Sullivans Diner in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

The food’s OK, and not overpriced. What lets the place down is the noisy staff member ( owner?). I know it’s a greasy spoon, but still, one should be able to eat and hear oneself think in relative peace. I sit outside if possible.

I have been using this great place for years now as a local, went there today for a quick breakfast before work and was pretty gob smacked by a very loud staff member who I think was probably in charge??? When most people go out or stop off somewhere to grab something too eat we do not expect to hear your life story and you singing really bloody loud to the whole cafe there is a time and a place, and when people are eating that is not the time thank you!! And yes I know your a cafe and not a restaurant, but the same hospitality rules are the same let people eat in peace I'm sure your a lovely person but there's a time and a place. Food is still great as always 👍👍

Myself and a friend visited here in August for a quick spot of breakfast. We arrived and headed inside and sat at the only available table at the time and had a mooch over the menu before my friend went and ordered for us. Our table was unfortunately directly in front of the open door to the diner and despite it being a warm day we were caught in a draft due to this being open. My friend returned after ordering our food and she commented on how it was very drafty and cold with the door being open, with their being no other seats available we managed to bear the draft for around 10 minutes or so, however when our food was brought over my friend politely spoke to the young man who was serving us and asked him if he could close the door as it was very cold. The man was very nice about this and closed the door for us and we thought the issue had been resolved. Quickly after the door had been closed two of the female members of staff working in the kitchen and behind the counter began to complain quite snappily at the member of staff who had closed the door for us. The ladies had initially misunderstood and thought he had closed the door himself but he then explained that my friend had asked him to close the door as we were cold due to the draft, one of the female members of staff was incredibly rude and made a remark saying we should have moved to another table if we were cold as at this point another seating option had become available available. We had however just had started to eat our food that had been put in front of us and it was quite inconvenient for us to move at this point. The entire time I tried to enjoy my meal I had to listen to both of the female staff members complain that it was too hot for them with the door being closed, they were extremely rude and complained loudly enough for other customers to take notice of this which made the whole situation very uncomfortable. Both female members of staff continued to complain loudly about it being too hot for them while I was trying to enjoy my meal with my friend. I could hear remarks from them saying things like “they need to toughen up if they can’t handle the cold” and were repeatedly saying that we should move to each other but not directly asking us. My friend is very hard of hearing and was oblivious to what was going on around us whilst we ate, I barely said a word to my friend throughout our meal as I was so shocked at the attitude from both female members of staff. Just as we were finishing our meals one of the ladies stormed over to the door and loudly announced to everyone in the restaurant “just need to go out a minute, I’m feeling a bit sick. It’s a bit hot isn’t it?” My friend took notice of what was going on at this point and she was very puzzled by the woman’s attitude as she had not overheard the prior conversation, we left almost immediately after we had finished our food as I told my friend I was uncomfortable, I then explained what had happened to my friend who was shocked by what had gone on. This was my first time visiting Sullivans and I can say for certain I will never be returning, I can understand that it was a hot day and that it is warm in a kitchen however the attitude and passive aggressiveness from both ladies working was absolutely disgusting. I have never received such poor customer service in my life and this was very surprising as I had only heard good things about Sullivans prior to this. We were never approached or spoken to after asking for the door to closed however instead the two women working here decided to make nasty indirect comments and create a hostile environment towards me and my friend, they both behaved like children in a school and it was shocking to see two grown women act this way. I’m not sure if we had visited on an off day as I was very surprised at my experience having only heard good things about Sullivans, the way we were treated however was absolutely appalling and enough to ensure I will never return here. The food itself was the only positive however our experience was anything but positive due to the disgusting attitudes from both ladies working here. Perhaps it may be an idea for the owner to look into getting some fans in the kitchen and behind the till to avoid their staff from overheating in future considering it was such an issue for their staff.

Really enjoyed out food from Sullivan's Diner. Only downside would be the queue and wait time to order, personally feel the queue could be managed better. Apart from that food was lovely big portions and delicious.

Really good place for breakfast

Just a fantastic breakfast no-frills or Greenery just a nice full English. Im local and visit when I can. Yes it is a greasy spoon so to speak but great value money.

Simple, delicious, great value for money and friendly service. What to want more? Freshly cooked bacon and egg with just perfect toast. Highly recommend!

