Guide to the best pasties in Cornwall

When we dream of Cornwall, what springs to mind? Sun, sea, surf…and the legendary Cornish pasty! Traditionally made with beef, onion, potato and swede (but never a carrot), seasoned and encased in pastry, the much-loved Cornwall pasty (aka ‘oggy’), was enjoyed by nobility as far back as the 13th century. However, it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries and the Industrial Revolution, that the pasty was adopted as a filling and portable lunch for Cornwall’s miners and labourers. 

While cooking, the ingredients marinate in their own hearty gravy, though it wasn’t uncommon for Cornish pasties to have a savoury filling at one end and a sweet, fruit or treacle filling at the other – making for a delicious two-course meal! It’s often said miners would use the crimped crust of the pasty as a handle to discard, to avoid ingesting any arsenic they may have on their hands.   

During the Cornish Diaspora, many miners left Cornwall seeking work overseas and took their pasty-passion with them to North America, South America, Australia and South Africa, where ingredients were adapted to the cultural flavours. Cornwall pasties remain a food favourite with Cornish residents and tourists alike and if you’re in pursuit of the best pasties in Cornwall – then look no further. Our trusty Cornwall pasty guide details the locations, opening times and websites for some of the top pasty makers around. 

Skip to:

• North Cornwall
• South Cornwall
• West Cornwall
• Across Cornwall (and beyond!)

Best pasties in North Cornwall

Boscastle Farm Shop

Photo credit: Boscastle Farm Shop

Close to the coast path and with views out to sea, Boscastle Farm Shop and Cafe is set in beautiful National Trust farmland. The farm shop uses home-grown and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible to make its cakes, pies and traditional pasties, and sells Boscastle-caught lobster, their award-winning meat and more (they have an online shop too). In a nutshell, this is a lovely spot to purchase some tasty treats and enjoy a homemade Cornwall pasty lunch at the cafe! Traditional steak pasties are on the menu, as well as Davidstow cheddar and onion.

Chough Bakery, Padstow

Photo credit: Chough Bakery

Set on Padstow’s harbourfront, Elaine and Rob launched Chough Bakery some 40 years ago. With a wide range of delicious wares including some of the best Cornish pasties in Cornwall – traditional steak, steak and Padstow ale, steak and blue cheese, chicken, bacon and cheddar, triple cheese and onion and vegan pasties with chickpeas and merlot – deciding what to get for lunch is a tough choice! Pasties can be bought in the bakery or online and their years of expertise, local produce and traditional baking methods, ensure that, as their website says, there’s ‘The taste of Padstow, in every bite'.

Morris Pasties Newquay

Opened as a butcher’s shop in the 1970s, you’ll find Morris Pasties Newquay in the centre of town. They continue to use the secret pasty recipe of the elderly lady in St Columb, who supplied her handmade pasties to the original butcher’s shop. Nowadays, they offer a range of pasties, such as traditional, creamy chicken, breakfast pasties and vegan spicy veg pasties. And if you can’t get there in person – no problem! Boxes can be ordered online and delivered nationwide.

St Agnes Bakery

Photo credit: St Agnes Bakery

Still baking top-notch, gold-standard Cornwall pasties and giant sausage rolls from their original site, which opened in 1905, you’ll find this gem of a bakery in the village of St Agnes. Using many locally sourced ingredients; traditional, and Davidstow cheese and vegetable pasties are up for grabs, with vegan snack options too. St Agnes Bakery’s ethos includes reducing waste and energy usage and supporting charities within their community.  

Tasty Pasties, Bude

These flavoursome favourites come in traditional, vegetarian and vegan, gluten-free and speciality and seasonal options – including chilli beef and cheese, and pork and apple. Veggie options at Tasty Pasties include spinach and ricotta, while the vegan menu offers a sweet-sounding apple and blackcurrant pasty amongst its more savoury choices. Other than the gluten-free pasties, all bakes are handmade in the shop. What’s more, you can order them online for delivery.

Best pasties in South Cornwall

Martin’s Dairy, Looe

Don’t be confused by the name – Martin’s Dairy is known for preparing and cooking up some of the best pasties in Cornwall. Established by the Martin family in the early 1900s, they originally made ice-cream, clotted cream and milk from local farm produce. In the 1980s, they evolved into a bakery and cafe, which is nowadays run by the Butters family. If in Looe and looking for more foodie inspiration, be sure to check out our guide to restaurants in Looe too! 

Sarah’s Pasty Shop, Looe

Photo credit: Sarah's Pasty Shop

This pretty little pasty shop was a ‘Muddy Stilettos’ award-winner in 2024 and if you’re lucky, you can watch the staff fashioning and crimping pasties as you wait. Made daily on site, Sarah’s is a family-run business offering a range of sumptuous pasties, including vegan pasties and pasties suitable for people with dietary requirements. On the daily board, you may well see traditional pasties, bacon, cheese and leek pasties and chickpea and lentil offerings. 

