A Tranquil Feast at The Scarlet Hotel

Perched on the rugged Cornish coast, The Scarlet is more than a hotel with a view. It’s a place where time stretches, where lunch becomes something unhurried, considered and quietly restorative. My recent visit was a slow indulgence in seasonal flavours, each dish a reflection of nature’s rhythm.

Service was warm and intuitive, thoughtful without being overbearing. The team spoke about the menu with real knowledge and care, guiding us through the choices as if sharing a well-kept secret. It felt personal, as though we were being welcomed into something special.

The menu itself was a study in simplicity, every dish led by the season and a commitment to sustainability. I chose the cabbage, an unassuming ingredient transformed, charred and caramelised, balanced with a depth of flavour that lingered. My companion had the monkfish, delicately prepared and perfectly in tune with its accompaniments. Thoughtful, understated, effortless.

Through the glass, the landscape unfolded, the freshwater pool below, the wild sweep of sand beyond. Everything about the setting encouraged pause: to savour a sip of wine, to let the moment settle.

Lunch at The Scarlet wasn’t just about the food. It was about the way it made us feel, nourished, restored, present. The kind of experience that stays with you long after you’ve left, already thinking about when you’ll return.