4 Best Restaurants in Padstow, The West Country

Paul Ainsworth has been expanding his culinary presence in Padstow to rival that of Rick Stein, and, for many foodies, Ainsworth offers the better experience at this intimate bistro—his original foothold in the town—where diners seated in a series of small, stylish rooms feast on ingeniously concocted dishes that make the most of local and seasonal produce. The four-course set-price menus (£160) for lunch and dinner might include smoked pike roe with pink grapefruit and Cornish jack crab to start, followed by pigeon with salted plum condiment and black cardamom or wild turbot with Iberian ham mousseline. Just be sure to leave room for dessert. The atmosphere is warm and lively, with swift, ultra-attentive staff.

Just steps from where boats unload their daily catches, Rick Stein's modern, airy flagship restaurant has built its reputation on the freshest fish and the highest culinary artistry in town, with everything from grilled Padstow lobster with herbs and stir-fried Singapore chili crab to meat and vegetarian dishes. Choose between sitting either formally at a table or on a stool at the Seafood Bar. In low season, you can order a three-course set-price lunch menu for £30. Guests at one of Stein's hotels can also book a table on the panoramic rooftop terrace—and a stay in one of the sunny, individually designed guest rooms overlooking the harbor is an enticing option if you don't feel like moving very far after your meal.

Just a 10-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Padstow, this coastal retreat occupies an opulent old farmhouse surrounded by delightful grounds with glorious sea views. Like other branches of this hipster chain, the menu prioritizes ingredients produced within a 25-mile radius in such dishes as lamb rump with kohlrabi, broad beans, and nasturtium; middle white pork loin with red onions; harrisa-braised leeks with smoked quinoa and almonds; butterflied gurnard; and Newlyn plaice. The restaurant's wood-paneled main dining room, with its fine Jacobean ceiling, is augmented by less formal beamed and flagstoned areas, and there is also the outdoor Lobster Shed (late May to late September) for wood-roasted lobster and chargrilled meats. Round off your visit with a stroll round the kitchen garden, where much of the restaurant's produce is grown. A range of rooms is also available here.

Part of chef Rick Stein's empire, this French-leaning bistro with contemporary art adorning its walls has a secluded feel. The menu is strong on seafood but also offers tasty vegetarian choices, featuring dishes like porcini linguine with white truffle oil, oven-dried tomato and thyme tart with Blue Vinny, or smoked chicken breast with carrot, ginger, and chili sambal. Look out for the "lunch specials", such as mussels in a cream sauce, and steak sandwich. Children are also well catered for. When the weather's nice, you can dine in the sunny walled garden, while Ruby's Bar next door offers a cozy nook for gins and cocktails. Upstairs are 10 spacious bedrooms individually decorated with stylish modern pieces.