Nestled on the south Cornish coast, Falmouth is one of the county’s most vibrant towns with plenty to see and do, home to a university, art college, sandy beaches, a busy working harbour and bustling streets lined with eclectic shops, independent boutiques, and of course, fantastic places to eat.
Whether you’re after a hearty breakfast before catching a ferry for your onward adventures, a laid-back lunch mid shopping trip, or an evening meal to remember, Falmouth won’t disappoint. From gastropubs to South African cuisine, and fine dining to fish and chips, there’s something here for everyone, so bring your appetite with you and join us on a gastronomic journey around Falmouth’s incredible places to eat.
MINE
4, The Old Brewery Yard, Falmouth TR11 2BY
Set within a pretty cobbled yard, MINE is a testament to the adage that good things come in small packages. Serving simple, tasty Cornish fare in a relaxed space, their aim is to recreate the atmosphere of a dinner party where everyone is welcome. Chef Angus, who trained under Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, has created a menu that changes with the seasons. You’ll find such delights as crab fritters with bisque mayo, hog’s pudding scotch egg, salt baked celeriac with truffle cream, and honey cake on the menu – yum! With tables outside for summer and a cosy space inside, this is a lovely spot whatever the weather, whether you’re after drinks and nibbles or a full-on family celebration.
Hevva!
33 High Street, Falmouth TR11 2AD
The newest kid on the block, Hevva! is a relaxed and oh-so-friendly seafood restaurant with a homely feel and an ever-changing blackboard menu. Offering fantastically fresh shellfish, shareable whole fish dishes, and seasonal small plates, this is one for seafood lovers, with dishes such as oyster and lobster vol au vent, sole Veronique, whole turbot and for dessert, saffron bread and pudding. Open Wednesday to Saturday in the evenings, this is a cosy spot perfect for a romantic meal.
Stones Bakery
35 High Street, Falmouth TR11 2AF
This is one to visit when you’re after a delicious coffee and cake or beautifully presented breakfast. A busy working bakery out back, to the front you’ll find a counter laden with flaky croissants, pain au chocolat, bulging doughnuts and a host of other freshly baked cakes and pastries. Mixed with the whiff of bread straight out of the oven, stepping into Stones Bakery will definitely wake the taste buds first thing! Their fresh coffee is perfect too, so pick a seat on one of the communal tables and take in the bustling atmosphere, watching locals pop in for their bread and students fill up on breakfast.
The Mulberry
29 The High Street, Falmouth TR11 2AD
Tucked away down a narrow passageway, a set of steep steps lead you down to the much-celebrated The Mulberry, a warm, welcoming dining experience with a focus on Cornwall’s rich larder of seasonal produce that's earned the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Chef Jay studied under Nathan Outlaw, while chef Harry’s international travels lend a worldly touch to his creations. There’s the option of the six course tasting menu with the likes of yuzu and limoncello cured trout, Newlyn line-caught bass, and west country duck to enjoy, or you can try the small plates for a more laidback affair such as Falmouth saffron arancini, Mylor scallops, and Philip Warren’s pork belly.
Daaku
2 Bells Court, Falmouth TR11 3AZ
Meaning ‘outlaw’ in India, Daaku is a fantastic fusion restaurant, serving exciting new dishes that are inspired by the heritage and traditions of northern India. The small, ever-changing menu means everything is served super-fresh, while the owners Jas – originally from Rajasthan - and Ben’s passion for the unusual promises eclectic combinations such as crisp fried hogs pudding pakoras and carrot halwa with a dollop of clotted cream! Open Thursday to Saturday in the evenings, Daaku also offers a takeaway service and cookery courses on certain dates – a wonderfully unique activity to try while on holiday!
INDIDOG
28a Market Street, Falmouth TR11 3AT
Sat on the edge of Fish Strand Quay, a Grade II listed harbour, INDIDOG is a fantastic restaurant and bar serving tasty British cuisine while offering exceptional water and harbour views. Laidback and welcoming, it’s open for lunch and dinner and also serves great cocktails and draught beer if you’re in the mood for a tipple or two. Dishes such as Cornish fish cake with saffron aioli, confit Marsh Farm duck leg, and sticky toffee pudding await, while there’s an ever-changing specials menu with a focus on fresh, seasonal Cornish produce. There’s a great kid’s menu too.
