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Cafés and restaurants with sea views in Falmouth

Nothing quite beats dinner with a view, whether sitting down to a plate of hearty fish and chips or a full Sunday roast, and in Falmouth you are truly spoilt for choice.

A group of people gathered around a table laden with food at Muddy Beach Café with windows overlooking the harbour behind them

The town’s famous harbour and golden beaches offer an unmatched backdrop for your meal, with cosy cafés and award-winning restaurants making the most of the surrounding seascapes. Many of the town’s eateries welcome dogs and their well-behaved owners too, allowing the whole family to enjoy a slap-up meal with a front-row view of the Cornish coast.

Ready to satiate your senses? Here are some of the best cafés and restaurants with a sea view in Falmouth… 

Harbour Lights

A table full of fish and chips in front of a window overlooking Falmouth Harbour at Harbour Lights

Best for: Award-winning fish and chips

Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3LH
harbourlights.co.uk

Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside, especially when we’ve got a plate of fish and chips to tuck into. Boasting numerous awards, Harbour Lights is a bright and colourful seafood stop where you can eat in overlooking the harbour or take your fish and chips to go - we recommend taking them up to Pendennis Point where you can sup on fish, chips, and lashings of curry sauce with incredible views across the water.

The menu is chock-full of the nation’s favourites, from crispy battered haddock and Cornish hake to sausages, fried chicken, and burgers served in delicious Baker Tom brioche buns. Vegans rejoice as Harbour Lights have perfected vegan fish and chips. The not-so-secret secret? Tofu marinated in brine and lemon juice before being wrapped in nori and deep fried. All of the sauces are vegan too so you can fully indulge in this Cornish delicacy. 

The Working Boat

Best for: Hazy afternoons

Harbourside, Greenbank Quay, Falmouth TR11 2SR
theworkingboat.co.uk

The Greenbank Hotel has many lovely waterside spots, but you simply can’t beat The Working Boat when it comes to a laidback pint with harbourside views. The cosy interiors beckon in the winter months, while the outdoor seating promises glorious moments in the summer sun as your gaze slowly tracks around the harbour. 

The menu is jam-packed with wholesome favourites, including fish finger sandwiches, Korean fried chicken wings, and a selection of mouthwatering burgers, and the bar boasts 15 beers and ciders on tap. Stop by for lunch while exploring Falmouth’s cobbled streets, dinner as you watch the harbour slowly wind down, or on a Sunday when button-popping roasts appear on the menu. 

Chain Locker

The popular sea view restaurant Chain Locker on Falmouth's quay

Best for: Award-winning ales

Quay Street, Falmouth TR11 3HH
chainlockerfalmouth.co.uk

One of Falmouth’s top - and oldest - pubs, Chain Locker offers excellent sea views and a superb selection of food and drink in a historic setting. Perched alongside Falmouth’s famous harbour, ocean views are on offer whether you choose to sit indoors or out on the sun-soaked terrace.

The menu offers a wonderfully varied selection of dishes, from lighter lunches of steak baguettes and southern fried chicken wraps to mains packed with local goodness, including steak and Tribute ale pie and a seafood sharer platter. A selection of St Austell Brewery ales are available to wash down your meal or you can delve into the wine list for a glass of something grape.

Dough an Dowr

Best for: Pizza and sunrises

Queen Mary Road, Falmouth TR11 4FD
doughandowr.co.uk

Perched above one of Cornwall’s best beaches, this beloved converted horsebox combines super fresh and local ingredients with sweeping views across the sea. The sourdough bagels are guaranteed to upgrade your lunch, with the likes of Cubans, Rubens and a phenomenal outback ham and cheese with chilli jam from local chef Aussie Smoker. 

If you’re in the mood for pizza - and let’s face it, when are we not - the menu has something for everyone, from the tempting Falifornian topped with ham, pineapple, jalapenos and a drizzle of apple, gooseberry, and serrano sauce to the BBQ rebellion with even more smokey delights from the Aussie Smoker. We recommend taking your order and wandering down to the white sands of Gylly Beach for the ultimate dining experience.

The Boathouse

The exterior of cosy pub The Boathouse in Falmouth with sea views behind

Best for: Dog-friendly dining

Beacon Street, Trevethan Hill, Falmouth TR11 2AG
theboathousefalmouth.co.uk

Full of character with glorious sea and river views to boot, The Boathouse is as welcoming as they come. Settle into your surroundings on the covered terrace and watch the boats bob past or dip into the fantastic main bar, which is instantly recognisable for the beer mats covering the ceiling.

Local beers and ciders are on tap, with a superb selection of spirits ensuring your whistle is well and truly wetted. Alongside the well-stocked bar, the menu promises a tempting assortment of locally sourced fare to sink your teeth into. Tuck into the likes of Goan curry, oven-roasted pork belly, and Boathouse fish pie throughout the week, or visit on a Sunday for one of their famous roast dinners with all the trimmings.

Indidog

Two people eating a meal on the balcony of Indidog with sea views across the harbour in the background

Best for: Roast by the coast

28a Market Street, Falmouth TR11 3AT
indidogeatery.com

Offering simply stunning views across the harbour and a relaxed atmosphere inside, Indidog has you well and truly covered whenever you fancy a feed. In the mornings, stop by for some eggs benedict and a cocktail as you watch the harbour slowly come to life, or visit at lunchtime for a moreish mix of British classics with a Cornish twist; think macaroni cheese, fish finger sandwiches, and steak.

