A steaming pot of tea… fresh clotted cream… sweet strawberry jam… a scone that crumbles just the right amount (not so little as to make it a rock cake and not so much as to make it a mess), is there anything better than a Cornish cream tea? We don’t think so, and once you’ve visited some of the eateries on this list, neither will you.
From clifftop cafés that pair your Cornish treat with an epic view to little tea shops that believe that there is no such thing as too much cream (there really isn’t), Cornwall is home to some seriously cracking cream teas that will get you well and truly on the jam-first train. Salivating already? Let’s dive into the best cream teas in Cornwall!
Top tip: Layer your cream tea jam first to blend in with the locals!
North Cornwall
Fern Pit Café
Best for: Sights and scones
19 Riverside Cres, Newquay TR7 1PJ
fernpit.co.uk
This waterside beauty is making itself at home on both our list of the best beach cafés in Newquay and the best cream teas in Cornwall because of, well, the cream teas! Combining mouth-watering food with eye-popping views over the River Gannel and Crantock Beach, all your senses are catered for when you visit Fern Pit Café, which has been providing its guests with delicious treats for over 90 years.
When it comes to the cream teas, you can expect a choice of fruit or plain scones with lashings of strawberry jam and Rodda’s Cornish Clotted Cream, as well as two piping hot teas to wash it all down with. Throw in one of their famous crab sandwiches, and you have the makings of a pretty spectacular Cornish lunch.
Woods Café
Best for: Dog-friendly dining
Cardinham Woods, Bodmin PL30 4AL
woodscafe.co.uk
Tucked away in the heart of Cardinham Woods lies this family-run hidden gem. Dog-friendly, family-friendly, and well, just plain friendly, Woods Café is perhaps one of the most welcoming cafés on this list, and that’s not just because the cake counter greets you as you arrive.
While the menu is full of all the usual hunger-quelling items from hearty homemade soup to a warm, filled ciabatta, the big-ticket item is, of course, the cream tea, which comes in a sweet or savoury option alongside Cornwall’s very own Tregothnan tea - not to mention a scone of the week that shifts from zesty lemon to pizza to keep you on your toes! Bring along the whole family (dog included) for a woodland walk followed by Cornwall’s favourite sweet treat – geddon!
Boscastle Farm Shop
Best for: Sea views
Hillsborough Farm, Boscastle PL35 0HH
boscastlefarmshop.co.uk
The cliffs around Boscastle are jaw-droppingly (and occasionally calf-achingly) beautiful, which is why they are so popular with walkers. During your coastal stretch of the legs, why not turn your feet towards the famous Boscastle Farm Shop, where you can pick up all the picnic essentials as well as stop off for a wicked Cornish cream tea.
Not only are the scones freshly baked and the clotted cream Rodda’s (of course), but you’ll get to enjoy sweeping views across National Trust farmland and glittering sea as you feast on clotted cream and jam. After your indulgent cream tea, you can take a look around the farm shop where you’ll find a variety of locally produced goodies, including their famous burgers!
Rhubarb and Bloom
Best for: Tipsy afternoon teas
Polmorla House, Polmorla Walk, Wadebridge PL27 7NS
rhubarbandbloom.co.uk
Just picture it… You’re enjoying a lovely day out in Wadebridge when hunger strikes… but wait! What’s that just around the corner? One of Cornwall’s best-kept secrets, waiting to ply you with delicious finger sandwiches, moreish bakes, and fresh-out-the-oven scones with oodles of clotted cream and jam. Now that’s what we call being in the right place at the right time.
Yep, situated halfway between Wadebridge and Bodmin on the beautiful Camel Trail, The Camel Trail Tea Garden is perfectly placed to provide you with a Cornish cream tea exactly when you need it most. You can also pick up some equally fuelling light lunches and Cornish pasties to help power your picturesque Cornish cycle ride.
West Cornwall
The Jam Pot Café
Best for: Scones and seal spotting
113 Gwithian Towans, Gwithian, Hayle TR27 5BU
Tucked away above the golden sands of Gwithian Towans, you won’t find a better backdrop for your cream tea - and with a host of indoor and outdoor seating options at this charming little roundhouse, it’s the perfect place to head when the sun shines. It’s also pretty jaw-dropping during stormy weather as Godrevy Lighthouse is a spectacular sight when the waves and winds roar.
The menu is full of homemade cakes, light bites, and yes, a spectacular cream tea, giving you plenty of choice for a post-beach-walk indulgence. For an extra special visit, we recommend the short trek to Cornwall’s best seal-spotting beach, Mutton Cove, which sits peacefully below Godrevy Head.
The Cabin
Best for: Sea views and cream teas
Perranuthnoe, Penzance TR20 9NE
thecabinbeachcafe.co.uk
Perched right above the popular beach at Perranuthnoe, The Cabin is the ultimate spot for a sun-soaked lunch or - you guessed it - a tasty cream tea. There’s plenty of indoor seating for chillier days, but when the sun is shining, there’s nowhere better to be than stretched out on one of the outside benches overlooking the sea. The café is wonderfully dog-friendly inside and out, with lots of grass for the pups to snooze on.
