The Mussel Shoal in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

What a lovely place to eat. The food is amazing and very tasty too. Portions amazing. Price great too. Great staff. A must place to eat and enjoy the views

Absolutely amazing food; all four of us have had the Filthy Fish Fries, I was going to tell what’s in the dish however that would spoil the surprise, loaded with ingredients and flavour. A prime location overlooking the harbour and easy accessibility at on end of the harbour wall, the other has steps. Great seating arrangements with canopies, as well as found it to be a bonus when it rained while we were there. An interesting choice of cocktails available, the brew their on craft ale, I’m being optimistic they will introduce at least one good ‘Real Ales’ to their menu too. Lively vipe, music playing in the background but not overpowering, children welcome, suitable for all ages.

I’m heartbroken. Today was our first taste of the mussel shoal food and we leave in 2 days. It was divine and I’m tempted to return later on. The chowder was possibly the best thing I’ve ever tasted and the dirty fries with prawns and scallops was very close too. The weather is bleak but the food is outstanding. Go there. It’s a must

Delicious food and drink served al fresco on a blustery day (heaters available) Generous portions of tiger prawns in garlic butter and fries with a warming spiced apple drink. Perfect!

Very chilled vibe and atmosphere with lovely view across the harbour . Mussels were huge and there was plenty of them with 2 large pieces of crusty home made bread to mop up the sauce. Beer from the brewery across the road which was really nice and refreshing. A lovely way to while away a couple of hours in the sun

Such a unique and funky little shack, good vibes and a good view! Food was really yummy, we didn’t get the mussels but I feel these are the star of the show. Will definitely return and try them! Staff are friendly, it’s a very chilled vibe so if you’re looking for a high class restaurant then don’t be surprised that it’s not! Great for a relaxed setting, good food/drinks. Great menu choice too!

If you've plenty of time on your hands, then pop in here. The staff were on a different planet and were treating the business as a hobby. Their high importance was to meet their local friends and have drinks with them rather than prioritising the paying customers. Food took ages, and when I was about to order, I was told the chef would be 5 or 10 minutes depending on how long her cigarette would take and if she wanted a poo. The food was ok, not as good as Catch just up the road. Enjoy the view of the harbour, but there are better places in the Port if you want a nice dining experience.

We had mussels arrabiata and marinere and it was amazing. Super fresh. The staffs/ chefs were friendly and attentive. A must to visit when in Newquay.

Delicious street food style seafood right on the harbour. Everything super tasty! Muscles deliciously creamy and huge! We just need to find time to go back and try more of the menu as we could have ordered everything as all sounded delicious!!

Small menu and that’s all you need. Absolutely delicious mussels and haddock chowder. Dog friendly and reasonably priced too.

Love the no-frills feel to this place. If you love seafood then I recommend it highly, really lovely view by the harbour, and the mussels and prawns were by far the nicest I’ve had. So nice that we came back the following day for more. Of course it helped that we went on sunny days, as it’s all outdoor seating. Hats off to the staff who manage to cook delicious fresh seafood in a little hut! Will be returning as soon as possible

Was looking for mussels as love them and have been traveling round Devon to Cornwall and hit porthleven and trip advised a few restaurants but saw this little hut on the harbour and I said to my partner nahhhhhh but after looking at all the other menu’s around i agreed with her to let’s check the menu out and so being a very fussy person I was willing to give this place a go and let me tell you as I like good food and this place has totally and utterly changed my mind on what looks nothing was actually the best food we’ve had on our road trip so far and also the least expensive and by far the biggest mussels I’ve ever had

This is a little gem, food is excellent and the staff brilliant! The seafood is amazing and plenty of it, I would recommend the crab, mussels and squid

This is a lovely little place to eat at. Placed within the harbour wall you look directly onto the harbour. The best part is the food, we had the mussels and tiger prawns and they were really fresh and delicious. The portion sizes were spot on and I would highly recommend if you are in the area. Porthleven was less busy than some of the more touristy areas but more lovely for it, if you have a chance take the time to visit if only for the food!

