Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

We had been to the Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar when it had first opened and remembers having a beautiful meal. Here we were back in Newlyn with the thought that if we went again would it be as good, or was the attentiveness of being newly opened that had meant first class food. We needn't have worried. It is clearly popular and looked very busy but seats were found for us in a warm and efficient manner. The menu choices were excellent and good value for such high quality food and drink. We had a delightful time and will visit again for certain

Back again visiting wonderful Cornwall and our absolute favourite restaurant Mackerel Sky. The staff are so friendly and go out of their way to genuinely make you feel welcome, they all seem to love working there. As always the food is fresh, delicious, beautifully presented and reasonably priced, the quality of the food and the atmosphere is consistently excellent. We look forward to visiting again later in the year.

Innovative menu, always a pleasure to eat here. Great variety of fish and seafood dishes, great for sharing a relaxing lunch with friends or for an upmarket take away.

My Husband and I visited Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar recently over the Easter break and we were delighted with our meal and the atmosphere. The seafood on offer was not only extremely fresh but very good value and we absolutely love the innovative way that some of the dishes were presented. My personal favourite was the sole katsu which arrived with a delicious katsu curry sauce to accompany the light a crispy breaded sole fillets and Mr. S's favourite was the scallops that were served with a lovely dukkha and hogs pudding which we found to be a nice combination and a lovely twist on the classic pairing of scallops and black pudding. He enjoyed it so much that he has tried to recreate it with some success for our friends on our return home to Cheltenham. We found the staff attentive but not overbearing and we were pleasantly surprised by their short but reasonably priced wine list and the large array of interesting local beers and sprits on offer too. We would highly recommend the local squid ink gin & tonic as a lovely aperitive. Thankyou Mackerel Sky! Mr. S and I will certainly be returning on our next visit to Penzance.

Once again a great experience . The food is delicious., lovely fresh local fish cooked to perfection. The service and staff are tremendous with a lovely ambience to the place and good value for money . We will be back!

After visiting the restaurant in Newlyn I would like to make this point that I thoroughly enjoyed the monkfish. I had no problem at all with the environment and the staff were lovely. I do feel that the social gratuity was swiftly balanced with an extortionate service charge which wasn’t explained. I understand the staff are working under very difficult conditions. I also understand that it is important to give great customer service which they gave. No one wants to feel hustled, but after seeing the next family arrive, it is a beautifully rehearsed front of house. The Fawlty Towers reference is genuine in that it was comical the way that the complaint was reversed upon us, ‘yes it is quite an unusual taste’. The tomato ketchup however was definitely more vinegar than anything else. 7/10 Ted

We visited for lunch. Half way along our cycle. Always somewhere that I fancied trying. I had the mackerel which was lovely with a side salad. The food is tapas style. My son had the crab sandwich, he said he enjoyed it. My other half had the monkfish burger, he felt it could have been better snd felt the bread was rubbery. Busy , small cafe. I liked it. But my other half asked for tomato ketchup. We assumed it would be home made. It wasn’t, which wouldn’t have been a problem. It was to go with my son’s chips. But my other half thought it tasted very strange. It made us laugh when the waitress said, it should be ok we only opened the bottle yesterday, it made us think of faulty towers. The service charge added automatically to the bill wasn’t brill either. I know many restaurants do this. But I prefer either to be told this to make you aware or have it as an option when you pay. Also an extra £1 for the fisherman’s mission, which I thought was a nice touch. But I think customers should be alternated to this. The staff were friendly.

It’s got a nice vibe, staff are really nice And the venues are pretty cool. Loved the Mackerel. But the nachos needed to be a bit more loaded . In this time of economic pressures why not adapt and use brown crab and give it more ‘character’ Obviously the fish ( from the specials) is lovely and it’s difficult to guild a lily but could it be more interesting? I’m sure in the summer with more scope to use table outside the experience would be better. I get the confines of the place but unless you are group who can occupy a large table you may feel rushed and it’s not for those on a budget I’m a bit intimidate ,looking at other less favourable reviews how the proprietor responds but my honest feeling is I love food , I really enjoy great service but I also want to be uplifted and this wasn’t it. The cost outweigh the benefits

I was taken here by an old friend of mine who recommended it for a casual no fuss ladies lunch and all I can say it was perfect. The food, rose wine atmosphere and service was fantastic. I really enjoyed to experience and enjoy the real life in Newlyn and made my visit from Sydney, Australia well worth it.

