Truro is Cornwall’s only city, and its food scene reflects the difference. Where coastal towns cater to summer visitors, Truro’s restaurants serve a year-round population of locals, university students, and people working in the county town. The result is more range - fine dining alongside honest pubs, a modern seafood restaurant, an Italian, a dedicated vegan cafe, and better coffee than you’ll find in most Cornish towns.
Truro also works as a central base. Both coasts are within 20 minutes, the Eden Project is 30 minutes, and you can eat well without paying coastal premiums.
Fine Dining
Tabbs Restaurant
Tabbs has been Truro’s top restaurant for over a decade, located in the centre of the city. The menu is built around locally sourced produce - seared fillet of beef, grilled hake, monkfish medallions - prepared with care and served with attentive, unfussy service. A proper occasion restaurant.
Open for lunch and dinner. Booking recommended for dinner, especially Friday and Saturday.
Penrose Kitchen
Just outside Truro, Penrose Kitchen is run by husband-and-wife team Ben and Sam Harmer. The cooking is impressive - seasonal, local, with genuine skill in the preparation. The outdoor eating area is a draw in summer. A newer addition to the Truro food scene that has earned a strong local following quickly.
Seafood
Hooked!
Hooked! is a modern seafood restaurant on Tabernacle Street with an open-plan kitchen. The menu changes with the catch - whatever the boats brought in that day, prepared simply. Cornish mussels, pan-fried hake, grilled lobster when available. The atmosphere is lively and the pricing is mid-range. Booking recommended for dinner.
Casual & International
Hub Box
A burger restaurant built into a converted chapel in the city centre. Beef burgers, crispy chicken, vegan options, loaded fries. Casual, affordable, and busy. Open from brunch through dinner. Walk-ins usually fine except Saturday evenings.
TiramisUGO
TiramisUGO is a Cornish-Italian business selling ready-to-eat Italian meals and tiramisu. More of a deli and takeaway than a sit-down restaurant, but the food is authentic and well-priced. Good for picnic supplies or a quick lunch.
The Cornish Vegan
A cosy cafe on Kenwyn Street serving globally inspired comfort food, entirely plant-based. Locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Small and popular - go early for lunch.
Pubs
Old Ale House
Old Ale House on Quay Street is a proper Cornish pub in a former draper’s shop. Character-filled, no-frills, with local ales and classic pub food. Dog-friendly. The kind of pub that doesn’t need a gimmick because the beer and the atmosphere are enough.
The Heron Inn, Malpas
About 2 miles south of Truro on the Tresillian River, The Heron Inn has views over the water and a riverside terrace. The food is a step above standard pub fare. A good option for a longer lunch if you have a car.
Where to Stay
The Alverton is a Grade II listed former monastery in the city centre with gardens and a restaurant. For self-catering, the Truro area has several properties on our site. Browse all places to stay near Truro.
See also: Best Hotels in Cornwall | Where to Eat in Falmouth | Things to Do in Cornwall
