Nestled on the north coast of Cornwall, Bude is a charming seaside town famous for its picturesque beaches, historic Bude canal, and breathtaking sea pool located on Summerleaze beach. As a lifelong resident, I'm excited to share my favourite restaurants and cafes in the area with you.
Bude boasts a vibrant food scene, with a range of restaurants and cafes offering everything from local seafood and small plates to traditional Cornish breakfasts and dreamy Cornish ice cream. In this blog post, we'll be exploring some of the best places to eat in Bude and the surrounding area.
From traditional Cornish pasties to international cuisine, Bude's food scene is diverse and exciting. Keep reading to learn all about it!
You might also like best things to do in Bude!
Jump to:
Best Pubs in Bude
The Brendon Arms
The Brendon Arms is one of Bude'a oldest establishments that has been owned and run by the Brendon family since 1872. The pub, located next The Falcon Hotel, and close to the canal, is the perfect place to relax and unwind with friends or family.
The menu features a range of traditional pub favourites, including fish and chips, gammon steaks, burgers, and hearty pies, as well as a selection of local ales and ciders. Whether you're looking for a quick pint or a full meal, the Brendon Arms Pub is a must-visit destination in Bude.
📍The Brendon Arms, Falcon Terrace, Bude, EX23 8SD, United Kingdom.
Opening Times: 11 am - 11 pm daily. Food served; Monday - Friday, 12 noon till 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm till 8:30 pm, Saturday - Sunday, 12 noon till 8:30 pm.
Website: Brendon Arms
Falcon Hotel
In 2007, I held my wedding reception in the Falcon hotel's large function room, which is why I have a nostalgic connection with it. The hotel's Coachmans Bar offers a relaxed dining experience and serves a bistro-style pub menu from 12 noon until 8:30 pm every day.
The menu includes classic dishes like sirloin steak, hunter's chicken, and fish pie, as well as lighter options such as caesar salad. Additionally, the bar area is dog-friendly for well-behaved pets.
📍The Falcon Hotel, Breakwater Road, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8SD
Opening Times: 10 am - 11 pm. Bar Food served from 12 noon – 8.30 pm
Website: Falcon Hotel
Preston Gate
The Preston Gate Inn is a popular pub located in Poughill, a 15-minute walk from Bude town centre. It offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, along with friendly and efficient service. The pub's menu includes a range of classic British dishes as well as plenty of veggie options like chickpea and vegetable curry, and mushroom and halloumi burgers.
They have a regular 'steak night' every Tuesday, and 'pie night' on Mondays.
The pub is well-known for its live music events too, including the popular Friday band night, which is enjoyed by both locals and visitors.
📍Preston Gate Inn, Poughill, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8ET
Opening Times: Open 12 noon -11 pm daily. Food is served from 12 noon - 9 pm daily.
Website: Preston Gate Inn
Best Restaurants in Bude
The Bank at Bude Tapas Restaurant
The Bank at Bude Tapas restaurant is a must-visit dining spot in the town, and one of my personal favourites.
Located between the tranquil surroundings of the River Neet and Bude Canal (at Pethericks Mill), it offers a truly unique dining experience. The menu features a fusion of traditional Spanish ingredients and fresh, locally sourced Cornish produce, resulting in amazing tasting tapas.
Some of the must-try dishes include seafood paella, slow-cooked belly pork, mussels, and pan-fried Padron peppers (their veggie options are extensive!).
The restaurant also offers a wide variety of cocktails (I can personally recommend the Passionfruit Martini) and wines to complement your meal.
With its warm and inviting atmosphere and attentive service, The Bank Tapas restaurant is a top choice for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience in Bude. Prior booking is essential (through the website) and you can choose from an indoor table or an outdoor covered table (perfect to watch the sunset over the marshes).
📍The Bank, Pethericks Mill, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8TF
Opening Times: Tuesday to Friday 5 pm – late, Saturday 3 pm – late. Last orders 9 pm.