Very small.. staff so friendly. Food is amazing considering they are cooked in a tiny kitchen. Will deffo go back..

Found this fabulous eatery by pure luck!!! The food as A-MAZING! So amazing we ate here 4 times in one week!!! The squid and prawns were especially delicious! Nothing too fancy but the best food isn’t always posh! Will definitely go back to Porthleven just for this food!!

Had the most tasty muscles I’ve ever had and the largest !! The helping are very generous and very fresh Well worth a visit

Find the Shoal whilst waiting for daughters hair to be completed. It as a great basic ambiance with excellent views of the harbour. We only had drinks but the food looked great.

Reluctant to leave a review for fear this hidden gem becomes too popular. We found this place and never left. The best seafood we have had in the Uk. The muscles are to die for. What a cool establishment this is. Great food, good tunes, brill drinks and an unreal staff team. The chef Vic’s is an absolute legend. What she can produce in such a small space is a miracle. The rest of the crew were lovely too. Zaph, Holly and the rest were so friendly. We struggled to eat elsewhere. Billy and Rosie x

Fine dining the mussel shoal is not, cool and edgy it most definitely is. We spent a week in porthleven and ate there twice, if we had been staying longer it would definitely have been more. If you want real seafood right on the waters...

Brilliant seafood and drinks, the staff were friendly and helpful. It did help that when we went the weather was glorious as the restaurant is outside, there are covers they can pull down for when the weather is not the best, but that does not...

As a lover of seafood this place was the jewel in the Crown the mussels were amazing as was the staff and views

Finding the Mussel Shoal was the pinnacle of the day, looking for somewhere to eat on a late Sunday afternoon after a day was alw acrazy crays going to be difficult, but after trying other places and finding service finished we drove into Porthlevin on...

We visited on a Saturday evening - it was busy but not rammed. I ordered my food at the till and gave my name as requested (no table number given but I'd pointed in the general direction). In the 30-40 mins between placing the order...

Had a very tasty informal lunch here. The atmosphere is fun, the staff are lovely and it's the kind of place where you chat to fellow diners. Great food and wonderful beer which they brew themselves.

We ordered the mussels and the prawns to share and we were not disappointed- they were so delicious! We had a lovely view from our table, and their rose wine was also really nice.. definitely recommend 👍🏼🦞👌🏻😎 Chilled relaxed vibe.. loved it.

This was one of the highlights of our week in Porthleven, and certainly made up for a lousy experience at the start of the week elsewhere in Porthleven (reviewed). The energy from the three staff manning this outdoor bar was infectious, very friendly and a...

The Mussel Shoal is the funkiest location, amazing views, amazing food, need to get there early as some delicious food does run out, no problem though just go back the next day. Biggest decision what to eat as you will want everything on the menu!!

If the setting of The Mussel Shoal is not unique, it's certainly very unusual, being set half way down the harbour wall, parallel to the green above and accessed from street level by steep stone steps. The cafe has a decidedly chilled, funky vibe to...

Fab little place... food and atmosphere both fab.. Highly recommend. Staff really friendly . Well worth the wait for your food..

Fantastic, fresh seafood cooked in an amazing location! The crab and scallop fries are particularly good! However, the person who took our order was particularly unhelpful and disengaged. Ultimately, they stopped listening to us mid-taking our order and shouted numerous odd things and swear words...

Oh wow! We had read the reviews and we were not disappointed. What an amazing place. Beautiful views, friendly staff, great drinks and the best mussels EVER!!! And the dirty fries were epic too.

Quirky seafood and cocktails right on the harbour head with outdoor seating. I had garlic tiger prawns with fries and a pina colada cocktail which was fabulous. The staff were cheerful and friendly and the food arrived quickly. It's my favourite place to eat in...

