Eight Exceptional Newquay Restaurants That Locals Love!

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Last updated on October 19, 2022 by Wandering our World

For such a small town Newquay packs a real punch. Fantastic beaches, great surfing, plenty of family friendly attractions and to top it all off, great food served in some exceptional Newquay restaurants! We love a day out here, and nothing’s better than finishing your adventures with a dinner looking over the beach, or tucking into a Cornish classic.

That being the case, we felt compelled to share with you some of our favourite Newquay restaurants. Places that locals love as much as tourists, and you know the saying – do as the locals do!

Below are our favourite Newquay restaurants, each one worth trying and the food worth savouring. (Related: Cornwall day trips: Unique, exciting, and free things to do).

Chef plating food
Photo for illustrative purposes only: Unsplash+

Eight Of The Best Newquay Restaurants You Have To Try

1.Bush Pepper

Located in the heart of Newquay, Bush Pepper is unique in the Newquay dinner scene as it has an Australian-influenced menu that will likely test your palette in ways you haven’t experienced before!

That’s because this quirky restaurant is owned and run by Australian chef Chris Brookes who is committed to replicating multicultural Australian cuisine in his award-winning Newquay restaurant.

From the outside, Bush Pepper looks like any other fancy cafe, with several outside tables and large windows. However the interior has more of a bistro vibe with upholstered chairs, wooden tables, a small bar at the far end of the room, and a few pieces of fantastic artwork.

Some of the most famous dishes on the menu include the Australian Cottage Kangaroo Pie, which is made with kangaroo sausage and loin, new potatoes, and golden beetroot. There are also several barbecue grill options, including barbecued steaks, king prawns, kangaroo, and much more. In fact we’d say Bush Pepper probably have the best steaks in Cornwall.

If you’re not a carnivore then there are some vegan and vegetarian options too, including Thai-style mushroom, sesame, and tofu balls served with rice noodles, as well as Jackfruit Enchiladas with a chipotle barbecue sauce. Delicious!

If you’relooking for great Newquay restaurants, thisone is a must visit.

Address: 6 Fore St

beef steak display
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/lisovskaya

2.Lusty Glaze Beach Restaurant

Located smack bang on the north Cornwall coast, Lusty Glaze Beach Restaurant is housed in a privately owned, secluded cove and boasts breathtaking views of the sea. It’s romantic yet relaxed, and despite its seclusion, is still just ten minutes walk from the center of Newquay.

You can opt for outside seating and enjoy the sun during the short-lived English summer, or sit by the fire during the winter and enjoy your food while listening to soothing music in the background. This is luxury dining at it’s finest.

Head Chef Nat Tallents has designed a menu that offers a wide variety of regional dishes, all of which are made using fresh, locally grown ingredients. Our favourites include the Seafood Linguine, and the Sweet Potato Burger. There are several vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options too, so if you have dietary needs they’ll likely be catered for here.

They also host frequent music sessions when up-and-coming artists come in to showcase their music.

Address: Lusty Glaze Rd

Italian pastas with different kinds of sauce
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Roxiller

3.The Fish House

Located on Newquay’s famous Fistral Beach, this small seafood restaurant serves some of the best seafood in the area, and often hosts surfers in the evening who are looking to end their day with a hearty meal after a long day on the waves.

The restaurant sits on a platform that overlooks the beach, and the outdoor seating here makes it the perfect spot to watch the sunset in the evening.

Chef Paul Harwood – who worked for Rick Stein for 14 years – runs the place and uses locally caught fish and shellfish from Newquay Harbour. Some of his signature dishes include Indian Fish Curry with basmati rice, dahl, kachumba, raita salad, and poppadom, as well as Grilled Sea Bass Fillets with Al Forno potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, and basil aioli. However our recommendation would be the Seafood Risotto which has locally caught mussels, tiger prawn, hake fillet, and pangrattato.

The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy, while the restaurant’s wooden facade gives it a rustic look. The inside is modern and classy with painted wooden planks lining the walls, plush upholstered chairs, and a small hatch in the back wall that allows customers to get a glimpse into the kitchen. It’s a trendy spot.

Address: 5, International Surfing Centre, Headland Rd

Mussels and fries display
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/AnnaPustynnikova

4.Lewinnick Lodge

Perched right on the cliff at Pentire Headland, Lewinnick Lodge is within walking distance of Fistral Beach and boasts breathtaking sea views from its patio.

