Where to Find the Best Cornish Pasty in Cornwall

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Where to Find the Best Cornish Pasty in Cornwall

By Alex Boag-Wyllie
Published: Apr 14, 2023More by Alex

A Crib, a Croust and an Oggy Walk into a Bakery

A Cornish pasty is an iconic symbol of England’s most southern county – a piping hot pastry synonymous with Cornwall’s mining heritage and a legacy stretching back to the 1300s. On a bingo card of Cornish treats to enjoy, the humble pasty, or oggy, is up there, along with a cream tea (jam then cream, of course) and golden saffron buns. We’ve been hard at work taste-testing the finest Cornish pasties in the land to bring you this rundown of where to find the best Cornish pasty in Cornwall.

Accept No Imitations

A ‘proper’ Cornish pasty has a Protected Geographical Indicator designation, overseen by the Cornish Pasty Association.

To meet the criteria, a Cornish pasty has to have a minimum of 12.5% meat and 25% vegetables.
The meat must be beef, and the vegetables must be potato, swede and onion – no carrots!
Equally important, a side crimp must seal the pastry tight.

Sarah's Pasty Shop & St Ives Bakery

The Best Cornish Pasty in South Cornwall

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Bridging the East Looe River, where it meets the sea, is the coastal town of Looe, in south Cornwall. A popular holiday destination, Looe remains a working fishing port today. Nestled in the middle of Buller Street and just a short hop from the golden sand of East Looe Beach sits Sarah’s Pasty Shop.

Started by Sarah some 35 years ago, daughter Lucy has taken on the excellent pastry mantle today. As all good pasties are, these are made fresh daily, so don’t miss out on these beloved pastry delights. Expect generously filled traditional pasties alongside cheese & onion, mixed vegetable and half a dozen more specialities for every palate.

The Best Cornish Pasty in North Cornwall

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Head up to the picturesque seaside town of St Ives, not to be outdone by the south. Perched on a northern headland in west Cornwall, this is one of the most iconic destinations in Cornwall. St Ives is a shimmering gem of art galleries, bustling cafes and surf shops perched on a hill, seemingly surrounded by turquoise waters.

Head to the harbour to discover St Ives Bakery as the land kicks into the sea. Incorporated in 2008, this chic little bakery offers fresh pasties alongside bread, cakes, pastries and more. Step inside the shop for traditional pasties. You’ll also find vegetable, cheese‘n’vegetable, and a handful of less traditional fillings. Encased in flaky pastry, expect a rich, deep filling with just the right seasoning.

St Agnes Bakery & Ann's Pasties

The Best Cornish Pasty for History

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If you’re looking for longevity to establish the best Cornish pasty, head to St Agnes. Sat on the north Cornwall coast, this seaside village embodies peaceful Cornish life. Head to the centre to find St Agnes Bakery tucked off the main road.

Operating since 1905, St Agnes Bakery is one of the oldest bakeries in Cornwall still working from its original site. They celebrate local ingredients and champion the local community. A member of the Cornish Pasty Association, look out for tasty traditional Cornish pasties, cheese & onion, a vegan option, and a special.

The Best Wonky Cornish Pasty

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A Cornish pasty is semi-circular with a distinct side crimp. A Devon pasty is oval with a top crimp. Somewhere in the middle but fiercely Cornish sits Ann’s Pasties. Selling first from her home, then a stall in Helston and finally a shop in Porthleven, Ann’s Pasties now has shops in Helston, Porthleven and Lizard.

Ann’s uses suppliers from within a 16 km/10 mile radius. This local provenance ensures their bakes are Cornish through and through. Stop into one of the shops for traditional pasties alongside cheese, vegetable and a kimchi special. Keep an eye out for a selection of tempting sausage rolls too.

Hampsons of Hayle & Helluva Pasties

The Best Cornish Pasty Using Local Ingredients

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One of the best parts of a pasty is that they’re so quintessentially Cornish. Located in the centre of St Ives Bay sits the port town of Hayle, where you’ll find Hampsons of Hayle. Opened in the 1960s as a butcher, diversifying to include pies and pasties in the 1980s did little to shake Hampsons’ commitment to local ingredients. Hampsons of Hayle continues to butcher their local meat in-house. You’ll find Cornish Pasty Association pasties alongside a delicatessen inside the shop.

