Golden-crusted, packed with swede, potato and peppery beef, the Cornish pasty isn’t just a snack, it’s a heritage dish. Born from tin miners and now beloved across the land, you’ll find hundreds of versions in bakeries and beach cafés up and down the duchy.
But let’s be honest, not all pasties are created equal. We’ve done the (tough) job of taste testing our way across Cornwall to bring you this list of six proper pasty powerhouses that deserve your attention.
Coast-to-coast?, or just want to know where to get your next flaky fix, these are the pasties worth going out of your way for.
Where did Cornish Pasties originate from?
Pasties date back to at least the 13th century, though they became especially popular among Cornish tin miners in the 18th and 19th centuries. The pasty’s distinctive D-shape, thick crimped edge, and sturdy pastry crust made it ideal for miners, as it could be easily carried, eaten without cutlery, and kept warm for hours.
The thick edge was often used as a handle, which miners could grip with their dirty, arsenic-contaminated hands and then discard, reducing the risk of poisoning. Traditionally, the filling included beef, potatoes, onions, and swede (also known as turnip in Cornwall), all seasoned with pepper.
Today, the Cornish pasty is a protected food item with a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status, meaning that only pasties made in Cornwall using the traditional recipe can be officially called “Cornish Pasties.”
Ann’s Pasties, The Lizard & Porthleven
Postcode: TR12 7NT (Lizard), TR13 9JA (Porthleven)
Region: West Cornwall
Hand-crimped on Cornwall’s most southerly point, Ann’s Pasties have become a bit of a cult classic.
Family-run and fiercely proud of their local roots, they only use Cornish ingredients, even the flour’s milled just up the road. The classic steak is loaded with tender beef, proper seasoning and a pastry that’s as rich and buttery as a golden-hour sunset over Kynance Cove.
Veggie options are no afterthought either, the cheese and leek is a creamy little number you won’t forget in a hurry.
🧡 Cornish-owned, fiercely local, and made with love. Ann’s is a real gem on the Lizard.
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St Agnes Bakery, St Agnes
Postcode: TR5 0TL
Region: North Cornwall
One of Cornwall’s oldest bakeries (since 1905!), this village favourite has stood the test of time.
Their pasties are hefty, hand-crimped and loaded with flavour. The steak is melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the pastry has that elusive balance of crispness and chew.
It’s no frills, no fuss, just a proper pasty made the old-school way.
🧡 Tip: grab one warm, then take the coast path from Trevaunance Cove for a post-pasty stomp with sea views.
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Gear Farm, Near Helston
Postcode: TR13 0HG
Region: West Cornwall
Gear Farm don’t just make pasties, they grow the veg that goes in them.
This is Cornish field-to-fork at its finest. Based near St Martin, these rustic pasties are famed for their deep, savoury flavour and crisp, flakey crust.
Each one is hand-folded with seasoned local beef, spuds and onion, the classic trio done to absolute perfection.
🧡 One for the purists. No gimmicks, just a masterclass in what a real pasty should be.
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Philps Pasties, Hayle, Marazion & More
Postcode: TR27 4EP (Hayle HQ)
Region: West Cornwall
Philps is a pasty institution. Mention pasties in Cornwall and someone will say “You’ve tried Philps though, right?” Big, bold and packed to the crimp with flavour, these beauties are the real deal.
Their steak is thick-cut, their veg is always fresh, and that golden pastry shell holds it all together like a hug in food form.
🧡 Ideal beach food. Pick one up in Hayle then stroll the estuary or hit the dunes at Gwithian.
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Sarah’s Pasties, Looe
Postcode: PL13 1AA
Region: South East Cornwall
A teeny-tiny bakery nestled in the heart of Looe, Sarah’s Pasties is small but mighty.
The pasties are handmade on-site, and you can smell the buttery goodness drifting down Fore Street before you even see the sign. Locals swear by them, and once you try one, with that golden glaze and hearty filling, you’ll see why.
They do a cracking lamb and mint too, for those wanting to mix things up.
🧡 Grab one and sit by the harbour. It’s the ultimate Looe lunch.
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Boscastle Farm Shop, Boscastle
Postcode: PL35 0HH
Region: North Cornwall
It’s not just the jaw-dropping views that’ll stop you in your tracks here , it’s the pasties too.
Overlooking the Atlantic and just a stone’s throw from Boscastle Harbour, this farm shop serves up hefty, homemade pasties with ingredients straight from their own fields.
The beef is local, the pastry is handmade daily, and the taste? Absolutely banging.
🧡 A pasty with a view. Walk the cliffs, then refuel here. You won’t regret it.
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