Best Restaurants in Penzance

Avocado on toast and a coffee on a slate table

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Best places to eat and drink in Penzance
Where to stay in Penzance

Best places to eat and drink in Penzance

Loafs

This neighbourhood bakery, found in the heart of Penzance, is a one-stop shop for all things baked, from hearty sausage rolls and sandwiches, to creative cruffins and all the classics in-between. Speciality coffee is on offer to complement your pastry, made using beans from the brilliant Square Mile Coffee Roasters. The black-tiled exterior and fun branding shows it doesn't take itself too seriously, but when it comes to bread and croissants, it's not messing around. instagram.com/loafsbakery/

Barbican Bistro

Barbican Bistro is a family affair, run by local brothers Jack and Jay Liddicoat. The duo pride themselves on championing suppliers from the area, including fish from their dad Shane, who delivers it straight off the boat from Newlyn. The charming historic building overlooks Penzance Harbour and has a menu of small plates to share – highlights include crab croquettes with brown crab mayo and lemon sole fillets with wild mushrooms and garlic. barbicanbistro.com

Pizza Plz

Found on Market Jew Street in the very centre of town, Pizza Plz serves Neapolitan-inspired pizza and Italian bar snacks. The lively corner spot offers a few sit-in stools, but most choose to takeaway their order. The menu features all the familiar favourites alongside a few seasonal specials, like the popular ‘The Pleeze Burger’ pizza. A small drinks menu includes Italian and local Cornish beers, and devoted fans can pick up some quirky Pizza Plz merch. pizzaplz.co.uk

45 Queen Street

Tucked away on (as the name suggests) 45 Queen Street, this friendly spot is a neighbourhood bar, kitchen, deli and shop that's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also regularly used for events. Owned and run by couple Hannah and Sam, the business has evolved since they took over the once-abandoned warehouse in 2017. Now the venue is beautiful and bustling, serving wholesome seasonal plates and a drinks list features cocktails using their own Tinkture rose gin. 45queenst.com

Polgoon Vineyard

Polgoon is a vineyard and orchard just outside Penzance that offers tours and wine tastings on a 24-acre estate. Owners Kim and John Coulson battle against the Cornish climate to produce up to 30,000 bottles of wines a year, as well as a range of ciders and juices. Sit under the dappled shade of the site’s vine-wrapped courtyard café and sip chilled bacchus and eat a chunky wedge of crab sandwich.

Inheriting the land with a house, the family at first struggled to know what to do with it. They opted for a vineyard, hand-planted 3,000 vines, paid their children 5p for each snail they collected and, four years later, picked their first harvest. The result is on sale in the vineyard’s shop, along with local crisps and ciders, seaweeds and salts, teas and chocolates, ice creams, honey, beer, relishes and preserves. polgoon.com

Penzance Farmer’s Market

For fresh produce, Penzance Farmers’ Market is the place. Held every Friday in St John’s Hall, its gingham-covered tables are laden with fruit and vegetables, just-baked breads, cakes, Cornish cheeses and Wild Smoked’s products. penzancefarmersmarket.wordpress.com

Where to stay in Penzance

Artist Residence hotel

A coolly colourful 17-bedroom hotel in Penzance’s old quarter, this hotel has a relaxed vibe (checked blankets, yellow Roberts radios, contemporary artworks) and a retro-chic restaurant and bar, The Cornish Barn. The menu includes meat and fish from its in-house smokehouse and tapas-style dishes of deep-fried squid with chilli, lime and salt, and parsnip rösti with caramelised shallots and goat’s cheese. Dessert includes rum-infused crème brûlée, hazelnut brittle and homemade banana ice cream. artistresidencecornwall.co.uk

Doubles from £143, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Chapel House

Chapel House is a graceful, light-filled Georgian home in Penzance’s Old Quarter, where white walls are hung with landscape paintings by students at nearby Newlyn School of Art and where antique furniture sits alongside stylish Nordic pieces. The six rooms all have sea views, painted white floors and vibrant modern artworks. The huge, stone-flagged, kitchen diner in the basement is the scene of owner Susan’s regular weekend suppers, and lengthy brunches. Susan champions local producers, rarely straying far from Penzance to buy ingredients. Try the breakfast speciality: cod’s roe, smoked bacon, samphire and a poached egg. It’s a cheap, nutritious dish and it’s easy to see how it became a favourite with fishermen.

Check rates and availability at chapelhousepz.co.uk