Three hotels in Cornwall have been recognised in a new awards scheme from the Michelin Guide.

The Michelin Keys have been created to recognise outstanding hotels around the UK which is the "culmination of countless hours of evaluation" from inspectors.

A hotel can be awarded One, Two or Three Keys, which is the equivalent of Michelin stars for a restaurant.

Discussing the Keys, the Michelin Guide explained: "These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveller, each vetted by our hotel experts and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting."

The full list of the UK winners of Michelin Keys for 2024 can be found on the website here.

Which Cornwall hotels won Michelin Keys?

The three Cornwall hotels recognised in the awards scheme were:

  • The Idle Rocks, St Mawes (One Key)
  • Hotel Tresanton, St Mawes (One Key)
  • Artist Residence Cornwall, Penzance (One Key)

The Idle Rocks

The Idle Rocks Hotel is described as a "whitewashed inn" which presides over a "picturesque harbour".

The profile adds: "All in all it’s quite in line with the state of the art in contemporary British luxury, which is a pretty good art to be the state of, frankly.

"There’s just enough original character to make the Idle Rocks feel unique, mixed with just enough modernity to keep it from feeling like a museum.

"The restaurant very sensibly focuses on seafood as well as the West’s enviable produce, and from there a walk along the seaside is but the work of a moment."

Alongside that, the hotel has earned a score of 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor from 646 reviews.

Hotel Tresanton

Hotel Tresanton is described as one of "Cornwall’s hottest spots" by the Michelin Guide after it was "rescued from the ravages of time by Olga Polizzi".

It may seem like just a "collection of small seaside houses scattered up the hillside" but the interiors of these spots make all the difference.

The style is somewhat "homegrown" with period touches such as "authentic antiques, bathroom-floor mosaics and tongue-and-groove construction".

The profile adds: "The bedrooms also offer something few city hotels can match: every one features stunning panoramic views of Cornwall’s south coast and St. Anthony’s lighthouse.

"The restaurant is a fine one, with a menu that changes daily, emphasizing local seafood and produce. Weather permitting, dinner can be served on the terrace, offering a close-up view of the harbor.

"And if the unpredictable Cornish climate isn’t cooperating, there are worse places to be stuck than in one of England’s most comfortable lodgings."

Alongside that, the hotel has earned a score of 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor from 935 reviews.

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Artist Residence Cornwall

Artist Residence Cornwall in Penzance has earned a 4.5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 1,165 reviews and is "tucked away in the heart of town".

It is within "walking distance of just about everything in town" set within a "beautiful Georgian house".

The profile adds: "Each of the artist-designed rooms is completely different in style, though they share comforts like Roberts radios, Nespresso machines, and Bramley organic bath products.

"Social life spreads throughout the Clubhouse, with its smokehouse, bar, garden, and lounge, which handles everything from breakfast to the last drink of the night."