Cornish Cottages: Porthleven, Cornwall

Eating and drinking: You will not go hungry in Porthleven!
Porthleven is fast developing a fine reputation in Cornwall for eating out. There are a selection of excellent restaurants and pubs grouped round the harbour, all of which are a few minutes walk from both cottages.
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Pubs
Take a walk and enjoy the wonderful old buildings around the harbour ending up at the Ship Inn, which was the old lifeboat house. It now serves excellent lunches and evening meals along with local beer and fine wines. The view over the sea towards the south is exhilarating, also with marvelous views over the pretty working harbour and at night, the harbour is floodlit. Daily specials like homemade crab soup (£4.50),Cumberland sausage with spicy red cabbage (£9.95), crab and prawn mornay (£10.95) or duck with oriental stir-fried vegetables (£14.95), puddings such as homemade apple torte or chocolate sponge (from £3.25). Start dieting now!

Or try the Harbour Inn, which is a 160 year old inn overlooking harbour. It is a large well looked-after pub with tables out on big harbourside terrace, good value simple food in dining area off expansive lounge and bar, quick friendly service, well kept St Austell ales, comprehensive wine list and restaurant. Live music every Saturday and Wednesday's during the summer.

The Atlantic Inn on Peverill Terrace has wonderful Panoramic views of the sea. Basic pub grub and childrens menu.

Tea Rooms and cafes
Treat yourself to a locally made Roskilly ice cream as recommended by Delia Smith and made in nearby St Keverne. Try the Gooseberry if they have it from the Nauti but Ice, an old fashioned tea room and ice cream parlour looking out over the harbour. Also try the Peacock Cafe, which is in Fore Street.

Restaurants
Enjoy an evening meal at the fine seafood restaurant Critchards (Tel: 01326 562407 AA Rosette Rated and in the Good Food Guide) They are open for dinner only, 6.30 - 9.30pm. Advisable to book in the season.

The Smoke House restaurant, is situated on the harbour with excellent sea views. Very modern restaurant with full bar and food licence from 11am to 11pm (Winter hours may vary). They are children and dog friendly and they offer Spanish nights with a late supper licence. Try the freshly cooked Italian pizzas in the comfort of the restaurant, or sit outside at the barbecue during the Summer, with fantastic giant umbrellas.

Other restaurants include: Guinevere who serve a good quality Sunday Roast; The Dolphin Restaurant, at Looe Bar which is in an amazing cliff top setting; the Gallery Restaurant serves food lunchtimes and evenings with its delightful mural of Porthleven (shown). Try the Crab Pot Bistro, tel: 01326 573355, it is a seafood restaurant (could you guess?) and is on the Harbour Road. The Sanders Restaurant, tel: 01326 574145, offers you well cooked British food. Finally, the Lugger Restaurant, tel: 01326562761, offers you International Cuisine.

Two miles away in Helston, you will find Morley's, an intimate candlelit restaurant in a secluded courtyard setting. By wanting to provide a dining experience they themselves would like, husband and wife team Simon and Jo Morley-Smith have built up their reputation over the years with high standards in customer service and outstanding food. Try their Monkfish wrapped in Pancetta, Crab Croquette and a Brown Crab and Ginger Bisque followed by Individual Berry Souffle with Blackcurrant Sorbet, fresh mixed Berries and a Chantilly Cream. Tel (01326) 564433.

Take away
The Pasty Shop on the Fore Street is where you can get Sid and Jeans famous homemade pasties and cakes, baked fresh daily. You can see them making the pasties in the shop! Chips with Everything at Shute lane is where Janet and Roy serve delicious fish and chips cooked in palm oil, so suitable for vegetarians. The Moonflower Restaurant is the local Chinese on Fore Street.

Specialist shops
Quayside Fish Tel: 01326 562008. Owned by award winning fishmonger John Strike, the shop is right on the harbourside. Weather permitting, fish caught in the Atlantic Ocean is landed daily. The catch ranges from cod and haddock to the more luxurious crab and lobster. Some of the fish is put straight into their smokehouse to ensure a fresh supply of smoked fish, including smoked Cornish haddock, kippers, smoked salmon and smoked prawns.