Where to Eat with a Sea View near Mevagissey

The best sea views for eating near Mevagissey are on the harbour itself, at the Sharksfin, She Sells and the Harbour Tavern, and a mile south on the beach at Portmellon, where The Rising Sun's bar looks straight out over the cove. Go further and you get the Georgian harbour at Charlestown and Sam's on the Beach at Polkerris. Here's where to go for which kind of view, and what you'll eat when you get there.

A quick warning first: a lot of seaside places shorten their hours or close from November to Easter. We couldn't confirm winter hours for She Sells or the Sharksfin, so check before you drive.

Where can I eat on Mevagissey harbour?

• The Sharksfin, The Quay. A restaurant and bar in two old harbourside warehouses, fish-led, with big doors opening onto the harbour. The best seat for watching the boats come in.
• She Sells, East Quay. Café, crêpes and ice cream, right on the harbour edge. Long hours in summer, shorter out of season.
• The Harbour Tavern, Jetty Street. A proper pub on the waterfront, with dogs welcome and food through the day in high season.
• Fish and chips on the quay. Grab a takeaway and sit on the harbour wall, the cheapest view in town. Our fish and chips guide has the shops.

Where can I eat on a beach near Mevagissey?

Portmellon, a mile south: The Rising Sun. That's us. It's a 17th-century free house on the beach. The bar sits just above the cove, so you're looking at open sea, not a harbour wall. On Sundays we serve roasts from 12 to 3 with live music after. Thursday to Saturday evenings we do sharing plates from 5 to 9, with bar snacks the rest of the time, and on Tuesdays it's pie & mash and the quiz. Dogs and children are welcome. Walk-ins are fine, but book a table for the roast.

Gorran Haven, about ten minutes' drive. The Mermaid Café on the slipway is a seasonal beach café, open Easter to October, doing pasties, coffee and ice cream with the beach in front of you.

Where's worth the drive for a view?

• Charlestown (20 minutes): the Pier House on the harbour front has a sea-facing restaurant and terrace, reopened after a big restoration. Next door, the old Harbourside Inn is now the Harbour Beer House, doing beer and pizza.
• Polkerris (25 minutes): Sam's on the Beach is in an old lifeboat station looking across St Austell Bay. It's a good pairing with a walk on the coast path.

Which is best in winter?

Indoors, with the weather on the other side of the glass. On the harbour that's the Sharksfin or the Harbour Tavern. At Portmellon it's our bar by the window, where you can watch a storm come across the bay with a pint and a roast. If you're staying over, our sea-view rooms start at £110 a night in winter, room only. And if you're still deciding whether to come at all, read is Cornwall worth visiting off-season?

Which places are dog-friendly?

The Harbour Tavern and The Rising Sun both welcome dogs inside. For everywhere else, ask when you book, as policies change with the seasons. Our dog-friendly Portmellon guide covers beaches and walks.

Where do I park?

For the harbour, use the town car parks: see the Mevagissey parking guide. At Portmellon, the car park is right next to the pub. It's pay and display, and the Sippi app is cheaper than the machine.

More on the town's pubs in our honest guide to the pubs in Mevagissey.

The Rising Sun Inn, 2 Portmellon Park, Portmellon, Mevagissey, Saint Austell PL26 6PL · 01726 473214