With a rich seam of independent distilleries, vineyards, and breweries throughout Cornwall, it’s no surprise that some fantastic wine bars have popped up to showcase the plethora of tipples on offer.
Prepared and served with passion, expect carefully curated cocktails, wines at the perfect temperature, and small-batch pints of amber goodness, best enjoyed with a plate or two of tempting snacks. Definitely the perfect way to spend an evening, or work up an appetite for dinner, or even to enjoy slowly post-feast! Whatever the occasion, here’s our chosen selection of the best wine bars in Cornwall for a boozy experience to remember… Cheers!
Lovetts
Best for: Unusual wines and small plates
1 The Coombe, Newlyn TR18 5HS
lovetts-newlyn.co.uk
This family-run wine bar in Newlyn opened in 2018 and has been much-loved by locals as both a wine bar and a coffee shop ever since. Small but perfectly formed, Lovetts prides itself on its low-intervention wines (meaning traditional winemaking methods are used rather than machinery, with minimal additives being added). Café by day and bar by night, there’s a carefully curated selection of gorgeous wines, cocktails and aperitifs to choose from.
Whether you’re partial to a Negroni, or local’s favourite Pentire and tonic, or a glass (or bottle!) of chilled, Germanic Riesling, there’s a selection of snacks and small plates to keep you going, such as Chypraze farm rillettes, pickles and toast, or Lovetts mackerel pate – delicious! This is a bijou spot with just a few tables, so you’re better off booking to avoid disappointment in the evening, while it’s walk-in only during the day. If you are visiting during the day, there’s coffee and cake to set you up, while the brunch menu promises a toothsome mix(cheesy fried eggs, anyone?), with alcoholic drinks served after 11am.
Bolla
Best for: Post-swim drinks and nibbles
1 Fore Street, Porthleven TR13 9HJ
bollaporthleven.co.uk
A fabulous addition to foodie favourite Porthleven, Bolla is a relative newbie but already making waves as a lovely spot to visit, just a few steps from the harbour. With walls lined with rows of bottles, you know you’re in for a treat, whether that’s to drink in or to take back to your holiday home. In addition, there’s a great selection of cocktails and aperitifs to choose from (spiced rum, lime, and ginger is a firm Cornish favourite), and if you visit between 4pm and 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays, you can make the most of their Happy Hour – perfect!
If you like a bite to eat while you tipple, there are lots of small plates to choose from, such as Cornish Blue with honey and walnuts, fennel salami with pickles or an indulgent sharing platter. They also serve breakfast, lunch, and Sunday brunch if you’re after something a little more substantial (the Turkish eggs and shakshuka are delicious), making it the perfect place to visit after a swim in the sea or a stroll around the harbour.
Castaways
Best for: Stunning views and seafood
Mylor Yacht Harbour, Falmouth TR11 5UF
castawaysmylor.com
Tucked away on the bank of the Fal River at Mylor Harbour, Castaways is a fantastic spot for peaceful views accompanied by a glass of something special in your hand. A lovely stop-off when exploring the coastline and creeks around Falmouth, Castaways has a fabulous drinks menu, whether it’s a cask ale from a local brewery, a Cornish small batch gin and tonic or the finest Cornish soft drink for a refreshing sundowner that won’t dampen your sunup the next day!
Their wine menu is extremely extensive, with many available by the glass if you’ve all got different tastes or by the bottle if you’re in agreement. There’s also an excellent food menu with emphasis on seafood (of course!). We love the sound of Mylor scallops with mango salsa, parsnip bhajis with chutney, and local mussels served with lashings of creamy, garlicky parsley-flecked sauce. After all that indulgence (or before if you want to build up an appetite), enjoy a walk in the area, such as at nearby Trelissick Gardens, for a stroll through beautiful parkland with outstanding estuary views.
The Orgia
Best for: Eco-friendly tipples
43 Church Street, Falmouth TR11 3EF
theorgia.com
Orgia, taken from the Greek meaning worship through dance and wine, is a fab little wine bar in the heart of bustling Falmouth. With a passion for natural, skin contact, and biodynamic wines, and an ethos of sustainable and minimal waste, you’re guaranteed a fabulous, eco-friendly evening out. Sister bar to The Bottle in Newquay, their extensive drinks menu reads like poetry, including rare and unusual drinks such as orange wines, a result of white wine being made in the style of red wine, stunning cocktails (anyone for an Oyster Bay – a blend of Knightor rose and rosso vermouth with gin?), unique spirits, and Find & Foster cider – a collective that saves abandoned orchards in Devon, then creates fine ciders that are produced in the ‘wine way’.
Served with small plates full of big flavours, such as smoked duck rillettes with pickles and sourdough and Alp blossom cheese and honey, you’ll not want to leave this little slice of heaven, except perhaps to enjoy a stroll along the Prince of Wales pier to watch the twinkling lights over the harbour.
The Bottle
Best for: A taste of France
1 Wesley Yard, Newquay TR7 1LB
thebottlenqy.co.uk
Set in the heart of bustling Newquay but blissfully tucked away, The Bottle is a fabulous European-inspired wine bar with a fantastic selection of natural and biodynamic wines, cocktails, and beers, as well as a scrumptious deli offering charcuterie, an excellent selection of cheeses, and small plates to sample as you sip. Think wild mushroom and leek arancini, burrata with roasted figs and sticky honey, and mustard sausages - yum! Step through the door and you’ll feel like you’re in a Parisian bar rather than on the north Cornish coast, with relaxing vibes and a warm welcome.