If you like queuing , sharing cramped tables, a very limited wine list, a very hurried experience with ok food, decent service and a Basil Fawlty tribute act you will love this place If, like me, you don’t You won’t

Phenomenal seafood dishes that will live long in the memory! Possibly the best meal I have ever eaten! Will definitely be back!

Absolutely amazing, best food ever. Came with Barents and we alll loved. Food was incredible and staff were lovely. Will be recommending to everyone

Nice and comfy place with delicious food and extra care about customers. Highly recommended to visit!

Deliciously cooked small plates, imaginative and flavourful. Casual dining at its best

A must-visit restaurant when visiting Cornwall

I hope Newlyn appreciates this fab place. The food was excellent and my son aged 7 voted Ruth as “the best waitress ever”.

Delicious food, and brilliant service. We ate weaver fish, crab nachos and scallops. The waiting staff were so helpful and friendly. A really special meal. Thank you 🙏

Great spot for an early dinner. The service was super-quick and the food was delicious.

We come here every year we visit Cornwall and never fails. The food is so fresh! Will forever keep this as a tradition

There was amazing food and an even better atmosphere. There was great calm music and an amazing wait time. There were amazing pictures. The staff were so kind so you could talk to them and they would happily reply and continue the conversation. If you go there I hope you enjoy it

Lovely little restaurant with delicious food! We shared different plates and everything was incredible! The location is very nice too!

Their reviews and food got us here today. Staff were super friendly, food was exquisite and cherry on top we even got their secret dip recipe. Best nachos ever !! Food was freshly made, presented beautifully and served with great passion. Definitely recommended and if you are in the area- you have to eat here to experience the above 10* from us

Absolutely love this place - really lovely staff, a delicious menu, and though it says small plates it’s not tiny portions whatsoever. Loved the atmosphere with shared tables and the variety of the menu. Well worth a visit!

Lovely place to drop in for a bite. Great food, delivered astonishingly fast! Eat here!

You have to queue as they don’t take bookings and you have to share tables as it’s very small So is it worth it ? The staff are lovely and the servce is great The seafood is fresh and very well cooked But A few...

Was recommended this place by a friend several months ago so was looking forward to coming here on my next trip to Cornwall. Located in a lovely back street next to a stream just behind the promenade in Newlyn. Small restaurant but perfectly formed. It...

The scallops and fish were quite delicious, but the crab salad was rather ordinary. The issue with this restaurant lies in its overall value; the food is decent enough, but the prices are simply too high. They serve dishes on very small plates, and I don't think it's worth the £12-£20 price range per item.

not sure why a waitlist cannot be kept at the entrance so that people can signup and wait their 40min in a more decent place in the rain and strong wind. there are overhead heater though

I had to try this place out on my return family visit to Newlyn, the reviews looked good and good photos fantastic. THE GOOD: the food is absolutely fresh, delicious, and a very interesting menu. Something for every kind of seafood lover. I had the katsu lemon sole and my word, it was wonderful. Nice local Cornish beer to go with it as well. They do small plates rather than big mains so you can easily try a few things. Waitress was friendly and made sure we were sheltered in the rain - despite having an outside table on a grey day, they have cover and heaters which is great. THE NEED TO KNOW: this isn’t a big place, or somewhere to come for a large family sit down meal. It is small, and they serve small plates with the intention to turn over tables quickly. Nothing wrong with this at all, it’s a perfect lunch stop on a busy day visiting Penwith, but good to understand if you’re planning to make a trip after seeing the good reviews/photos - make sure it slots into your day and that it won’t be a long lunch. 4 STARS: the food and place is great. I have knocked off a star as it is quite expensive for what it is. My Newlyn ancestors will be turning in their grave somewhat.

Fantastic simple food. Fresh. Well cooked. Good price. Varied specials. Friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit if you are I. The area.

