It’s not surprising that in the homeland of cream teas there is such a great range of cafés that serve them. All our guests get a free cream tea at our cottages, but they also finish their breaks singing the praises of various Cornish cafés. At these fantastic venues you won’t find shop-bought scones being defrosted in the microwave. Instead, home-made treats, superior service, and often stunning views set these apart. Here, we’ve arduously compiled our best ten from a huge list of strong contenders – we couldn’t choose our favourites among this list, so we’ve ordered them roughly from South to North. If we’ve missed your top pick, please add it to the comments below.
Woods Café, Cardinham Woods, Bodmin
The Woods Café goes to show not all great cream tea spots are by the coast! Baked freshly every day, grab yourself a scone or a full cream tea after an energetic walk along the numerous woodland trails. You can even bring your dog!
www.woodscafecornwall.co.uk
Camel Trail Tea Garden, near Bodmin
Another non-coastal café, this tea garden can be found on the popular Camel Trail, the 18 mile multi-purpose trail from Padstow to beyond Bodmin. Halfway between Bodmin and Wadebridge, the café is set in a charming orchard with pretty terraces, and is known for offering some fabulous cream teas. Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
www.cameltrailteagarden.co.uk
Berryfields Farm, Padstow
This unassuming café is based in a farm shop on a small holiday park above Porthcothan beach, and yet even when faced with the multitude of cafes in nearby Padstow, its reputation for cream teas is legendary. Our guests have left rave reviews, so next time you’re down there, see for yourself. Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
Terrace Tea Rooms, Port Isaac
If you love a traditional tea-room, then this is the place for you. Formerly known as ‘Angelique’s’, with pretty tablecloths, china crockery, and home-made cakes it’s a little like having a cream-tea with your nan, but all the better for it! There’s a veranda outside or two cottagey rooms with window tables. A must if you’re visiting Port Isaac.
Boscastle Farm Shop, Boscastle
This popular farm shop is just half a mile from Boscastle harbour, and commands a stunning position with panoramic views over the coastline. The café offers a range of light meals, but is famed for its cream teas. Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
www.boscastlefarmshop.co.uk
Cabin Café, Crackington Haven, Bude,
This quirky little beach café sits across the road from Crackington Haven, a dramatic shingle beach between Tintagel and Bude. On a warm day it’s great to sit outside to the sound of the crashing waves enjoying their home-made cream tea. Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
www.cabincafecrackington.co.uk
Trelawny Tea Room, Widemouth Bay, Bude
The Trelawny Tea-room has an enviable position overlooking one of the North Coast’s finest beaches – Widemouth Bay. Many visitors find it by accident while visiting the beach, but this café draws people in from the local area for its own sake. Great cream teas. Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
www.trelawnytearoom.com
The Weir Restaurant, Marhamchurch, Bude
The Weir Restaurant in Bude, on the North coast of Cornwall, is set alongside a wildlife centre which is the perfect place to visit with children. Dogs are welcome in the garden and the wildlife centre offers some great walks. All food is cooked on site using only fresh ingredients sourced from the best local suppliers. Cream teas can be enjoyed in the restaurant which has sweeping views down to the fishing lake. Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
www.weir-restaurant-bude.co.uk
Margaret’s Rustic Tea Garden, Northcott Mouth, Bude
Perhaps the most peculiar entry in our list, this tea-room is actually little more than a green camper van surrounded by picnic benches… and yet its reputation is growing into one of the best spots to get a cream tea. Local legend Margaret bakes her own scones and has been serving them up here for half a century, and the setting yards from the beach and next to the river makes it a hit. Dogs allowed.
Rectory Tearooms, Morwenstow
Although Morwenstow is a little bit out of the way, the drive is worth it for the tea-room and the quick access to the stunning cliffs. Set in the quaint old rectory, the tea-room uses fresh local ingredients prepared in their kitchen, and their homemade scones are absolute beauties! Dogs allowed in the outside areas.
www.rectory-tearooms.co.uk/tearooms.php
