The Greenbank Hotel

Craving a Cornish getaway on the coast, TLE checked into The Greenbank Hotel in the historic harbour town of Falmouth. Perfectly positioned just a short stroll from the town’s independent boutiques, excellent galleries and delicious range of eateries, The Greenbank Hotel made the perfect base for exploring this very scenic corner of Cornwall.  

Ambience & Location

The hotel itself dates back to 1640, making it the oldest in Falmouth. But far from dated, today the hotel is decked out in in a charming contemporary coastal design with a focus on it’s harbourside views. The hues of navy, grey and duck egg blue are influenced by the maritime surroundings and there are subtle nautical nods throughout the hotel. 

Check-in & Welcome

We parked up outside the hotel and headed into reception to check-in. The friendly receptionist walked us through the process, handed over our card keys and directed us to our room. We were offered assistance with our luggage, but having packed lightly we declined and headed upstairs to discover our home for the next night. 

The Room

We were fortunate enough to being staying in the Lookout Suite, a gorgeous space decked out in bespoke furniture and a relaxing palette of turquoise, burnt orange, teal and ochre. It at once manages to feel both contemporary and design-led, yet totally calm. The lounge space is sprawling and features the most comfortable and decadent turquoise sofa with orange trim. From here you’ll spot the bedroom area which is home to a rather grand and opulent looking super king-sized bed.

But while the suite is undoubtedly special, the balcony and its view are the true star of the show. The bi-fold doors fully open, allowing you total access to the balcony from where you can soak up the picturesque vista across to Flushing and up and down the estuary. We did notice some rather unfortunate reminders that the area is frequented by seagulls, but I suppose that is part and parcel of coastal life! 

I eventually managed to tear myself away to explore the bathroom, which boasts a huge walk-in shower, luxurious roll-top bath and toiletries by The White Company. Later that night I also discovered it has sensor lighting, meaning there is no need to turn the main lights on in the middle of the night. 

The Lookout Suite also features mod cons including a TV, fridge and safe, along with a Nespresso machine. There was also a hefty choice of magazines to peruse and the Falmouth edition of monopoly, which I thought was a charming touch. 

Dining

There are three dining options at The Greenbank Hotel. The award-wining Water’s Edge restaurant offers affordable fine dining with glorious views over the harbour. For a more casual meal, head to the stylish Water’s Edge bar or alternatively book a table at The Working Boat, a family and dog friendly pub. 

We had a table booked at The Working Boat for 7pm and having never been before, I was intrigued to find out more. We arrived to a pub clearly popular with couples, families and dog walkers alike and the atmosphere was suitably upbeat. We were shown to our table at the far end, which enjoyed views out to the estuary where we took a look at the menu. 

To start with I had the Cornish brie on olive tapenade, which arrived looking seriously hefty. Having never tried the combination of brie and olives before, I was enamoured and ate up ever last piece of chopped olive. My dining partner enjoyed a hearty bowl of soup with two thick wedges of rustic bread. For our main course, we both tucked into a roast butternut squash stuffed with feta, rosemary roast vegetables and drizzled with beetroot puree. After another hearty dish, we decided pudding would be too much and called it a night. I would definitely recommend booking a table at The Working Boat if you’re feeling famished and in search of something seriously filling with a real focus on flavours. 

The next morning, we headed to the Water’s Edge restaurant for breakfast where we picked a sunny table right in the window. After perusing the cooked menu – which featured everything from pancakes to smoked haddock – we both settled for the full vegetarian breakfast, which we enjoyed with some excellent black coffee and fresh juice. We didn’t use it, but there is also a breakfast buffet which serves up pastries, cereals and the like. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a stylish coastal retreat, look no further than The Greenbank Hotel. With all of Falmouth’s charms on its doorstep, not to mention its estuary-side position, it’s the perfect base for exploring the scenic south coast of Cornwall.