There are some brilliant spots to eat in Newquay – here we’ve shone a spotlight on East and West Pentire, two of our favourite places for a breezy walk on the headland, followed by a tasty bite to eat…
The Fern Pit Café is a family run, well-loved café and Newquay’s best-kept secret. It’s open for lunch every day from May to September and it’s great for seafood lovers who want to sit in the tea gardens overlooking stunning Crantock Beach and The Gannel.
Caught on The Fern Pit’s own fishing boat Excelsior, the packed crab sandwiches are a speciality, not to mention great value, and you can even have a special lobster salad with two hours notice. If you aren’t a fish fan, there’s a lot more to choose from with a wide selection of sandwiches and homemade cakes.
Getting there is the fun part – when you get to East Pentire, you can take the footbridge if the tide is out, but if not, you can use the Fern Pit’s own ferry to cross over the river for a small fee. It’s all part of the experience! Call 01637 873181 for more details and check out the website here.
A favourite amongst locals and visitors, The Lewinnick Lodge combines cosmopolitan cool with high quality Cornish produce. It’s an awesome spot with unrivalled views – you’re perched right on top of the craggy Pentire headland, but don’t worry you’re not likely to get wet!
The menu is a bit more expensive than most Newquay restaurants, but it’s made up for in taste, and with twice daily changing specials from chef Rich Humphries, you know that everything is fresh and seasonal. The main menu is predominantly focused on seafood and meaty grills and there are some delicious, inventive vegetarian options too – but remember to leave some room for dessert as you’re sure to be tempted! The children’s menu is quite upmarket but still pretty good value, and perhaps it will be their first taste of linguine?
There’s a funny story behind The Lewinnick – the building was originally constructed to house staff from a nearby manor house, but it was accidentally built on the wrong side of the headland so it could only be used as a fisherman’s store and later a smuggler’s hideaway. Luckily Pete and Jacqui Fair saw its potential, and now it’s one of the nicest places to eat in the Newquay area!
If these don’t take your fancy, head over to West Pentire….
With parts of the inn dating back to the 18th century, the quaint (and pink) Bowgie Inn is one of Cornwall’s most well-loved pubs, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Just a short stroll from the south west coast path and with dramatic views over Crantock and Polly Joke beaches, The Bowgie serves traditional home-cooked pub grub in generous portions with a well-chosen wine list.
A Taste of the West-winning menu, you’ll find soups, curries, pies, fish, steaks and grills, using Cornish produce wherever possible, as well as serving the odd Cornish ale. Check out the menu here.
The pub itself has kept its traditional style, with comfortable additions including a roaring fire, a sun terrace and wide-screen TV’s for sport lovers. The live entertainment is first class, with local and national musicians regularly on the programme and Thursday’s jam night welcomes everybody to take part. Unfortunately you can’t take the dog in but they are more than welcome outside. Check out how to get there.
C-bay
With an unsurpassed view of Crantock Beach (Britain’s Best Beach of 2014 in the Sunday Times Travel section), C-Bay Café Bar and Bistro is a dog-friendly venue both indoors and outdoors, and serves a varied menu using locally sourced ingredients.
In the day, it has a relaxed café vibe, serving quirky breakfasts including Eggs Benedict and American pancakes. The lunch menu offers up tasty baguettes and packed paninis, sandwiches and salads, as well as more substantial meals like the C-bay burger. If you’re after something sweet, definitely try C-Bay’s vast selection of homemade cakes or a Cornish Cream tea with Rodda’s Cream, Boddington’s Jam and Tregothnan tea – you must have at least one cream tea whilst in Cornwall!! The evening menu is a little more superior, including Cornish Camembert with Honey and Walnuts, Thyme Gnocchi with Cornish Blue, Seafood Linguine and Crisp Belly Pork. Check out the whole menu here.
It’s great value for money (and extremely tasty too), everyone’s really welcoming and the view is spectacular, so it’s definitely worth a visit!
