One of Cornwall’s most iconic towns and harbours, it will come as no surprise that beautiful St Ives is home to a plethora of fantastic eateries, from the humble pasty shop to the smartest of restaurants. Being so close to the sea, there’s often a focus on fish and seafood, as you might expect, but St Ives’ restaurants love to showcase the best of Cornwall’s produce, whether from the land or the sea.

From bustling burger joints to venerable vegetarian restaurants, family-friendly hotspots to oh-so-romantic favourites, you’ll not struggle to find somewhere to eat, whatever your needs. Here’s just a small selection of some of the best restaurants in St Ives to try for yourself – just bring your appetite with you!

Talay Thai Kitchen

Best for: Big, bold flavours

Warf Road, St Ives TR26 1LF
talay.co.uk

You’ll find Talay Thai right in the centre of St Ives overlooking the harbour and Smeaton’s Pier. Offering stunning Thai cuisine, this is a wonderful spot for special, laid-back get-togethers, and has a fantastic cocktail bar downstairs too. Popular with locals and visitors alike, Talay Thai doesn't take bookings, so it’s a good idea to get there nice and early. If you have to wait a while? Well, never mind – a cocktail or two downstairs (why not try a Fiery Longtail or a more locally-inspired St Ives Storm?) or a walk around the harbour makes the wait very enjoyable indeed. 

Producing authentic Thai dishes, it’s best to order plates for everyone to share – why not try the Weeping Tiger beef sirloin, Chu Chi hake (using Cornish hake of course), a classic red or green curry or the oh-so-popular traditional Pad Thai? There’s also a great selection of tapas-style dishes (Thai-style dumplings and Som Tum green papaya salad sound particularly delicious), so plenty of choice for everyone. Combined with the breathtaking beach and sea views, where you can watch the sun set and the lights of the town and boats twinkle to life, it’s a beautiful setting for a flavoursome feast.

Porthminster Kitchen

Best for: Stunning beach views

Wharf Road, St Ives TR26 1LG
porthminster.kitchen/

Also located on St Ives harbour edge, stairs lead you up from the waterside street to delightful Porthminster Kitchen, which is blessed with panoramic sea views and a peaceful ambience. On warmer days, sit on its sunny terrace, or in cooler months, watch the coastline from the huge windows while you eat. Celebrating the best of Cornish cuisine, it’s a fabulous spot whether you’re visiting for the day, seeking a lunchtime meal, or looking for something more substantial in the evening. 

The set lunch menu includes delights such as crispy squid with an Asian salad, seafood linguine, and Cornish steak sandwich, while the a la carte dinner menu wows with the likes of south coast scallops, monkfish curry, roasted hake fillet and crispy rice pudding with pineapple and coconut sorbet. They also offer a great Sunday lunch menu. Its central location means it’s a great stop off for lunch during the day if you’re exploring the plethora of shops, while after dark it’s lovely to take to the winding, cobbled streets post-meal for a gentle stroll along the pretty, tucked-away cottages.

The Loft Restaurant and Terrace

Best for: Lazy lunches on the sunny terrace

Norway Lane, St Ives TR26 1LZ
theloftrestaurantandterrace.co.uk

Tucked away in the charming streets of St Ives' artist’s quarter, The Loft is set above the Sloop Craft Market and offers superb views over the rooftops, beach, and out to sea from its covered terrace. Serving beautifully prepared dishes with a focus on local produce, expect such tasty morsels as Loft chowder, lamb ragu, local mussels with nduja, and burnt white chocolate cheesecake. There’s a children’s menu too, so little ones are well catered for. 

Love lobster? Give them 36 hours’ notice and they can rustle one up for you, cooked just how you want it. The top terrace, open to the elements but covered, welcomes dogs, and has plenty of blankets and heaters if the weather is on the cool side, but you still want to enjoy the views. Inside, vaulted ceilings create an airy, vibrant feel that’s perfect for lunchtime or dinner alike. Once you’ve had your fill, head downstairs and have a mooch around the Sloop Craft Market, where you’ll find unique, handcrafted gifts, whether for yourself or someone at home.

Porthgwidden Beach Café

Best for: Dinner with a view

Porthmeor Beach, St Ives TR26 1JZ
porthgwiddencafe.co.uk/the-restaurant/

This fantastic café-restaurant is open every day from 10am, serving brunch, lunch, and evening meals that overlook exquisite Porthgwidden Beach in all its sun-kissed glory. While booking is recommended, walk-ins are welcome, whatever you’re after. Early birds can make the most of their simple brunch menu that promises everything from homemade granola and crumpets to every type of bap imaginable. 

For lunch and dinner, tuck into the likes of parma ham and blue cheese salad, Porthgwidden moules frites, or the catch of the day, which is served with steamed greens and creamy mashed potato. With a fabulous glass terrace on hand for alfresco dining, whatever the weather, bask in the gorgeous Cornish sun or hunker down for a spot of storm watching as you eat in the winter months.

Blas Burgerworks

Best for: Burger lovers

The Warren, St Ives TR26 2EA
blasburgerworks.co.uk

Much loved by locals and visitors in the know, a trip to Blas Burgerworks will fill up even the hungriest of tums. Tucked away down The Warren, one of the oldest parts of St Ives, this fab eatery has been running for two decades, serving burgers every which way you can imagine. Choose from beef, chicken, bean or halloumi, with gluten-free and vegan options available too. There are lots of options to wet your whistle, all served alongside crispy fries and other optional delights.