Ciuri Ciuri
44 Church Street, Falmouth TR11 3EF
We’re including this little number because it serves the most amazing clotted cream Italian ice cream. Ciuri Ciuri is a pretty, artisanal shop, with gorgeous flavours to choose from such as black cherry, pineapple and coconut, double chocolate, peach, lemon, pomegranate and orange and pistachio - and there’s a great choice for vegans too. We dare you not to come away with less than three flavours! Opening times are seasonal, so do check ahead to avoid dissapointment.
The Verdant Seafood Bar
Quay Street, Falmouth TR11 3HH
Part of the Verdant Brewing Company, The Verdant Seafood Bar lies near North Quay and offers small plates of freshly prepared deliciousness to be served alongside the eight lines of beer from Verdant - not to mention the offering of spirits, wine, and soft drinks available too. The menu changes depending on what the boats bring in, with some excellent veggie and vegan options too. Think calamari and crab loaded chips, Fal oysters, scallops with apple, buffalo prawns with creamed corn and blue cheese, fish finger sandwiches, and panko hake with katsu curry sauce – basically great grub to enjoy with a drink – or a few! Open Tuesday to Saturday, this is a walk-in restaurant, so perfect after a day on the beach.
The Orgia
43 Church Street, Falmouth TR11 3EF
The Orgia is a stylish wine bar and kitchen and a must for those who think what you drink is as important as what you eat. Serving an eclectic wine selection from the biodynamic and naturally-produced to the more traditional offerings, whatever you choose is paired beautifully with a stunning collection of small plates, using Cornish produce with a European twist. Dishes include the likes of burrata with pea and mint, Alp Blossom cheese and honey, smoked duck rillettes with pickles and sourdough, and smoked prawns with aioli.
Sabzi
16 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JA
Head to Sabzi for lunch and you’ll find a super-busy spot with a deli, a counter with mounds of Iranian and Middle Eastern inspired vegetarian dishes, and lots of simple seating with pretty views over the harbour. You can get a lovely salad selection from such choices as spiced and roasted carrots and squash with whipped tahini, house dhal with red lentil, tomato, and coconut, Indian-inspired slaw, roasted savoy cabbage with sumac, butter beans and herb chutney, and Cajun spiced roasted local potatoes. Afterwards, there’s a lovely selection of gorgeous homemade cakes to choose from, such as owner Kate’s own recipe for Persian Love Cake – delicious! The queues can be long here as it offers takeaway too, but we promise it’s worth it!
Amanzi Restaurant
38 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JF
This stunning South African restaurant has been a firm favourite in Falmouth for a long time. Amanzi, run by owners Carolyn and Ian who have spent most of their lives in South Africa, is a warm, welcoming family-run eatery that prides itself on its big, bold flavours. Open for breakfast for the full South African, lunch where you can try Roosterkok (freshly grilled rolls) with lots of different fillings, and dinner serving the likes of espetada with braaied (chargrilled) rump steak followed by Koeksisters, cape Dutch plaited doughnuts served with mango and passionfruit sorbet. There’s no doubt you’ll be leaving with full stomachs!
Fuel
35-37 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JG
Quirky and welcoming, Fuel is a great pitstop at any time of day but their breakfasts are particularly good if you’re looking for something to set you up for a day’s exploring. Priding themselves on sourcing ingredients within a 15-mile radius, you can enjoy a true taste of Cornwall here. From a full Cornish (it’s the hogs pudding that makes it Cornish) to eggs benedict, stacked pancakes to a Boston breakfast, there’s plenty to choose from, as well as great options for vegetarians and vegans. The lunch and evening menus are equally good too, ensuring full tums at any time of day.