Expect delicious pasties here, large and filled generously. Boasting over 20% meat compared to the required 12.5% in a traditional pasty, a Hampsons of Hayle pasty is a treat to be shared. Alongside traditional pasties in a shortcrust pastry, you’ll find cheese & onion, vegetable and a handful of other options.

The Best Cornish Pasty for Unique Fillings

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Traditional, cheese & onion and vegetable are the classic pasty fillings. That hasn’t stopped bakeries from experimenting with other options. On the eastern edge of Cornwall, just outside Callington, sits Cadson Manor Farm. Here, or in their lay-by outlets at St Ive and Hatt, you’ll discover Helluva Pasties.

Started in 2013, Helluva Pasties closed briefly at the end of 2021 before reopening under new management. The same excellent pasty recipe remains, however, and Helluva Pasties remains an essential stop in any Cornish foodie tour. The business celebrates local meat and fresh ingredients within a mouthwatering shortcrust pastry. A Cornish Pasty Association member, you’ll find traditional fillings alongside the likes of steak & Cornish blue, baked bean & mature Davidstow cheddar, and tomato & mozzarella.

What is Davidstow Cheddar?

Many bakeries celebrate their use of Davidstow cheddar. This is particularly apparent in comforting cheese & onion pasties.

The Davidstow Creamery has been operating for over 70 years. Following the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme, the creamery also switched to Cornish milk direct from local farms in 2017. The creamery is in the village of Davidstow, located in northeast Cornwall, making this a tasty and truly Cornish cheese.

Philps Pasties & The Cornish Bakery

The Best Cornish Pasty From a Small Chain

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Once you’ve found your favourite Cornish pasty, knowing you can pick up your crib or croust (Cornish dialect for a snack) across the county is reassuring. Enter Philps Pasties with their distinct ‘p’ logo. The ‘p’ represents the premium meat in their pasties rather than their name!

Greengrocer, Sammy Philp, founded Philps Pasties in the 1950s with the help of baking cousin Everett. Unsurprisingly, Philps work with local suppliers to source their ingredients. Enjoy local vegetables, Davidstow cheddar, Cornish eggs, and British flour. You won’t find fancy flavours here – just traditional, chicken, cheese & onion, and vegetable – but the fillings are delicious and generous.

Find Philps Pasties shops in Hayle, Marazion, Praze-an-Beeble, Camborne, Helston and Porthleven.

The Best Cornish Pasty From a Large Chain

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With stores across England (and a handful north of the border), the Cornish Bakery is an excellent option for the taste of Cornwall wherever you are. Follow your nose to discover focaccia, scones, viennoiseries, and pasties. Baked goods are served alongside ethically sourced coffee.

The Cornish Bakery embraces the principle of experimenting with fillings in its pasties. Traditional, cheese & onion and vegetable sit alongside beef & chipotle chilli, rhubarb & custard and many more.

Founded in 1994, the Cornish Bakery now boasts over 50 stores nationwide. Find stores in Tintagel, Padstow, Falmouth and St Ives in Cornwall. Look for bakeries in Bouton-on-the-Water, Chichester and Bath, perfect for trips in the charming Cotswolds. Further north, look out for stores in Keswick, Bowness-on-Windermere and Whitby.

Discover Cornwall

Meet the Author: Alex Boag-Wyllie

Born in the Scottish Highlands, I was lucky enough to spend my early childhood playing on beautiful, sweeping beaches and learning to ski (or, more often, fall over). My father’s job kept us on the move though, and I was soon just as at home amidst the rolling Wiltshire downs, the dramatic Yorkshire Dales and the expansive East Anglian coast. I’ve had almost 40 bedrooms to date across the UK, so I’m your gal if you need a good cafe recommendation (almost) anywhere in the country; if I haven’t been there yet, you can be sure it’s on my trip list…

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