Do NOT miss this wonderful place if you are in the area. Staff are wonderfully friendly, the food is absolutely delicious. Sat overlooking the harbour, with their own brewed beer. Cocktail menu looked fab. We had chorizo balls to start, fantastic. My hubby said they...

This place is amazing! The food is restaurant quality with a real beach experience. Overlooking the harbour you order food and take a seat. We had mussels and a crispy squid dish which were both incredible and the fact that they served the best bloody...

You have to be careful not to walk by and miss this little treasure as it's down a few steps at the end of the harbour. Just a few tables overlooking the harbour with a lovely selection of really well cooked seafood in street food...

We had a fab meal here - everything was absolutely delicious. We tried the whitebait loaded fries and the crispy squid and loved it. It’s a really cool place with good music and we had no complaints.

Relaxed friendly atmosphere. Great music! Fantastic food Dirty fries are to die for!! Absolutely delicious tiger prawns. Great choice of beers from up in the brewery

Absolutely wonderful food and experience overall, such friendly staff, really tasty food, lots of options. Thank you, we’ll be back!

Amazing mussels great atmosphere brilliant view of the harbour lovely staff. Go early if you want a seat

Have wanted to visit for some time and when we finally did it was well worth waiting for. Porthleven in the sunshine is pretty close to heaven , add a quay side location,eating what can only be described as the best seafood 🦞 I’ve ever...

Everything about this restaurant is Absolutely Fabulous! The food, the scenery, the staff… it’s got everything you need for a delicious and enjoyable meal.

Popped into Porthleven for a day out as we don't live far away. Decided to stop for a slightly larger lunch than normal and came upon this place and what a find it is. The food is outstanding unusual and beautifully cooked. The service so...

Beautiful spot, awesome people and delicious fresh food. Highly recommend the crabby crab & scallop bollocks dirty fries! Thanks guys 🤙🏼

We had the absolutly best mussels we have ever tasted! The new chef made the whine sauce a real poem. The whole team was very enthusiastc - great attitude. We will come again.

Amazing food. Friendly staff. Beautiful views.great value. If you like seafood you must go here.anazing

A culinary experience 🤗 if you want great authentic food good vibes and friendly people this is the place to eat and drink . The smoked haddock and mussel chowder is pound for pound the best food I’ve eaten this week in Porthleven. They also...

Great food, Superb Company, excellent location, back for shots with the brilliant people soon, BOB from Sheffield

Great vibe, great staff. Totally made our visit to Porthleven. Unique location and experience, just go with it.

What a horrible experience! Went here as a family of five on holiday after reading the positive reviews and really wished we hadn’t. I ordered and paid the £89. I asked if they had mayonnaise for my 12 year old and the lady cooking screamed...

Absolutely amazing fresh food. Dirty fries were delicious plus the vegan and haddock chowder. Nice mulled wine and perfect Bloody Mary

We were introduced to this shack by friends when we attended for a quick drink and we enjoyed it so much we returned the following day.. it is what I mean when I say shack so there is very limited space for the team to...

A real gem of a sea front cafe/bar. Situated right on the harbour with benches and canopy’s to prevent showers and wind ruining your experience. Creative and delicious food, mussels delicious and loaded fries a real treat. Friendly, quick and dog friendly Day one of...

The cocktails were amazing as were the staff. What a great place. Guys in the shack were so friendly. It has a lovely laid back feel with simple but delicious food and right on the harbour.

Friendly staff and a great location. The food is really nice. The mussels and calamari are good. The Chorizo, Mac and Cheese, Crab balls didn’t have that much crab in them, but they were still nice.

Had the 'mussels' and fishy fish fries, considering the size of the kitchen, the food, service and delivery was amazing. The best way to try local food, local beer right on the harbour front. Was a constant service to locals and visitors. The quality of...

So delicious! Always a terrific menu and great place to hang out for a bit. 💛 Worth travelling a bit to visit!