Perfect for a quick breakfast before our early train. Very handy for the premier Inn and their breakfast opens earlier. Really lovely staff

Very busy but still got my breakfast in minutes and with a smile.Very tasty and a good price,highly recommend.

Always come for breakfast before the trip to the Scillies. Fantastic and the start of the holiday. Bacon baps magnificent.

Lovely breakfast and excellent value. Great staff, friendly and helpful. Proper breakfast place with not a smashed avocado in sight ;). Loved it

I arrived in Penzance on the National Express coach from London at approximately 930 am on Saturday 15 June 2024. Due to disability issues I was glad to see this establishment a few feet away . I had intended to order a breakfast and eat it at the alfresco tables. Unfortunately as a 62 year old Black woman I was subject to racist treatment I thought had ended in 1952..Within 5 minutes, I was accused of queue jumping and banging my rucksack against a diner..Neither of these were true. I saw the writing on the wall and crossed over to the Premier Inn..Where I had an excellent breakfast without the bigotry🤨

My go to place for breakfast when I’m staying nearby. The ladies who run it are so friendly and it is great value for money. Lovely thick buttered toast and a big mug of tea for well under a fiver. If you’re staying “nearby” come here it’s so much better!

What a cracking little diner this is! Wife and I completely dismissed it whilst walking past and into the town to explore. Decided to call in on the way back for a Sausage sarnie for me and a bacon and egg for her. Greeted by colourful staff, friendly locals and welcoming cheap but excellent food! Honestly, if you don't call in here, you're mad! Can't wait to return one day in the future to enjoy the vibe...

My go to place, for all day breakfast, whenever I'm in Penzance, to visit the Jubilee Pool. Tasty breakfast for a good price. Handy for the bus and railway station.

A lovely cafe and friendly staff

Lovely staff, coffee and bacon sandwich. In all my visits to Penzance I wish I'd come here sooner!

It’s your typical Cornish “greasy spoon”. What you see is what you get. It is what it is. Does what it says on the tin, so if you’re expecting anything more or less than a proper big cheap full breakfast and standard British service and banter, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Other pros: it opens earlier than anywhere else; breakfast is arguably the best in Penzance AND the price is very fair; situated next to station/ bus if you have to catch a trip somewhere.

I got off an overnight coach service Saturday morning and was wanting breakfast, ordered a Breakfast triple decker sandwich and despite my brain being mush from lack of sleep the staff took my order and we had a nice chat about the coaches and fares etc etc, the staff were lovely and friendly and very chatty. The food was cooked fresh, it was tasty and full of flavour and can recommend it to anyone wanting a bite to eat. Will use again when I'm next in Penzance.

Absolutely the best breakfast around .

Dropped in at lunchtime when starving, wanting a good old fashioned all day breakfast. NOT disappointed. Sausage, eggs, bacon, beans, fried slices hash browns….the works. Quick, tasty, good value, just what was needed on a cold winters day. Staff so friendly too. Always a visit when in Penzance.

Good food for a very reasonable price Great characters behind the till

Shocked - why as a paying customer should I have to listen to staff and customers shouting bigoted, racist comments across the cafe? Deeply offended.

Had breakfast here at the end of a short visit to see family. I've been eating here since I was in primary school. As always, the staff were smiley, welcoming and friendly, and the food was perfect. I don't bother adding breakfast to hotel rooms in Penzance anymore - eating here is far better, and typically cheaper. A great spot.

Found this place back in the day after an overnight rail journey, just needed food, went in and was pleasantly surprised by the quality, in more recent years use it for breakfast on leaving day, avoiding washing pots at holiday let. I always say you can trust an establishment that locals use and this is one of those, a breakie here and a 360 mile journey home fully topped up with food

Sullivan’s Diner is a new find for me in Penzance despite having visited the town many times over the years. I only wish I’d discovered it earlier as it’s a great little café with civilised opening hours. Inside there are wooden tables and chairs in a bright, fresh room making for a pleasant and relaxing experience. Service is really friendly and efficient. The bacon baps are scrumptious and they make a great cuppa. Highly recommended, can’t wait to go back on my next visit to Penzance.

