Clare Willcocks
21 March 2023
Whether it’s sparkling seas, raging storms or dreamy sundowners, there’s nothing more special than an ocean backdrop to accompany tantalising fodder. Fortunately, Cornwall is famous for both its amazing culinary talent and awe-inspiring locations; all the ingredients for a match made in heaven.
If you’re looking for cafes in Cornwall where you can sup your choice of beverage and tuck into a tasty dish while admiring those fabulous seascapes, have a browse of our favourite beach cafes in Cornwall below. And if you’re planning to soak up the sea views wherever you can, you'll simply love our Cornwall cottages with a sea view.
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Beach cafes in North Cornwall
Life’s a Beach, Bude
This large cafe/restaurant has it all, and is just a stone’s throw from one of Cornwall’s most popular family-friendly beaches, Summerleaze Beach. Choose from a fantastic menu with something to suit all tastes, and eat inside or out, depending on the weather or your whim! It’s not far to trundle up from the beach with sandy toes and salty hair to take your spot for a fabulous lunch.
Your pooch is welcome to join you while you eat, and if that doesn’t make their ears perk up, the news that the beach is dog friendly year round surely will! Take a look at our guide to discover more dog-friendly Cornish beaches. Our Bude holiday cottages are well worth a browse too.
Surfside, Polzeath
To get to Polzeath’s Surfside, you actually have to ditch your shoes and walk across the beach’s glorious soft sand. Nothing compares to a barefoot stroll along the shoreline, before settling down for a delicious meal in one of the best beach cafes in Cornwall, sat where the Camel Estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The rum bar and restaurant is a top destination for lazy afternoons, where you can sip on your choice of drink (including more than 90 rums!), while salivating over seafood dishes and tapas. The hand-built, ramshackle bar can’t fail to get you in the relaxed holiday spirit while staying at one of our holiday cottages in Polzeath.
Sea Spray Cafe, Fistral Beach
Images courtesy of Sea Spray Cafe
A family-run, dog-friendly, beachfront cafe with mind-boggling views, Sea Spray Cafe ticks all the boxes. Right by the popular Fistral Beach, tuck into a saliva-inducing selection and lean back as the waves kiss the shore and birds swoop in a cloudless sky.
Pop in to warm up post-surf, or pitch up for lunch after a sunny spell on the beach. There are tables inside and out, so whatever the weather you can soak up the sea views with a season-appropriate snack and drink! You're bound to find the perfect place to stay nearby within our collection of Newquay cottages.
Beach cafes in West Cornwall
Godrevy Cafe, Godrevy
Take your breakfast overlooking Godrevy lighthouse or indulge in a light lunch whilst breathing in the intoxicating sea air. Flaunting an enviable location that takes full advantage of the views, the National Trust-owned Godrevy Cafe is great for all generations.
Head up the stairs to take a seat on the balcony, the best place to admire the views. The cafe is also open in winter when it remains a hub of activity with dog walkers, coast-path ramblers and hardened beachgoers. Browse our St Ives holiday homes and Camborne cottages to find a place to stay nearby.
Beach Cafe Bar, St Ives
Centrally located on the aesthetic masterpiece that is St Ives seafront, Beach Cafe Bar is an excellent little sea view cafe which offers a menu of delicious brunches and light bites. Pull up a seat and take in the views; dramatic in winter and gorgeous in summer, this is one for all seasons.
Step out the door and you’ll find yourself on the harbourside, ready for a sedate stroll around the galleries and shops of one of Cornwall’s favourite destinations. Browse our St Ives cottages for a place to stay near this fabulous cafe.
Sennen Cove Cafe, Sennen
After hours spent diving in and out of the waves and playing games on the sand, there’s really only one way to reward yourself properly. And that involves cake. Taking in breathtaking views of the beach and surrounding coastline, Sennen Cove Cafe serves homemade cakes, hearty breakfasts and lunches for all.
If you’re rambling along the coast path towards Land’s End, schedule in a lunch break to make the most of the hospitality of one of Cornwall’s favourite seaside cafes. The licensed cafe also has some outdoor seating overlooking the cove, ideal for soaking up some rays on a sunny day. It's a great place to visit while staying in one of our lovely Sennen Cove cottages.
Poldhu Beach Cafe, Poldhu
Images courtesy of Poldhu Beach Cafe
Open year-round, Poldhu Beach Cafe is a firm favourite amongst both visitors and locals. Servers of dreamy novelty hot chocolates and hosts of pug meet-up events (yes, seriously), this cafe is the perfect spot to bury your toes in the sand and enjoy the bay whatever the weather.
If you’re looking for cafes on the beach in Cornwall where you’ll be as welcome in a wetsuit as you will in a woolly jumper, this is the perfect spot – and it’s open 365 days of the year, ideal for warming up after a winter dip! Check out this lovely cafe during your stay in one of our Mullion cottages.