Had a great lunch here during a family day out in porthleven - only two reasons for not giving 5 stars. Food was delicious, but portions (squid) were a bit mean. And they had a slow start the day we were there which meant for...

Always a delight to sit down by the harbour at this rustic local bar. Food is always great - we had squid and our favourite Haddock chowder . Always lively and especially busy with locals on the weekend. We look forward to our visit in...

Incredibly friendly and upbeat bar with excellent staff and outstanding views. We didn’t eat on this occasion, but the food looks fantastic so will definitely do so next time.

Only in Cornwall would you find a restaurant like this. Very rustic, simple, not fancy but amazing food and friendly staff. I’m a local from Penzance and have been told how good the food it so whilst on holiday myself on a staycation we decided...

We have been blown away by this place. Fantastic food and drink. Get there before 7 for food. Great atmosphere and friendly team of staff who make a great experience as you watch the sun set over the harbour

Had my best lunch so far here in Cornwall. Lovely location fun polite upbeat staff. Lunch was dirty cheesey fries served with whitebait, tartare sauce , spring onions, gherkins and sirachi mayo. All washed down with an elderflower with soda. View is stunning. Just puts...

Hard working friendly staff. It was real hot and they kept smiling. Great food and spectacular location. Can’t wait to work my way through the menu on my next visit.

Perfect setting, incredibly tasty seafood served in a rustic fashion which just adds to its charm. Just the right amount of options for both food and drink.

We watched the tide come in, very exciting. Staff were lovely, food was delicious especially the smoked haddock chowder. The home brewed lager was so good I had two!

Cool venue, great music, amazing food. Gets busy and is small so you could be waiting, but that really doesn't matter as it is worth the wait and you can have a beer while you wait from the local brewery. Really recommend.

Brilliant little place for very good mussels and fries, view of the harbour and the laid back vibe make this a must visit at porthleven.

Absolutely amazing. First time to Portlevern, saw this little place. Views are fabulous and service was amazing. I wanted to treat myself to mussels, fries and a glass of wine. My daughter always loves the creamy sauce on the mussels. The mussel shoal did not...

I found this amazing place on Saturday after following the smell wafting through the market stalls above! The food here is insanely tasty! My Moules Mariniére were exceptional! I can’t praise this rustic, harbour side cafe enough!

The best Thai mussels and chowder that we have had in some years. Fries are amazing, buy the most expensive ones as they are a medium for so many ingredients and flavours. The best lunch of our 2 weeks in the south west.

We visited here twice as food was absolutely delicious. We had prawns, mussels & calamari all very tasty 😋 would of come back more if there was room. A gem of a place.

To rate this place as a 'quick bite' eatery is to do it a huge mis-service, as its actually rather superb and in my opinion requiring of the same respect and patience as any Michelin or AA rated establishment. Apart from the fact it's al-...

I had the most delicious mussels in garlic, shallot, white and cream today, would highly recommend to any seafood lover. The atmosphere and location are fantastic, every time I’m in Porthleven I have to visit!

Googled the best mussels near lizard this pops up,with this in mind, we knew we had to try.Porthleven harbour is such a nice place,instantly fell in love,we came here 5 afternoons out of 7,anyway mussel shoal is without doubt the best mussels we have ever...

A great chilling out spot in Porthleven. It’s tucked away below the grass seating area at the back of the harbour with long benches and great music playing. We went for the tiger prawns which were excellent, mussels sold out quickly but plenty of other...

Great mussels in cream and garlic. The bread was superb to mop up the sauce. The staff are really friendly and enjoyed chatting to all the customers.

The best mussels I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of mussels. I couldn’t recommend this place more, a cute little location on the edge of the harbour with stunning views and insane food. My boyfriend had the squid which despite being deep fried...

