Penzance benefits from something most Cornish towns don’t have - direct proximity to Newlyn, one of the UK’s largest fishing ports. Restaurants here can buy fresh fish from the harbour, and the food scene has grown around that advantage. Chapel Street, which runs down towards the harbour, is home to the Turks Head, one of the town’s oldest pubs.
Restaurants
Harris’s Restaurant
Harris’s has been serving fresh Newlyn seafood from 46 New Street, a side street in the middle of town, for over 30 years. The menu focuses on simply prepared fish - grilled Dover sole, pan-fried sea bass, Cornish crab - without trying to be clever with it. A family-run restaurant with consistent quality and a loyal following, listed in the Michelin Guide. It is small and serves dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday, so book by phoning 01736 364408.
Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar, Newlyn
Technically in Newlyn rather than Penzance, on New Road, and reached by a walk along the seafront from Penzance. It serves small plates of fresh fish, such as white fish with samphire, mussels in cider cream and a monkfish burger. There are no bookings, so arrive early, and it closes for part of the winter - from mid-December to mid-February according to Harden’s. The seafront walk has views across Mount’s Bay to Marazion and St Michael’s Mount.
Pubs
The Longboat Inn
The Longboat Inn is a pub on Market Jew Street in the centre of Penzance, opposite the railway station, serving pub food. It is a handy option for a meal without booking, and the bar shows live sport. Phone ahead if you plan to bring a dog.
Turks Head
The Turks Head, at 49 Chapel Street, claims to be the oldest pub in Penzance, with a history dating back to the 13th century. It has a smuggling past, and the entrance to a tunnel that once led to the harbour can still be seen in the courtyard. Food is traditional pub fare, and dogs are welcome in the bar and garden.
Cafes & Quick Bites
The Boatshed
A cafe bar at the harbour on Wharf Road serving seafood, wood-fired pizza and Mediterranean sharing plates. More casual than the town-centre restaurants, with an open-air feel in summer. Good for lunch.
Where to Stay
The Blue House is a Grade II-listed house on Regent Square that sleeps six, with an enclosed garden, and dogs are accepted. Song of the Sea is a three-bedroom cottage for five at the start of the Promenade, overlooking Jubilee Pool, with a courtyard garden and BBQ; dogs are not accepted. Mackerel Sky is a one-bedroom first-floor apartment for two adults in nearby Marazion, 200 metres from the beach. Browse all places to stay in Penzance.
See also: Montol Festival | Where to Eat in St Ives | Best Beaches in Cornwall
