St Mawes Hotel Restaurant in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

I took a guy on a date here and it was really really nice, I had the pithivier which was super tasty and my date had the funghi blanco pizza which was also very good. The staff were really great, polite and overall very pleasant people who looked smart and were attentive to our table. Recommend to anyone visiting st mawes. Try and get a in during the day for the sea views!

We were staying for a few days at the sister hotel, the Idle Rocks. We had a great meal at the St Mawes hotel restaurant one evening. At table had been reserved for us on the upper floor next to the balcony, with an open window, as it was a warm evening. I had the Korean cauliflower starter, my partner and I both had the rib eye steak. All good and and a lovely relaxed atmosphere with great service. The only disappointment was that my husband has to eat gluten free so had chosen one of the options, the rib eye steak. He was then told whilst we were waiting for the food that they couldn’t guarantee the chips as they weren’t separately cooked. Fair enough, that’s not unusual, but there was no alternative offered, just salad, no potatoes. We didn’t let it spoil it, it was such a lovely evening, he did also have a pudding, which was also good. We had never heard about the hidden cinema, which looked fantastic. Another time we would try to combine a meal with a film!

I booked late and was told only a table at 6.30…. So presumed it was going to be busy and hectic… I arrived and was a while until greeted… downstairs had one table occupied… All staff seemed pleasant but without much experience I think…surprised to be sat by the front door with a view of the wall and the sofa!…it was a chilly night so I sat with my jacket on!… no one seemed to notice… Menu as a few have noted was uninspiring … I choose the Greek salad .. which was served too cold straight from a big bowl in fridge I’m guessing… and mushy . Then a pizza … the base was chewy !… I travel a lot and often solo….I too am in hospitality and make those on their own even more welcome !…. It was very disappointing … highlighted the next day by a wonderful lunch @ mackerel sky… fresh, wonderful staff who made you feel incredibly welcome and valued.. St Mawes hotel you need to do some homework …. There’s alot of competition out there … might be a wonderful setting but times are hard and people want good service, good food and value for money .

We went for dinner. We arrived early. Impressive welcome from lady who remembered me from day before including my name. We were shown to a table upstairs which had open windows & views of harbour . The seats however were disappointing. Bucket shaped armchairs which were too low for me & offered no back support. I asked for a cushion, which the waiter promptly bought. I sat on it which helped. Then a friendly helpful man staying at the hotel, said “know exactly the problem.I have it too” & rushed off to find another plump cushion for my back. That was much better. The chairs are not really suitable for sitting upright & eating, especially if you are small. Out meal was served promptly and we were not rushed. The quality was ok but not outstanding though nicely presented & the staff had been trained in silver service. The atmosphere was pleasant until a party of 2 children & 3 adults arrived at the next table. The children were extremely badly behaved & the adults were loud. They shrieked & screamed. The whole time, with no regard for others around them. The man at the next table pulled a face at one point. These situations are very difficult when adults are completely selfish with no attempt at discipline. Our evening was ruined so we ate as quickly as we could & left. When our bill arrived there was a 15% charge added which bumped up the price considerably. & gave us no choice but to pay it. I was not happy with that, so we will not be returning.

Usually excellent but this summer it’s a bit odd. We love coming here but the menu has not changed for several months. I am sure we are not the only ‘regulars’ to St Mawes but even the specials have generally remained the same. We were even more bewildered with their new rule on 1.5 hours only per reservation - if you are going to impose this on every table, you need to have a swift front of house service and not serve food 20 mins before the 1.5 hours is up - even more confusing is the booking says you have 2 hours! Come on the St Mawes Hotel - regroup and provide the service and food you have done previously.

