Culture Restaurant in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

A hard to find door down a narrow and uninviting passageway opened up into the Culture restaurant of Hylton Espey. A no fuss stylish small venue with the food being prepared behind the counter. A gastronomic lunch followed that I had not experienced for a long time and I consider myself to be a seasoned explorer of good food. Each course of the menu was explained by Hylton personally at the table as it was served. Whether it was the farm from where the grains his bread was made from, to the smoked butter flavoured with honey from the sole hive in a local garden. The wines paired with the menu were, fully explained by Bobby, were both delicious, from very personal known vineyards and very reasonably priced. (there was a choice of optional wines) It was one of those rare meals that one felt sated and you didn’t want to end. One of those meals that you never forget. We shall be back soon but, fear this small 20 covers gem will become a venue swamped with food lovers.

What a fabulous evening. It was my birthday and we had a table in prime position. It was like being cooked for and served by old friends. Skilful cooking superb presentation glorious flavours.

I think it's good, but it's questionable whether meat is halal or not.

Outstanding unforgettable experience. Loved everything about it.

A personalised service describing where the local ingredients came from. The wine pairing choices were magnificent and I would not have made the same pairing. A great experience of fine dining in a warm inviting atmosphere. Worth a visit for a delightful experience. The chef and server were good to talk to and they are passionate about what they deliver.

We saw a demonstration from the chef at the Oyster Festival and it gave us the feeling to try this place. Exceptional service, stunning menu design, absolutely clean and it’s in a great location. Fantastic, thank you.

A total delight and worth every penny. Dishes were equal in beauty and taste. Loved the description of the dishes and their provenance which came with every course. Really excellent experience all-round. I’d recommend the wine flight with the menu.

Not sure where to start!! This is not your usual dining experience; there is no menu as such, all diners are served at the same time, you are advised to be there at 7pm so you can all be seated and made comfortable before service starts around 7:30. The menu is an 'overview' of the food journey and the local suppliers the dishes are created from, not a list of what you are going to be served. The concept is great and very well executed; the 2 serving staff are extremely knowledgeable about the dishes and there provenance; even Chef serves as they explain every dish and a little about the supplier. We had the 'wine flight' to accompany our meal which I would also recommend to get the best of the experience. Dish of the night...Had to be the little crumpets with the mackerel butter and rock samphire; could have eaten a bucket of them!! The evening flew by and was thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you!!

What a fantastic meal ! Chef Hylton created delicious food and discovering the relationship between the ingredients and local producers was a joy.

This is my favorite restaurant. I came here for the second time to celebrate my special day. Great service and will definitely be back.

Outstanding food, service and atmosphere. Probably my favourite meal of the year. The food was perfectly cooked and served, portion sizes not too big or too small, with ingredients all local and curated/explained wonderfully. Wine pairings were very good as well. Absolutely recommend.

Wow! Had lunch, really interesting, inventive, exciting and brilliantly cooked food. Well worth the money, this place will have a Michelin star soon, highly recommended

Fabulous fine dining experience. Great culinary journey by a passionate chef , cooking in view and serving fantastic courses with locally sourced resources. Thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Thank you!

Enjoyed a lunch time meal as we were visiting on a cruise, great food setting and staff, telling you the journey you're food had taken before arriving at the table. It is easy to miss when walking along the main street but well worth retracing you're steps to search it out

Consistently excellent and innovative. Repeat visitor and it always delights. Hylton is relentlessly focused on provenance, seasonality and local produce - it’s inspirational. Delicious flavours, great service and a fun wine pairing. Would go back, and have!

Unbelievable food. Went for the journey menu and additional wine flight. Although on paper it seems expensive, it is 100% worth every penny. High quality crafted plates with top service. Great ethos of locally sourced food. Highly recommend and will be back again.

Best meal and dinner experience of my life!