The menu here is jam-packed with local goodness, from cooked breakfasts and paninis to fries topped with mouthwatering jerk chicken and vibrant pickled veg. Of course, when it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth, a truly Cornish cream tea is the only way to go, and here you’ll find freshly made scones with oodles of clotted cream and jam, with a pot of tea to wash it all down. Finish your visit with a stroll along the beach for the perfect day in West Cornwall.
Rock Pool Café
Best for: Sea views, whatever the weather
The Parade, Mousehole, Penzance TR19 6PT
Overlooking the bright blue seas around Mousehole, Rock Pool Café is a seriously serene spot to tuck into a cream tea (or two) after a beautiful walk around the surrounding coast. Cosy into the perfectly placed interior on stormier days or spread yourself out in the sun on the ocean-side terrace.
If you can bear to look away from the glistening waters, you’ll find a menu choc-full of coffees, cakes, and heavenly cream teas – enough to satisfy even the sweetest of teeth! You can also get yourself a refreshing cocktail that brings holiday vibes to the table, whatever the occasion.
Yellow Canary
Best for: Gluten-free cream teas
12 Fore St, St Ives TR26 1AB
theyellowcanary.co.uk
If you’re after a gluten-free cream tea in Cornwall, then look no further than the cobbled streets of St Ives. Not only does the bright and cheerful Yellow Canary offer gluten-free scones, but they also sell gluten-free pasties and a selection of other cakes – oh, and it's dog-friendly too!
And to top it all off (not just with jam and cream), you can order their scrumptious cream teas by post so you can enjoy a taste of Cornwall when you get back home. Now, that’s the dream!
South Cornwall
Polpeor Café
Best for: A southerly sweet treat
Lizard Point, The Lizard, Helston TR12 7NU
Fancy something to eat at Britain’s most southerly café? With fresh, locally caught lobster on the menu, of course you do! Surrounded by the beautiful coast that makes up the Lizard Peninsula, and only a stunning walk away from the popular Kynance Cove, Polpeor Café is a jaw-dropping spot to settle down for a bite to eat.
The cream teas are out of this world with oodles of clotted cream and jam, topped only by the staggering views that surround you. The menu also features a boggling mix of homemade cakes, sandwiches, burgers and all the seaside delights you would hope to see from whitebait to battered cod – perfect for a refuel as you walk around the Lizard peninsula.
Fat Apples Café
Best for: Hidden gem vibes
The Old Vineyard, Porthallow, St Keverne, Helston TR12 6QH
fatapplescafe.uk
If you’re looking for a place that oozes tranquillity, Fat Apples Café is a hidden gem tucked away in the southernmost reaches of Cornwall. Family-run and full of character and charm, this little café packs a punch when it comes to delicious dishes, whether you’re looking for a big and beautiful breakfast, a light lunch or a cream tea with a generous dollop of clotted cream.
There’s seating inside, as well as a beautiful garden with picnic tables and an awning for a spot of shade. One of our favourite parts of dining here has to be the thoughtful decorations and, no, we don’t mean on the walls. Edible flowers are used to add colour and whimsy to the food, creating a dining experience you won’t forget but will seek to revisit!
Teacup Tearoom
Best for: Vegan cream teas
21 Church Street, Mevagissey, St Austell PL26 6SP
teacuptearoom.com
Tucked away in Mevagissey, Teacup Tearoom is an award-winning café that serves a hearty mix of freshly baked cakes and sweet treats. There’s a real focus on local produce here, from the coffee you sip to the clotted cream you slather onto your jammed-up scone, with delicious cakes made fresh each morning.
Alongside local and sustainable products and practices, Teacup are also exceptionally good at catering to dietary requirements, whether you fancy a vegan hot chocolate topped with vegan marshmallows and cream or vegan and gluten-free scones. Truly, there is something for everyone at this pocket-sized tearoom.
Duchy of Cornwall Nursery
Best for: A bit of luxury
Cott Road, Lostwithiel PL22 0HW
duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk/cafe
Who doesn’t love a cheeky stroll around a garden centre before stopping off at the café for a coffee and a cake? Well, we see your coffee and cake and raise you a Cornish cream tea! At the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, you can either indulge in your cream tea on its own or (and we seriously recommend this) you can opt for the even more luxurious afternoon tea, which goes above and beyond your standard finger sandwiches.
Either way, you get to enjoy a freshly baked scone alongside some proper Cornish tea and a generous amount of clotted cream and jam – you really can’t go wrong with this combination, can you?
Feeling peckish? Come and stay in one of our lovely holiday cottages in Cornwall as you go around sampling the many delicious Cornish cream teas on offer… It’s the only way to find your favourite!
Tags: Cornwall | Food and Drink | Food and Drink |