Kynance Cove Cafe, Kynance Cove
One of the best beaches in Cornwall – maybe even the world – Kynance Cove has gained a global reputation for its unparalleled natural beauty. Boasting a unique and singular presence in the cove, Kynance Cove Cafe, is one of a kind when it comes to beach cafes in Cornwall.
The cafe is owned by the National Trust, but has been family run since the trust acquired it in 1999. The menu features all the lunchtime favourites, including jacket potatoes, pasties, burgers, sandwiches, baguettes and salad. Sound tasty? Then check out our mouthwatering range of cottages on the Lizard Peninsula.
Polpeor Cafe, Lizard Point
Image courtesy of Polpeor Cafe
Mainland England’s most southerly cafe, Polpeor Cafe on the Lizard Point is well worth a visit. Perched on the end of a rocky finger jutting out in the sea, its spectacular vantage point affords mind-blowing vistas all year. And they welcome four-legged friends too.
It's not only the view that’s divine, the food is too. Whether you opt for a slice of moist carrot cake or a full lunch, your tastebuds will be satisfied while you take in that unparalleled panorama. We've got a range of cottages on the Lizard Peninsula, from which you can visit this delightful cafe.
Gylly Beach Cafe, Falmouth
Images courtesy of Gylly Beach Cafe
Slap bang on Falmouth’s Gyllyngvase Beach, the aptly named Gylly Beach Cafe is an award-winning, family-run gem. This cafe on the beach in Cornwall delights visitors with incredible views, and also serves fantastic grub with an ultra-low carbon footprint. So low, in fact, that all of their cakes and breads are made by the bakery next door, travelling all of 30 yards from oven to plate. Four-legged friends are allowed to accompany their owners anywhere on the veranda, making it a great stop on an invigorating coastal walk.
They also serve a catchily named ‘roast on the coast’ on Sunday evenings. What better way to round off a week in one of our Falmouth cottages?
Beach cafes in South Cornwall
The Hidden Hut, Portscatho
Tucked away in an idyllic location on the rugged and romantic Roseland Peninsula, overlooking Porthcurnick Beach, The Hidden Hut is like an oasis in the desert, though we’re sure you’ll agree, there is nowhere we’d rather find ourselves lost! Serving up seasonal lunches, freshly prepared in their outdoor kitchen, this beach cafe in Cornwall epitomises everything that is special about the county and its cuisine.
In addition to their daily takeaway lunches (summer and winter), the cafe opens for special summer evening events, during which you can savour a showcase dish, watered down with your bring-your-own tipple. Our Roseland Peninsula holiday homes and cottages in Portscatho are well worth a browse if you're looking for a place to stay nearby.
Portscatho cottages
The Beach Cafe, Caerhays
Images courtesy of Caerhays Beach Cafe
Caerhays Beach Cafe occupies a stunning position alongside Porthluney Bay. Besides being an incredible spot to kick back with a coffee or fill up on a delicious lunch, it also puts on a whole host of live entertainment and themed foodie nights throughout the summer.
What’s more, this lovely cafe is a short stroll (500 metres) from the magnificent Caerhays Castle, so if the weather’s a little iffy, or you fancy a break from the beach, you can take a guided tour or explore the impressive gardens. All of this is close at hand when you stay in one of our Pentewan cottages.
The Beach Cafe, Looe
As with many of the eateries on our list, this little beach cafe in Cornwall does what it says on the tin! Expect wonderful sea views as you enjoy your traditional fish and chips or breakfast bap from the Beach Cafe. With the scent of salt and vinegar in the air, this is one of those places where getting back to basics feels like a rare treat.
Once you’ve made the most of the views from inside, step outside for a stroll on the beach or amble around the friendly town, all within easy reach of our cottages in Looe.
Cliff Top Cafe, Milbrook
Images courtesy of Cliff Top Cafe
If you like to admire the sea from afar, charming Cliff Top Cafe is the place to be. Studded into the leafy cliffs above Tregonhawke Beach, part of the three-mile-long Whitsand Bay, the cafe serves a good range of hot and cold drinks, breakfasts and light lunches.
A warm welcome awaits, making it the perfect pitstop for refuelling on your way to or from the beach. What’s more, the cafe is a short hop, skip and jump from our Millbrook holiday cottages, some of which share the same stunning clifftop views!
View the best beach cafes in Cornwall on a map
Wherever you're heading in Cornwall, you won't be far from a fantastic beach cafe.
Stay with us in Cornwall
If there’s one thing Cornwall’s got in abundance (besides spectacular beaches and awe-inspiring coastal views, that is!), it’s fabulous eateries. If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the UK’s southernmost county for a self-catering holiday, you won’t be short of places to eat to suit everyone’s tastebuds.
We hope this selection of beach cafes in Cornwall has whet your appetite, as these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the county’s foodie offering. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, why not have a browse of our equally tempting collection of sea-view holiday cottages in Cornwall?
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.