Family beach cafes in Cornwall
13th May 2019
It’s not just ice cream and Cornish pasties on the menu between surf sessions and building sandcastles. These family-friendly beach cafés and restaurants serve up the likes of smoothies, superfoods, share platters and seafood beside the waves.
Kota Kai, Porthleven
In view of the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour, and just footsteps from Porthleven’s sandy beach, at Kota Kai you can kickback for coffee and cocktails in the lounge, pop in for a leisurely brunch or sit down for a slap-up dinner. Chef Jude Kereama, star of the Great British Menu, is renowned for his signature Asian-fused dishes using the finest ingredients from land and sea. With an innovative children’s’ menu and a family room where kids can hangout playing table football and other games, at Kota Kai he’s created a relaxed family environment where you can enjoy some of the best food in Cornwall.
Find out more about Kota Kai, Porthleven.
Life’s a beach, Summerleaze Beach, Bude
Beach café by day and sophisticated seafood restaurant by night, Life’s Beach – or L.A.B. – has become somewhat of a local foodie star over the last two decades. You can’t sit much closer to the shoreline at Summerleaze; in fact, at high tide you can watch the surfers glide past as you enjoy sundowners and seafood. Whether you pick a classic fish dish, Cuban sandwich or Detroit dog from the menu, rest assured you’ll be tucking into the freshest ingredients from local suppliers, while soaking up gob-smacking sea views. Here, life really is a beach.
Find out more about Life’s a beach, Bude.
Porthgwidden Beach Cafe, The Island, St Ives
Little sister to this seaside town’s famous Porthminster Café, the Porthgwidden is a more relaxed and intimate affair – but with the same delicious cuisine and stunning beachfront location. Sit on a beachside bench with an Italian coffee and cake while the kids build sandcastles, or head to the upper deck and take a seat inside for some of the Med- and Asian-style seafood and a crisp glass of Sauvignon. Whichever you choose, enjoy a side order of stunning views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy lighthouse.
Find out more about Porthgwidden Beach Cafe, Bude,
Catch, Mawgan Porth
There’s nothing like padding straight off the beach and sinking into a comfy surfside sofa or stylish seaside restaurant to refuel and relax. At Catch you can drop your surfboard by the door and bask on the terrace with a coffee or cold beer, or grab a table for a seafood feast. From classic British breakfasts and simple sandwiches, to post-surf feasts and seafood specialities, this beach-house bar and grill is a family favourite from sun-up to sundown.
Find out more about Catch, Mawgan Porth.
Poldhu Beach Cafe, Poldhu Cove
Bang on the family Mecca of Poldhu Cove, this buzzing little beach café serves breakfast baps, finger-licking lunches and Poldhutastic hot chocolates 363 days of the year. Whether you’ve been riding the waves with the surf school next door, hunting for treasure on nearby Dollar Cove or creating sand sculptures on the beach, it’s the perfect pit stop for rumbling tums. Every Friday in summer enjoy stone-baked pizzas served with Cornish cider or a glass of bubbly, while listening to live music on the beachside deck.
Find out more about Poldhu Beach Cafe, Poldhu.
Find your Beach Retreats self-catering holiday.
