14 places to eat and drink in Looe
The Sardine Factory Beyond Paradise
Seafood restaurant West Looe (Quay Road, PL13 2BX)
Looe-born chef Ben Palmer's quayside seafood restaurant in the rebuilt sardine factory, cooking fish landed at the market opposite. Holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Open Wednesday to Sunday with Sunday brunch; booking by phone recommended.
On screen: The building, with the Heritage Centre, became Martha's Ten Mile Kitchen from Series 3.
The Jolly Sailor Inn
Historic pub with rooms West Looe (Princes Square, PL13 2EP)
Usually named Looe's oldest pub, dating from around 1516, with low beams, slate floors, nautical clutter and tales of smugglers and ghosts. Serves pub food and real ales, hosts live music and shanty nights, and has a handful of guest rooms.
The Ship Inn
Pub with rooms (St Austell Brewery) East Looe (Fore Street, PL13 1AD)
A big, busy town-centre pub on Fore Street that draws locals and holidaymakers alike, with live music at weekends, a pool table, food served daily and rooms upstairs. A lively choice rather than a quiet one.
Harbour Moon Inn
Pub with rooms West Looe (The Quay, PL13 2BU)
A family-friendly quayside pub in West Looe with nautical decor, views over the harbour and Looe Bridge, a seasonal terrace, pool and darts, and occasional karaoke. It has a few en-suite rooms; real ale was not on offer at the time of CAMRA's last survey.
Ye Olde Salutation Inn
Traditional pub East Looe (65 Fore Street, PL13 1AE)
A beamed, family-run local on Fore Street with a fire in colder months, real ales and home-cooked dishes such as pies. Dogs are welcome and tables can be booked by phone.
The Golden Guinea
Pub East Looe (Fore Street, PL13 1AD)
A Grade II listed pub near the quay with a garden cocktail bar, a children's menu and good-value fish and chips. Dogs are welcome; it operates on a walk-in basis rather than taking general bookings.
The Globe Inn
Pub-restaurant East Looe (Station Road, PL13 1HN)
A refurbished pub opposite Looe railway station, overlooking the river, with a separate dining area, a large outdoor drinking space and big-screen sport. Handy for anyone arriving on the Looe Valley Line.
Smugglers Cott
Restaurant East Looe (Middle Market Street, PL13 1AY)
A characterful restaurant in one of Looe's oldest buildings, said to date from the 15th century and reputedly linked to the quay by a smugglers' tunnel. Serves local seafood, steaks and a Sunday carvery in two evening sittings; booking strongly advised.
The Fish Market
Seafood tapas restaurant East Looe quayside (PL13 1DX)
Small-plate seafood cooked in an open kitchen beside the quay, with a menu that changes daily depending on the catch. Dishes range from ceviche to whole fish to share. Opening is roughly Tuesday evening to Saturday.
Yamas
Greek restaurant The Quay, Looe (PL13 1AH)
A sister venue to The Sardine Factory serving Greek dishes such as gyros and slow-cooked stifado in a modern room with river views and an upstairs bar. Open Wednesday to Sunday; booking advised, dogs welcome outside.
The Sea Kitchen
Restaurant West Looe (Hannafore Point, Marine Drive, PL13 2DG)
A dog-friendly restaurant at Hannafore Point with views across the bay to Looe Island, offering mussels and crab sandwiches at lunch and small and large plates in the evening. Bookable online.
Ben's Plaice
Fish and chips East Looe (Barbican Road, PL13 1EZ)
An award-winning chippy a short walk up from the town centre, offering eat-in or takeaway fish and chips plus pies, burgers, a children's menu and a self-serve gelato machine. No reservations.
Kellys of Looe
Fish and chips East Looe (Fore Street)
A long-standing Fore Street fish and chip shop close to the beach, family and dog friendly. Not to be confused with Kelly's of Cornwall, the ice cream brand; no source found confirming it sells its own ice cream.
The Coddy Shack
Casual seafood restaurant Outside Looe at St Martin (PL13 1NX), not Polperro
A quirky shed-style eatery just outside Looe serving local fish, with a big car park, live music, weekend breakfasts and pets welcome until 5pm. Open daily from lunchtime into the evening.
Opening hours change with the seasons — check with each venue before you go. Listings are independent and unpaid.
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Eating out in Looe: FAQs
What are the best pubs in Looe?
For history and atmosphere, start with the Jolly Sailor in West Looe, a beamed inn said to date from the early 1500s. On the East Looe side, Ye Olde Salutation is a cosy, dog-friendly local and the Ship Inn is the liveliest bet for music. The Harbour Moon and the Globe offer harbour and river views.
Where should I eat in Looe?
The Sardine Factory in West Looe is the stand-out, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its Cornish seafood, and fans will know it as Ten Mile Kitchen. The Fish Market does seafood small plates, Smugglers Cott offers old-world charm and Ben's Plaice is the pick for fish and chips. Book ahead in summer.
What is the oldest pub in Looe?
The Jolly Sailor Inn in Princes Square, West Looe, is generally regarded as the town's oldest pub, with a history going back roughly 500 years to around 1516. Its low ceilings and old timbers are wrapped in stories of smugglers, shipwrecks and resident ghosts, and it still serves locals and visitors today.
Sources
- cornishhorizons.co.uk — looe restaurants
- selfcatering.co.uk — looe
- guide.michelin.com — sardine factory
- www1.camra.org.uk — 138923
- www1.camra.org.uk — 138925
- camra.org.uk — harbour moon inn looe 138922
- cornwall.camra.org.uk — viewnode
- cornish-times.co.uk — ghost hunters set to uncover secrets of looes oldest pub 841187
- property.morningadvertiser.co.uk — for sale by auction cornwall coastal town centre character bar and res
- visitlooe.co.uk — the old sail loft p2920883
- visitlooe.co.uk — kellys of looe p2923473