Culture Restaurant
Custom House Quay, 38b Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JF
Dictated by the seasons and nature, Culture offers ‘nature inspired cuisine with a focus on the landscapes, flora and fauna’ - it’s easy to see how this wonderful restaurant got its Michelin green star. Culture’s dinner menu takes you on a journey over seven courses, with dishes whimsically named and unexplained except for the ingredient; ‘Grampound Hills’ refers to where they source duck eggs, while ‘Carrick Roads’ is where they watch the fishing boats. Dining here leaves you feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland – you just don’t know where you’ll end up next! Open Wednesday to Saturday, there’s also an extensive wine cellar where you’ll be expertly led to make the best choice for your meal, or you can push the boat out and enjoy the flight menu to go with the seven courses – perfect.
Bodega 18
46 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JH
Head to Bodega 18 for a true taste of Spain. Serving lovingly-prepared tapas, owners Steve and Ren showcase flavours from across Spain, but with particular focus on tapas from Madrid and Barcelona. From the land there’s such dishes as Tia’s pig cheeks in a rich wine gravy and pollo frito, from the field there’s pisto Manchego with quails egg and fried aubergine, while from the sea there’s king prawn pil pil and calamari. And for dessert? Why not try torrijas – milk fried bread with orange and cinnamon clotted cream ice cream. There’s also a fantastic choice of carefully-selected Spanish wines, as well as a wide range of spirits and beers to keep your thirst quenched.
The Shed
6-7 Tidemill House, Discovery Quay, Falmouth TR11 3XP
Set in popular Discovery Quay near the National Maritime Museum, The Shed is a fantastic, laidback place to grab a bite to eat when out and about. With the likes of shell-on king prawns, loaded nachos, burgers, and steak, as well as tapas-style dishes and sandwiches, it’s great for lunch or dinner and caters for all appetites. Excellent for warmer days, there’s plenty of seating outside where you can relax and watch the world go by. Flanked by its two sister restaurants – The Shack seafood bar and The Ranch steakhouse – you can even order from their menus too if you fancy a mix.
Boo Koos
The Moor, Falmouth TR11 3QA
If you’re hankering for a burger, look no further than this Tex-Mex, family-run restaurant in the heart of town. A southern US slang term meaning ‘a lot’, Boo Koos serves burgers of every type imaginable, from the traditional Cheddar Cheezy through to the immense Smokehouse Squealer Deluxe - a burger with added pulled BBQ pork, bacon, onion rings, melted cheese and BBQ sauce. There are chicken, veggie, and vegan burgers available too, as well as fajitas, enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, chilli, steak and baby back ribs. Having met in Texas, the owners have brought a true and authentic feel to the dishes, which includes American portion sizes so you’ll never leave hungry! Kids particularly love this place, which also happens to make a cracking selection of ice cream milkshakes. Their flagship restaurant in Helston is well-worth a visit too, and perfect for a refuel after a day spent exploring the Lizard peninsula.
Harbour Lights
Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3LH
One of the top 10 fish and chips in the UK, Harbour Lights is known far and wide for its taste-tingling take on the nation’s favourite dish. With indoor seating overlooking the harbour as well as takeaway (there are many lovely benches overlooking the water in Falmouth), you can enjoy your fish and chips wherever you like. Alongside the usual chip shop favourites (think scampi, chicken burgers, and battered sausages), Harbour Lights is renowned for their incredible vegan ‘fish’ and chips, ensuring everyone can enjoy a plate of the good stuff.
Cribbs
33 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JE
Given that there’s a Falmouth in Jamaica, it’s only fitting that Falmouth boasts a lip-smacking restaurant that serves up delicious Caribbean food. Open for lunch and dinner, and boasting a superb vegetarian and vegan menu, you can enjoy a range of dishes at Cribbs, from a button-popping bucket of treats (think pork belly, crispy chicken, fish goujon, coconut prawn, and squid!) to a hearty bowl of curry goat. The drinks menu is equally showstopping, with a giddy mix of cocktails, wine, beer, and of course, rum! With a bright and welcoming interior, Cribbs is sure to put a smile on your face.
Feeling peckish? Take a peek at our holiday cottages in Falmouth and south Cornwall and start planning your culinary getaway today.
