If you are heading down to Porthleven in Cornwall for a short break this year there’s one thing you can be sure to be spoilt with – fantastic tasting, fresh food.
Just a stone’s throw away from St Ives, Porthleven is a small harbour town on the south coast which draws a good tourist crowd and with that tourism comes numerous great restaurants.
Porthleven is centred around the harbour and so it is here that you’ll find many of the best restaurants in town. Here’s our top 4 places to eat in Porthleven that you simply cannot afford to miss!
1. Rick Stein Fish and Shellfish
As an award winning chef, Rick Stein doesn’t need much of an introduction. With that reputation however it does of course mean that you will walk into the restaurant with high expectations. This can create the risk that you will be disappointed over the smallest of issues however we believe you will have a great evening here.
Rick Stein’s restaurant is located around the harbour just a few doors away from Amelie’s restaurant and offers simple, high flavour seafood. It doesn’t try to complicate the dishes and by his own admission Rick aims to create food that tastes incredible without all of the pretentiousness of many of today’s contemporary dishes.
The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and offers a relaxed and spacious dining space with white painted walls throughout. You can book a seat on the ground floor, upper floor or out on the terrace so there are plenty of options here to suit your needs.
Although the food and atmosphere is great here one thing that we found was that the service was lacking the quality that you would expect from a restaurant with this reputation. Our team ate here and the wrong meal was brought to the table twice along with a separate delivery of the wrong drinks twice. Flagging down a server to order more drinks was also problematic so be a little wary.
If you are looking for the best seafood in town then Rick Stein’s is certainly the place to head to. For what it is however the menu here is quite pricey so be prepared for an eye watering bill at the end of your meal especially if the service is under par. Don’t let that that distract you however from what will inevitably be a very enjoyable evening.
- Food: 4/5
- Service: 3/5
- Atmosphere: 4/5
- Price: 3/5
- Overall rating: 3/5
2. Amelie’s
Amelie’s is a small restaurant situated within an historic boathouse around the harbour.
The front of the restaurant presents a modern style that has bags of kerb appeal, especially at night as the warm lighting draws you inside through the large glass doors. During the day you have the option to eat your lunch sitting on an outdoor table overlooking the harbour – weather permitting of course!
The food at Amelie’s has an Italian edge, is contemporary and is packed with flavour. We couldn’t find any issues with the food quality which was beautifully cooked and served hot to the table is a good time.
The service here can be a little on the slow side during busier evenings however this takes nothing away from the overall experience where both the food quality and the atmosphere excel.
With friendly staff and great tasting food Amelie’s is a beautiful and relaxed restaurant to spend an evening dining at. Tables are limited here and the restaurant is popular however so be sure to book in advance to avoid any disappointment.
- Food: 4/5
- Service: 4/5
- Atmosphere: 4/5
- Price: 3/5
- Overall rating: 4/5
3. Kota Kai
Located at the most inland aspect of the harbour you will find Kota Kai which is hidden away on the upper floors of the building.
Once inside you make your way up the stairs to the first floor and will be met by a long and thin restaurant. As it runs along the front of the building it offers the best dining view in town with a beautiful view across the harbour down to the church on the end of the promenade.
The dining room carries a fun, lively and relaxed atmosphere and is very family friendly. You won’t need to spend hours dressing up for dinner here either if you want to keep things a little more casual. If you have a special occasion to celebrate they also have a private dining space so be sure to enquire about this for a little more privacy,
When it comes to the food at Kota Kai, like the majority of the restaurants in Porthleven the standard is very high so you are unlikely to be disappointed. The meals are flavoursome, cooked well and tasted very fresh, especially the seafood as you would expect from a fishing town like this.
The restaurant isn’t open every day of the week so you’ll need to check the opening hours before heading down here. We loved our meal here and would certainly place it firmly in 2nd position as when it comes to food, service, atmosphere and price the entire experience was very good.
- Food: 4/5
- Service: 4/5
- Atmosphere: 3/5
- Price: 4/5
- Overall rating: 4/5
4. The Square
One of our favourite places to eat in Porthleven is the small but incredibly good restaurant, The Square, located on the most inland corner of the harbour.
From the outside the restaurant looks like it may have been a pub in years gone by however today it is a top restaurant that offers great tasting food made with the freshest of ingredients.
The atmosphere at The Square is calm and not overbearing due to the restaurant being quite small which is perfect for reflecting on your day in Cornwall over your meal.
You will receive a warm welcome at The Square and certainly won’t be let down by the food. It’s our favourite place to eat in Porthleven so be sure to make a reservation during your next visit to the Cornish coast.
- Food: 5/5
- Service: 5/5
- Atmosphere: 5/5
- Price: 5/5
- Overall rating: 5/5
Latest accommodation deals in Porthleven
If you are planning a trip to Porthleven this year be sure to get the best prices going on your accommodation. Use the map below to find the best prices in Porthleven on Booking.com – simply change the dates you are planning for your visit.
Booking.comDo you have any recommendations for the best places to eat in Porthleven? Let us know in the comments!