The top places to eat near Bude
We love Bude, and we make no secret how much we love getting down to the bungalow to rest, relax, and explore the local area. Of course, no holiday is complete without sampling the local eateries to find the very best.
Bude has an array of food options to suit every palette, from fish and chips on the beach (a personal favourite) to more fine dining for those wanting to go all out or, of course, the infamous Cornish pasty.
Here, we have listed some of our favourite places to eat out. We haven’t included our favourite spots for takeaways or snacks; we’ll cover that in another post.
Life’s a Beach
Life’s a Beach is highly rated for both its food and location. It’s just a few steps from the sand at Summerleaze Beach (one of our favourite beaches) and offers a family-friendly place for snacks or something more fulfilling after a day playing on the beach or in the surf. They have a day and an evening menu. The seafood dishes are excellent. The signature crab linguine is highly recommended, and there are options for almost every dietary requirement.
The Bank
The Bank is located in the heart of Bude near the peaceful surroundings of the river Neet. It’s a dog-friendly restaurant. It offers tapas-style dining for every palette. The ingredients are again locally sourced and infused with traditional Spanish ingredients to create a colourful and varied menu that includes some specialities like paellas, fish platters, seafood, and lobster. They also have traditional Spanish wines, sangria, beer and a cocktail menu.
The Bay View Inn
This place is a little gem. We love the Bay View Inn. It has panoramic views overlooking Widemouth Bay. It’s dog and family-friendly and has not one but five dining options. The offshore gallery restaurant is “part gallery, part restaurant,” but you also have the Driftwood, Conservatory, Surf Bar, and Terrace. As you’d expect, they use local produce and ingredients. The menus include something for everyone, from the classic fish and chips to burgers and pasta.
The Weir
If a stunning backdrop to go with your meal is on the menu, we’d certainly recommend The Weir, which is set in a historic watermill on the outskirts of Bude. It’s a dining experience with a difference. It’s another dog-friendly venue, so you don’t need to worry about your pooch missing out. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. They combine produce from the local area with produce from their farm at Whalesborough. It’s a varied menu from streaks, seafood and salads to vegan options and cream teas. The food is freshly made and genuinely delicious.
The Preston Gate Inn
Some days, the only thing that will do is some hearty, traditional British pub grub. If this is the case, The Preston Gate Inn would be one of our recommendations. It’s located in a beautiful spot in the countryside on the outskirts of Bude. You can expect a traditional pub menu with steaks, burgers and fish and chips. On Sunday, they have a traditional roast with all the trimmings. They are also known for their selection of Cornish rum if you fancy a tipple.
Rosie’s Kitchen
This family-run beachside cafe is almost an institution in Bude; Rosie’s Kitchen is right on the beach at Crooklets and has stunning views across the sand. Some of the photos on our site are taken from Rosie’s as we watched a sunset. Whether it’s a mint hot chocolate to warm you on a winter’s day or an ice cream to cool you down in the summer, you can’t go wrong with popping into Rosie’s. They also offer hot food, all cooked freshly using local ingredients. They have two huge menus, one for the day from breakfast onwards and another for the evening. We really cannot recommend this place enough.
The Bush Inn
Dating back to the 13th century, The Bush Inn is in the parish of Morwenstow near Bude. Steeped in history, it’s one of Cornwall’s oldest pubs. In the winter, it’s an ideal spot to enjoy a local ale by the open fire, and in the summer, the beer garden and outdoor area offer a family-friendly place to indulge in their menu. It’s classic pub grub with a hint of gourmet specials. Everything is freshly made to order, which is why we like it so much.
The Barge
Located on Bude Canal’s waters, The Barge is a very different experience, but we love it. During the winter season, it is on the Lower Wharf. In the summer, it moves to the lock gates to offer views of Summerleaze Beach.
You step aboard the converted Barge to enjoy a range of homemade dishes, including freshly caught seafood, gourmet burgers, and vegetarian options. They also offer fresh cakes and scones, which look delicious, although we have yet to indulge.
While overlooking the water and scenic views of Bude’s historic canal – we spotted our first kingfisher, so keep an eye out.
Boscastle Farm Shop Cafe
Surrounded by National Trust farmland, Boscastle Farm Shop and Cafe is less than 50 yards from the coastal path. It’s located in the picturesque village of Boscastle. It’s at the top of our list if you fancy a walk before or after your food. There are some stunning walks and an abundance of wildlife. We’ve been fortunate to spot seals in the cove and Peregrine falcons, which nest in the cliffs. The food is all produced on the farm or sourced locally. The menu is varied and has lots of homemade goodies – all of which are delicious.
The Beach at Bude
If you’re looking for somewhere offering a fine dining experience, you can’t go too far wrong with The Beach at Bude, which is set in the rather elegant surroundings of The Beach Hotel. It uses locally sourced ingredients and offers meat and fish dishes such as pan-seared scallops and slow-cooked lamb shank, but it also caters for dietary requirements and younger diners.
The Port William Inn
And finally, if sea views are what you’re looking for, you can’t go too far wrong with The Port William Inn, which is perched on the cliffs overlooking Trebarwith Strand. It’s a St Austell Brewery, dog-friendly pub in Tintagel which offers stunning views and delicious pub food. You can feast on a traditional Sunday roast, seafood, gourmet burgers, and traditional Cornish classics, accompanied by a refreshing pint of local ale – what more can you ask for?
As you can see from the selection above, whether you’re craving cream tea, a beachside snack, pub grub, or fine dining, Bude really has something to satisfy every taste bud.
And we’d be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn’t mention where to stay after all this eating – of course it should be our self catering bungalow in Kilkhampton, Bude!
Isla Roberts is a passionate traveller and food enthusiast who has dedicated her free time to exploring everything the world offers, particularly the beautiful Cornwall town of Bude, where she owns a holiday property in the village of Kilkhampton. Her blog posts provide insights into everything she’s found to do, see and eat in Bude and the wider Cornwall area.