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Best restaurants in Falmouth

Falmouth has it all when it comes to food - check out our favourite spots in this sunny south coast town.

Updated on 28 May 2024

One of Cornwall’s most popular south coast destinations, Falmouth’s beautiful sandy beaches rake in the tourists every summer. Like many of Cornwall’s more populous towns, Falmouth has a thriving food scene these days that caters to everyone with outstanding fine dining and plenty of excellent easy-going restaurants you can visit everyday.

In food circles, Falmouth is well-known as the home of Cornish native oysters (often still seen today as Fal oysters on menus). In fact, people in Falmouth made a living from dredging up oysters for generations and a considerable part of the town’s history is built around the oyster dredging and fishing trade, with other seafood and crustaceans also common in these parts. The result is that you still get plenty of superb fresh seafood in Falmouth, though you do have to know where to look.

Aside from that, you’ll find that places to eat in Falmouth are a varied bunch, ranging from simple street food to some top class fine dining restaurants for celebrations. Unsurprisingly there are lots of hotels in the town and the surrounding area, many of which boast excellent restaurants within. Journey out into the surrounding countryside and there are also some very good gastropubs to be found, where you can sit with a pint or book a table for lunch.

If you’re looking for a restaurant with a view in Falmouth, you’re in luck there too, as the seafront is lined with eateries and terraces where you can tuck into some grub with a clear view of the sea. Our list of the best restaurants in Falmouth includes everything from popular restaurants with sea views to casual brunch spots, gastropubs and some of the town’s more upmarket spots.

The Shack Falmouth

The Shack Falmouth

9 Tidemill House, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3XP

The Shack is all about great seafood - fresh fish comes from nearby Newlyn, oysters from Porthilly and shellfish from nearby Cornish waters. If you’re craving some classic, simple seafood cookery, like a prawn linguine or smoked haddock chowder, The Shack is the place to go.

£30 - £49
Fish
Pandora Inn

Pandora Inn

Restronguet Creek, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5ST

Another gastropub gem worth visiting, The Pandora Inn’s calling card is that stunning 13th century exterior and the quiet spot on the Carrick Roads. The inn even has a jetty with tables that stretches out over the river - a beautiful place to spend a sunny afternoon.

£30 - £49
Pubs
British
Star and Garter

Star and Garter

52 High Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2AF

This beautiful Georgian townhouse has some amazing views of the harbour, and even if you’re not staying there’s an excellent restaurant on the ground floor serving a smart menu of seasonal small plates.

Culture

Culture

Custom House Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3JF

This smart, seasonal restaurant at Custom House Quay is run by husband-and-wife team Hylton and Petronella Espey, and received a Michelin Green star for its outstanding tasting menus. All the produce is local and ethically sourced, and the single tasting menu tells a story of the local landscape.

£50 - £79
British
Harbour House Flushing

Harbour House Flushing

3 Trefusis Road, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5TY

Just a quick jaunt over the Penryn River (or around it) and you can make it to Flushing, where Harbour House sits proudly overlooking the little marina. An in-house bakery whips up excellent pastries, and you can expect fresh seafood cooking over charcoal for lunch and dinner, and a lovely al fresco terrace to boot.

£50 - £79
Pubs
Restaurant at Hotel Meudon

Restaurant at Hotel Meudon

Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5HT

There’s a strong leaning towards fresh fish and seafood at Hotel Meudon, but it’s the rural setting and sea views that bring a steady stream of guests to this elegant spot. The kitchen team is big on foraging too so you can expect to see a real spectrum of local wild food on the plate. Book a room to enjoy the excellent breakfast too.

£50 - £79
British
Afternoon tea
The Shed Falmouth

The Shed Falmouth

6-7 Tidemill House, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3XP

You’ll find The Shed right by the National Maritime Museum, so it tends to get extremely busy throughout the day, serving slap-up breakfasts in the mornings and a lovely lunch and dinner menu later. Influences are distinctly international, with dishes ranging from Padron peppers to curried cauliflower or king prawn gnocchi.

£30 - £49
North American
British
International
Brasserie on the Bay

Brasserie on the Bay

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4NB

Gorgeous sea views and luxurious local cooking is what you can expect if you’re eating at Brasserie on the Bay. The main restaurant within St Michael’s Resort has something for everyone, including an excellent afternoon tea on Saturdays.

£30 - £49
Modern European
British
Afternoon tea
The Verdant Seafood Bar

The Verdant Seafood Bar

Quay Street, Falmouth , Cornwall, TR11 3HH

Fresh local seafood meets an impressive range of beers courtesy of Verdant Brewing, which is where you’ll find this quaint little seafood spot. The menu changes depending on what has been landed by boats that day, so you might not know what you’re going to get, but you can guarantee it’ll be ultra-fresh and delicious.

£30 - £49
British
Fish
The Cove Restaurant & Bar

The Cove Restaurant & Bar

Maenporth Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5HN

Michael Caines presides over this lovely eatery on the seafront, which boasts some of the best views in town. Caines is a household name after his long standing stint as head chef of two Michelin-starred Gidleigh Park - The Cove is much more relaxed but still retains the same excellence and attention to detail.

£30 - £49
British
Afternoon tea
Fish
MINE

MINE

4 The Old Brewery Yard, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR112BY

Like many Falmouth restaurants, local produce and elevated cooking is the name of the game at MINE, but the team here does it exceptionally well and the dining room is always full. Chef Angus Bell runs the kitchen, and has spent time cooking with Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, as well as at the excellent Star Inn at Harome

£30 - £49
British
Hooked on the Rocks

Hooked on the Rocks

Swanpool, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5BG

This popular bar and restaurant to the south of the city overlooks Beryl Bay, serving a menu of oysters, shellfish and market fish, with dishes including wild prawns with herb butter and ‘Nduja, and chargrilled mackerel with tomatoes, roasted red peppers and basil. It’s the perfect place to book after a day at the beach.

£50 - £79
British
The Mulberry Falmouth

The Mulberry Falmouth

29 High Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2AD

Run by a pair of local young chefs, The Mulberry is an ambitious restaurant that has become phenomenally popular in a short space of time. Local produce meets global inspirations here - Fal native oysters, for example, are served with lemon and fermented chilli, whilst trout is cured in a mix of yuzu and limoncello.

£50 - £79
British
International
Ferry Boat Inn

Ferry Boat Inn

Helford Passage, Falmouth, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5LB

One of Cornwall’s lesser-known idyllic coastal spots, The Ferry Boat Inn looks out over Helford Passage from its own quiet little cove. It’s worth a visit for the spot alone, but after a renovation in 2017 this 300 year old inn also serves some cracking gastropub fare.

£30 - £49
Pubs
Gastropub

Planning a bit of Cornish sightseeing on your holidays? Maybe take a look at our list of the best restaurants in Cornwall and map out a few to visit whilst you're away. Or, make a dedicated trip elsewhere - we have guides for lots of other places in Cornwall, including our list of the best restaurants in Padstow, and a guide to all of Cornwall's Michelin-starred restaurants.

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