Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Cornwall

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Cornwall? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling

4.9

4.9 (1256)

£41 and over

British

St Ives

About the restaurant

In a stunning Cornish Atlantic setting, just a mile from St Ives, Ugly Butterfly restaurant and bar offers spectacular views across one of the worlds most beautiful coasts, Carbis Bay. Ugly Butterfly showcases chef Adam Handling’s passion for converting locally-sourced, quality ingredients into beautifully-presented dishes, packed full of flavour. Offering an all-day dining experience, the Ugly Butterfly bar uses trims and offcuts from the ingredients used in the restaurant to create delicious drinks and bar snacks. This bar menu will illustrate that there is no such thing as food waste, much in the same way that there is no such thing as an Ugly Butterfly.

Top review

Tanith

Dined 4 days ago

As always, fantastic time at The Ugly Butterfly and the staff could not be more accommodating for my 10 month old daughter.

Argoe

4.9

4.9 (118)

£26 to £40

Seafood

Penzance

About the restaurant

Argoe is a casual harbourside restaurant serving the best of local Cornish produce. We focus on fish and seafood, landed here in Newlyn, and take inspiration from traditional European methods of cooking. Our dishes are served to be shared, arriving from the kitchen as they are ready and accompanied by minimal intervention wines from our taps and a small selection of Cornish and UK made ciders, spirits and soft drinks.

Top review

Kath

Dined 4 days ago

Food was cooked to perfection. The Brill was amazing. Best meal we have had in a long time and although not cheap well worth the cost. Excellent service and staff very friendly. Would recommend

Amanzi South African Restaurant Falmouth

4.9

4.9 (499)

£26 to £40

Southern African

Falmouth

About the restaurant

We are a small independent family-run restaurant located in the heart of Falmouth, Cornwall.

Carolyn and Ian - your hosts, would love to make your experience at Amanzi a relaxed, warm, and accommodating one. Born in Malawi and Zambia respectively, they spent most of their lives in South Africa; now residing here in Falmouth bringing all the flavours of Southern Africa directly to your plate.

We hope to see you soon, and that your dining experience with us will be memorable and different.

Top review

Craig

Dined on Dec 2, 2024

On arrival greeted by two ladies who were really friendly and welcoming. Shown us to our table and I couldn’t like the decor and ambiance more. Great music playing but not too loud and the restaurant really felt like it was in Cape Town. The food? Wow wow wow! Delicious and the service was fast. I think the value was exceptional in addition to all I’ve already said and it’s been a long time I’ve come away from any meal this happy and impressed. I can’t recommend enough and you will not be disappointed. Now to plan another visit!

Discover more

4.9

4.9 (132)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Constantine

About the restaurant

We are SLICE and this is how we roll.
Slice is a unique cafe / restaurant in a relaxed location on the Helford, West Cornwall. We have a proud and unique vision, menu and customer service. Baya & Waffles are our heroes and unique to Slice.
We're open everyday & have something for everyone.

Top review

Dan

Dined 1 day ago

Great food and amazing service as always. We love eating here and giving my daughter the crayons to colour in while she waits for her food is such a nice touch. Thanks

St. Eia

4.9

4.9 (15)

£26 to £40

Bistro

St Ives

About the restaurant

St. Eia is an intimate wine bar & shop tucked away in the back streets of St. Ives, a stone's throw from Porthmeor beach and the Tate Gallery.

We serve seasonal bistro inspired food alongside wines which focus on conscientious farming practices and family values.

Daily changing wines by the glass and an ever expanding selection of super rare and exciting wines by the bottle at reasonable prices.

Top review

Freya

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Very friendly staff, lovely vibe and atmosphere! Recommend for both a daytime coffee or evening glass of wine and food! Will be returning again and again!

The Tartan Fox by Adam Handling

4.8

4.8 (361)

£26 to £40

British

Newquay

About the restaurant

The Tartan Fox by Adam Handling

Welcome to our British restaurant and pub, with gardens, in the picturesque countryside of Cornwall, between Truro and Newquay. We offer sustainable British pub food, with a luxury approach. It’s a simple offering but really showcases the best of produce from in and around Cornwall. Our Sunday lunch is perfect to come and enjoy with your friends and family (and your dogs are more than welcome too!).

Top review

Joe

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent food and the service was exceptional. It's quite pricey for what is still a pub, but the quality of the meals and produce used was worth the money.

Porthminster Beach Café

4.7

4.7 (4650)

£41 and over

Seafood

St Ives

About the restaurant

Nestled beneath the steep slopes of Porthminster Point, right on the beach with unbeatable and uninterrupted views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse. Now open all year round for coffee, lunch and dinner.
Porthminster Cafe in St Ives is a multi award winning seafood restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The café specialises in Mediterranean and Asian seafood cuisine and is an oasis of taste and visual beauty.
A Holiday in St Ives would not be complete without going to the beach. Here at Porthminster Beach we have one of the cleanest beaches in the South West. We have been given the prestigious Blue Flag Award which guarantees the highest of standards.

Top review

Caroline

Dined 7 days ago

Absolutely delicious Roast this Sunday! The Beef Brisket was incredible melted in the mouth. And perfect roast potatoes! Can’t wait to go again

Little Ears

4.7

4.7 (82)

£25 and under

Italian

Newquay

About the restaurant

handmade pasta restaurant coming to newquay, cornwall.

Top review

Tina

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Delicious food / venison shank was exceptional. Friendly efficient service. Definitely will return

The Bank At Bude

4.6

4.6 (2799)

£26 to £40

Tapas / Small Plates

Bude

About the restaurant

Opentable top 100 UK restaurants winner 2022

The Bank is Bude’s resident cornish tapas bar set alongside the tranquil surroundings of the River Neet in North Cornwall.

We pride ourselves on our relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, providing the perfect accompaniment to food made for interaction and sharing. The atmosphere is often described as electric and welcoming to all who dine with us. The Bank is a truly unique dining experience with the quality of food and service at the forefront of everything we do.

Top review

Jesse

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Food was great. Waiter was very attentive and friendly. 10/10 service

The Chapel

4.2

4.2 (233)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Bodmin

About the restaurant

Located in the jail’s Old Chapel, The Chapel combines gothic elegance with a unique sense of history to bring you an exquisite dining experience.

Delve into our seasonal à la carte or table d’hôte menus that have been carefully curated by our talented Head Chef and inspired by local ingredients, fresh flavours and classical cuisine.

We also serve a decadent Cornish breakfast menu in The Chapel Restaurant, offering a variety of options to set you up for a day of adventure, right from the hotel’s doorstep.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Nov 15, 2024

We veneered for dinner after being given a meal voucher. It was a little out of our way but well worth the visit. We throughly enjoyed our meals from start to finish. Staff were all very polite and helpful.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Cornwall

Explore more Diners' Choice lists