St Moritz Hotel Review: a luxury retreat in North Cornwall

Are you looking for somewhere to stay near Polzeath and Rock? Check out my St Moritz Hotel Review to learn more about this iconic hotel.

The country roads slowly narrowed and became progressively windier as we journeyed west towards the Camel Estuary. 

Gentle waves lapped the beach of Polzeath, from which we accelerated out, tackling the steep incline toward St Moritz Hotel. 

Brilliantly white, St Moritz Hotel stands overlooking the Camel Estuary, just a short walk from where it meets the surf beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. 

I was a guest of St Moritz Hotel for two nights, and have reviewed my experience in this full St Moritz Hotel review. All opinions are my own.

The Room 

“Your room’s ready for you”, our receptionist told us with a smile. “I’ll show you where it is”. 

Across the car park, our ground-floor suite was waiting.

The bright white walls contrasted with gentle turquoise shades throughout the apartment, offering an essence of the seaside while still gleaming with minimalism. 

The living area of the suite consisted of a fully-equipped kitchen (bigger than some kitchens I’ve had in places I’ve actually lived!) with a coffee machine, complimentary hot drinks and biscuits a dining table, a squashy sofa with a huge overhead lamp and flat-screen TV, two chairs overlooking the large French doors and subsequently, the garden. 

Walking through to the bedroom, there was another sitting area leading out to the garden: a few bookshelves with Cornwall-themed literature, a dressing table, a comfy king-sized bed, a bathroom with a shower over a bath, and deluxe toiletries. 

The interior of the room immediately exuded relaxation – with all bases covered, no clutter, and everything perfectly clean.

I felt like this was somewhere I felt I could spend a few days completely unwinding!

The Food

Dinner was booked for 7pm, so we unpacked, enjoyed our surroundings and headed up to Shorecrest Restaurant. 

The menu changes daily at Shorecrest Restaurant, with four starter, main and dessert options. 

I opted for the pea soup, roasted butternut squash with orzo pasta and the chocolate dessert with raspberry sorbet. 

My partner went for the asparagus and poached eggs with hollandaise sauce, seafood medley and panna cotta. 

Food was perfectly presented – I loved the edible flowers on my soup – and was cooked to perfection. 

As it’s a small menu (which is wonderful, as it focuses on local, sustainable food!), this did mean that there was only one vegetarian main option – which was my only minor comment, as I probably would have gone for a different veggie option if one was available. But this is just a personal preference! 

All food was tasty and well-cooked – I particularly loved my decadent dessert! 

We washed our food down with a bottle of Vinho Verde, which is a lightly sparkling wine from Portugal. 

Breakfast 

Breakfast at St Moritz was a delight. 

There’s a cold and hot buffet spread from which you can choose whatever you’d like – I started my day with a miniature veggie fry-up (a hash brown, spoonful of beans and mushrooms) and then opted for Weetabix with lots of fresh fruit. 

However, if you’d like something more substantial, there’s a full menu on offer too, serving full fry-ups (veggie and vegan options are available), egg dishes or sweet breakfasts like pancakes and waffles. 

Barista coffee (with plant-based milk if you don’t eat dairy!) is also available. 

Lunch at St Moritz

On our full day at St Moritz, we ventured to Seaside Restaurant for lunch. 

We were presented with a varied menu, from which I opted for the veggie Buddha bowl with flatbread, and my partner chose the oysters. 

The Buddha bowl consisted of olives, hummus, sundried tomatoes and much more – basically all of my favourite things – and the flatbread was fresh out of the oven. 

My partner’s plate was groaning with mussels, cooked in a fragrant Thai sauce (traditional French cream sauce was also an option), which he mopped up with chips and sourdough bread. 

Bellies happily full, but with a little room for dessert, we moved over to the comfy chairs with Camel Estuary views, where my partner enjoyed local ice cream and I treated myself to a rich chocolate cookie, along with another coffee – all waitstaff at the hotel made an excellent cappuccino, even with oat milk! 

The Grounds

St Moritz’s grounds only add to the luxurious element of the hotel. 

After dinner on the first night, we walked through our garden and stepped out the back gate, strolling through the garden towards the outdoor pool, which basks in views of the Camel Estuary.

An idyllic sunset spot, we watched the fuschia sun dip below the horizon. It rivals some of the best places to stay in Zante or the Caribbean with its epic scenery!

Manicured gardens lead around the pool, which is complete with bright beach huts, and ultimately connect with the South West Coast Path as it leads along the Camel River and connects Polzeath with Rock (where you can take a boat to Padstow). 

Cowshed Spa

I had one last treat scheduled before my departure – a massage at the Cowshed Spa. 

Focusing on my back, neck and shoulders, the massage transported me to a haven of stress relief, added to by the soothing music in the candlelit room. 

Feeling fully zen after an hour-long treatment, I met my partner in the indoor swimming pool area, which is complete with a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

The Service

Service was impeccable at St Moritz – from the helpful and friendly waitstaff at both restaurants to the reception team for whom no request was too much! 

We didn’t have any issues during our stay, but I’m confident that if we did, they would have been addressed in a timely manner. 

The surrounding area

St Moritz’s “retreat” feel beckons travellers in, and it would be easy to pass a few days just in their grounds. 

However, it’s also in a prime position to enjoy some of the best places on North Cornwall’s coastline. 

As we’re West Country locals and have been to this part of Cornwall countless times, we opted to stay hyper-local, not using the car and just walking to Polzeath on the South West Coast Path, and heading to Rock on another day.

I wrote a full Rock to Polzeath guide for more information about this walk – you can check it out here.

But if you wanted to venture a little further, you could visit the fishing village of Port Isaac (where Doc Martin was filmed!), Tintagel with its enigmatic castle (probably not where King Arthur was born, but the legend is interesting nonetheless) and National Trust-owned Boscastle, which has a beautiful rocky harbour. 

Fancy a challenging hike? You could walk from Polzeath to Port Isaac or drive to Tintagel and walk to Boscastle (there are return bus connections for both of these hikes). 

There’s also a ferry that connects Rock with the popular town of Padstow, famous for being Rick Stein’s hangout! 

The inland town of Bodmin is also a 30 minute drive away, and while it’s not one of the most popular places to visit in Cornwall, its jail is, in my opinion, one of the Duchy’s best attractions, and it’s the gateway to the brooding Bodmin Moor. 

Final thoughts

Step into a luxurious retreat at St Moritz, a complex high on the cliffs above the Camel Estuary, where glorious views are at every step and nothing is forgotten when it comes to offering guests a luxurious, comfortable stay. 

If you’re looking for somewhere in Cornwall to prioritize relaxation, with a few opportunities to get to know the local area that little bit better, St Moritz delivers.

Take a look at St Moritz’s website for more information and bookings by clicking here.