Amazing evening celebrating 2 big birthdays by having the Journey menu. All nine dishes were exceptional. Particularly loved the honey butter and the chicken from Chynoweth Farm. All locally sourced and beautifully cooked and presented. Having the paired wines was also another treat - Delicious!

I hesitated to write this review, not because I wasn’t delighted with my visit for dinner last night (for my birthday, but I kept that quiet), more because I won’t necessarily find the words to do it justice. But here goes. Often when I prepare to go to places that are a bit special like this, I look at the “least-starred” reviews too to get the extremities of opinion. One of these from over a year ago challenged the restaurant to “blow some minds”. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I’d say that kind of showmanship isn’t really the vibe that Culture is going for, at least that was my sense of it. Instead, Chef Hylton (ably assisted by Bobby) invites you on his journey - something different, local and utterly special to him - and so effectively puts his heart on a plate. That mixture of skill and vulnerability is very humbling to witness. I didn’t want to get my mind blown - but I was hoping for a unique and authentic dining experience - and that is indeed what I was lucky enough to get. It’s part theatre, all wonderful food and I left sated both physically and spiritually.

Really delicious and interesting menu. These guys are creative & passionate about locally sourced food & have some really interesting wines. Highly recommend an evening here.

Incredible experience! The local tasting menu was carefully curated by the owners and the food is prepared in front of you in the small kitchen. Literally every ingredient was sourced locally and tasted amazing. The chefs talked us through each dish and where the ingredients came from. The atmosphere is cosy, almost like someone's (very fancy) dining room, and felt safe and exclusive. It was a quiet night when we went but there was still a good atmosphere.

I had lunch at this restaurant and the experience was simply fantastic. The staff is extremely welcoming and knowledgeable. They guided us masterfully throughout the meal, sharing fascinating details and stories behind each ingredient, turning the lunch into a cultural as well as a culinary experience. The wine pairings were exceptional. I highly recommend a visit to this restaurant to all food enthusiasts and those seeking authentic culinary experiences.

Absolutely incredible food and presentation! All locally sourced and explained where it comes from and the local significance. So classy in every way but not at all pompous! Worth every penny! An amazing hidden gem in Falmouth that offers something really special and out of the ordinary - loved it!

What a find ! We had an amazing lunch at Culture Such a lovely place & really nice to interact with the chef

Dining here was a highlight of our week in Falmouth. The food was impeccable - one of the best fine dining experiences we’ve had anywhere, and the wine pairing was great too. The team have real passion for what they do and it was great chatting to the chef. Highly recommended.

Amazing experience cannot recommend highly enough.

We dined at Culture last Friday evening. Great experience. You are able to see Chef putting the meals together and both him, and the Maitre Di, explain to each table about the food you will eat. Produce Sourced locally and seasonal. The paired wines were lovely. The evening was relaxed, enjoyable and memorable. Thank you to all staff and may you have continued success. 😀

Well worthy of a Michelin Star. Carry on like this and it will come.

Loved this restaurant. The menu took you on a journey through Falmouth/cornwall. Was delightful and a great experience. Particularly Loved the venison/sauce and dessert.

My second visit, just as fabulous. The best meals I have ever had in Cornwall

Down in Falmouth to celebrate our son’s Degree Show. A budding foodie, he was very keen to be taken to what he had heard to be one of Cornwall’s best restaurants. We trusted his research and we weren’t disappointed. Hylton (chef and proprietor) and Bobby (maître d and sommelier) were the most charming hosts and incredibly knowledgeable about the provenance of all they serve - and that’s the point of the restaurant. Culture is all about sustainable produce most of which has been sourced within a few miles of the restaurant. The wine has come from further afield but it’s mostly from carefully researched smaller producers. But, for me, the mark of a great restaurant is whether the simplest of things can be prepared in such a way that they are elevated to being a memorable culinary experience. That was certainly the case with Culture and “Williams Grains”. What could you possibly do with bread and butter which would set you apart from the crowd? Well, make it from ancient grains, serve with a pat of smoked local butter pressed with an honeycomb pattern to retain a drizzle of Falmouth honey. Extraordinary - just bread and butter but I could honestly say that if that was the last thing ever to pass my lips I would die a happy man! Undoubtedly a special treat - but if you are looking for something unforgettable with dazzling culinary delights - I highly recommend.