We visited the bar, beautiful decor, great selection of gins! Admittedly we had just been swimming in the sea and although we were dry, we were scruffy. Bought our drinks and as the downstairs tables were booked for dinner we were told to go upstairs. We chose a table that had no reservations and were enjoying the views and our drinks, it was 5:50. A waitress had just come in shift I noticed she gave us a look and 5 mins later asked if we had a reservation we said no, she said well then you have to leave - no warning no ok well we will need the table in 10 mins if you would like to finish your drinks - she spoke to us as if we were scum. Both my husband and I are in our 50’s and have professional jobs - we were so embarrassed. This is no way to treat anyone We were considering booking dinner once we had changed for the evening but I would never go back there now - nobody should treat other people in this manner. I complained to the bar man and he basically shrugged his shoulders as if it was ok. I hadn’t even finished my drink. Disgusting

Visited here for my birthday lunch with my husband. We are local and have been quite a few times before. Nice table upstairs by the window. Unfortunately lunch menu not very exciting at all. We didn't have a starter, we both chose from the specials board. Dessert. I can't fault the the staff that served us they we're polite and friendly they all looked very smart. Then the bill came. Paid the bill then realised we had a nearly £10 service charge put on it our own fault for not checking properly but feel we should have been told. My only regret with all this is, we both wished when we looked at the menu we had only said not fancying any of this and got up and left, lessons learned. We have had lovely food and a good variety here before. This time not impressed at all. Won't be returning. Watch out for that service charge people. Like I said been many times before won't make that mistake again.

We stayed at the hotel St. Mawes and thought it would be an easy option to eat at the restaurant. Sadly that was a big mistake. Given that there is a top chef at the sister hotel (The Idle Rocks) we thought that the food should be good here as well. The soup (asparagus and celeriac) was rather an odd combination where the asparagus could not be tasted. The seafood risotto was a mushy overcooked rice with some seafood sprinkled on it. The prawns cooked in a curry sauce?!? Why?? And the rest just put on top instead of mixed in. The gnocchi were inedible full of flour, totally tastless and hard; some were even clumped together. The yellow squash sauce totally uninspiring. We did not dare to order a dessert after this dreadful meal. In the morning we had eggs Benedict which were barely runny eggs on ham (!) and a thin watery hollandaise sauce. Not really sure if this Chef really knows what he/she is doing.

We looked forward to our last meal of our holiday and booked a meal at The St Mawes Hotel, we were surprised at the limited menu with very little seafood choices, however, my husband ordered Trout to start (bland and tasteless), I ordered buttermilk chicken (burnt edges and tough chicken, I’ve had better in Wetherspoons). Main course was Fish Pie for my Husband which was bulked out with salmon and had very few prawns. I ordered Pork roast dinner which was just ok and not a wow moment. Whilst eating our dinner a waitress spent 15 minutes talking quite loudly to diners on the next table about varying health issues which really is unprofessional at a volume which couldn’t be ignored. We asked another waitress for the bill, on checking we had been OVERCHARGED by £30, the waitress went to check and explained that the till had added a previous order to it (no sign of it on the receipt however). The waitress printed a new receipt which included a 12.5% service charged which I asked to be removed due to the overcharge. ALL IN ALL A DISAPPOINTING END TO A GREAT HOLIDAY. WE WILL NOT RETURN TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT.

The restaurant was a bit of a triumph of style over substance. We had the Asian style mussels which were very ordinary, but no bread or spoon was provided to mop up the sauce. The staff seemed under-confident and under trained. The views from the dinning-room are the highlights of a meal here, not the food.

Atmosphere not great food average was a bit disappointed however the location and view is beautiful especially if you are able to sit on the outside balcony.

We booked for our 30th wedding anniversary as were staying in st mawes. Request for upstairs window seat was granted and staff were pleasant and friendly. However food was uninspiring and overpriced. £22 for a tiny bland fish pie that needed sides to go with it. Very disappointed.

Decided at last minute to go ,not having been for at least a year .Service was not just good --it was excellent .Friendly ,welcoming ,efficient ,everything you would hope for but often don't get !Food was absolutely perfect .Tandoori Scallops followed by Hake .Partner had Beetroot Salad then Catch of the Day --Sole .After a relaxed meal we went into their Hidden Cinema and enjoyed the film --again everyone was made to feel welcome and were well looked after .100% recommend going .

Stayed at the hotel nd enjoyed dinner and breakfast in the upper deck. Lovely relaxed surroundings, very good service and attentive to our requests. Food was served in good time but not rushed at any time.

