Peter Cumberlidge names his favourite South Coast restaurants and explains how to get to them by boat
St. Mawes
The Watch House (Contemporary English)
I love lying off St Mawes harbour, either at anchor or on a visitor buoy. If you land at the quay or harbour beach, The Watch House (pictured right) is nearby on The Square.
The upstairs dining room of this stylish restaurant has great harbour views and the cooking is refreshingly creative.
To start, try their mussels cooked with green masala and coconut, and then maybe go for the Cornish seafood spaghetti.
- Tel: +44 (0)1326 270038 Web: www.watchhousestmawes.co.uk
- Signature dish: Cornish seafood spaghetti
- Proximity: Right on harbour front
- Approx cost: £60 (three-course meal for two exc. wine)
Mylor Yacht Harbour
Castaways Bistro (All-day bistro)
Mylor marina is a charming rural spot, tucked into the mouth of a sleepy creek on the west side of the Fal. The berths look out across the mile-wide estuary towards the church spire of St Just in Roseland and another picturesque creek.
Castaways Bistro (pictured below) is right next to the marina, open all day in season for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their menus have plenty of interest and you always receive a warm welcome.
- Tel: +44 (0)1326 377710 Web: www.castawaysmylor.com
- Signature dish: Homemade seafood pie
- Proximity: Right on Mylor marina
- Approx cost: £48 (three-course meal for two exc. wine)
Penzance
Mackerel Sky (Posh café)
This attractive ‘posh café’ bistro is near Penzance Dock in New Street. Still largely undiscovered, Penzance is a handy jumping off point for the Isles of Scilly or a passage round Land’s End.
You raft up in the dock with all kinds of working boats, but the harbourmaster is very accommodating about where you lie.
Run with flair by Jamie and Nina MacLean, Mackerel Sky is a bright, stylish diner, which feels as salty as the harbour, with some inspired specials.
Try their Doom Bar beer-battered monkfish and the tasting board of squid, smoked mackerel pâté, smoked salmon and white anchovies.
- Tel: +44 (0)1736 448982 Web: www.mackerelskycafe.co.uk
- Signature dish: Beer-battered monkfish
- Proximity: 5 minutes walk from Penzance Dock
- Approx cost: £45 (three-course meal for two exc. wine)
Scilly – St. Agnes Island
High Tide Seafood Restaurant (Modern seafood)
St Agnes is a treat to visit. In quiet weather you can anchor in Porth Conger, a sandy bay between the north-east edge of St Agnes and tiny Gugh Island.
Landing at the jetty, follow a country lane half a mile inland past the Turk’s Head pub. High Tide looks just like a traditional cottage and its conservatory dining room is a fantastic, homely place to eat with beautiful views out across the Western Isles to Bishop Rock lighthouse.
If you don’t want to leave your boat at anchor, visit St Agnes from St Mary’s island on one of the evening launches.
- Tel: +44 (0)1720 423869 Web: www.hightide-seafood.com
- Signature dish: Cornish turbot with scallops
- Proximity: 25 minutes stroll from landing jetty
- Approx cost: £60 (three-course meal for two exc. wine)
Scilly – St. Mary’s Island
Juliet’s Garden Restaurant (Homely English restaurant)
Walk around the harbour bay and then north to Porthloo beach to find this idyllic restaurant (pictured above), which has beautiful sunset views.
On balmy evenings you can eat on the terrace, or if the weather is cutting up rough the cosy barn dining room is the place to be.
The menu is quite small but well judged, from deliciously marbled local beef or succulent fish seared on the chargrill. The local crab is superb. The amble back to the harbour is a magical finale to a summer evening.
- Tel: +44 (0)1720 422228 Web: www.julietsgardenrestaurant.co.uk
- Signature dish: Scilly lobster and crab omelette
- Proximity: Half-hour stroll from harbour
- Approx cost: £60 (three-course meal for two exc. wine)