Fresh, good ingredients, well cooked. Friendly service: this is a must visit if you are in Cornwall. Afterwards wlk down the road to buy some fish at the market and try a bit of DIY when you get home. One of the cheeriest restaurants I...

Perfect, fresh, ingredients cooked just right. Friendly service. A very cheerful experience

If you're in Newlyn or visiting this is an absolute must. Supported by locals. Good for people watching. Bright and cheerful. Don't expect white tablecloths and obsequious waiters. An unpretentious and cosy seafood tapas restaurant serving delicious food by a delightful crew. Welcomed by proactive...

Amazing food amazing staff 10/10 on the whole experience

Fabulous place ! Very dog friendly, great choice of beautifully cooked food, served piping hot. Home made tartare sauce too ! Thanks for a very enjoyable meal & excellent service.

Just a walk down the road and we were given a warm welcome by such great staff into the small but busy Mackerel Sky Seafood bar.. The atmosphere was lively, yet chilled… The staff were so friendly, yet professional and the food was, well, both reasonable and just delicious.. Highly recommend, however, there is no booking system so make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment.. Loved it 😊🙏❤️

Excellent food and very friendly, helpful service. Interesting atmospheric decor, building and location. We had a very nice chowder and a lovely cuttlefish stew. Sited next to a little river in the centre of Newlyn which seems to have become a rather cool destination.

I walked from Penzance as I had be jonesing for some mussels and I was not disappointed. By far the best dining experience and food I've had while venturing through the UK. The staff was so lovely and kind, vibe is nice and relaxed. The food, the food, is delicious. I had the mussels (of course) and the mackerel, decided to get the grilled whitefish as well, and topped it off with the mousse for dessert. All divine. They are "small plates" but there ain't nothing small about it. Yum city!

Wonderful choice of fish which we ordered as tapas. Lovely atmosphere and very friendly efficient and welcoming staff. A lovely evening!

First visit back after a well earned break for the guys after work treat the quality of fish and and staff are second to none scollops and mackerel and monkfish burger all cooked to perfection and all staff are so welcoming like visiting family see...

Wonderfully friendly staff and amazing fish plates. I would definitely recommend this little place for tapas style dishes

2nd visit still busy in Feb and there is a reason, the ultimate fish restaurant. Even with the hail hammering down and having to sit under the canopy with a heater it was worth it. All the dishes we had were fantastic and very reasonable...

Had a wonderful meal here on 25th Feb whilst staying in the area. The atmosphere and vibe was incredible with diners sharing tables in some not all cases. We did share a table and we loved meeting new diners. Our new friends from Stafford exchanged tips of places to go and see locally. Staff were excellent and enjoyed a chat and the food was amazing… honestly ! Look forward to going back in May !

A must visit for the family when down in Cornwall and a key part of the burgeoning food scene in and around Penzance and Newlyn. Focused on quality local fish the food is consistently good which is why we keep coming back time and time again!

I visited this restaurant based on the recommendation of a local lady who kindly pointed it out when I asked about the best seafood restaurant in Penzance. She was absolutely right; the food is amazing and fresh, the staff are very friendly, and the atmosphere was delightful (I sat outside next to the small canal surrounded by amazing nature and architecture of Cornwall).

Visited a few restaurants in Cornwall whilst staying there recently and this place was very nice Food very good service was excellent a pleasant experience

Everything is perfect. Fish is fresh and cooked perfectly, service is at its best

Took a day out from St Ives based on reviews and wasn’t disappointed. Lovely staff , great fresh food - highly recommended 👍

Fabulous place to eat. Scallops were Devine. Great friendly atmosphere, go enjoy you won't be disappointed.

What a great place! Really accommodating for dogs, menu isn’t extensive for good reason, every thing on it is amazing! We had tapas style dishes and each one was great. Staff very friendly as well, really special experience

Lovely friendly place, always a pleasure to visit

Fantastic seafood place with a great small plate menu and daily specials. Highlights were the scallops with chorizo, red mullet fillets with teriyaki veg, crab and onion bhaji, and daughter loved the crispy lemon sole with katsu sauce. The NZ Sauvignon by the glass, and the chocolate mousse with miso, were also very good 😋 Highly recommend (and our dog was welcome too 👍)

Love this little gem! Our family and dog came across this after visiting St Michaels Mount. You tick the food on the menu and we couldn’t stop ticking as everything looked so good! It’s small with a great atmosphere, lovely staff, music and amazing small...