Quay Bakery, Fowey

Their range of bakes, including their lovely Cornish pasties are produced fresh on site by their artisan bakers. The Quay Bakery focuses on two traditional pasties – their skirt steak, potato, onion and swede pasty, and their Cornish gouda, potato, swede and onion pasty. In the summer season, they have two bakes a day at 11am and noon, so don’t miss out! 

Best pasties in West Cornwall

Ann’s Pasties, The Lizard

Coming from a long line of female pasty-makers, Ann’s debut into the world of making and selling pasties came when she stepped in last minute to help her busy mother, a professional pasty maker, at an agricultural fair. Afterwards, Ann started making pasties for neighbours and the business evolved from there – using local suppliers to source ingredients for pasties such as traditional steak, cheese, and vegan kimchi pasties. Ann’s also has shops in Porthleven and Helston, and pasties can be ordered online for delivery. 

Gear Farm Pasty Co, near Helston

A hot contender for best Cornish pasty in Cornwall – Gear Farm Pasty Co. was founded in 1999 by David Webb. This farm shop and speciality grocers has a range of products to tempt you, and their Cornwall pasties get consistent rave reviews! Made daily by hand using traditional methods and their own organic farm ingredients, their ever-popular steak pasties, cheese pasties, vegetable pasties and celebrated, seasonal Christmas Cornish pasties prove hard to beat.

Mounts Bay Pasty Company, Penzance

Ever-popular with the locals, Mounts Bay Pasty Bakery and Cafe offers pasties in all their lovely and traditional forms – such as steak, steak and stilton, cheese and onion, veggie and maybe a more contemporary Thai red chicken pasty. Eat in or wander down to the harbour to enjoy your pasty by the sea and watch the world go by. 

St Ives Bakery

St Ives Bakery handmakes and bakes through the day and you’ll find tasty, traditional steak pasties, lamb and mint pasties, cheese pasties, veggie pasties and more. They can also bake to order with an hour’s notice. St Ives Bakery also sell artisan breads and if you’re feeling like you need something sweet after your savoury lunch, check out their beautiful cake selection and oh-so-pretty meringues!

Hampsons of Hayle

With generous meat portions, Hampsons’ popular Cornwall pasties consist of the traditional potato, onion, swede and minced beef/diced skirt. They also bake pasties with chicken and pork, cheese with the traditional veg, offer a solo veggie pasty and a Cornish pasty with a moreish cheese and onion filling. The main shop showcases their pasties, pies, deli and confectionary wares and they have a food-to-go shop across town. Pasties can also be sent out by post and if you’ve a particular filling in mind, give them a ring to request! 

Best pasties across Cornwall (and beyond!)

Malcolm Barnecutt 

With baking roots dating back to 1930, Malcolm Barnecutt opened his first shop in 1983 at the old Guildhall in Bodmin. The business has since evolved to 12 shops in Cornwall, one in Plymouth and another shop due to launch in Wadebridge. Malcolm has retired but the business remains family-run, with son James at the helm. Pasties include traditional steak, ‘fake’ steak and gluten-free options – each made to their own secret recipes, handed down through the generations. You can order pasties and traditional Cornish cakes for postal delivery – yum! 

Philps

Sammy Philp was the instigator of the business in the 1950s. With Sammy’s skilled baker cousin, Everett Philp on board, this Cornish family-run business thrived and now boasts seven shops across Cornwall. Pasties come in traditional steak, cheese, chicken, vegan, steak and cheese and hog’s pudding. And if you’re not in the region but fancy ordering a box of Philps pasties to enjoy at home; they can be ordered online for postal delivery. Their celebration pasties can even be personalised.

Rowe’s Cornish Bakers

Established in Falmouth in 1949 by Bill Rowe, with twice-won ‘World Pasty Champions’ to their name, Rowe’s now have over 20 shops and two production outlets and if you’re in the South West, South of England or in Wales, you’re probably familiar with the brand and shops and may even have a Rowe’s in your local supermarket. Their best seller is the traditional steak pasty but they also bake Cornish pasties with both chicken and veggie filling options and yes, you can order boxes for home delivery. 

Warrens

Some 160 years ago, a farmer’s son and a baker’s daughter from St Just, near Lands End combined their skills and baking passion to produce and sell pasties, bread, scones and biscuits to the local community of miners, farmers and families. Over time, their original success has led to 40 Warrens stores across Cornwall and beyond into the rest of the West Country (and a shop in Wales) - along with earning them the prestigious title of Cornwall’s oldest bakery. Pasties can be bought in shop or ordered online, with options including traditional steak, vegan Thai, cheese and onion veggie pasties and winter root veg.

Stay with us in Cornwall

From clotted cream for your scones, to ice cream and saffron buns, Cornwall has plenty of tasty and traditional treats to sample. And if you’re looking for your next Cornwall getaway and to perhaps sample some of the best pasties in Cornwall for yourself, then let us look after you! You can browse our range of beautiful cottages and holiday rentals right here.