Food and Drink

Restaurants...

Rick Stein has put Padstow on the foodie map with his original Seafood Restaurant, Bistro and cafe, and as you would expect, you are not likely to be disappointed at any of his establishments. The Seafood Restaurant has been newly re-furbished for 2008 improving the atmosphere enormously in our view. They've added a central bar where, without a reservation, you can walk in and enjoy sushi oysters or order from the full menu. Our favourite probably remains the cafe which offers a delicious, simple menu, a friendly relaxed atmosphere and is fantastic value for money. There are lots of other great places to eat and drink. Here are some of our own favourites (or click here for reviews on Square Meal). Most restaurants are very busy year round so it's advisable to book well in advance.

For a bottle of wine in a fantastic setting you can do no better than to take a seat on the Bin Two wine terrace and watch harbour life go by. Prices are really reasonable with a flat corkage rate being charged on any bottle you choose from the shop. If you've never tried Cornish wine then trust us and try a bottle of Atlantic Dry or any other wine from the Camel Vineyard.

Mary B Cafe is our very favourite place for a spot of light lunch or a cream. Mary B is set in a charming little courtyard just behind Rick Stein's Patisserie and the owners, Danny and Nicola, go out of their way to make you welcome. For the best coffee in town and scrummy sandwiches, cakes and treats, it’s a must do on your Padstow itinerary. New for 2008 Mary B will be opening in the evenings offering light meals including a tapas of fantastic local produce (try the smoked fish platter from Tregida Smokehouse or the selection of Cornish cheeses!). Now fully licensed, Mary B is a great spot for a lighter meal if you've booked a belly buster somewhere the night before. Call 01841 533238.

Margots is a fantastic, informal bistro which opens for lunch and dinner. Listed in the good food guide, Adrian, the chef and owner, offers exceptional value for money and is always booked up well in advance. For a top notch meal in a friendly atmosphere book early on 01841 533441.

No. 6 Padstow offers fine dining at the hands of the Head Chef, Paul Ainsworth who has worked at a number of Michelin starred restaurants with Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsey and Marcus Wareing. This range of experience is reflected in the quality of the food which is quite simply outstanding in flavour and presentation. Chris, the restaurant manager, heads up the front of house team providing really great service ensuring that you leave well fed and well looked after. Call 01841 532093.

Custard is an English Diner newly opened in 2007. Just a few yards from the harbour edge and open all day, Custard offers traditional English fish and meat dishes with a contemporary twist. Delicious, great value dishes such as whole plaice with brown shrimp and samphire makes this restaurant a must-do on your Padstow dinner intinerary. Call 01841 532565.

For something more informal Rojanos offers pizza and pasta dishes. Call 01841 532796.

The Basement Café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and provides a tasty and varied menu. Open all day, situated just a few yards from the harbour with external seating. Call 01841 532846.

As you would expect, there are a number of fish and chips shops, but king among these is Rick Stein's Fish and Chips which really are worth a couple of extra pounds. There's often quite a queue (especially if you want to eat in) but we think it's worth the wait.

It would be rude to leave Padstow without having a Pasty. There are a number of pasty shops but for our money we reckon that Rick Stein's has the edge.

Further afield, but still easily within reach, Jamie Oliver has now opened Fifteen Cornwall offering an innovative menu in stunning surroundings with views over Watergate Bay. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner you can contact Fifteen on 01637 861000.

Most pubs in Padstow offer food. We like the Harbour Inn (it has a fishing boat and lobster is often on the menu alongside burger and chips), The Golden Lion (serving amongst other things, a fish pie that you struggle to finish) and the Shipwrights (great steak and kidney pudding and views over the harbour).

Finally, if you're an aspiring chef, why not try one of the courses offered by Rick Stein's Seafood School.

More foodie info

Sample Breakfast Menu

Start with your choice of:

Cereals, toast with home-made preserves or summer fruit compote with local yogurt and home-made granola.

Followed by your choice of:

Cornish cooked breakfast

Sausage, smoked bacon, field mushroom, tomato, fried, scrambled or poached egg & hogs pudding (a kind of sliced herby sausage). Vegetarian sausages available.

Scrambled Eggs

Softly scrambled eggs cooked with a touch of clotted cream, served with wholemeal toast & smoked salmon

Kippers

Juicy, locally produced kipper served with butter, lemon & toast

Eggs Benedict or Veggie Eggs Benedict

Poached eggs on a toasted muffin with smoked bacon & hollandaise sauce (served with mushroom instead of bacon for vegetarians)

French Toast Sandwich

French toast sandwich with chocolate & crème fraiché (like a deliciously unctious pain au chocolate)

Smoothie

Made with summer fruits, banana & apple juice served with a skewer of fresh fruit

Fresh Fruit Salad

Selection of freshly prepared fruit served with local yogurt, honey and mixed seeds

Continental Breakfast

Fresh croissant with local preserves, Cornish Yarg cheese & deli meats.

We can provide you with the perfect venue for a romantic, lazy getaway, a base for sightseeing in the beautiful Cornish countryside or a start point for some serious hiking along the stunning coastal paths. For the more adventurous, the Camel estuary and surrounding coastline offer great locations for sailing, surfing and kitesurfing.

If you have an aching body or a heavy soul, Mary - who is a qualified massage therapist - can provide comfort in the form of her in-house aromatherapy massage treatments. Choose a treatment ranging from a soothing foot massage through to a full body treatment. Delivered in our tranquil treatment room, Mary can leave you invigorated, relaxed or revived depending on your mood.

In the mornings, Mike will entice you with a delicious home-cooked breakfast. The varied menu changes regularly but will include treats such as a traditional cooked breakfast, using locally sourced produce, as well as healthier options and smoothies for those watching their waistline.

Served in the privacy of your own room, under the Victorian glass veranda, on the garden terrace with its stunning estuary views or in the open plan country kitchen for groups travelling together, we can guarantee you the best possible start to your day.

We do all we can to support local businesses and minimise our own impact on the environment as well as any indirect impact our guests might have.