Pubs and Bars
It’s all very well having great restaurants and places to eat out – but what about bars and pubs, for having a cold beer or glass of wine?
There are plenty of options – so here goes:
BARS
To fully experience the local establishments, we can recommend heading out early for a pre-dinner drink or trying a digestif after your meal.
Locally in St Merryn, Rafferty’s can be found at the crossroads – a regular favourite for a drink or something to eat in St Merryn.
If you’re in Trevone, Bruno’s Bar right down by the beach is a great place to enjoy a tipple or two while watching the sunset. There’s often live music nights in the summer too.
Padstow has a host of bars and wineries.
Bin Two and 17 Duke Street both offer a great selection of wines to drink in around a cosy booth or to purchase and enjoy at home. 17 Duke Street also serves great cocktails and selles their own Padstow Spirits.
A regular haunt for locals and visitors alike, PW1 serves wine, beers, and cocktails in their friendly bar, or to enjoy at their tables on the cobbled ground of the Drang watching the world go by.
If beer is more your thing, Padstow Tasting Rooms have 2 locations in town – a larger one by the old post office serving small sharing platters and a smaller one in the square where you can enjoy a tipple outside in the sunshine.
Rick Stein’s Ruby’s bar provides a sophisticated setting to enjoy classic cocktails along with some more unique drink recipes.
A hidden gem, Prideaux Walled Garden just off of Duke Street serves coffee, cakes, and home-grown teas during the days, but on Friday evenings, the bothy becomes a cosy hub for a carefully selected selection of wines and locally brewed beers to be enjoyed by the fire with a cheese board.
A few of the restaurants will also happy accept walk-in drinkers, including Harbour Hotel who boasts a great selection of spirits and cocktails. Paul Ainsworth’s CiCi’s bar, lovingly named after his daughter, has an elegant selection of drinks to pair with their refined ‘small plates’ menu.
If you venture to Wadebridge do try Salt Bar. Located on the top deck of some converted shipping containers close to the entrance to the Camel Trail, the bar serves a selection of wines, beers and cocktails. You are also free to sit and drink while enjoying food from one of several local indie eateries downstairs.
Plonk’d is a relative newcomer to Wadebridge having opened their doors in September 2023 and is fast becoming a popular spot for wine, local beers and cocktails. Dogs are very welcome too. If you need a snack before venturing home, there is also an excellent Spanish style pintxos menu.
PUBS
The pubs in the local area do brisk business in food – but where is best for a drink?
St Merryn has a number of pubs on offer, starting with the Doghouse for a warm and friendly welcome. Next door is The Farmers Arms – a real local pub which often plays host to live music. The Cornish Arms is Rick Stein’s presence in the village, with a great classic pub menu and popular with locals and holiday-makers alike – but beware the crowds!
Trevone’s local pub The Well Parc is good for a drink with plenty of organised activity likely to be going on, so do keep an eye on their social media for upcoming events. There is a pool table, and great views from the terrace out front.
Once again, Padstow has the most to offer on the pub front, with 6 pubs to choose from around the harbour.
The Old Custom House and The Old Ship Hotel both offer a cosy drinking experience, while the Shipwrights has a bustling events calendar with live music, quizzes, and bingo. As the local sports bar, you can be sure to catch the all-important sports fixtures on one of the many screens throughout the Shipwrights.
For a bit more Padstow atmosphere, The Golden Lion, London Inn, and Harbour Inn all have a more traditional feel and are often full of local drinkers.