We had not booked and asked for a last minute table, they were able to fit us in...Michelin Star standard experience...highly recommend

truly a gem in Falmouth's dining scene.

Absolutely amazing, service was brilliant and very attentive and the food was just wow, it was our first time at the restaurant and we will be DEFINITELY BACK AGAIN, 150%. HYLTON PETRO AND BOBBY. XXX

What an experience!! The food and service offered at Culture is second to none, Hyltons' passion and knowledge for the dishes he creates and the ingredients he uses is exceptional, personally presented at the table by himself, Bobby and Petronella makes it an amazing experience all round. Cornwall at its best!

What a treat this dinner was! We were showing off Falmouth to friends visiting from L.A., so of course Culture had to make the list. We dined on a Thursday night, and by some absolute bonkers reason, we were the only table booked. Despite this, Hylton (owner/chef) and Bobby (GM) stayed open, and we were treated to a phenomenal, personalized experience. From this, it's easy to tell how much they believe in and love what they do. This was our second time here, and it did not disappoint. Every course was a delight, and it was impossible to pick a favourite. Their recent accolade of a Green Michelin star is well-deserved, and they remain one of our top choices for fine dining in the area.

great fine dining experience. Detailed explanation of how each dish is made and every dish is flavourful and delicious.

Lovely little cosy place, I felt so warm and relaxing. The food was speechless, just amazing❤️👍. Will definitely go back again.

The food is amazing. Eating at Culture is a lovely experience

Food was unreal - had a lovely time.

Exceptional meal at what feels like a chefs table. Clutter free and no fuss service delivers immaculately. Many courses delicious (bar the savoury custard, personal preference) but the atmosphere and ethos and personality of Culture are the stand out elements. We went as a group of 6 and we felt at home. We loved having the full kitchen on display. Great event meal.

Probably the best restaurant in Cornwall! An intimate and mind blowing food experience that will leave you I awe. Each dish is locally sourced with a fantastic story, but the tastes will blow your mind. Highly recommend getting the wine pairing which is perfectly curated to compliment each dish. A truly delicious experience that made a special occasion so much better. Love it!!

Fantastic food, amazing experience & friendly, relaxing atmosphere. The service was personable, intimate and outstanding.

Had a great evening at Culture with my daughter. Food, service, and vibe were all exeptional. Highly recommend and I will be returning.

I have no wish to take away from the culinary skills on display and what a brilliant addition Culture is to the restaurants in Falmouth. Trusting the kitchen with a set menu based on locally-sourced ingredients is an absolute no-brainer and should guarantee culinary fireworks which it mostly did. But we left hungry (and I ate before sensing I should). One of the seven courses was two thin slices of bread; delicious bread made with ancient grains etc but two thin slices of bread nonetheless. Paying >£180 for dinner for 2 with no alcohol + service should ensure full bellies. Other restaurants / farms in Cornwall with (or without) set menus manage it.

Fantastic food and service. Highly recommend.

Real gem of a place. Hidden away down a passageway, this 24-cover delight is wonderfully managed and enjoyed by the 3-person team, dedicated to sustainability in every sense, including their own quality of life. This comes through in spades in the food - every thoughtfully crafted course inspired by local suppliers is truly innovative such as the confit mackerel with pickled cucumber and slooooow roast lamb with beets and stunning jus entirely created from highly localised ingredients. Amazing personal service - we really appreciated the teamwork & sheer joy of their work. This team really deserves every accolade and especially their Michelin green star. I’d love to see them inspire others to run more restaurants like this.