Second visit to this lovely restaurant. Snag a terrace seat if you can (couples only) for the views. Our larger group was further back. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Food was Ok (my pizza a bit boring in-Italian TBH) but others fared better and the overall experience (with secret cinema) was fab.

Of all the places we had made dinner reservations, it was this one that we had most eagerly anticipated. This was our third night on our mini-break based in St Mawes, and so far we had mixed experiences at the two previous dinner venues. We...

Again a great meal and very friendly staff. Will be back soon. Good variety on the menu for adults and children Great views

We visited St Mawes on a sunny Sunday lunchtime and were lucky to have one of the best views from our upstairs window table. The Aperol Spritz certainly helped too. The food was memorable - perfect mackerel to start, then feather blade of beef with...

If you decide to eat here then definitely make sure you book upstairs and don’t bother with downstairs unless you just want a drink. For our first booking we were lucky enough to get a table upstairs. The service was great, the meal was lovely...

Went for a great dinner here with the rest of my family. We all had pizzas which were very well done. We were seated upstairs with great views of the harbour. Downstairs was very lively due to a wedding party turning up and having fun....

We were able to book a table next to the window with amazing views over the river as part of my husband's 50th birthday treat. We were kindly offered complimentary glasses of champagne on arrival which was a very lovely touch. Although not an extensive...

Have eaten here a number of times over the last few years and each time hopeful that the menu will have improved. Sadly we were again disappointed! If it wasn’t for the fact that it has been nigh on impossible to book a table for...

Some two months ago we contacted the hotel to confirm that reservations were being taken and duly made our reservation confirming that we would like the table upstairs which we had enjoyed in years gone past. The reservation was confirmed via e-mail on the 11th...

Great food and service. My monkfish taco was seriously good. Would definitely recommend taking lunch here to any of my friends

Pretty hotel and charming dining room with views out to the sea. Good service, polite and prompt. Menu a little uninspiring and limited. We had the pizzas and they were delicious and authentic so if you like pizza at reasonable prices worth a visit. It...

We know the St Mawes hotel well and were really looking forward to lunch there. On arrival all was well and we were shown to a table in their very pleasant upstairs room. Thing’s then went wrong when we shown the extremely limited and slightly...

Opposite the small harbour and overlooking the estuary. A lovely small restaurant, very clean and great service. Although a limited menu enough choice and all freshly cooked to order. We had two ‘small plates’ as a started and a pizza to share, more than enough....

Today my husband and myself visited St Mawes and stumbled upon this lovely outside eating area. It is up a small incline and situated at the back of the hotel. The tables are socially distanced and the waiting staff very attentive. Hubby said the risotto...

After visiting the St Mawes hotel for dinner numerous times over the years. The menu has changed but for us it has slightly lost its way. The service was a bit clunky with chasing for water and sat looking at empties. The other thing was...

Always a great experience. Service was fantastic and food very good. Looking forward to coming back in a few weeks.

Have stayed here twice and eaten 5-6 times in the 'new' St. Mawes Hotel. It fills a valuable gap in the St. Mawes offer between The Tresanton & Idle Rocks and .....? An interesting menu, great views over the harbour from 1st floor, and service...

We popped over to St Mawes on the ferry from Falmouth, it was very busy and we struggled to find somewhere to get a table for lunch. Luckily we got a table at this place because it was amazing! We had a table next to...

We dined here last Thursday during our delayed annual pilgrimage to St Mawes - a welcome return to one of our regular haunts and we were relieved to get a table during a busy week with all the extra bookings due to so many people...

We ate here on two evenings (September 2020) and found the food very good in terms of value and quality. This was well-judged and nicely balanced cooking where every single course was a pleasure. In addition the location, decor, service and general atmsophere were all...

I’ve tended to let the family come here after a walk on the Head, if they’ve behaved themselves. This time they seemed positively surprised at the quality of the cooking: a notch above what they’d recalled they said. They even booked for lunch on the...

Had a meal and a glass of wine There were two flies floating in a glass still alive...The waitress picked it up and ...after removing the flies brought the same wine back to the table...and then refused to remove the wine from the bill....I have...

