72 Hours in Padstow: The Ultimate Foodie Weekend Itinerary

It’s no secret that Padstow is the foodie capital of Cornwall – but while it’s famous for its restaurants, the best foodie breaks are about more than just what’s on the plate. They’re about earning breakfast with a skin-tingling dip, lingering over lunch with a view, walking the coast path before dinner, and discovering hidden gems between the headline names.

Making the most of a short break in Padstow and tasting the best of Cornwall while you’re there is all about knowing where to go, when to book and what to order. As locals, we know where to wine and dine in Padstow – from grab-and-go pop-ups to get-your-glad-rags-on fine dining spots. So, whether it’s a midweek getaway or a weekend escape, we’ve put together the ultimate three-day itinerary for Padstow.

Soak up the estuary views on a stroll along South Quay to Ben’s Crib Box. After a fully loaded breakfast burrito from this colourful shack, much-loved by locals, you’ll be fuelled up to hit the Camel Trail. Just footsteps from Padstow Cycle Hire, it couldn’t be easier to grab a bike and pedal along the traffic-free route as far as Bodmin Moor if you’re super keen. Sublime.

On the way back, you’ll be ready for a pit stop at Camel Valley Vineyard, where you can rest your legs and sip their award-winning wines on the terrace. It’s a short leg back to Padstow from there – just follow the scent of fish and chips back to your starting point, and tuck into just-caught local seafood on the quay at Stein’s Fish & Chips.

There’s still plenty of time to mosey around the harbour boutiques and galleries for the rest of the afternoon. Stock up on deli goods, coastal-inspired art, and clothes cut out for beach life. You might well be tempted by the cakes on display at Cherry Trees, and if the tide’s on your side, dip your toes in the sea at Chidley Pump beach.

Ease into the evening with a tasting flight of locally brewed cask ales at Padstow Brewing Co.’s taproom in the Old Post Office building. Then it’s time for some of Cornwall’s finest fruits de mer at Prawn on the Lawn. Choose between frozen margs and small plates at the Little Prawn seafood bar and the likes of day-catch and whole Padstow lobster at their original Duke Street restaurant.

Out of Town Recommendation: Take a trip to Prawn on the Lawn’s rural outpost, Barnaby’s, at nearby Trevibban Mill vineyard, where small, locally-caught fish, Cornish-reared meats and veg freshly plucked from Padstow Kitchen Garden are accompanied by wide-open countryside views.

Follow the scent of fresh baking to the harbour and fill up on breakfast pastries and Cornish coffee from Malcolm Barnecutt’s craft bakery – best enjoyed as the sun comes up and the fishing boats drift out to sea.

Then it’s time to head to Tarquin’s Gin School, where you can create your own bespoke gin from local botanicals and leave with a bottle to take home – the perfect souvenir from your Cornish escape.

For lunch, head to Caffè Rojano, Paul Ainsworth’s laid-back Italian-inspired restaurant where wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta and Cornish ingredients are given a Mediterranean twist, best enjoyed in the light-filled conservatory by the harbour.

If you do finish your lunch with a Whoopsy Splunker soft serve at Caffè Rojano, you’ll definitely want to work it off and make room for your next meal with a coastal stomp.

Strike out from the harbour towards Gunver Head, where a collapsed sea cave offers dramatic views across the mouth of the estuary, then continue to the powder-white sands of Hawker’s Cove – a peaceful spot for a sea dip.

If you’ve got room for just-out-of-the-oven scones, there’s no better place for a Cornish cream tea than the tiny Rest A While Tea Garden, hidden on the western edge of the cove.

Back in Padstow, it’s time for a pre-dinner drink at Stein’s cosy Ruby’s Bar. We can recommend the Gin Highball – made with Tarquin’s Rick Stein Gin, fennel, pineapple and bitter lemon.

Tonight is all about the big hitters. Book ahead for dinner at Paul Ainsworth at No.6 or Stein’s signature Seafood Restaurant – and prepare for one of the highlights of your trip. Both restaurants put Padstow on the culinary map, and for good reason. Expect exceptional local ingredients, beautifully executed dishes and a dining experience worth planning your itinerary around.

Fuel up for the day with a full Cornish breakfast and sweeping estuary views at Greens of Padstow, then hop aboard the Black Tor ferry to Rock. (You can watch the ferry come and go from your table, so you can time your exit perfectly.)

Across the water, join Camel Ski School for a morning of paddleboarding, wakeboarding, wake surfing or waterskiing. As you skim across the glassy surface of the estuary, you’ll pass the oyster and mussel beds where some of Cornwall’s finest shellfish are grown.

Appetite well and truly earned, bag a water’s edge table The Mariners, where you can linger over pub classics, seasonal specials and Cornish ales while watching the tide ebb and flow.

While you’re on the Rock-side of the water, pad along the shoreline to Daymer Bay at low tide, and scale the grassy knoll of Brea Hill to detour back via the wonky-steepled St Enodoc Church where the late poet laureate John Betjeman is buried.

Before catching the ferry back to Padstow, stop for a drink on the terrace at the newly renovated St Enodoc Hotel.

Float back to Padstow and keep things relaxed for your final evening. Browse the shelves at BinTwo and settle in with a carefully chosen glass of wine and a few tapas plates. Then take a final stroll around the harbour before heading to PL28 Cafe for a laidback supper in the hands of local chef Thomas Hine.

After harbour walks, coastal adventures and memorable meals, you’ll want somewhere stylish and easy to retreat to – within walking distance of Padstow’s best eats. Explore our short break cottages in Padstow to find your perfect foodie retreat and make the most of three days in this magical Cornish town.