Breakfasts Of Champions: 7 Of The Best Breakfast Spots In Devon & Cornwall

There are many good reasons to get out of bed in Devon and Cornwall. Breakfast is one of the best – and never more so than when it’s showing off the region’s home-grown bounty. What could be nicer than starting the day with sea views, strong coffee and plates piled high with local produce? Refuelling properly matters here, not least because more often than not you’re in for a post-surf feast or a slow brunch after a long coastal walk. That said, if all you want is a sunny table for lingering over waffles and lattes, the south-west has perfected the art of the morning meal, however you like yours. We’ve rounded up seven of the very best spots for starting the day well, from beachside shacks to polished cafés – all worth setting the alarm for.

Main image: The Old Forge, Lelant

Slice, Trewardreva, Falmouth

Close to the Helston river, Slice serves up a delicious array of waffles with toppings to sate both sweet and savoury teeth. We heartily suggest trying their signature ‘bayas’, stone-scorched sourdough breads, stuffed with globally-inspired fillings. For the coffee nerds, the menu served at the barista station will please even the hardest caffeine devotee, with a range of deliciously flavoured lattes, for those not-so-purists.

The Winking Prawn, Salcombe

A clapperboard institution, tucked into the North Sands cove, The Winking Prawn is as known for its seafood platters as it is for its breakfast buffet. Grab a table and place your eggs order, then fill up your plate from the selection of hearty, fry up options. Perfect fuel for a walk around the headland into Salcombe town, or perhaps a ferry up the estuary to Kingsbridge.

The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay

For carefree beachside dining, you can’t beat The Beach Hut. Perfect for watching the surfers do their thing, with the best views in the bay. Choose from a menu of local, seasonal produce (clotted cream porridge is the perfect winter fodder), or how about something unexpectedly, like the gochujang glazed buttermilk chicken and waffles? Whatever your order, don’t miss out on the s’mores extreme hot chocolate. You can thank us later.

Porthmeor Beach Cafe, St Ives

Nestled just below the Tate, this buzzing cafe with al fresco dinner on the beach-front terrace is a location hard to beat. Book a heated pod, that keeps you cosy, but open to the elements for a full Cornish experience and ‘build your own breakfast’ from the mix and match menu to keep even the fussiest of brunch goers happy.

Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth

The ‘shack on the beach’ at Blackpool Sands has had a full facelift, turning the simple cafe into a luxe, laidback California-vibes restaurant, with live music bringing the vibes as you brunch. Why not book the beach sauna, take a dip and make a morning of it?

The Old Forge, Lelant

The sheltered courtyard at The Old Forge, just outside Hayle is a cute spot for an al fresco breakfast. Healthy, homemade specials include smoothie bowls and shakshuka, with pancakes and all the trimmings for those with a sweeter tooth.

Fernpit Beach Kitchen, Newquay

On the Pentire headland, overlooking The Gannel and Crantock beach, the Fernpit has ‘been crabbing since 1910’ - famous for their signature ‘Fern Pit Crab Benedict’ serving crab fished from their own boat, Excelsior. If you’re a traditionalist, no fear, their Ferryman’s breakfast is a full fry-up by any other name, with breakfast baps and even a brunch pizzetti to refuel you after a coastpath jaunt.