The top 16 Penzance restaurants and pubs

In the rugged far west of Cornwall, Penzance overlooks beautiful Mounts Bay and the iconic St Michael’s Mount and is less than 10 miles from both the popular resort of St Ives and the family attraction at Land’s End. 

Stay in Penzance and you’ll discover all kinds of exciting things to do, from open-air theatre to exotic gardens, not to mention enticing independent shops and an array of art galleries. Here you can also swim in a 1930s Lido and visit some of the oldest pubs in Cornwall for a pint. This historic market town also has a growing reputation for its excellent restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs.

If you’re looking to satisfy your taste buds with a gourmet getaway to Penzance, click the link below to see our selection of fabulous places to stay in this exciting destination. Our holiday cottages, many of them dog-friendly, come in all shapes and sizes, to suit couples, families and large groups. 

Skip to sections:

• Restaurants in Penzance
• Seafood restaurants in Penzance
• Chinese restaurants in Penzance
• Indian restaurants in Penzance
• Pubs and bars in Penzance
• Fish and chips in Penzance
• Cafes in Penzance

Restaurants in Penzance

EzPz

After a successful stint serving food from a converted horsebox parked on Penzance’s promenade, EzPz made the transition to a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in 2024 and hasn’t looked back since, with several reviewers saying they enjoyed the best food they’d ever tasted in its modest establishment near the train station. Mediterranean and tapas-style dishes are well priced and super tasty, and the ambience is relaxed and friendly. You can bring your own drinks, too. It’s a good idea to book ahead if you can. 

The Alverne

A family-run business just beyond the top of Penzance’s main shopping street, The Alverne offers modern European cuisine using seasonal and artisanal produce from local producers and suppliers. There’s fresh fish and seafood from nearby Newlyn Harbour every day, plus varied dishes that include Spanish and modern Mediterranean influences, and a vegan menu. With its stylish yet unpretentious interior and a sunny outdoor terrace for warmer days, The Alverne strikes is one of the best restaurants in Penzance with just the right balance between relaxed dining and a special-occasion feel. 

Cork & Fork

Dedicated to sustainability and flavour, Cork & Fork is one of the best family-run Penzance restaurants that sources the freshest produce from local businesses and farms, complemented by honey and pollen harvested from its own beehives. As well as seafood, its menu includes an excellent selection of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, and the wine and cocktail list is classy, too. 

Seafood restaurants in Penzance

The Shore

The Shore Restaurant offers laid-back fine dining, prepared and served by chef/proprietor Bruce Rennie in the form of multiple small courses. Each day, Rennie decides what to cook based on the best local fish and vegetables available. There are only ten seats and you’ll all be served together at 7pm – rather like a supper club. Reviewers have called it the 'best restaurant in Cornwall'. 

Barbican Bistro

Brothers Jack and Jay Liddicoat run Barbican Bistro, tucked away in a cobbled side street right by the harbour. They work with local suppliers including their father Shane, who delivers fish straight off his boat, and serve small plates with a focus on fresh, seasonal dining. It is one of the best Penzance restaurants that is loved by locals.

Argoe

Set in a trendy, wooden-clad building, Argoe is right on the water’s edge in Newlyn, just metres from where much of its menu is landed. Book a table on the terrace and enjoy a daily-changing menu of Cornish seafood, some familiar and some more unusual, accompanied by delicious natural wines. 

Mackerel Sky

A popular, tapas-style seafood bar, Mackerel Sky in Newlyn serves up taster-size plates of fresh and local produce, including such delights as a crispy monkfish burger, mussels in cider cream, and crab nachos. It’s small and doesn’t take bookings, so be prepared to join a relaxed queue outside in the busy summer months. 

Chinese restaurants in Penzance

Dynasty

Located on the road to Helston, 6 miles from central Penzance, Dynasty offers an all-you-can-eat buffet with a wide variety of Chinese cuisines, made with authentic, fresh ingredients. There’s plenty of parking right outside, or you can order a takeaway to be delivered to your door. It is one of the finest Penzance restaurants.