Try a chilled glass of Riesling alongside a plate of steaming, plump mussels in Riesling and garlic, a plummy glass of red with a cheeseboard or even a mouthwatering Biscoff espresso martini - a sweet treat in itself. With happy hours, weekly specials, and live music (check out their Instagram profile for more details), it’s the perfect spot for a night out, followed by a moonlit stroll along nearby Towan Beach.
Plonk’d
Best for: Tapas and Pintxos
Foundry Street, Wadebridge PL27 7NW
plonkd.co.uk
Established in 2023, Plonk’d is a passion project for Jonny and Jess, who actually met in a wine bar in nearby Padstow. Strongly influenced by the bars in northern Spain, this little beauty serves an excellent selection of wines and cocktails, as well as a tempting selection of tapas and pintxos (bite-sized portions of deliciousness on bread or skewered by toothpicks, and pronounced ‘peen-chos’, originating from northern Spain). From fried oysters with saffron crème fraiche and pickled fennel to meatballs in Oloroso, these little plates of will set you up for the evening.
Located in Wadebridge, you’ll find an excellent selection of wines, whether that’s a glass of fizz from Sharpham’s vineyard or a zesty pink Rioja from Spain. The folks at Plonk’d also have a love of cocktails, taking a new twist on classics (such as a jalapeno margarita and a peanut butter old fashioned) and creating new delicious concoctions on a monthly basis. A must-visit after a walk along the River Camel.
The Chintz Bar
Best for: Live music and a party vibe
Old Brewery Yard, 15-17 High Street, Falmouth TR11 2BY
thechintzbar.com
The epitome of cool, The Chintz Bar lies in a pretty cobbled courtyard in central Falmouth, a nod to the building’s origins as an old stable. Carefully transformed with love into a huddle of hidden rooms to be discovered behind bookcases, art studios, sunny terraces, and a hidden garden with sea views and even arcade gaming cupboards, this is a Wonderland, a place to discover your inner Alice.
With lovingly curated cocktails to sip, a great selection of wines, and 14 craft beers, ales, and ciders on tap, there’s something for everyone, expertly paired with delicious cheese boards to set you up for the evening. Head downstairs to Underland for live music, with a house jazz band playing every Monday night that always draws in the locals. A visit to The Chintz Bar is a fabulous way to end an evening after a meal out in one of the many fabulous eateries around Falmouth, and after you’ve danced the night away, take yourself back to your holiday home in Cornwall with a head full of music and memories to lull you to sleep.
BinTwo
Best for: Laid back drinks
The Drang, Padstow PL28 8BL
bintwo.com
You’ll find delightful BinTwo in Padstow, just a few steps away from the harbour. Laid back and loved by visitors and locals alike, this is a spot you can visit after a day on the beach, with little ones and dogs in tow, or get dressed up to imbibe in pre-dinner drinks. But don’t be fooled by its relaxed vibe - they have a nose for the best things in life, with a fantastic choice of excellent wines, coffee, and locally, carefully-selected food.
You’ll find something for everyone here, and with seating both inside and out, it’s a great spot for watching the world go by. So whether you want to pair a glass of champagne with a crab roll, sample a bold red with a hearty charcuterie board or tuck into a rich and gooey brownie with a cup of coffee from beans roasted just 5 miles away, this is the hostelry for you. Afterwards, head to any of the fab Michelin restaurants Padstow has to offer, or take a gentle stroll around the harbour as the sun sets and the flickering lights of the boats appear out at sea.
North Coast Wine Lounge
Best for: Cornwall-inspired cocktails
1 Lansdown Road, Bude EX23 8BH
northcoastwinelounge.co.uk
Whether you’re thirsty for a Cornish Marmalade Negroni, a glass of Knightor Carpe Diem white, or a bottle of St Ives Porth Pilsner, North Coast Wine Lounge is the place to be. Priding itself on its amazing selection of Cornish ales and lagers, fine wines and Cornwall-inspired cocktails, you’ll find the perfect tipple to suit, whatever your mood. Set in the coastal town of Bude, this lovely place is an independent wine bar and bottle shop, which likes to keep things local where they can.
The perfect stop off after a day by the sea or a place for pre-dinner drinks, the Lounge lies just 5 minutes’ walk from the beach, and as well as their blissful tipples, offer some gorgeous snacks to keep hunger at bay, whether you fancy an Italian charcuterie board, a South West cheese board or a mix of both, or a simple nibble of Sicilian olives, harissa almonds or roasted broad beans. If the sun is out, make yourself comfortable in the covered terrace area, or if it’s chilly, cosy down inside and snuggle up in one of their velvet cinema chairs.
The Cellar
Best for: Pre-dinner drinks
Charlestown Harbour, St Austell PL25 3NJ
thelongstore.co.uk/thecellarcharlestown
With views over the harbour, The Cellar in Charlestown is a fabulous bar to visit for pre-dinner drinks, perhaps before heading upstairs to the much-lauded Longstore. You can also head back down again afterwards for a post-meal digestif! With a fantastic selection of cocktails, wines, and aperitifs to choose from, such as a Harvest Moon cocktail (made with Cornish rum, chilli, mango, passionfruit and blood orange - yum), an ice-cold martini with Alval Dor Cornish vodka, a flute or two of Knightor sparkling rose or a glass of full-bodied Argentinian Malbec, there’s something for every palate. There’s also a great choice of low or no-alcohol drinks to choose from.
With its chilled ambience, candlelit tables, tucked-away booths and intimate tables, this is a perfect spot for a romantic evening, or a gathering of friends. Regular wine tastings take place here with local sommeliers (check their socials for upcoming events), where white, red, rosé and orange wines are tasted alongside nibbles from The Longstore – a must for any foodie!
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Tags: Cornwall | Eating out | Pubs | Food and Drink |