Stopped on the way to parking for Scillonian after dropping my bags off. An excellent takeaway sausage, bacon, & egg sandwich & latte at a very reasonable price. Parking in the long stay is free of charge for long enough to make a takeaway purchase.

Desperate for a cup of tea but where to go for a quality beverage? Struck gold here. Excellent cuppa served in a huge proper mug, very reasonably priced - + lovely cheerful staff. Def come here again. Outside + inside seating. Thx guys.

Great value for money and it's right next to the train station and bus station. It opens early compared to others in the same location. Staff are really friendly.

Very good breakfasts. Very nice home.

Absolutely fantastic yet again. Our go to place when we hit Penzance. Staff are wonderful and always laughing. Excellent service and the breakfast is delicious. Highly recommend this place.

Great food, perfect staff 😉 ( shame about the weather)

It's an odd looking place but perfect for breakfast ahead of the Isles of Scilly ferry departure. Lovely people and superb food. Enjoyed listening to locals practicing their quiz team answers at 7am!

Popped in here for breakfast before a walk to Newlyn. Seven quid for a breakfast was spot on. Not too much, and not too little. Friendly owners and staff. Cheers.

Absolutely amazing tasty breakfast perfect size portions all made fresh lovely small place with a nice atmosphere and very light and airy would definitely recommend as I left full and satisfied and the prices didn't break the bank .. definitely returning Right next to Penzance railway station and Bus Station and afterwards you can walk the harbour or beach it's right next to it

After a long drive south a friendly welcome at 6am. A fantastic breakfast & great value we will be back

Brilliant atmosphere, excellent food and brilliant staff,

There’s great food and then there’s great food served with great love. Sullivan’s diner is the second!

Grab a sandwich for my long train back to London, the best filling sandwich for wrapping up my Cornwall trip♥️

Great staff. Great food. The food is quite standard. But it's cooked to perfection and the staff are so kind and welcoming. Always make a point of visiting this lovely little stop once or twice while I'm in Cornwall. Nothing beats a fry up that just hits the spot.

It may not look like much from the outside but the staff are great and the food really good and great value

I only tried a latte and a house coffee but both were really good, really good pick-me-up before work or after a night shift. The staff are friendly, welcoming and relatively fast. Definitely coming back to try the food, looks and smells good.

What a true delight, a disappearing institution, but thriving in Penzance! A great traditional cafe, serving simple, home cooked breakfasts like your Mum made!!! It was a delicious experience, with a great flatwhite. Rustic, old world charm, kitchen banter and builders tea...really what's not to like. Great value, tasty and lovely.

Classic greasy spoon… but not greasy. Fried bread, so unusual… delicious. Hash browns, old school sausages, great bacon.

We have just had breakfast here. We will be back for more. Warm friendly service. Cooked to order and we didn't have to wait long even though they were busy. Excellent breakfast,,, loved it.

A friendly and traditional cafe based on the wharf at Penzance opposite the bus and rail stations, providing good value and hearty portions of British breakfast dishes as well as sandwiches and baps and of course a good mug of tea. We popped in for a snack prior to our rail journey home which was a very enjoyable last taste of Cornwall at the end of our holiday. Friendly, chatty staff and and a great, no frills, good value breakfast, 100% recommended.

A family run business serving good food at reasonable prices . I get a feeling every time I visit of how good businesses were run years gone bye pure nostalgia. Great service & the best breakfast in Penzance .

Brilliant breakfasts, nice friendly staff ,just watch out for seagulls.

Forego your hotel breakfast and pop in to Sullivan’s. This is the proper way to start the day.

Delicious vegetarian breakfast for a very fair price and kind staff!

Great breakfast, nice cup of tea, friendly staff with a convenient location. Highly recommended.

Friendly staff and really tasty breakfast ..

Delicious breakfast in Penzance. Highly recommended.

Hot choclate having in vs take out is different. Go for eat in if you are visiting this place

Sullivans has been a mainstay of Penzance life, delivering a tasty. quality, no nonsense traditional English café breakfast using local ingredients at a reasonable price, the Sullivans breakfast is consistently delicious, no messing about! I have been going to Sullivans for over 25 years and it is always good.