This place has a casual, laid-back vibe, and we’ve found it to be well suited to drinks and dinner on date nights, as well as a fun meal with friends.

Along with the food (which we will get to in a minute) what makes this restaurant stand out is the fact it’s been built to perfectly utilize the sea views and subsequently make customers feel as close to the sea as possible.

The inside of the restaurant has a contemporary and stylish feel with its large windows that keep the place bright and airy. As for the food, Cornish chef Anthony Theobald runs the place and has worked in many prestigious restaurants around the world.

The influence of that experience shines in the menu, and there’s flavours and recipes from around the globe here. Some of his signature dishes include Moroccan Spiced Bean Burger, Cornish Crab Linguine, Moules Frites, and Crispy Panko Monkfish.

This is not only one of our favourite Newquay restaurants because of the food, but also it’s dramatic location and breathtaking sea views.

Address: Pentire Headland

5. Beach Hut

Located on the beach at Watergate Bay, the Beach Hut is well-known throughout Newquay for its array of international dishes prepared using local Cornish ingredients.

The restaurant interior boasts wooden floors, chic tables, and plush upholstered chairs, whilst the large windows let in a lot of natural light. Plus, when you’re right on the beach you want to see that view right?

The kitchen is run by Executive Chef Neil Haydock who has traveled across the globe and is committed to replicating some of his favourite dish discoveries on the Cornish stage. Some of the dishes we recommend include the Fried Squid, Cornish Crab Salad, Chicken Katsu, and Korean BBQ Short Rib.

Along with good food, this place has a laid back and family-friendly atmosphere, making it perfect for families with kids. if you’re a lover of tasty cuisine and beach-front views, you can’t go wrong with this Newquay restaurant.

Address: Watergate Bay

Full rack of BBQ grilled pork spare ribs on a marble board
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Vladimir Mironov

6. WAX at Watergate Bay

Also located in Watergate Bay, this modern bar and restaurant is known locally for its energetic vibe and diverse food and drink menu, all set with a backdrop of one of the region’s most beautiful bays.

Head chef Luke Clews takes charge in the kitchen and serves a wide range of regional and international dishes. We recommend trying starters like the delicious Chili Garlic Prawns, Duck Bonbons, and Halloumi Bruschetta. For the main course, why not go for something classic, like Fish and Chips or one of their many pizza and burger options. They have a great arrayof drinkoptions too.

The restaurant has a wooden exterior and a large outside terrace which is perfect for sitting in the sun – when it decides to make an appearance! However the interior is cozy too, made up of a minimalist design with comfortable sofas, chairs and tables.

Whether you want to pop in for a quick snack or are looking for a full hearty meal after spending your day at the beach, WAX is a great choice.

Address: Watergate Bay

Fish & Chips with coleslaw display
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/KoriKobayashi

7. Kahuna Restaurant

Run by husband-and-wife team Ryan & Kelly Mather, this pan-Asian restaurant is a favourite among locals for its ever-evolving menu. Inspired by years spent traveling different Asian countries, the owners have put together a menu that covers a wide range of Asian dishes and cuisines.

If you don’t know what to order, don’t worry! The staff here are more than happy to make recommendations. However some of our favourites include the Korean Gochujang Pork Ribs, Korean Beef Bibimbap, Vegan Fish and Chips, or one of the delicious Thai curries.

Inouropinion, this is easilyoneof the best Newquay restaurants around.

Address: Station Approach

asian dishes
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/thesomegirl

8. Red Lion

Overlooking the picturesque Newquay Harbour, this traditional pub and restaurant is famous amongst locals for its impressively broad menu of British classics.

From the outside, the Red Lion looks like any other quintessentially English pub, however, the moment you walk in you get the impression this is a pub with a restaurant vibe at heart. It’s clean wooden features, tartan upholstered chairs, long wooden bar and fantastic beer garden are all topped off with friendly attentive staff. There’s a lively atmosphere throughout the week, and often live music too.

Hugo Kaiser is head chef here and he’s become known for serving English classics fused with different regional flavors. Some of his signature dishes include Cheesy Button Mushroom Bruschetta, Baked Smoked Haddock & Cheese Fishcake, Smokey Soya Nachos, and Slow-Cooked Roast Lamb Shank. Make sure you pair your meal with a local Cornish pint or Devon ale.

If you visit on Sundays you can try a true British institution. A classic roast served with all the trimmings, unlimited Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, and gravy.

Address: N Quay Hill

Sunday roast display
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/CBCK-Christine

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    Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe.