6 must-visit sundowner spots

28th February 2019

Six sublime places to watch the sunset over the ocean with your favourite tipple in hand…

After a day at the beach in Cornwall, nothing beats watching the sun go down over the waves. If you’re lucky you might even get to see the ‘Green Flash’ – a ray of green light that can be momentarily seen as the sun dips below the horizon. Here are some of our favourite bars to order a sundowner and watch the sunset in style:

The Bay View Inn, Bude

Fancy some gin-spiration as the sun goes down? Settle into a sea-view seat overlooking Widemouth Bay and sip a world-class gin as the horizon turns from blue to orange and fuzzy shades of pink. You might prefer a local Tarquin’s Gin – handcrafted on the wild North Cornish Coast; a Hernö Tom – crowned the world’s best gin for two years straight; or even a Sharish Blue Magic, that turns from blue to dusky pink when you add tonic – much like the horizon you’re gazing out at.

The Bay View Inn.
Self-catering properties in Bude.

Emily Scott Food, Watergate Bay

With The Beach Hut and The Living Space nudging the waves, Watergate Bay already topped the list as one of the most stunning – and stylish – spots to watch the sunset over the sea. And it’s also a location where many – including one of Watergate Bay Hotel’s modern founders, Mary Ashworth – have claimed to see the elusive green flash.

So this summer there is nowhere more iconic to catch the sunset whilst dining on a fresh delicious meal than the brand new restaurant Emily Scott Food. Whether or not you get to see the flash, it’s set to be Cornwall’s hottest spot for a sundowner about as close to the horizon as you can get without getting your feet wet.

Emily Scott Food.
Self-catering properties in Watergate Bay.

Alcatraz, Perranporth

Perranporth’s Watering Hole has long been dubbed one of Cornwall’s coolest beach bars to enjoy cracking sunsets, live music and a front-row view of the surf. However, it’s now rivalled by the trendy new Alcatraz bar and café, where you can soak up those sublime sunsets from a stylish cliff-top setting. Affectionately given its name when staff from the Watering Hole were ‘banished’ to work alone here when it was a simple kiosk on the cliff side, these days the staff and the punters are clamouring for a spot on the upper deck – especially at the golden sunset hour.

Alcatraz.
Self-catering properties in Perranporth.

Blue, Porthtowan

A well established favourite, there are few better places than Blue to sink a beer gazing out to eye-popping sea views and sunsets. Nudging surf-lashed Porthtowan and boasting breathtaking views from bay window booths and a surfside terrace, it’s arguably the coolest place in Cornwall to kickback post-surf with the sand between your toes. Order a pint and a legendary Blue Burger as the sun goes down, and stay on to enjoy the après-beach vibes as the tunes get cranked up and live bands or comedy acts take the stage.

Blue, Porthtowan.
Self-catering properties in Porthtowan.

Surf Beach Bar, Sennen

Just a mile from the south-westerly tip of Cornwall, Sennen Cove is one of the most wild and beautiful places to see the sun descend into the Atlantic. Relax on a sofa on the terrace of The Surf Den (boasting a surfboard bar crafted using surfboard construction techniques) and sip a ‘Head Launcher’ ale, made by the local Skinner’s Brewery and inspired by the Sennen Cove lifeboat. As the sun dips behind the rolling surf, stay to listen to atmospheric beach sounds when resident DJs take over the decks every Friday and Saturday evening throughout summer.

Surf Beach Bar.
Self-catering properies in Sennen.

Sandbar, Praa Sands

Being on the south coast, you can’t actually see the sunset from this trendy bar where you’ve got the beach at your feet. However, whether you’ve been dipping into beach life on the north or south coast, you still need a decent beachside bar to toast the day at sundowner hour. And true to its name, a trail of sandy footprints leads from the beach into the Sand Bar, where you can soak up panoramic sea views with your favourite tipple and a platter of Med-style food.

Sandbar.
Self-catering holidays in Praa Sands.

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