas, to cakes and sandwiches, you’ll certainly find something yummy to take your fancy, especially as much of the selection is free range and organic. This family run café makes all of their food on the premises, providing an ideal location for one to enjoy the sun with their open terrace.
Just a short 15 minute drive away from the café is a truly memorable attraction to pay patronage to, The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, which provides entertaining and educational exhibitions on Britain’s magical practice.
We spoke to the museum who told us a little more about what’s kept within.
“Come and see the Wise Woman in her cottage, learn about the healing power of herbs, the strange rituals of witches and the importance of the landscape in magical practice today. There is a wild night-time wood to explore upstairs, with goddesses, piskeys and the Horned God.
“Harry Potter fans will enjoy seeing all their favourite magical tools – from bezoar stones to broomsticks – but our objects were actually used by real witches!”
Castle Inn St Ives
The Castle Inn St Ives is really the place to go for that classic pub feel. The inn is a traditional real ale pub right in the heart of old St Ives. Kitted out with beamed ceilings, and a beautiful stained glass window, The Castle Inn is known for having a wonderful selection of real ales and local beers, as well as guest ales from all over the country. The food at the Castle Inn is sourced locally as much as possible, with the menu being influenced by the changing seasons. If you’re looking for that classic pub lunch while in the area, this is it.
If you are after a little culture to go along with your pub lunch, then a visit to Penwith Gallery would be a great move. The gallery is a society of exhibiting artists that boasts public galleries, artist studios, workshops, and a coffee bar, showcasing contemporary paintings, sculpture, and crafts.
The gallery told us: “The Penwith Gallery is the home of the Penwith Society of Arts and Crafts in Cornwall. Founded in 1949 by Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Bernard Leach, amongst others. The Society plays a central role in the thriving and vibrant St. Ives art community, exhibiting contemporary art from Cornwall and beyond.”
Talland Bay Beach Café
For those enjoying a holiday in Looe, Talland Bay Beach Café should certainly be on the agenda. With an ethos of providing warm and welcome service as well as top quality produce, this beach set café is a great spot for a variety of foods such as Paninis, sandwiches, pasties, and some delicious Cornish ice-cream. With a fantastic drinks selection to go along with an ocean view, Talland Bay Beach Cafe is a true delight.
We spoke to Talland Beach Cafe – where dogs are allowed on leads – who said that along with the cafe’s eat in/take away service “it also has a small beach shop for any essentials you may have forgotten and rents out Kayaks at £9 an hour. There is outdoor seating for over 60 people and 3 super cute beach huts to hide in if the British weather takes a turn for the worse!”
Looe isn’t all about the great cafes and seaside fun however, with The Monkey Sanctuary being a perfect way to spend the day with some of nature’s most majestic creatures. Home to 37 individual monkeys, this active rescue centre helps those in need while providing the public the chance to meet the residents.
The Monkey Sanctuary told us a little more about what’s available for visitors.
“We have four species here at the Sanctuary, Capuchin monkeys, Woolly monkeys, Barbary macaques and Marmosets, there are monkey carers up and around the enclosures all day giving talks about the monkeys, so we encourage the visitors to interact with them to get the most out of their visit. Our marmoset monkeys are not currently on view to the public as they have been very recently rescued.”
Cornwall really has so much to offer, and stopping into these fine locations for a bite to eat will truly be the perfect complement to your day. So make sure to pay them a visit, and also checkout the many great attractions that are nearby.
