9 February is National Pizza Day! From classic Margheritas to spicy Diavolas, there are plenty of pizza restaurants in Cornwall serving up a delicious slice. We pick 8 of our favourite places to go for this hearty Italian favourite in the Duchy.
1. The Angry Anchovy, Port Isaac
The Angry Anchovy epitomises the Cornish way of life and this kind of haunt is right up our street. Think informal and welcoming atmosphere where flip flops and shorts are the norm and the staple choice for supper is a hearty handmade pizza with a Sharp’s Brewery beer or a bottle of wine to share. Dogs are welcome too which is always a plus in our books. Keep your eye out for the ever-changing special board with a number of pizzas to entice you to stray away from the normal menu.
2. La Bocca Pizza Kitchen, Bude
Hand stretched and cooked to order, La Bocca Pizza Kitchen has one of the largest pizza and calzone menus in Cornwall, providing diners with a real taste of Italy right here in the south west. Vegan and gluten free pizzas are available so those with dietary requirements can also join in with the feasting. Also worth shouting about are the rosemary sea salt fries – the perfect accompaniment to your pizza. Book ahead to avoid disappointment as the restaurant only seats a small number of people.
Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the delights of Padstow’s harbour you’ll find Embers, the perfect spot for refuelling with pizza after a day spent exploring this pretty seaside town. The menu is creative and the choices are quite different from those you’d expect in a classic Italian restaurant. We like the sound of the Sticky Pig with pulled pork, onions and cherry tomatoes or the Embers House Special with mackerel, black olives, samphire and pesto.
Blink and you’ll miss this hidden gem on the route from Lelant through Carbis Bay to St Ives. The pizzas here are cooked using Italian-style dough until thin and crispy and can be eaten in or taken away (La Casita is one of very few pizza takeaways in the area). For a true taste of Naples, Sorrento and Rome try the Mediterranea with goat’s cheese, roast vegetables, caramelised onion and zucchini. If you fancy something a little fishier, try the Il Mare with squid, prawns, mussels and anchovies. Well, when in Rome…
The Firehouse is renowned for its succulent meat from the grill but it’s also home to delicious brick fired pizzas. From a classic Margherita to something a little more adventurous (the duck pizza with spring onions and cucumber is certainly worth a mention), the menu encompasses a number of flavours. Grab yourself a coveted spot by the window upstairs and you can enjoy views across St Ives harbour. Complete the meal with a gin cocktail downstairs in the bar.
Piero’s Pizzeria is a destination ristorante for pizza aficionados looking for an authentic slice. This restaurant is run by a family with a mixture of Sardinian and Italian heritage so you couldn’t be in better hands. The pizza menu is full of both Italian products and locally sourced ingredients and with over 20 pizzas to choose from the only difficulty is choosing what to have. We recommend visiting in ‘Happy Hour’ when between the hours of 5.50pm and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, pizzas are priced at just £6.25 each.
7. The Stable, Falmouth and Fistral Beach
You can enjoy a slice of pizza with a side of ‘vitamin sea’ when visiting The Stable in Fistral Beach and Falmouth as both restaurants have beautiful sea views. Pizza is the name of the game here with a number of locally themed creations dominating the menu and using Cornish ingredients to boot. ‘The Fistral Fire’ and ‘The Cribbar’ are just two pizzas we like the sound of. No trip to The Stable is complete without sampling a cider tasting board. Enjoy five 1/3 pint servings of seasonally selected ciders, handpicked by The Stable’s local cider master.
8. The Cornish Pizza Company, St Agnes
The Cornish Pizza Company epitomises everything wonderful about Cornwall. From the cheese and salt used on the pizzas, to the ale and cider served behind the bar, almost everything here is local. There's plenty on the menu to sate the appetite of any pizza lover with a plethora of gluten free and vegan options too. Make ours the Wheal Coates 'Nduja Special' with soft, spicy sausage and a classic tomato base. It sounds 10/10 delightful.