Gastronomic tasting journey. totally new tastes - fresh, local,vibrant intriguing mixtures & textures. Chilled & personable service. Fab experience

Had a fabulous meal here on Thursday with the wine paring and would highly recommend, service and food both excellent.

Just finished the dinner journey and It was amazing! I couldn’t thank the chef enough for the delicious food and also how welcoming the two men were, such a great experience and very well planned! Absolutely love it 100% recommended! Thank you again guys!

FANTASTIC! Best meal I have ever had (I’m nearly forty). If you love truly locally sourced, freshly created food and a gorgeous seasonal menu, try it. Not only are Hylton & Bobby amazing hosts, the food was out of this world. My wife and I will be coming back.

Thank You so much for an unforgetable evening. Amazing what you created from local products, for us it was one of Cornwalls highlights, difficult to eat better in ranges of fine dining!

Incredible food and an immersive and friendly dining experience. Each dish is seasonal and local with it's own story. Highly recommended!

Culture is definitely a "bit of an event"! A really calm, tranquil space (with space for 25 or so), its almost like visiting a life long friend for a dinner party. Service was welcoming, relaxed, personal but most importantly there was such a clear passion for the project / values that Culture wants to foster and support. The food was excellent - cooked fabulously, offering interesting and sometimes surprising combinations! We were rather indulgent and opted for the wine paring and cheese (and we'd advise you do the same!) All in all a great evening out!

Our set tasting menu at Culture really was a Journey through Cornwall. Each dish was immaculately prepared and presented, with local ingredients shining as the stars of the show. Incredible experience!

Absolutely excellent! A real gem in the middle of Falmouth and an absolute treat to dine there.

3 couples went for 3 siblings birthdays and it was a very special treat. No only was the 7 course tasting menu and wine flight amazing, but the service and experience was as good as I've had. It wasn't cheap, but there was just one sitting with everyone being served together. We arrived at 7pm and didn't leave until nearly 10:30, so it was a long evening but we never felt like we were waiting and the time flew by. We WILL do it again and would recommend it to anyone.

Do your research before you go - this is a special occasion/event. I think it's the most expensive restaurant meal I've ever had.........

The food was well prepared. Its not just a criticism of this restaurant but many others but the small plates concept is very hit and miss. There was no real stand out course, also I don't consider bread and butter (albeit nice) a course. The small wine list is very New World focused and there are only 2 red/white wines by the glass. More would be appreciated. I enjoyed my evening and wish the staff well.

Excellent experience, fantastic food and service!

Excellent food - great value for the quality

Myself and my partner went to Culture for our anniversary and birthdays. The experience was great. Hilton and Bobby made us feel very welcome. The food was delicious, well prepared and thought out. Further to this I like that they source their food from local businesses and keep sustainability and the forefront. I would gladly recommend Culture to anyone.

Amazing lunch at Culture, a must try for foodies visiting Falmouth. Service and Journey Menu were sublime.

We are on holiday in Cornwall and celebrating my wife's 50th so I was keen to find somewhere where we could enjoy a special meal that was a bit different. And while it may put some people off that the menu doesn't explicitly tell you what you will be eating. You have to remember that this is really the point of this type of meal! It is food theatre, and part of the experience is the suspense of not knowing exactly what you will be eating until it arrives. Personally we loved it. The chef clearly prepared significantly in advance so that he and the maitre d could spend time after food preparation to explain the source of the food and method of preparation. Both were professional and the food was to a very high standard. The wine flight is highly recommended and closely complements the dishes as intended. An excellent experience and highly recommended.

A passion for local producers shown in its phenomenal food. We need more restaurants like Culture.