It’s an incredibly busy spot, so reserving a table ahead of your visit is a must. They also offer takeaways, which must be pre-ordered by 2pm on the day you want to eat. There’s also a kids’ menu for little ones who prefer theirs on the simple side, and a fab dessert menu (the choc chip cookie dough, served hot with meltingly good Moomaid ice cream, is a must). If you opt for a takeaway, pick up your order and head to nearby Porthminster Beach for a picnic dinner, accompanied by a bottle of something delicious from their wine list.

Hub St Ives

Best for: Laidback family meals

4 Wharf Road, St Ives TR26 1LF
hubbox.co.uk/location/st-ives-hub/

Another popular spot set on the harbour’s edge, also known as The Wharf, Hub St Ives is a chilled-out spot that’s great for both drinks and meals. Set on two floors with a balcony, head here for laidback lunches and bustling dinners. The flagship Hub, with restaurants now all around the South West of England, is an established company whose food will appeal to the whole family – think juicy burgers, dirty fries, fried chicken, and mac n’ cheese. They’re also open for brunch, so it’s a great stop-off if the sea air has sharpened your appetite – dig in to pancakes, eggs any way you want them, brekky rolls and a big fry up, all washed down with plenty of tea and coffee. 

There’s also a fantastic kids’ menu, both for brunch and lunch/dinner, and an extensive drinks menu, serving everything from thick milkshakes and cocktails to local ales and smoothies. Nab a balcony table on sunny days for epic sea views and people watching, or nestle up together inside on blustery days and enjoy your time together planning your adventures in St Ives and beyond.

The Rum & Crab Shack

Best for: Well, rum and crab!

Wharf Road, St Ives TR2
rumandcrabshack.com

For the best rum cocktails and laidback seafood fare, look no further than The Rum & Crab Shack. Set up in 2012 by four friends, head here for excellent crab dishes, such as the classic dressed crab or for something a little different, such as crab tacos, crab mac n’ cheese, and crab nachos. Other delights include chowder and jambalaya, while landlubbers might prefer Dead Man’s Fingers ribs, jerk chicken or a Shack burger. 

There are sharing plates too, such as the Louisiana seafood broil and the Shack Crab Sharer. There are choices for kids, vegetarians, and vegans too, so nobody misses out. As for drinks, there’s wine, cocktails, and beers, plus a choice of 100-plus rums to warm the cockles – and it’s also the home of Dead Man’s Fingers, enjoyed the world over! Dog-friendly, the ambience is pirate-chic with dark woods, latticed windows (boasting gorgeous harbour views), and whitewashed walls covered in art, making it the perfect spot for relaxed lunches and rum-fuelled dinners – just make sure you can totter down the stone stairs when you leave!

The Mermaid

Best for: A romantic meal for two

21 Fish Street, St Ives TR26 1LT
mermaidstives.co.uk

Originally a sail loft and set in the heart of ‘Down-a-Long’, St Ives’ old fishing quarter, The Mermaid has been a firm favourite for years, and opened way back in 1980. The epitome of a traditional seafood restaurant, walls are adorned with seafaring paraphernalia, vintage photos, and beamed ceilings, with cosy church pews offering the chance to snuggle up together. 

Tuck into such delights as The Mermaid Fish Platter (seabass, tiger prawn, scallops, lemon sole and beer-battered white fish, all served with chips), a hearty pot of seafood in garlic and white wine, or monkfish and tiger prawns on skewers with chorizo and halloumi, even the hungriest person will be satisfied. Accompanied by a great wine and spirit selection and a lip-smackingly good selection of starters and desserts, this is the place to come for classic fine dining, followed by a gentle stroll around the ancient fishermen’s cottages that nestle in this characterful part of town.

Honourable mention...

The Bean Inn

Best for: Vegetarians and vegans

St Ives Road, Carbis Bay TR26 2RT
thebeaninn.co.uk

Established in 2003, The Bean Inn lies in Carbis Bay, a mile outside of St Ives, and has three small, cosy dining rooms displaying local art. Renowned for its excellent globally-inspired vegan and vegetarian menu, it’s been a must for discerning veggie-loving visitors and locals alike for over 20 years, and uses local, organic, and seasonal produce whenever possible. 

Relaxed and welcoming, there’s plenty to choose from on their extensive menu, such as harissa-glazed baked aubergine with griddled halloumi or tofu, blue cheese (or vegan cheese), beetroot, walnut and lentil salad, seasonal buddha bowls, and vegetable and mushroom bourguignon with crispy potatoes and greens – delicious! And their desserts? We’ll have a portion of the chocolate and orange mud pie, please. Little ones don’t miss out either, with an extensive kids' menu available, and any veggie dish can be adapted to vegan if required. They also offer a fab takeaway service too, so you can collect a picnic fit for a king to enjoy while lazing on the beach at Carbis Bay, before taking yourself off on a picturesque walk to St Ives.

Feeling peckish? Take a look at our stunning holiday cottages in St Ives and start planning your next getaway today.

Tags: Pubs | St Ives | Food and Drink |