Cornwall is one of England’s most beloved holiday destinations, famed for its gorgeous coastline and sumptuous seafood. Padstow, Port Isaac, and Rock are all well-known foodie destinations, and St Moritz Hotel sits perfectly located for all of them.
Nestled in a sweet spot between several of Cornwall’s most famous culinary hot spots, St Moritz Hotel is one of the best places to stay in the county. People from London visiting this part of Cornwall are most likely here – aside from the sea and sand – to visit the restaurants of megastar chefs Rick Stein (in Padstow) and Nathan Outlaw (in Port Isaac), and St Moritz is where they stay.
Housed in a gleaming, white, art-deco styled building with dramatic views over Polzeath, the hotel offers a relaxing sea-side holiday with every modern luxury a busy city dweller would expect. It’s probably best experienced in summer, when an outdoor pool next to a lawn filled with hammocks and deck chairs is the place to chill out on the Cornish coast. Most rooms have fabulous sea views, but those that don’t come with their own beach huts by the pool – almost a big enough perk to not want the view!
For those visiting off season, there is still plenty to keep visitors occupied. A full service spa and the outdoor pool being heated means relaxation whatever the weather. Guests can make use of the hotel’s enviable location for walks of the coast, and a Land Rover shuttle ferries guests year round to nearby Port Isaac and Polzeath. The hotel can also arrange some fun excursions that’ll keep both children and adults happy such as surf school lessons and mackerel fishing.
Spa
The hotel has two spa sections. The Cowshed Spa is rustic and earthy. This is where treatments are carried out with all the usual options available: massages, facials, scrubs, manicures, and pedicures. For most treatments the blend of essential oils used can be tailored to however you may be feeling, whether that’s knackered, moody, grumpy, or even horny. Our back massages were total bliss, delivered by professional and friendly therapists.
The other spa section is the hotel’s leisure complex. There’s an indoor pool (with set adult only times at the start of the day and from 6pm onwards), sauna, steam room, and hydrotherapy pool. For those feeling more active tennis courts and a well-equipped gym are available.
Eat
St Moritz has two dining options. The main restaurant is located upstairs from reception, next to the hotel’s bar. The Sea Side Restaurant & Bar provides a more casual option for lunch, cream tea, or early supper. It serves a variety of soups, salads, pastas, and fish and meats dishes. Located by the outdoor pool, it’s perfect for a bite to eat post-swim.
We had dinner in the a la carte restaurant. The décor could be described as a little sparse, but clean and simple is what a restaurant on the coast like this should look like. No one wants plush carpets and tablecloths after a day on the beach. A couple of delicious Porthilly oysters went down a treat while we perused the wine menu, which came with welcome advice from charming restaurant manager and makeshift sommelier Giancarlo Marino.
The meal opened with a pretty salad of crab and perfectly buttery octopus. A main course of cod on roasted garlic polenta with a brown shrimp butter followed. What a revelation. The wickedly creamy polenta and smoky butter made this seafood dish surprisingly warming and hearty. Rather full from our main courses, we picked a modest pudding of Affogato; vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso to pour on top. Dinner was excellent. Of course, it’s hard to compete with the internationally exceptional cooking of Nathan Outlaw down the road, but St Moritz serves up truly some of the best food in Cornwall.
Whether you’re visiting for food, relaxation, or coastal scenary, St Moritz Hotel delivers it all with consummate professionalism and a dash of sea side luxury. One for the staycation ideas list!
St Moritz Hotel, Trebetherick, Wadebridge, PL27 6SD.