Eating out on the Isles of Scilly is not as restrictive as the location may suggest. While a lot of food is shipped over from the mainland, the island’s chefs have learned to make the most of what nature provides. As a result, you can expect seasonal menus with an abundance of sublime, fresh seafood and produce from the small local farms.
The type of cuisine on offer isn’t limited either, with plenty of good pub grub complemented by quintessential tea rooms, superb cafes and even specialty restaurants including Spanish tapas and an American-inspired burger joint. Plenty of hotels have also upped their restaurant game over the last decade, meaning you may not have to venture far to find a good meal.
For further inspiration visit our guides to the Isles’ best hotels and things to do. If you’re planning a longer trip visit our guide to the ultimate holiday in Cornwall.
St. Mary’s
Dibble & Grub
Serving up Spanish dishes with Scillonian ingredients, Dibble & Grub is a beachfront tapas restaurant and bar that brings a touch of the Mediterranean to the Cornish isles. Overlooking Porthcressa Beach, there are a handful of coveted tables outdoors on the seafront. The menu is as you would expect of Spanish tapas with dishes made for sharing. The D&G antipasti board is a great way to ease yourself in, with the Cornish gouda a surprising highlight. Other popular dishes include the squid kofta, sweet potato patatas bravas and – my personal favourite – the Saganaki (pan-fried Cypriot halloumi). Sangria, of course, is a must, but drinks can also be taken away if you aren’t lucky enough to bag a table.
Contact: dibbleandgrub.co.uk
Reservations: Essential
Prices: £
Juliet’s Garden Restaurant
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, Juliet’s is a beloved (and incredibly popular) spot that has become a staple of any holiday to the isles. Set above Porthloo Beach, the walk up the hill may be taxing for some, but the terrace offers what is arguably the best view of any restaurant on St. Mary’s; across the harbour to the neighbouring islands. The crab light lunch is a firm favourite, but there’s plenty of local fish on the menu to choose from, including southern fried popcorn shrimp and scampi, as well fresh salads and filling sandwiches and rolls. If you just miss the daytime menu (10am–4pm), you can still grab a tea with a slice of cake until 5pm.
Contact: julietsgardenrestaurant.co.uk
Reservations: Not required
Prices: £
The Beach
While there’s a decidedly American vibe to the menu of Scilly’s only beachside BBQ restaurant, the atmosphere and decor is very much in line with relaxed island life. The beach is just steps away and there’s a mix of high, bar-style tables, booths and outdoor tables fitted with heaters to make the most of the views over Porthmellon Beach and its usual line of gigs on the sand. The menu features US favourites such as loaded fries (the burger-loaded fries are incredibly tasty and a great choice if you’re not too ravenous), juicy burgers and seafood dishes, but all done with Cornish flare.
Contact: scillybeach.com/beach
Reservations: Not possible
Prices: ££
Tresco
New Inn
The island’s local, the New Inn is convivial and welcoming; everything a good British pub should be. It also serves up some hearty grub with a seaside twist. Grab a pint of Rattler from the driftwood bar, grab a seat in the outdoor area (snag one overlooking the water at New Grimsby if you can) and tuck into tasty fare such as the Cornish crab cakes or grilled Newlyn mackerel burger. Time your visit on a Wednesday or Saturday in the summer months to take advantage of the Ox Grill, promising fresh local lobster. Sunday is also a highlight with a roast on offer.
Contact: tresco.co.uk/eating/new-inn
Reservations: Advised
Prices: ££
The Ruin Beach Cafe
Although the vibe here feels very much like a gastro pub on the beach – with a truly enviable view down across the white sands of Raven’s Porth Beach – the menu is quite surprising. The ‘Mediterranean-inspired’ menu features pizzas, pasta and fresh seafood. While the latter promises fresh flavours (the Cornish scallops starter served with samphire and chorizo packed a surprisingly hot punch), the real reason to eat here is the pizza. Freshly cooked in a wood-fired oven, they are thin, crispy and packed with toppings. Be sure to ask about the specials – the chicken and blue cheese was a standout dish.
Contact: tresco.co.uk/eating/ruin-cafe
Reservations: Essential
Prices: ££
Bryher
Fraggle Rock
Warm hospitality, an excellent location by the beach, indoor and outdoor seating areas, great prices and quite possibly the best crab sandwich you can find, Fraggle Rock is an absolute highlight of any visit to Bryher. Serving up superb lunches and low-key dinners, the self-styled bar and cafe’s menu features the very best of local produce – from Hillside Farm and Island Fish on Bryher to Troytown Farm ice cream from St. Agnes. Friday night is fish and chips night, with bookings essential. The aforementioned crab sandwich is also hugely popular with those in the know, so it’s worth getting there early for lunch (12-2pm) before they sell out – be sure to also follow owner Chris’s advice and get it on brown bread.
