Padstow is the food capital of Cornwall. Rick Stein put it on the map in the 1970s, and the town now has more serious restaurants per head than anywhere else in the county - a Michelin star, a Bib Gourmand, and a concentration of quality that makes dinner planning the hardest part of any visit.
The flip side is that booking ahead is essential in summer. Most of these restaurants fill up, and the better ones fill up weeks ahead. Outside peak season, walk-ins are easier and the town is quieter - arguably the best time to eat here.
Fine Dining
Paul Ainsworth at No. 6
Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Padstow, located in a Georgian townhouse on Middle Street. Ainsworth trained under Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing before opening No. 6 in 2006 - the restaurant is celebrating its twentieth year in 2026.
The menu is British with a strong emphasis on Cornish produce. The set lunch (around £25 for two courses) is one of the best-value Michelin-star meals in the country. The tasting menu runs to around £95. Book well in advance, especially for dinner in summer.
Seafood
The Seafood Restaurant, Rick Stein
The Seafood Restaurant is the original Rick Stein restaurant, opened in 1975 on the harbour front. White tablecloths, a fish counter displaying the day’s catch, and a menu that reflects Stein’s travels - expect Indonesian curries alongside classic grilled Dover sole. Set lunch is around £41 for three courses.
This is the most famous restaurant in Cornwall, and it shows - the room is busy and the prices are high. Whether it’s still the best is debatable, but the harbour-front setting and the quality of the fish are hard to fault.
Rick Stein’s Cafe
Rick Stein’s Cafe is the more relaxed, affordable alternative - a Michelin Bib Gourmand holder on Middle Street. The menu is shorter and simpler than the Seafood Restaurant: fish cakes, grilled mackerel, Cornish mussels. Dogs are welcome in the courtyard. Three-course deals available. A good option if you want the Stein name without the Seafood Restaurant price tag.
Prawn on the Lawn
Prawn on the Lawn is a small seafood restaurant and fishmonger on Duke Street. The format is sharing plates - oysters, ceviche, grilled fish, shellfish platters - with a natural wine list. The fishmonger counter at the front sells fresh fish to take home.
The space seats around 20, so booking is essential. The atmosphere is informal and buzzy. Many repeat visitors to Padstow rate this above the Stein restaurants for quality and value.
Casual Dining
Burgers & Fish
Burgers & Fish is a family-owned restaurant on The Strand overlooking the harbour. The menu focuses on locally caught fish and grass-fed beef burgers - simple, well-executed, and consistent. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week in season. No booking required for most of the year, though summer evenings can have waits.
Caffe Rojano by Paul Ainsworth
Caffe Rojano is Paul Ainsworth’s Italian restaurant in the centre of town, open since 1974. Stone-baked sourdough pizzas, fresh pasta, and grill dishes. The atmosphere is livelier and more relaxed than No. 6, with prices to match (mains £12-20). Two AA rosettes. A reliable dinner option for families and groups.
Fish & Chips
Padstow has several fish and chip options. Rick Stein’s Fish & Chips takeaway on South Quay is the most famous - expect a queue in summer. Malcolm Barnecutt’s bakery on The Strand does traditional Cornish pasties. For sit-down fish and chips, most of the harbour-side cafes serve them.
Booking Tips
- Book ahead for No. 6, Prawn on the Lawn, and the Seafood Restaurant - especially June to September
- Walk-in is usually fine at Burgers & Fish, Caffe Rojano, and the cafes
- Set lunch at No. 6 (£25/2 courses) and the Seafood Restaurant (£41/3 courses) offer better value than dinner
- Off-season (October to April) is easier for walk-ins and the food is just as good
- Parking is tight - use the main car park at the top of town and walk down
Where to Stay
The Nutshell is a dog-friendly two-bedroom cottage in the town centre, walking distance to all restaurants. Padstow Wagon House sleeps six with a wood burner and garden. For a rural base, The Pickwick Inn in nearby St Issey has rooms and its own restaurant. Browse all places to stay near Padstow.
See also: Best Hotels in Cornwall | Where to Eat in Newquay | Best Beaches in Cornwall