Stay away from the take away pizzas. I paid £30 for three pizzas. They were inedible. Too much cheese. Not cooked properly. Shame. Went and queued for 40 mins for the excellent fish and chips. Bar area very full. Not for the COVID fearful.

We have just walked out of the St Mawes hotel seafront bar/restaurant without ordering. Quite frankly I was scared! We waited 10 minutes for someone to come and clear an outside table. I had to ask the waitress to wipe the chairs and table. Then...

Throughly enjoyed our pizzas at lunchtime last week, beautiful setting, fantastic ambience, friendly staff, great food.

Terrible takeaway pizza, burnt sourdough crust and very flavourless toppings. We shared the chorizo and the Mediterranean. Mediocre - clearly jar tomato sauce as had no flavour. Such a shame as good takeaway pizzas could be a real hit in the area.

We were hoping to have lunch at the Idle Rocks but because it was out of season they suggested we went along to the Saint Mawes Hotel which is also run by the same company. We had the Welsh Rabbit and Scotch Egg to start...

We both had pizza which was delicious. The staff were very friendly. Nice building with relaxed atmosphere. Dog friendly too.

Whilst staying at The Idle Rocks as we only wanted a light meal for a late lunch we were recommended to try the pizzas here. We ordered a Margherita pizza, a salad of little gem lettuce with Ceasar dressing and chips along with drinks. The...

Had a very enjoyable New Year's Eve here; the food, service and ambience were all great (as was the DJ). We thought it very good value. Thanks to all concerned. We'll be back when next in lovely St Mawes.

Popped in for lunch and had a magical experience provided by Neil and Maria. We called in on a bright but cool November early afternoon for a drink and a bite to eat. Neil and Maria could not have done more for us with drinks,...

Just returned from a lovely evening hosted by Tim who was very friendly and attentive towards the 85 year old birthday girl intuitely sensing she would hate a 'fuss'. Food was excellent - we all went for fish dishes. Lovely atmosphere, roaring fire and quirky...

I just popped in for lunch with my family. The food was very disappointing, especially for the price. The fish in my seafood pasta tasted well past its best. My husband’s salad was very small and uninspired for the price. My daughter’s fish was dry....

I am a regular visitor to St Mawes , but by pass this restaurant, how ever I thought I would Gove it a go. I ordered a crab pizza and a Cornish lager , the pizza was as ordered ,could have done with a little...

We had no idea what the food would be like, but liked the look of the restaurant and the friendly staff.The log burner was an added attraction and that dogs are welcome. We both had steak with mushrooms and peppers etc.it was cooked to perfection....

We went in as party of 4 for lunch. There were perhaps 2 other tables eating and 4 patrons drinking. There wasn't a waiter in sight when we entered so we sat down and had to help ourselves to menus after a long wait. In...

The St.Mawes Hotel Restaurant has stuck to its principles over the years, however its prices have risen and has the food improved? Yes and no, is the honest answer. Some days the service is great, other times it can be rather slow. The St.Mawes is...

Haven’t been here for a few years due to very poor service and lacklustre food. Today the service was excellent and food really good. Crab risotto v good if a little salty. Squid also good and nicely cooked. Pizza was large and tasty. Seafood pasta...

This is our first visit this year having been there many times last year(suffered poor service, but still returned) The service team seemed to have significantly upped their game now. Service was very attentive and matched the quality of the food on offer. Starters of...

First time visit to St Mawes, we should have walked a little further to the Hotel Tresanton! The staff were not interested and had to be pushed to provide the basic service. Food when it arrived was average and not worth the money.

Having entered the St Mawes hotel for morning coffee and confirmed with the waitress that you ordered at the bar, as we were deciding what to order, a large all male party (25+)entered the premises ordering drinks at the bar. Having waited patiently as their...

Wir waren in dem kleinen Pub im St. Mawes Hotel. Bei schönem Wetter steht man direkt auf der davor liegenden...

Five of us went here for lunch on a weekday in summer. The place was a little over half full, with many empty tables upstairs. We ordered lunch and drinks. We didn't mind waiting for the food, because it's cooked to order, and it was...