Food was ok , fried egg rock hard with a dry firm yolk. Very limited menu. Very dirty and shabby. Toast came already ‘buttered’ with cheap margarine. Asked for an americano when I saw the fancy coffee machine, but was given a chipped mug of instant coffee. They were very rude when I questioned it but eventually made me a proper coffee. Caffs/diners usually have that greasy spoon charm and value… not so much with this place.

I think the breakfast is unbeatable pricewise and qualitywise

May be the best vegetarian breakfast in my life.

the best hot chocolate in penzance. plus my twice weekly bacon and egg sandwich before my swim. well done sullivans, pip,air bnb host, penzance

Old style English diner. Great breakfast and great prices considering the location

We came down from London on the train and spotter the cafe we needed directions to your holiday pad etc lady was very helpful we ordered a bacon bap each and two drinks after a long journey the meal was most welcome very reasonable priced definitely chameaper than st Ives prices staff friendly etc definitely worth a visit 🙂🙂🙂

Lovely food, good prices. There was a bit of a hiccup with the food when I was there, but that didn’t repeat itself. Great food, very British.

I’ve been here for my first time ever as it’s my first time in Cornwall after a long bus Journey from London! We arrived at 07:15 in Penzance bus station and I thought it would be a great idea to have a breakfast and a coffee to stretch our bodies after the Long journey we had and before we carried on to the bus towards Porthcurno! Many of the restaurants in London they open after 8! I’m impressed that they’ve been opened at 07:25 especially when the lady on the till told me that they’ve been opened at 6! Anyways, let’s go to the most important part! THE FOOD! It’s been cooked with lots of love by the chef and the FEB was just lovely and fresh! Everything in my wife’s and mine dish cooked to perfection and I loved the fried bread added on it as no one does it in London unless if you ask! Reasonably priced and a very nice atmosphere! My only complain is that I asked my breakfast to come without Tomatoes and it came with tomatoes(They obviously wrote this down to the order but still it came with tomatoes) . I didn’t want to send the dish back cause I’m not a person who sends a dish back for a wrong ingredient or trying to make a fuss for that unless if something is not cooked properly or just having an intolerance! We are human being and of course we gonna make mistakes but it didn’t broke my overall experience at all! You do work very hard guys and I do recognise this and keep the job up! I look forward to see you again in the future if I visit Penzance again! Highly recommended, if you need a quick break! Etc. It’s not like I hate mushrooms but I hate it’s flavour!

A great breakfast straight off the night sleeper from London. Good coffee too, just watch the seagulls.

Staff very friendly. Other customers happy to share a table during busy times. Food was hot and arrived fairly quickly. Only thing we were not so keen on was the sausages.

I come here all the time with my partner and dogs, it's a lovely place to eat with a great view and great food! The staff are very welcoming also. I definitely recommend that you try this place out!

good taste，not expensive, kindness

I really enjoyed eating at Sullivans Diner when I stayed in Penzance at the Premier Inn opposite. They had a range of breakfast and lunches available which are good value for money. I ended up eating here most mornings during my 5 day stay! I...

Had a lovely full English with my hubby on thursday December 23rd would Recommend..staff were pleasant ..

Perfect for breakfast. It is unusual to find anywhere that is open early enough to have breakfast before you go on an activity. Great cooked breakfast. Nice prices and nice people. See you many more times in 2022.

Full English breakfast was £6, great value for money. You get 2 sausages and plenty of bacon. Cup of tea was less than £2. We will return!

Passed Sullivan's many times but never ventured in, always looked busy and when we did eventually go in I must say we were met by lovely welcoming people and felt very comfortable. My wife and I ordered the breakfast and when it arrived, well i...

Sullivan’s is a legend . I had the pleasure of knowing John before he sadly passed away a true gentleman. It’s refreshing the diner is being run by John’s family & consistently delivers excellent food & service and has done for decades . There Bacon...

Fantastic service and lovely and welcoming were a family of 11 and they went over and beyond helpful thank you for making us feel welcome and the food was bloody lovely thank you x

Had a breakfast hear a long while back now before Covid rampaged over everything and anything and anybody but it was so good that now I've got into this tripadvisor milarky I thought I ought to knock up a quick review of my culinary experience....