Website: The Bank
Potters
Potters restaurant is a highly regarded dining establishment, but a relative newcomer, located opposite the Triangle in the heart of Bude. In April 2023 they relaunched a new menu, taking a more relaxed approach to their food offering, and focussing on fish and chips and some other simple fish, vegetarian and meat options.
Alongside the main menu they will be running daily changing specials. According to their Facebook page, you can expect to see things like the local catch, mussels, and shellfish as well as an exciting fisherman’s lunch deal. A mug of tea, bread and butter, and a chosen main plate to enjoy for just £15.
📍Potters, 2 Lansdown Road, Bude, Cornwall EX23 8BH
Opening Times: Check the website for the latest opening times.
Website: Potters
Olive Tree
The Olive Tree, located on the canal banks at The Wharf, offers a relaxed dining experience featuring a range of delicious dishes from small plates (the calamari is excellent), large plates, ploughmans lunches, and fresh sandwiches. On Friday and Saturday evenings, they transform into a bistro-style eatery with a strong emphasis on vegan dishes (be sure to try the vegan fish and chips!).
📍The Olive Tree, The Wharf, Bude, EX23 8LG
Opening Times: 10 am - 5 pm daily. Friday and Saturday 10 am - 10 pm.
Website: Olive Tree
Elements
After their original premises at Widemouth were destroyed by a devastating fire, the popular Elements restaurant is now located at The Beach in Bude. The restaurant boasts stunning sea views overlooking Summerleaze Beach and serves a diverse menu, including pizzas, pasta dishes, and salads (their Caesar salad is the best in Bude!). The restaurant also offers a kids' menu, ensuring that little ones are well-catered for.
📍Elements at The Beach, 20 Summerleaze Crescent, Bude EX23 8HJ
Opening Times: Open daily from 10 am (food served from 12 noon).
Website: Elements
The Deck
The Deck restaurant is part of The Edgcumbe Hotel and offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with a rustic nautical-style decor.
The menu is top-notch and features amazing Hanging Skewers (the surf and turf hanging skewer being my absolute favourite), as well as juicy burgers and several veggie options too! You don't want to miss the sweet potato fries either, which are the best in town. The restaurant opens for dinner at 4 pm, making it an excellent choice if you have hungry children returning from a day at the beach!
More recently, they've started opening for their hearty "decky brekky" between 8:30 am - 11 am, which is proving popular with locals.
📍The DECK, 19 Summerleaze Cresent, Bude EX23 8HJ.
Opening Times: Breakfast 8:30 am - 11 am. Dinner 4 pm - 8 pm.
Website: The DECK
Life's a Beach
For epic vibes, great food, and a restaurant with a view (incredible sea views in fact), you won't get better than Life's a Beach (or LAB as it's known locally).
Located in an elevated position above Summerleaze beach, LAB serves lots of lovely fresh fish dishes, burgers, as well as daily specials. More recently, they have added additional vegan options to the menu, including a vegan dhal served with kachumber salad and flatbread, as well as a "messy vegan burger" with chimichurri mayo!
📍Life's a Beach, 16 Summerleaze Cres, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8HN.
Opening Times: 10 am - 4 pm daily.
Website: Life's a Beach
Temple
Temple restaurant is a hidden gem located behind TSB bank. This restaurant offers a unique and intimate dining experience, with only a few tables available in a cosy and stylish setting. The menu features a range of creative dishes, with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Some of the must-try dishes include the line caught pollack, and lamb shoulder.
The restaurant serves a two-course set menu that changes daily depending on that day's catch or the local harvest, whilst the bar and roof terrace serves small plates (try the salt cod fritters & wild garlic aioli if you can) from 5 pm, for a more relaxed vibe.