Service: very good. Food: not so good. Seafood linguine, swimming in source and very heavy on salmon. Far too much sauce on all the fish dishes, killing the taste of fish. Prune creme brûlée very underwhelming, no prune taste at all. Perhaps the chef had...

Excellent service, excellent food, excellent views. This really is a lovely place to go for a drink or bite to eat, the staff cannot do enough and the food is really delicious and competitively priced. In cold weather they have a toasty warm fire to...

Booked here for Sunday lunch, expecting a good roast. Things never started well.... Pint of Proper Job was cloudy and never cleared so asked for another unfortunately was then told it was OFF... Then ordered the Camambert to share from the specials board. The waitress...

I only rated this hotel bar 4 stars because I only dropped in for a glass of wine. Judging on the service and wine quality I might well have gone for 5 stars had i stayed for food or lodgings.

Boxing Day we popped in for a drink and snack after a walk. Our drinks had just been served when my brother in law's chair collapsed under him causing me to throw my drink all over my son and myself. Luckily he wasn't hurt and...

Our food was exciting with something a little different about each dish adding perfectly to the flavour. The staff were very friendly and helpful to us and our kids. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant just wish we lived closer to be able to visit more often.

We had the seafood pizza, which was amazing. Coupled with a glass of fizz and the view made for a perfect lunch. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable and I have now found my new favourite tipple; coffee flavoured rum made in Cornwall. They're dog friendly...

The restaurant is in a good location, great views & friendly staff. The menu sounds good but the taste and quality is not what it should be. The meals were average and in fact I’ve had better m&s meals. Maybe the chef had a bad...

Had an excellent boozy lunch here (dogs welcome) Surroundings are very relaxed and welcoming. Staff were very friendly and obliging. We had starters and two steaks (rib eye). Steak was cooked to order and sauce was separate (not flooded on the plate), perfect. Would definetely...

We didn't need to book, and we had a table just inside the door, although it's possible to sit on the pavement. Our collie was made very welcome, as were we! Perfect bowl of mussels and skinny chips, lovely pint of Proper Job, good music...

We nicknamed this hotel our "Gin Palace"! We were staying in a nearby cottage and went every day to sit with rhubarb botanical gin and tonics and watch the world go by. Beautiful interior, great place to relax, unwind and mingle with locals and holidaymakers....

Kids mac and cheese was just a bowl of stodgy mush. Service was average. Pizzas ok but lacking in topping for a meat feast ! Expensive for what it is. Good decor and location

This is very much the hotel of choice for the "yachtie" set. Plenty of bearded men at the bar in pink check shirts with jumpers around their necks ordering G&Ts. You get the picture. Luck was on our side when we found a table for...

Popped in for a very nice pint of beer. Fantastic location, overlooking the bay. No car park, best to walk here , but worth if for the views. Would love to return.

Stopped here for lunch whilst exploring St Mawes. Friendly staff and reasonable menu, we only had snacks, but service was quick and efficient. The restaurant was very rustic, sea themed and comfortable, we sat inside because it was so hot, but there are some tables...

You will not better the St Mawes Hotel and restaurant for wonderful food, service and accommodation .The hotel is right on the seafront with amazing views .We had first stayed here several years ago and it just keeps getting better at every subsequent visit.. Facilities...

Great room with very friendly staff. Amazing views over St Mawes and child friendly.... easy access to crabbing right in front of hotel.

Arrived without reservation on a busy day so ended up sitting on upstairs balcony. This is in Cornwall in a heatwave .... we can eat al fresco now 👍 The service was excellent and the cooking was excellent. The hotel has a great vibe and...

We took a trip to St Mawes Hotel on a recommendation and we were not disappointed. The food and the ambience is amazing; the restaurant is upstairs and from your seat you can see across the bay.

Having twice eaten at the St Mawes hotel we decided last week to return. Previously when we had wanted to book a table we were told that they "do not take bookings" so we arrived at 7p.m. It was only half full but we were...

My wife and I had lunch here today, note we are regular visitors to St Mawes ,but have not eaten here for some time . The ambiance is very good , it was well staffed on our Visite , good lunch menu , with several...

