Hotel Tresanton

Hotel Tresanton

Hotel Tresanton occupies a row of whitewashed former yacht-club buildings on the water in St Mawes, Cornwall, and every one of its 30 rooms looks out over that same stretch of sea toward St Anthony's Lighthouse. Olga Polizzi designed the interiors, mixing old furniture with unusual finds and local art rather than a matching-set look, so no two rooms feel alike. The restaurant, floored in mosaic, leans Mediterranean and seasonal, with oysters, lobster and fish taking the lead, and the south-facing terrace does double duty as one of the better lunch spots on this coast. What sets Tresanton apart from the county's other boutique addresses is Pinuccia, its own classic Italian sailing yacht, available for excursions or even a proposal, alongside a beach club and summer barbecue suppers that run from May into autumn. Guests travel light here: 24-hour reception, concierge, laundry and luggage storage cover the practicalities, Wi-Fi and parking are included, and a playroom keeps children occupied while their parents linger over coffee. It suits people who want a small, characterful hotel with a boat on hand and don't need a spa menu to feel looked after; it will frustrate anyone chasing minimalist design, nightlife, or a big resort's list of facilities, and pet owners should look elsewhere. The property has picked up serious recent recognition, including a Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Award and a MICHELIN Key in 2025. Check-in runs from 3pm, check-out by 11am, and an extra bed costs £40 a night if the room allows it. Not many hotels can put you on a sailing yacht before dinner. A former yacht club on St Mawes' waterfront with 30 sea-facing rooms, a Mediterranean restaurant and its own sailing yacht, Pinuccia. It suits those wanting character over uniformity, not those wanting a spa or nightlife.