In the evenings, the restaurant invites you to enjoy a fine dining experience, with a smaller menu boasting carefully crafted dishes for all. From Cornish crab and local venison to Cornish ice cream and cheeses, the ingredients are a true celebration of Cornish food. Oh, and on Sundays, you’ll find the menu packed with the classics, including pillowy Yorkies, crispy roasties, and creamy cauliflower cheese. 

Brasserie on the Bay

Looking up through the gardens behind Gylly Beach in Falmouth at Brasserie on the Bay at St Michael's Hotel

Best for: Relaxed dining 

Gyllyngvase Beach, St Michaels Resort, Stracey Road, Falmouth TR11 4NB
stmichaelsresort.com/dine/brasserie-on-the-bay

Overlooking sub-tropical gardens with the sparkling sea beyond, Brasserie on the Bay is a rather special spot to unwind. Ranging from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to afternoon teas and Sunday roasts, this laidback restaurant has you covered whatever your mood. 

Fuel up with a full Cornish breakfast before setting out on a sun-soaked stroll along the coast or stop by for an afternoon tea followed by a dip in the water at Gylly Beach. 

Gylly Beach Café

People sat outside on benches on the beach at Gylly Beach Café in Falmouth

Best for: Beachside bevvies

On Gyllyngvase Beach, Cliff Road, Falmouth TR11 4PA
gyllybeach.com

Boasting arguably the best sea views in Falmouth, Gylly Beach Café is a hub of beachfront activity, with the takeaway selling ice creams, hot and cold drinks, and delicious homemade cakes. You can also pick up some of the beach café’s famous food, from sandwiches and soup to Cornish pasties and chips.

Heading inside the restaurant, you’ll find a welcoming space with uninterrupted views across the beach and ocean beyond. Watch the sunrise as you enjoy a plate of smoked Newlyn haddock or Gylly porridge, pop in for a light lunch in between swims, or visit for a relaxed supper of Rattler mussels or Korev beer-battered fish and chips. 

Maenporth Beach Café

Maenporth Beach Café on Maenporth Beach in Falmouth

Best for: Coastal adventures

Maenporth Road, Maenporth, Falmouth TR11 5HN
lifesabeachcafe.co.uk

Maenporth Beach is renowned for its watersports, with shallow waters and a sheltered aspect offering a haven of coastal fun. Kayaks, SUP boards, and surfboards can be hired through Falmouth Surf School, or you can bring a snorkel and explore the fascinating world beneath the waves. 

When hunger strikes, shake off the sand and head to Maenporth Beach Café for a wholesome refuel. Breakfast baps and granola are there to start your day right, while toasted ciabattas and burgers ensure no one goes hungry come lunchtime. Oh, and not forgetting the ice cream counter where an assortment of flavours await.

Muddy Beach

An assortment of food on colourful plates at Muddy Beach near Falmouth

Best for: Chilled vibes and cocktails

Jubilee Wharf, Commercial Road, Penryn TR10 8FG
muddybeach.com

A friendly atmosphere, cracking food, and waterside views? Muddy Beach is a café we simply can’t get enough of. The food is wickedly good, with a real focus on flavour, whether you want to start your day with some cinnamon French toast or end it with a round of small plates, from whitebait and halloumi fries to BBQ pork belly and spiced crab cakes.

The cocktail menu is well worth a peruse too, with a giddy mix of drinks that are sure to kick your brunch up a notch. They also offer a wide selection of wines, beers, hot drinks and uber-tasty milkshakes - don’t mind if we do! Situated in Penryn, it’s a great spot for a refuel while exploring the area or simply sit and watch water ebb and flow.

Swanpool Beach Café

Swanpool Beach Café and some outdoor seating with sea views near Falmouth

Best for: Ice cream by the sea

Swanpool Road, Swanpool, Falmouth TR11 5BG
swanpoolbeach.co.uk/cafe

Situated by the golden sands of Maenporth Beach near Falmouth, this popular beach café is renowned for its epic ice creams, which come in a variety of flavours and toppings, from Jaffa Cakes to lemon meringue. You’ll also find a hearty menu serving classic café staples, including ciabattas, jacket potatoes and delicious homemade soup.

The beach itself is a beautiful white-gold arc of sand, with turquoise waters and plenty of space for wild swimmers and watersports enthusiasts alike. The beach is also backed by a lovely nature reserve that’s great for gentle, wheel-friendly strolls and birdwatching. 

Pandora Inn

Best for: A slap-up Sunday carvery

Restronguet Creek, Mylor Bridge, Falmouth TR11 5ST
pandorainn.com

Famed for its historic atmosphere and belly-busting Sunday roasts, Pandora Inn is one of the best places to eat in Falmouth with sea views. Not only can you sit on the sun-soaked pontoon watching the waters ebb and flow, you can actually arrive by boat.

Warmed by a roaring fire in the cooler months, this cosy pub is great for winter walks - nothing quite warms you up better than a pint of Cornish ale and a Sunday carvery! During the week, the menu is made up of pub classics, including wholetail scampi, fish pie, and the unbeatable Pandora Ploughmans. Wash it all down with a glass of something Cornish and you’ve got the makings of a true Kernow feast.

Feeling peckish? Explore our beautiful holiday cottages in Falmouth and start planning a foodie break by the sea.

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