The welcome by the young and keen staff was warm and immediate. The staff were attentive without being intrusive and were obviously a close knit team with lots of good natured banter both with ourselves and each other. The food was delicious; beautifully presented and...

This hotel is in a lovely spot in St Mawes. It deserves to have a really good restaurant. But it doesnt. The "casual" service is so casual that you find yourself left alone for long periods without drinks or the ability to order. Things get...

A really good restaurant. We had fish, fish and more fish and it was all excellent. The room on the first floor has great views, the service was friendly and we will definitely return.

We arrived on a day when there were staff shortages so had to wait ages to be served. Only bread turned up after we'd ordered bread, olives and a jug of water. Our moule frits were devoid of any flavour and our son's burger underwhelming...

Un sala accogliente, arredata con molto gusto, angolo relax con divani e camino. Una carta semplice , senza esagerazioni che...

The service and welcome here was exceptionally friendly (in stark contrast to their main hotel The Idle Rocks - see separate review for our thoughts on that!). The atmosphere and setting were also great and we enjoyed our time here. The food was the only...

Popped in for a meal, unbooked. As before, staff are very friendly, food excellent and sensibly priced, £55 for two with drinks. The decor is beautifully done with a relaxed atmosphere and a lovely outlook across the harbour.

Stayed in St Mawes Hotel very recently. We had booked for three nights but enjoyed our visit so much we added a fourth night. From the moment we arrived we were impressed with the friendly and willing staff. Immediate assistance with our cases immaculate clean...

My friend and I visited this hotel last week and we were both wowed by the decor and the views. There is a fantastic gin selection and we were able to enjoy local gins on the balcony upstairs with a little bowl of olives. The...

Wow! This place never fails to be amazing. The balcony is what drew us in, again! A perfect spot for a G&T in the sunshine. We could’ve sat there for hours. The decor is beautiful and with a seaside theme and is light and airy....

Popped in and had a quick meal in the evening. Friendly and helpful service. Food was quite good, South East prices. Not sure the cheese souffle I had would really qualify as a souffle, it taste good though. Perhaps give it a new name?

Came in with a group of friends following however told them not to bother as was far too cold to enjoy anything unfortunately. Could see the staff were struggling too! However they did reassure us the fires were lit and it would get warmer! Have...

Had dinner whilst staying at the hotel. Both dinner and breakfast were very tasty and reasonably priced.

Visited twice over a long weekend, once for dinner and once for lunch. The menu was the same both times and not the most extensive although there are specials on offer too. Enjoyed both visits, good food, hospitable staff, dog friendly, open fire, pleasant view...

Friendly staff on arrival ...my friend and I sat upstairs on the sofa by the fire ..as we usually do ....ordered coffee and tea ..and a couple of snack type dishes ...both were rather good albeit quite small ....this is such a good place to...

Back in October during a short holiday we dropped in here purely as a walk in as the place looked lovely through the window and stayed for a meal and had pigs cheeks for a starter and they were delicious. Started chatting with the Manager,...

Cinema and private room all brilliant. Perfect venue for smaller intimate party. 16 13 year old girls. Movie and Lunch. Delicious pizza and private viewing. Ben worked hard but think he needed someone else to help him out with popcorn and drinks. Everyone enjoyed it...

Staying here for the 2nd time in 2 years, we had a very comfortable room. The hotel has a stylish function room and the Secret Cinema showing NT Live is a great asset for St. Mawes. The menu is short with daily specials, and the...

Nice food and decor but the service was poor. Our bill could have been at least 50% higher if the inattentive waitresses had bothered to ask us if we would like to order a bottle of wine or more drinks.

We enjoyed a delicious meal at this restaurant. We sat upstairs, stunning views, excellent service and we enjoyed our meal. Good value.

As I am a wheelchair user we rang the hotel beforehand. On arrival a ramp was promptly produced and we were given a table with plenty of room. The ambience is relaxed and welcoming, the service was excellent, and the staff were enthusiastic. The food...

Beautiful balmy evening in late September. Dined upstairs with all the doors and windows open onto the balcony. I had a starter of crab and scallop gratin made into a main course with a portion of chips ( bit of a pig!). OH has a...