This small seafood bar is an absolute gem! The fish served was incredibly fresh and flavorful, exceeding my expectations with its remarkable standard. A delightful experience that showcases the establishment's commitment to quality seafood.

Wonderful little restaurant, delicious fresh fish

Very pleasant lunch served by happy smiling staff.

My boyfriend and I got really bad food poisoning here. Definitely avoid.

Outrageously delicious fresh fish and seafood tapas dishes - always delivers!

Exceptional place with delicious food. We were looking for a nice fish and chips but not the typical one that wraps the chips on paper. We found this restaurant online and let me tell you, it was a fantastic decision. We loved the service who were incredibly kind and useful. The way you order is quite unique, you will be given a laminated menu and you will mark what you want to order with a whiteboard pen, I think it is a brilliant idea! The food was absolutely delicious and the portion given is quite good for the price, we were full by the end of the dinner. I would like to highlight the cleanliness of the place. One of the staff started cleaning the doors and handles once the work was low and it makes the difference when you see spotless restaurant. Keep in mind there are two small restaurant with the same name and they are both the same chain, just opposite to each other. You can walk in any of them without booking. I think you should try the speciality of the house because you won't regret! We truly recommend this place 100%

I loved the food and the place. The staff are lovely people!

Bright, welcoming cosy roadside seafood bar in central Newlyn. Fish and seafood tapas style menu with range of interesting options. Enthusiastic staff, amazing food!

Lovely place, quite expensive but great staff and a very friendly feel

It's doesn't get any better than this and all the staff were smiling 😄. Outstanding Cornish experience. Don't miss it.

Very cute, a little cramped, great food. We were also in and out pretty quick, so great for a week night treat. Service was excellent too 👍👍👍

Our first visit, recommended by our daughter. We had a fantastic lunch, my partner had the mackerel and I had battered white fish, both were excellent and very tasty. Staff very helpful and good atmosphere.

Lovely small restaurant with open kitchen . Menu consists of taster portions large enough for 2 to share tapas style. Scallops with chorizo ,crab nachos ,chips and salad plenty for 2. Cornish pilsner and cider to drink. Amazing lemon posset and chocolate mousse to finish....

Service was more than 5stars!! Such a friendly and warm welcome. The Atmosphere was great, loved the music and the staff having a little dance. Oh the food!!! Saved the best for last... I feel like I don't have the culinary vocabulary to explain but in simple terms me and my friends really enjoyed the food we tried the special of the day ,fish of the day and scallops...

Our 3rd visit for absolutely delicious food 5*

Delicious although wine list could be improved.

Fresh fish tapas served inside or out, fantastic service and some delightful little dishes. decent local bottled beer.

Great food - flavouring great and staff lovely. Was full of satisfied customers. Really impressive. Would recommend very highly indeed!

Always a great meal. Fabulous food, great service.

As a family of 5 we all thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. The food was absolutely beautiful and my 6yr old made a new friend in chef Louis! He prepared mussels with a sauce to suit his taste and all the other dishes were a delight. The service was excellent throughout. A lovely little cafe would highly recommend. 5*

Splendid reasonably priced seafood. Lovely staff and buzzing atmosphere.

This place is amazing for sea food. You can get anything from mussels served in a shell to battered fish with a lemon. Its hygiene rating is 5. The staff are very polite and the wait time is 5 to 10 minutes. It is a...

Food is very good. Premises below low standards

Researching places to eat on Google search while staying in nearby Mousehole, Mackerel Sky Bar grabbed my attention "look mummy, a mackerel sky" is how my son would describe the mixed up sky when he was young 😊 After previewing the menu online, it went on my list of places to eat. Then this very fish restaurant was recommended to me by a friend who visited a few years ago. Wow, oh wow! Mackerel Sky Bar exceeded my expectations! We were lucky enough on a Monday lunchtime to snap up two window seats. After carefully considering ordering EVERY dish on the menu, (including the specials) we felt that could be a little over the top for a light lunch, so we went for: crab and bacon loaded fries; scallops and chorizo; beer battered white fish; grilled white fish and mixed green salad to share Not a scrap of fantastic food was left! As my dear friend recommended to me, I too can highly recommend this amazing bijou fish bar! Congratulations to the chef and staff for tremendous good and service 👏 🥰

Dropped in for lunch, the place was pretty full but they made sure we could have a table Great food Great and attentive and helpful service

My partner and I recently moved to the UK from Canada and we decided to stay for a long weekend in Cornwall. Our BNB host suggested Mackerel Sky for dinner, and it was the best suggestion! Our tapas style dinner was superb: every dish was...