📍Temple, 10 Granville Terrace, Bude, EX23 8JZ
Opening Times: Wednesday – Sunday Daytime 11 am – 2 pm Evening 5:30 pm – 10 pm
Website: Temple
Sea Fever
Sea Fever, located along Summerleaze Crescent, is a must-visit for seafood lovers, albeit at the upper end of the market when it comes to price. Their delicious and well-thought-out menu includes mussels, mackerel, and John Dory. However, the only downside is that they don't allow children under 12 to dine in the restaurant, but that makes it perfect for a romantic dinner for two!
📍Sea Fever, Atlantic House Hotel, 17-18 Summerleaze Crescent, Bude, EX23 8HJ
Opening Times: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Tuesday - Saturday
Website: Sea Fever
Bude Tandoori
Bude Tandoori is one of the three Indian restaurants in Bude, offering a range of classic Indian dishes with friendly service to boot. You can choose to sit in or take away your food.
In addition to my personal favourite, Rezala Chicken, which is a must-try, the menu features other delicious dishes such as lamb bhuna, chicken tikka masala, and vegetable biryani. The restaurant is known for its excellent value for money, making it a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.
📍Bude Tandoori, 12A Burn View, Bude EX23 8BZ.
Opening Times: 5:30 pm - 11 pm daily.
Website: Bude Tandoori
Best Cafes in Bude
Crooklets Cafe
Crooklets Beach Cafe is a friendly family-run cafe located at the top of Crooklets beach. In addition to its delicious breakfast menu, which is served all day Monday to Friday and from 8 am to 11:30 am at the weekend, the cafe also offers a range of lunch options, including sandwiches, jacket potatoes, and burgers.
The cafe is a popular choice among parents with children under the age of 12, as they regularly run a "kids eat for £1 promotion" during the school holidays. More details on this can be found on their Facebook page.
The owners have also recently taken on the Rustic Tea Garden at Northcott Mouth, a 20-minute cliff-top walk away, with an opening date later in 2023. It was formally run by the late Margaret Frost, who was well-known in Bude for her charity and community work.
📍Crooklets Beach Cafe, Crooklets, Bude EX23 8NE.
Opening Times: Check the website for opening times.
Website: Crooklets Beach Cafe
House of Chaplin
House of Chaplin is a relatively new addition to Bude's food scene, located on Morwenna Terrace at the top of town. This stylish bagel and coffee house offers a range of delicious breakfast options, including bagels, and a full English breakfast, served from 9 am - 11:30 am.
For lunch, they serve up a range of burgers and bagels, with vegetarian and vegan options available. The cafe also has a great selection of coffee, tea, and other hot and cold drinks to complement your meal.
The cafe's unique and artistic interior creates a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, making it a popular spot among locals and visitors alike.
📍House of Chaplin, 2 Morwenna Rd, Bude EX23 8BU.
Opening Times: 8:30 am - 3 pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday)
Website: House of Chaplin
Lock Gates Cafe
The Lock Gates Cafe is situated on The Wharf, next to Bude Canal, and offers a range of delicious breakfast baps, toasted sandwiches, and, of course, traditional Cornish cream teas.
The cafe is the perfect stopping point after a leisurely walk around the canal or a trip to the beach. It's known for its friendly staff and excellent service, making it a popular choice among visitors. The cafe's outdoor seating area, adjacent to the castle grounds, is a great spot to relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.
📍Lock Gates Cafe, Lower Wharf, Bude
Opening Times: 10 am - 4 pm daily.
Scoop
A friendly family-run ice cream shop and cafe, Scoop is located on Lansdown Road in Bude town centre, and serves delicious Cornish ice cream, milkshakes, waffles, crepes, and great coffee. They also have a brand new range of vegan ice creams to choose from!
📍 Scoop, Unit 5, Ceres, Lansdown Road, Bude, United Kingdom, EX23 8BH
Opening Hours: 12 noon - 5 pm.
Om Bambo
Bude's only vegan shop and cafe, selling plant-based products. Give their vegan scotch egg a try next time you're in town and browse their wide selection of ethically produced gifts.
📍Om Bamboo, 1c Princes St, Bude EX23 8AT.
Opening Times: Check their Facebook page for up-to-date opening times.