Second visit to Culture, loved the meal, the relaxed atmosphere and the personal service from all the staff. The food was delicious, every course was flavoursome and perfect portions. The flurry of snacks, settled us into the journey for the evening. I loved the bread course using Williams Grains and the monk fish particularly, the fish melted in the mouth. The Grampound Hills duck egg and grains was so tasty. The lamb dish was delicious and so full of flavour and texture. Then the desert was a perfect chocolatey end to the most perfect journey. We took the wine flight this time, every wine complemented the dishes. I am looking forward to visiting again in September.

The journey menu at Culture completely blew our minds. Locally sourced produce and foraged ingredients used to make incredible dishes. The wine flight was beautifully paired for each dish too. We will be visiting again for sure!!

This was the best dinner that I have had in a very long time. Everything was beyond exceptional

What a delight, the whole ethos of Culture is to be admired and enjoyed - great atmosphere, such a welcome that we'll be obliged to do the 600mile round trip again next year just to see what treats they are preparing. But please only tell your best friends...😄

The best restaurant in Cornwall in our opinion.

So worth visiting! sustainable delicious food this place deserves to thrive, it was just a fantastic experience and night out

Delightful eating experience. Light dishes full of flavour. Explanation and service spot on. Hylton and team, best wishes.

Fantastic, friendly and personal food experience the menu was like eating a map of the local area and the matched wines all had something different to offer. The surroundings crockery and cutlery totally complimented the excellent food and service Nick & Marg

We had such an incredible experience at Culture last weekend. The ambience, the concept and the service were phenomenal and the main event was the food. Wonderful use of fresh produce and so cleverly put together - and the wine pairing was a really great value way of trying new wines that went perfectly with each course. Thank you!

Wonderful intimate dining experience based on locally foraged flavours. Recommend if you’re looking for something special, authentic and yet surprising.

We celebrated a birthday at culture and really enjoyed the experience! Great flavour combinations and loved the food journey through Cornwall. Attentive service and great to chat about the producers and locally foraged foods. Loved the wine flight too.

Had a very special experience at Culture! First time in Cornwall on a trip with my mom and couldn’t miss this spot - it easily exceeded all of our expectations. Variety that kept us engaged for the time we were there, met with sweet hospitality made it a memorable time - if you get the chance to speak with the owners, absolutely do it, it will make your time there even more enjoyable to learn about their journey and just get to know them, super sweet and talented people doing some very cool and sustainable things.

What an absolute treat to have an evening eating at Culture. The food was exciting and the staff so friendly in explaining each step of the meal. Describing the food here would not do it justice. Hands down the best place to eat in Falmouth! Can't wait to head back.

Incredible experience at this fantastic restaurant. Loved the stories behind each of the dishes. Nice ambience. Food was delicious. Great duo of a waiter and chef running the place. I have a gluten intolerance and husband has a shellfish allergy and the chef accommodated this despite it being a set menu. Would definitely come again.

Wow, what an experience. We had a very special evening celebrating our sons 18th birthday and were taken on a journey through Cornwall beautifully presented on 7 plates. The food was incredible & super tasty. We will definately be back.

An amazing experience, the food was creative imaginative fresh and delicious. It felt like we were having a personal dining experience. Every course every wine was described at our table and we were able to see all the dishes being prepared . Not cheap but worth every penny.

A lunch to celebrate my birthday. Unforgettable for all the right reasons. Hylton described how he prepared his ingredients and designed each of the dishes as we sat and talked with him. It was not just dining as theatre, when you taste the dishes it is dining as poetry. An artist in his prime. Go there, and experience sublime food.

Faultless. Let your taste buds taste buds wherever the chef and wine team want them to. We'll deserved Michelin listed restaurant.

Intimate and considered attention to detail. A dining experience not often achieved in Cornwall.

Another delicious😋 meal at this fabulous restaurant, this time, with my parents-in-law, who were super impressed. Hylton's skill in elevating excellent local produce to new heights is wonderful. He doesn't just bake the bread, he mills the grain himself, bakes the bread and serves it with the most deliciously light flavoured butter. They take you on an amazing 'edible journey'. Bobby, the sommelier, accompanies each dish with some unusual wines, that complement the flavours of the food perfectly. The attention to detail is masterful. Thank you so much, we just love💖 dining here. Give it a try, you will not regret it.

