Padstow Townhouse Hotel

Padstow

This 18th-century Georgian townhouse sets the standard in the seaside town. Each of the six rooms sports a playful food-inspired name that feeds into the stylish interiors – think whitewashed walls and deep red hues in Rhubarb & Custard, and the golden, syrupy hues of the Honeycomb suite. Elsewhere, you’ll find elegantly reclaimed furniture and contemporary artworks by Magnus Gjoen. Downstairs at No.6 is a menu that celebrates Cornish produce. We start with a caught-that-day smoked haddock quiche paired with a portion of salty caviar, before diverting East with a crispy soy-glazed duck and a Peking tea. To finish, we indulge our inner child with Ainsworth’s ‘A Fairground Tale’ – a whimsical trio of desserts that evoke memories of summer holidays by the sea. Breakfast is served at sister restaurant Rojano’s, where you can upgrade your granola with marsala-steeped raisins and wildflower honey or Cornish gypsy eggs.

Words by Tim Broad. Doubles from £280. paul-ainsworth.co.uk