Good breakfast cooked fresh really good value most cafes charge upto £11 for a breakfast near Penzance train station Tip go for the Barista Coffee

Food is cheap, but greasy and cold. Tea is brewed very strangely by shaking a kettle then water just gets added to make a yellowish liquid (saw it with my own eyes) - way too weak, all you can taste is milk. Won't be back...

Just awful, it's like someone gave the keys to the clueless mean kid for a joke! Anywhere else if you wanted dry toast instead of the fried bread they'd be fine.. This place, oh nooo, we'll be charging you for the toast. Because when you...

Great value breakfast, served quickly, great location right next to the railway station. Friendly staff

The food is cheap and good. this place opens really early, so it is ideal for travellers. it is als o really near to the train station.

lovely staff and food would have been nice if it was warm misleading value as price on board is just for cooked breakfast once tea and toast is added costs the same as elsewhere where tea and toast is included

It doesn't look much but for proper belly filling food up with the rest, not expensive and the best full english breakfast in town in my opinion.

An unprepossessing property situated just outside Penzance train and bus station. Looks like a typical greasy spoon. Don't let appearances fool you. The food is very good, the service is very friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. What more do could you want? A very pleasant surprise indeed.

bacon and egg sandwich, made freshly, watch the bus station while you eat. very close to the sea, just over the harbour car park wall.

Sullivan’s have retained something that is diminishing quickly in the U.K. a family run business . There bacon sandwich served on Hovis Bread with a brew straight from the tea pot your not getting it any better .

While in a great location it does not look very appealing but looks are deceptive sometimes, at I found the full english breakfast by far the best tasting and best value in Penzance

Really great place to have some fine grub, one of the last true greasy spoons left in Penzance. Reasonably priced too.

I always enjoy Sullivans whenever im in Penzance,proper cafe at proper prices.Had breakfast here every day bar one for 9 days> Most of the time just sausage sandwich and mugs of tea.

While visiting Penzance, stopped here for Tea & Coffee. Staff are polite & drinks were OK. No reason not to return.

Great little cafe situated across the road from Penzance Railway Station. Very clean & simple decor. Menu is basic but good with a few vegetarian options on it.

I was only there a couple of hours and found this place after parking. Had a late breakfast there and it was huge. Worth a visit if passing by and they are friendly and chatty to

Lovely food, and such a charming waitress! Young, blonde and very smiley, which is great to see! Very confident. Food was great and came very quickly despite how busy it was. Highly recommend.

These are the sort of cafes that are fast disappearing. The menu is simple, the staff are great (family run) and the food is British cafe food. The full breakfast is amazing value for money. Three huge rashers of bacon, two enormous sausages, tinned tomatoes, hash brown, baked beans, fried egg, fried bread. What's not to like. The bacon is grilled to perfection and the mug of tea is proper builder's tea. Brilliant. I moved to Penzance about two months ago and this is my go-to place for a cooked breakfast, as it was when I used to holiday here.

Poor quality produce, swimming in grease and no cheaper than any other greasy spoon. Not good at all. Go along the road to the harbourside instead. Its much better

i know, the whole, entire, family, since, the late john sullivan, passed away,a few yaers ago, the whole family, have pulled, together to make, the cafe, wonderfgul and bright, to draw all the customers in

Had a really good full fry up here, staff were all friendly and the food was really good! Especially at the low price

called in here for a cuppa and had to return after seeing the breakfasts. don't know where they get the bacon from but it is lovely, thick and tasty. typical breakfast foods at very reasonable prices and a lovely mug of tea. would def. recommend.

He visitado Penzance mucho durante los últimos 32 años, y siempre he utilizado Sullivans al menos una vez. Yo estaba abajo por 9 días a finales de febrero, y tazas de té 3 o 4 veces y un par de sándwich de salchichas.

Nunca voy a Penzance sin ir a Sullivans, mejor comida que he probado, pero la comida sencilla, mejor, huevos cocinados a la perfección, siempre encantador, maravilloso jamón tocino y patatas fritas, incluso tostadas y mantequilla es la mejor. . . . . . No tostadas desagradables y frotis de propagación. . . Incluso una simple taza de té tiene los mejores endulzantes variedad disponible.

No frills, no thrills here, just a good basic portakabin brekkie place. Service is always friendly and the nosh is just that, nosh. For a fiver for a breakfast to set you up for day you can't beat it.