Takeaways
Chung's Chinese
Chungs Chinese has been a mainstay in Bude for as long as anyone can remember, and while it's been the butt of many jokes on the Bude Banter Facebook group, it remains a popular choice for locals and visitors alike.
The takeaway offers quick and friendly service, with an extensive menu of classic Chinese dishes. The spicy chicken and cashew nut dish is well worth a try, but the staff are also very accommodating and will make a dish for you, even if it's not on the menu.
The takeaway is located in Flexbury (close to Crooklets beach), making it a convenient choice for those looking for a quick and tasty meal.
📍Chung's, 7 Flexbury Park, Bude EX23 8RS
Opening Times: 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm daily (closed on Tuesdays)
Electric Bakery
Electric Bakery has taken Bude by storm and is widely regarded as the best thing since sliced bread...well, sourdough sliced bread, that is!
The bakery is known for its delicious sourdough loaves, made with only four ingredients, the fourth ingredient being time! Their range of baked goods also includes ciabatta, focaccia, pasties, sausage rolls (flavoured with fennel and absolutely amazing!), scandi-inspired pastries, and a variety of delicious cakes (try the peanut butter salted caramel millionaires shortbread if you can).
It's a popular spot among locals and visitors alike, with queues often forming out of the door, especially during the summer holidays. However, they now offer a click-and-collect service on their core range, which you can order through their website.
The bakery also offers amazing takeaway breakfasts and lunches, with the Cornish Grilled Cheese being a must-try. Be sure to check out their Instagram page for the weekly specials!
📍Electric Bakery, Unit 2, The Depot, Kings Hill, Bude, EX23 8PQ
Opening Times: Wednesday to Sunday 9 am - 2 pm
Website: Electric Bakery
The Plaice
The Plaice (formerly the Tasty Plaice) on Queen Street has an interesting personal family connection - my late Grandad was actually born in the house that now houses the takeaway, way back in 1913. It was always his favourite takeaway and he very much looked forward to his Friday night fish and chip supper.
The Plaice has been run by the same family for more than 25 years now and has become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. The takeaway offers all your chip shop favourites, from cod, plaice, and scampi to more modern offerings like hot wraps, doner kebabs, and burgers. However, during the summer holidays, the queues can wind out of the door, so it's a good idea to order online to avoid the rush.
📍The Plaice, 16 Queen Street, Bude Cornwall, EX23 8BB
Opening Times: 4:30 pm - 8 pm daily (12 noon - 2 pm Friday and Saturday only)
Website: The Plaice
Great restaurants near Bude
Got a car? Here are my top picks of eateries within a 10-minute drive of Bude town centre;
- Widemouth Manor, located at the top of Widemouth Bay, offers delicious home-cooked food, and their carveries on Thursday evenings (5:30 pm - 8 pm) and Sundays (12 noon- 5 pm) are the best in the area.
- Little Pig Farm Shop, Kilkhampton, is a friendly little cafe just north of Bude, and is great for breakfast and lunch.
- The Old Wainhouse Inn, located a 10-minute drive south of Bude, towards Camelford, offers delicious and hearty pub grub. They also have a carvery on Sundays until 7 pm.
- The Bush Inn, at Morwenstow, has a great reputation locally for high-quality food and service, and also an extensive menu for kids. Combine it with a walk out onto the coast path to see Hawkers Hut!
Eateries in Bude: A Recap
As you can see there are some really great places to eat in Bude, offering something for everyone. It's a Cornish foodie's paradise that I'm very lucky to call home. So, whether you're looking for a traditional pub lunch, fresh fish dishes, tapas, or ice cream, you'll find it in Bude!
You might also like
Places to Stay in Bude Cornwall: 15 Best Options
Best Food & Drink Festivals in Cornwall
7 Must Visit Wineries in Cornwall
Where To See Seals In Cornwall
Best Places to Stay in Cornwall with a Hot Tub
Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's happening in Cornwall!
