Hotel Tresanton

Character and identity

Olga Polizzi's seafront hotel sits on the edge of St. Mawes, a fishing village on Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula, in a cluster of five whitewashed houses looking out to St. Antony's Lighthouse. The 31 bedrooms lean into Cornish craft: striped and muted floral fabrics in sea blue and white, retro armchairs, contemporary pieces, and local art throughout. The restaurant, under head chef Paul Wadham, runs on local produce with a strong fish bias. A beach club sits just below the hotel, and the 1939 Italian racing yacht Pinuccia, 48 feet, is available for guests who want time on the water.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The draw here is the combination of setting, interiors and the Pinuccia: a small, characterful seafront hotel where the cooking and the sea views do the heavy lifting, not a sprawling amenity stack. Spend on the Master Suite if the budget allows, target late spring or early autumn for the best weather-to-crowds ratio, and build in at least one outing on the yacht.