Sea Palace

Voted Penzance’s best Chinese restaurant, Sea Palace is the place to find Cantonese, Peking and Szechuan cuisine, with gluten-free and vegan options available. Stroll down towards the harbour to eat in or collect your takeaway; deliveries are not available. The menu is extensive, offering everything from crispy aromatic duck to sizzling seafood dishes, all made with care and packed with flavour. 

Indian restaurants in Penzance

Le Raj

Bring your own drinks and enjoy the melting pot of flavours at Le Raj, at the bottom of the high street near the station. Its authentic Indian menu includes everything you’d expect as well as some specialities, including creamy malai biryani, railway lamb, lababdar (a variation of butter chicken) and mumtaj, a Punjabi-style chicken or lamb dish.

Pubs and bars in Penzance

45 Queen Street

Housed in a former warehouse that’s been lovingly restored to become a fashionable bar, kitchen and deli, 45 Queen Street is a go-to for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Vibrant and ever-evolving, it’s a year-round locals’ favourite, specialising in local seafood, organic veg, fish, meat, home-baked cakes and a full range of beers, wines and cocktails. Don’t miss the Tinkture gin, hand-crafted from fresh Cornish roses and enjoy dining at this lovely gem that is one of the best Penzance restaurants.

The Tolcarne

Mentioned in the Michelin Guide, the Tolcarne Inn is a 300-year-old pub by the sea wall in the heart of Newlyn. Chef Ben Tunnicliffe works closely with local fishmongers to ensure the freshest catch is delivered daily, and with an emphasis on sustainability. Other produce comes from local growers, market gardens and community farms. The seasonal seafood menu includes vegetarian options and can be adapted for children and specific dietary requirements. Enjoy a meal by the wood burner in the winter, or head out to the sunny terrace in the summer. 

Fish and chips in Penzance

Frasers

For top-notch fish and chips, Frasers, on the promenade between Penzance and Newlyn, is the place to go. With 21 years of experience, they know exactly what they’re doing, and while the standard cod and chips is excellent, they also include calamari, scampi, line-caught haddock and home-made fishcakes on their menu. All Fraser’s fish is responsibly sourced, and their potatoes are grown locally. Click and collect via their website if you want to avoid queuing. 

Cafes in Penzance

The Singing Rooster

The Singing Rooster specialises in Polish and European delicacies, served in the warm, inviting setting of this family-run café. Everything on the menu is freshly prepared every day in the kitchen, and you’ll enjoy tasty, traditional dishes such as bigos, lazanki, golabki, pierogi and goulash. Cakes and desserts are on offer, too, and the Singing Rooster is fully licensed, so you can even try some Polish vodka. 

The Honey Pot

Re-opened after a major refurbishment in 2025, The Honey Pot is a Penzance institution. This highly popular, licensed café is open seven days a week for wholesome, home-made breakfast, lunch and dinner during high season, and during the day and sometimes evenings the rest of the year. The regular menu is largely vegetarian and vegan, with gluten-free options, and there’s a splendid selection of cakes made in their own kitchen, which could include the likes of blackberry, honey and thyme polenta cake, Cornish strawberry and vanilla pavlova and warm banana bread with crunchy peanut butter. 

Jubilee Pool Café

Admire the views of the sensational Art Deco lido as you enjoy a drink, an ice cream, a cake or a snack at Penzance’s Jubilee Pool Café. The focus is on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and simple but delicious food, from soups and salads to sandwiches and cakes. The vibe is relaxed, and you can sit either inside or out on the terrace, from which you can admire the efforts of the swimmers in the unheated seawater pool.  

Stay with us in Penzance

Enjoy a foodie getaway in the Far West of Cornwall and try as many Penzance restaurants as possible! Click the link below to book one of our high-quality holiday cottages, all offering the chance to relax and enjoy the best of Cornish hospitality. Our properties in Penzance suit large groups, families, couples and single guests, with many welcoming dogs inside, too.