Contact: bryher.co/fraggle-rock-bar-cafe
Reservations: Highly recommended
Prices: £
Hell Bay
The terrace at Hell Bay is a sun trap, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail (there’s usually a special each day that’s worth a try). Dinner in the restaurant is a set three-course menu with three options for each course. Seasonality and available produce is hugely changeable in the isles, meaning that the offering differs each day. What you can expect is traditional, classic dishes showcasing the best of local produce, from Tresco beef to Bryher crab to vegetables dug just a stone’s throw from the kitchen door. While it may be a minor factor for some, the bread here is superb and best enjoyed with the soup. It also means that some excellent sandwiches are on offer at lunch when a more laid-back a la carte menu is served.
Contact: hellbay.co.uk
Reservations: Essential
Prices: ££
Crab shack
Although technically part of Hell Bay hotel, this delightful pop-up is worthy of its own entry. As the name suggests, this is little more than a fancy shack complete with marquee. Open only during the summer months on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights with just one sitting at 6:30 pm, there’s an air of exclusivity to the occasion – albeit a convivial one with long, bench-style tables encouraging you to make friends. The menu features very little, but it’s done very well. It’s scallops to start and crab for main, accompanied by salad, fries and bread. Pudding consists of Eton Mess or a Cornish cheese board. You’re given an apron on arrival, which should be enough to warn you that this is not the place to sport your finest threads.
Contact: hellbay.co.uk
Reservations: Essential
Prices: ££
St. Martins
Seven Stones Inn
A rustic family-run pub with sea views, Seven Stones is completely lacking in pretension and is what a good pub with food used to be before the gastro-pub took over. There aren’t even menus – just a chalkboard listing the day’s offerings. Not that those offerings are limited; there’s everything from a vegan burger with chips to pork ribs, beef brisket and seafood linguine in a saffron cream sauce (with proper seafood including mussels, squid and even chunks of lobster). Desserts include family favourites such as chocolate fudge cake and profiteroles, while behind the bar there are some great local ciders and ales to try. Outside seating offers spectacular views, while the inside is stacked full of quirky old wooden furniture.
Contact: sevenstonesinn.com
Reservations: Recommended during high season
Prices: £
Cloudesley Shovell Restaurant, Karma
To bag the best seats at the Cloudesley Shovell Restaurant, you won’t even have to venture through the doors. Overlooking the beach and the slipway that the daytripper boat pulls in to, the hotel’s restaurant garden affords one of the best views on St. Martin’s – and on a clear day, you can watch the sunset over uninhabited Teän island. The dinner menu highlights are the fresh seafood dishes, such as hand-dived scallops, seafood sharing platter (pre-order where possible) and a (generous) half lobster. The restaurant also offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. They don’t have a cocktail menu, but just tell them your favourite and they can usually rustle something up.
Contact: karmagroup.com
Reservations: Essential for dinner
Prices: ££
Polreath tea room
The incredibly friendly Sarah and Jason have been running this lovely tearoom since 2001. Over the last twenty-plus years, they have discovered that simple is quite often best. The menu most days includes just cream tea and a handful of delicious cakes and traybakes. This is definitely an instance of one thing done incredibly well. The scones are freshly baked every day and served up with Boddington’s strawberry preserve and Rodda’s clotted cream. If the weather is fine, grab a spot in the beautiful garden and perhaps add a flute of delicious organic prosecco to your order – the perfect accompaniment to cut through the sweetness. Monday’s curry nights are also a hit, but must be booked in advance.
Contact: polreath.com
Reservations: Not required
Prices: £
St. Agnes
The Turks Head
Grab a pint in the The Turks Head and you’ll have officially enjoyed a drink at Britain’s most south westerly pub. The interior is as a pub should be – cosy seats and flagstone floors – but it’s the garden here that’s the highlight, with benches spilling out onto the seafront and views to rival the Caribbean with the clear turquoise waters of Porth Conger Quay stretching out to neighbouring Gugh island. The pub is family owned and operated, with the menu offering classics at their best; scampi and chips, cheese ploughmans and an interesting variety of specials. Its location by the quay makes it the perfect spot to wait for the boat to come in.
Contact: turksheadscilly.co.uk
Reservations: Not required
Prices: ££
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