Amazing as ever. Great food and great service. Mackerel with beetroot and horseradish 👍👍👍. . Looking forward to our next visit!

This is a small (inside) “restaurant” with outside (heated) space available. It is good and doesn’t take bookings do either go early or be prepared to wait. Because of the limited numbers there is a quick turnaround time of approx. 45mins to 1 hour. The...

Great variety of small dishes to choose from, very friendly service and good value. Eat in or We chose to sit outside with table heaters

Half an hour walk from Penzance station or just take a bus it will stop in front of the restaurant. Quick service for food which is great. Just too many fried food which is not my cup of tea. Friendly staff.

We came to this place looking for a break from pub food and were very happy to have come. Excellent food and enthusiastic staff - this place stood out among all the others on our trip to England. We ordered a lot and had a feast. One of the best meals I’ve had out in a long time! So good I had to write a review.

Staying in Falmouth we made a trip to Newlyn specifically to have lunch here. At first we couldn’t get a table but the waitress could not have been more helpful about the best time to return and try again and so glad we did. We...

Lovely restaurant in Newlyn. The service and the food are excellent. We had mussels in white wine and the crab nachos with sour cream, both of them delicious. For dessert we had the chocolate mousse with caramel sauce that was amazing. A must stop if you are in this side of Cornwall.

We shared two specials and the scallops. All were brilliant. If you only eat bland food maybe try elsewhere, otherwise this is the place!

I am not writing this review about our meal, because we didn’t have one. We are local people who live in Newlyn and have supported this business since it’s inception 8 years ago. We have been loyal customers and regularly eat here. Tonight we decided...

What a fabulous place and what fantasticly great food.

Been here many times and the food is consistently good. Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere.

Two of us are here last night (Sunday). Very small place that doesn’t take bookings - so had to wait 10 mins for table. Not a problem when it’s dry but be aware in bad weather. Very relaxed, bustling vibe. Friendly staff. Great cooked fish,...

Excellent restaurant great freshly cooked seafood quick service friendly helpful staff will go again

Wonderful. Local seafood, cooked to perfection and lemon posset pudding. Delicious. A delightful place, highly recommend and dog friendly too. Thank you 😋 🐾

Lovely food and great vibe. Staff were polite. We had the special dirty fries with lobster crayfish and jalapeños. So tasty. Samphire must be out of season as quite woody, tasty though

The food and service is always top notch, definitely our favourite place to eat. We ate there today and the waitress who served us went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with our food. Really, we can't fault it. If you haven't...

A destination! Delicious seafood in tapas style portions. Served quickly and efficiently with a smile and good humour. The menu is for fish/seafood lovers- don’t come here if you want burgers but do make a beeline if you want excellently prepared, delicious fish and seafood....

Found this place(s) by chance. There are 2 neighbouring places. The food is first class. Fresh sea food dishes prepared with skill and care. Unmissable if you are in Newlyn (couldn't be closer to the harbour) or Penzance. The staff are friendly and clearly love working in this excellent restaurant. Small plates of joy. BTW the owner/chef has a great tattoo.

This was our third visit. Late lunch after a swim in the Penzance geothermal pool, so we had built up an appetite. We were sat at my favourite outdoor table, just in front of the window. The fish, especially the hake, capers and samphire was...

Again completely Stunning! We drive down from Surrey to ensure we get here for lunchtime on route to Mousehole. And as part of the tradition, we have lunch here again the next day! It is an amazing place, the food, the atmosphere and the service....

Wonderful food served by very friendly and helpful staff. The grilled Hake was to die for! Will be going again as soon as possible