Newquay Food and Drink

Newquay is building on its growing reputation as a great place to eat – and it even has the Stein seal of approval, with his restaurant on Fistral Beach. There’s a great variety of cuisines on offer in Newquay, from cosy country pubs to chic seaside shacks.

Cottages in Newquay

What do you feel like eating? Traditional British, Med-inspired, Indian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, French… Newquay has it all, and often accompanied by a fantastic view. The restaurant on Lusty Glaze Beach is a real favourite (and what a setting) or drive out to the Beach Hut on Watergate Bay.

Start the day with a breakfast or brunch at Box & Barber or Fore Street Cafe in town, with a picnic lunch on the beach. Then it’s afternoon tea courtesy of Gwenna Teahouse at Porth, rounding off the day at Toast Tapas (or if you’re with kids, Little Italy).

Not all the pubs in Newquay are geared towards party animals, and you’ll find some excellent gastropubs in the town and its surrounding villages. The Red Lion has lovely views over Newquay Harbour, or try the family-friendly Fort Inn on Fore Street. However, for the best choice of dining pubs, take a taxi out to one of the nearby villages.

The 17th-century Traveller’s Rest is between Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth. This family and dog-friendly pub serves much-loved classics, and you can choose between its cosy interior and beer garden. If that’s not quite historic enough, go back a century to the Smugglers’ Den Inn near Cubert, a postcard-perfect thatched pub with a separate pizza kitchen. However, the Treguth Inn at Holywell trumps them all, dating back to the 13th century.

If you want to treat yourself, pan-Asian Kahuna in the centre of town serves traditional dishes from Thailand, China and Korea, made from quality Cornish ingredients. Bush Pepper is something a bit different: an Australian-inspired bistro in the middle of Newquay (try the spiced kangaroo loin).

For seafood, head to Fistral and Rick Stein’s restaurant. Can’t get a table? Have take-away fish and chips instead: they’re absolutely sublime, and you can eat them on the sands as the sun goes down. There’s also The Fish House on Fistral, where you can tuck in to barbecued lobster or a fish platter, with the best views in town.