Such an incredible dining experience! Hylton & Bobby were so warm and welcoming throughout, explaining each course in such detail and passion you can clearly see how much they love what they do. My partner had the wine paring which he would strongly recommend. Overall one of the best tasting menu's we've ever had, cant wait to go back again in summer! A big thank you to both of you for a wonderful evening.

We had a superb dinner at Culture between Christmas and New Year. It was our first visit to the restaurant and we will definitely be back. The food was excellent, the staff very friendly and informative and there was a very interesting wine list. Would absolutely recommend.

Love a restaurant that has the brilliant idea of cooking their own food. A menu. No choice. So far, so good. The cookery, friendly service are all exemplary. Interesting wine list. For me that’s where it ends. There isn’t anything memorable that I desire to return for. Everything was perfectly lovely. But where is the taste sensation your palate is dying for. There is too much emphasis on seasonal locality, again exemplary. Not enough thought to blowing the diners mind. You have the opportunity to be more. I have read a lot of your rave reviews and only wish you well. Blow some minds with this amazing opportunity you have created. Don’t get lost in your ethos and forget your customers palates.

We’d heard good things, so were excited to book for an evening meal. Culture didn’t disappoint. From the warm welcome and atmosphere, to the gorgeous interior, to the food, and wine, which were exciting and so tasty and left you wondering ‘what comes next?’ Loved the curation of the whole eating experience, the short stories that led us on our journey. And of course the use of locally grown produce. A bit of a no brainier, but exceptionally done with such care for the ingredients. Thank you to Bobby and the wonderful team. A true gem. Really quite special

The tasting menu was amazing, lovely local ingredients with seasonality. Carefully constructed menu with an emphasis on foraging and sustainability. Passionate chef and staff creating a lovely ambience and experience.

Absolutely amazing lunch service. We had the five course lunch menu with wine pairing and it was a lovely culinary trip around Cornwall. Without giving too much away the Harvest, Nansidwell and the Pasture courses were our favourites, however every plate was delicious, imaginative and aesthetically pleasing. The guys were so knowledgeable and great company, providing a lovely atmosphere. Can't praise them enough and look forward to returning probably for the dinner journey next time we visit Falmouth!

Culture is an absolutely fabulous, fine dining addition to the foodie line up in Falmouth. I can't recommend it enough. Top class dining experience. A set menu that Hylton has carefully crafted, taking you through a sensory, taste sensation, roller coaster. Serious foodies should go to Culture, no question about it.

One of the best food experiences. Without doubt the best restaurant in Falmouth now. Each course has evidently been thought about in depth and the combinations of foods compliment one another seamlessly. Every course has a little story behind which is fun and interesting. The word will spread quickly and I can't recommend this place enough.

Just a delight, every dish beautifully thought through, creative and a joy to look at

Had a very special meal at Culture. Dishes were flawlessly executed, great wine pairings introduced us to some new ideas, and the flavour and quality of the fab local produce really shone through. An exciting adventure and something new for Falmouth. Thank you guys!

We had an absolutely wonderful evening at Culture for my husband’s birthday.The food was completely different to anything else on offer in Falmouth and every single course on the tasting menu was delicious. So many exquisite new flavours. The service was fantastic and it was just a lovely night out.

Had a great experience with the taster menu and wine flight. All four of us loved the evening. I cant recommend a visit enough. Food top notch, wine excellent.

Local, seasonal, highly imaginative and flawlessly executed. Friendly and knowledgeable waiting staff. Book while you can still get a table. This is as good as it gets.

Food was awesome from start to finish. Chef introduced each dish, all of which were delish! Local produce with a South African twist. Loved it!

A special evening of delicious food!