Best restaurants in Truro

Famed for its picturesque landscapes and gothic architecture, Truro is a charming city found right in the middle of Cornwall. Over the years, the city has become something of a destination for food lovers - but it’s not all about the cream teas and Cornish pasties! Truro has plenty on offer, with everything from waterside fine dining to seafood specialists.

Updated on 14 May 2024

Looking for the best restaurants in Truro? We’ve got you covered. Whilst other Cornish cities may stake their claim as Cornwall’s gastro capital, Truro is not to be overlooked. This central spot boasts an ever-growing number of restaurants, cafes and pubs, populating the city with countless places to eat. 

There’s something to be said for Cornwall, with its spanning coastlines and cultural heritage that has tourists flocking there each summer. Over recent years it’s really solidified its space as a bit of a foodie hotspot of the South, with everything from cosy tea rooms to Michelin-starred restaurants, suiting every style and occasion. Home of the famous Cornish Pasty, and credited with the popularisation of jam-first cream teas, it comes as no surprise that they know a thing or two about food.

Slap bang in the middle of the county, you’ll find Truro. It's a charming little city that's home to areas of natural beauty from the Roseland Heritage Coast to the Trelissick Garden, if you're looking for a place to explore. A day out and about in the countryside is bound to have you building up an appetite, so you'll want this list on hand when deciding where to go for dinner. It will come as no surprise to you that several Truro restaurants champion seafood, putting the focus on freshly caught fish dishes. Menus here are all about locally sourced ingredients with spaces boasting the very best that Cornwall has to offer.

Whether you're after a local pub to relax with a pint after a long haul day of exploring the Cornish coastline or if you've come to the region to explore the very best of Cornwall's fine-dining scene, Truro has something to satisfy each craving. For a taste of that quintessential Cornish hospitality, and some stellar seafood, read on for our recommendations of places to eat in Truro.

Hub Box Truro

Hub Box Truro

116 Kenwyn Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3DJ

For something a bit more casual, why not try the eye-catching muralled walls of Hub Box, a gastropub keeping locals fed seven days a week. Forget the fish, menus here are all about burgers, hot dogs and wings, paired with milkshakes, cocktails or craft beers - whatever strikes your fancy.

Under £30
Burgers
The Idle Rocks

The Idle Rocks

Harbourside, St. Mawes, Cornwall, TR2 5AN

A little ways down the road you’ll find The Idle Rocks, a cosy hotel restaurant that comes steeped in history. Dating back to the early 1900s, here you’ll find the luxurious Reef Knot Restaurant complete with floor to ceiling windows and idyllic coastal views to go alongside sea-to-table cuisine.  

£50 - £79
Modern European
Mannings Restaurant

Mannings Restaurant

Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2QB

This all-day eatery is found in the heart of Truro - a hotel, bar and restaurant that puts the focus on simple dishes done well. Sleek interiors and elegantly plated cuisine secure this one as a pretty reliable spot, with a menu spanning seafood to sizzling platters and steaks.

£30 - £49
Modern European
The Alverton Hotel

The Alverton Hotel

Tregolls Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1ZQ

The Alverton Hotel is one of the city’s hidden gems, a historic Grade-II listed site that retains the hallmarks of its time as a convent. Take a seat on the terrace, surrounded by the lush green gardens, and enjoy a tranquil evening of some of the area's best cuisine.

£50 - £79
British
Afternoon tea
The Cornish Vegan

The Cornish Vegan

15 Kenwyn Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3BU

Another spot found on the buzzing Kenwyn Street, The Cornish Vegan is the only 100% plant-based restaurant in Truro, so if you’re looking for vegan food then you’ve come to the right place. Menus here cover everything from pizzas to stir frys to baked goods.

£30 - £49
Vegan
Driftwood Restaurant

Driftwood Restaurant

Rosevine, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5EW

The Driftwood Restaurant’s wraparound terrace provides one of the finest views around, offering guests the backdrop of Gerrans Bay as they dine. Here, you’ll find high quality cuisine without any pretensions, just showcasing the very best of Cornwall from the freshly caught seafood to the locally sourced veggies.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Hooked!

Hooked!

Tabernacle Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2EJ

Nautical from its dishes to its decor, Hooked! prides itself as a specialist of all things seafood. Housed in the city centre, you’ll find a pretty selective menu of fish-focused dishes, boasting the likes of mackerel quiche, crab nachos and hake kievs. 

£30 - £49
Tapas
Fish
The Heron

The Heron

1 Norfolk Crescent, London, W2 2DN

This popular local haunt sits on the banks of the Truro and Tresillian rivers, offering waterside dining seven days a week. Tuck into the fish-focused a la carte during the week or pop in for a roast with all the trimmings come Sunday.

Pubs
Thai
The Longstore Lemon Street

The Longstore Lemon Street

62 Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2PN

With an exclusive menu of steak and seafood, The Long Store now has two sites across Cornwall, with the Truro one housed on the delightfully named Lemon Street. Wholesome in look and feel, enjoy all-day dining that spans from bottomless brunch to Sunday roasts. 

£30 - £49
Steak
Fish
The Thomas Daniell

The Thomas Daniell

Infirmary Hill, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2JA

This Grade-II listed building may have only opened in 2023, but it quickly built up its name as one of Truro’s finest watering holes. Combining all your classic pub favourites, with their own creative and quality dishes, the Thomas Daniell just oozes charm.

£30 - £49
British
Tabb

Tabb's Restaurant

85 Kenwyn Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3BZ

Nigel Tabb’s eponymous restaurant has solidified itself as a staple of the region over the past ten years, offering up fine-dining in its lilac-hued dining room. Having spent time working in some of London’s busiest kitchens, Nigel has brought everything he knows to the South West, so you’re in safe hands here.

£50 - £79
British
Piero

Piero's Pizzeria

Kenwyn Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3DJ

If Seafood is perhaps not your thing, why not give Piero’s Pizza a go? It might not be as glam as some of the other options on this list, but there’s a reason this popular pizza spot has stood strong for over 25 years. For a bit of family-friendly dining, you can’t really go wrong. 

£30 - £49
Pizza
Italian
Bodega 18 Truro

Bodega 18 Truro

Old Bridge Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2AH

Bringing a taste of Spain to the coasts of Cornwall, Bodega 18 offers rustic interiors and playful decor with promises of tapas galore. This spot still boasts fresh local produce with menus from the land, the field and the sea. 

£30 - £49
Tapas
Spanish

It's not just Truro that has bounties on offer in the food department. If you're planning a bit of a culinary tour of the South West then be sure to check out our guides to the best restaurants in St Ivestop places to eat in Padstow, and our favourite spots in Newquay.

For the very best of the best, we've rounded up all the top restaurants in Cornwall too, so you can hit the road, take in the miles of idyllic coastline and eat some excellent food whilst you're at it!

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