What a gem this place is, the food was excellent and reasonably priced. Not like the other food outlets in Porthleven that charge extortionate prices. A must try, I had garlic prawns and fries cooked to perfection. Will be back, keep up the good ladies.😁

Thank you to the Mussel Shoal. Such a great spot to see the boats in the harbour. Great cocktails, well maybe too good ;)

Wow, just fantastic....... This bar is awesome, serving amazing food from the smallest 'kitchen' - can totally recommend the crispy squid, washed down with a Cornish cider.... We were in Porthleven for a week and went once and then again almost every day, the music,...

Insanely great food, a family of 7 - various ages from 9-80 all loved the food and drinks. A total must and better than the other restaurants in the area. The linguine, fish fingers, mussels etc were a totally treat. Prices are good for the...

Really NOT to be missed,fantastic Cornish food in great relaxed and friendly atmosphere.The folks who work here are absolutely TOP drawer and service is par excellence. The location and views are everything you want in Cornwall. The chef really knows her stuff! Hope to come...

Wow! What a place, great food, great location and great vibe. After walking from Helston to Porthleven we found this little place right in the Harbour. Stopping initially for a Hot Chocolate (which was fantastic), we looked around us at the others eating and noticed...

If I could rate this amazing place 11/10 I would we started with Sam mixing us some fabulous Bloody Mary’s the sun was out and the sky was blue! I had the mussels with garlic and cream Keith had the longer than a foot long...

Not perfect but delicious street food. They don’t have buttered fish but they have fish with breadcrumbs. Tartare sauce was amazing.

We decided to eat at the mussel shoal on a bit of a whim/impulse! The smells coming from the kitchen paired with the beautiful scene of porthleven harbour were too good to miss out on. We'd been camping all week and eating mostly tinned and...

A harbourside kiosk. Fab location. Absolutely delicious food and superb cocktails. Warm in the sunshine or by an outside log burner. Bench seating. 🇬🇧🇳🇿🇺🇦🌻

We have visited Cornwall a number of times over the last two years and The Mussel Shoal has always been top of our list. We finally made the visit and were not disappointed. Great service and energy from the staff, incredible views, dog friendly, good...

Best mussels and squid we’ve ever tasted. Fabulous setting what more could you want. Hats off to the chef and great service from the friendly staff

Hmmmm! Closed. Their website, Google and the notice on the seafront all said they were open - wanted to go there as we'd heard good things. Second time we've been, first time they were open but not serving food (October) - shame but sorry but...

Visited on a lovely winter's day. The dirty fries were full of flavour and the squid tasted lovely and fresh. Would definately return.

Travelled here especially for lunch only to find it boarded up on a lovely sunny day. Not a word on their website to indicate closure, but looking at the worn out signage it appeared to have been closed for a while.

Time out with my hubby, sat on the harbour snuggled with pillows and blankets (supplied). Most tastiest moules marinier I have ever tasted, served with a hunk of fresh bread for dipping. My hubby had the salt and pepper squid which was equally delicious. It...

Wonderful location, excellent menu options. Fresh seafood cooked to order and a good selection of refreshments to go with it - we are definitely coming back

We were really excited to visit here after reviews but so disappointed! Firstly no mussels! Secondly, overpriced. Really, £11.50 for 4 prawns in miso soup!! If, as advertised, based on USA place then give USA portions. Overpriced but lovely setting on harbour.

What a find you must pay this a visit Food Staff and Location all fantastic Mussels are the best Well worth the wait

A real gem, great vibe matched by fantastic food and really friendly staff! The haddock chowder was amazing as were the dirty fries!

We had lunch here and really is the best squid ever, shame it is only outside seating and would prefer drinks in glasses, but the kitchen is about 6 foot square and they produce amazing food

Just as good as we hoped, food was really excellent, we had mussels and calamari. No better place to eat seafood than overlooking a harbour. Special mention to the staff who are brilliant, I got christened Randy Andy 😂 would definitely eat here again!