The Best Restaurants in St Ives.

St Ives has a reputation for being a foodie destination, with a great choice of contemporary and traditional restaurants offering all types of cuisine. If you are coming on holiday to Cornwall, how do you know the best places to eat in St Ives? To help you find your perfect table, we have put together a locals’ guide to the best restaurants in St Ives – please let us know what you think! Why not take a look at some of the best pubs and bars, too?

The Best Restaurants in St Ives for Breakfast and Brunch?

The Sloop Inn.

Here’s an unexpected place for breakfast – the legendary Sloop Inn. Yes, the famous medieval pub does an excellent breakfast from 9.00 am until 11.00 am. It’s served in the cosy old bar area, making it a wonderfully atmospheric place for your Full Cornish. We reckon you’ll enjoy the breakfast so much that you’ll be back for lunch and dinner…

Balcony Bar and Kitchen.

Busy day ahead? We recommend the hearty breakfasts at the Balcony Bar, which will definitely set you up for any adventures (especially the “Big Balcony”). The first floor location means that the harbour views are great, and it’s a lively place to eat at any time of day. Good to know: if you’re in St Ives during a major sporting event, this is the place to watch it.

Cintra.

Stay in the harbour area for seafood restaurant Cintra, home of delectable small plates and fabulous cocktails. Sitting outside Cintra, overlooking the harbour and ticking into tapas-style fish dishes, it’s really hard to believe you’re still in the UK. The name, however, is local, named after a ship lost in the storm of 1893 and whose anchor is displayed on Smeaton’s Pier.

If you love sharing small plates, this is the place to come. Local seafood blends perfectly with tapas favourites like patatas bravas. However, we love coming here for breakfast, which is served from 8:30 and comes with special breakfast cocktails: holiday perfection.

The Best Restaurants in St Ives for Lunch?

Harbour Fish and Chips.

For a real seaside holiday experience, it has to be fish and chips and Harbour Fish and Chips never disappoints. Choose from a range of seafood dishes including the classic battered fish, served with their fabulous home-made chips, calamari and moules. Enjoy with something chilled from St Ives Brewery. 

Onzo Pizzeria.

Staying on The Wharf, Onzo is a fabulous new pizzeria in the old lifeboat house (just across from the current RNLI station). They serve handmade Neapolitan pizzas plus a range of other authentic Italian dishes. It’s a lovely location in the heart of St Ives; however, if you need to grab a takeaway lunch, it’s easy to order online from Onzo.

The Hub St Ives.

Welcome to the home of the rapidly growing collection of Hubbox restaurants. The original (and we think best) Hub is on Wharf Road, with fabulous views across the harbour from its glass front and terraces. Family-friendly and dog-friendly, it’s no wonder that Hub St Ives has won such loyalty from its local clientele and returning visitors.

The Hub is here to take you through your whole day (although we think it excels at lunch), from a hearty post-morning-swim breakfast through to morning coffee, then onto a pile of dirty fries or one of their famous burgers for lunch or dinner. In the evening, come here for craft beers, cocktails and a lively vibe.

Porthmeor Café.

Arguably in one of the best locations in St Ives, the bustling and friendly Porthmeor Café sits between Tate St Ives and the golden sands of its eponymous beach. It’s open all day, but we recommend dinner or evening drinks, as the sunsets here are so beautiful. You can usually pick up a walk-in table, but if you want one of their much-coveted outdoor booths (trust us, these really are special), book well in advance.

The food majors on great local produce including seafood and their tapas menu is just the thing for a sunny-day lunch. If you can, try to leave room for a dessert, because their puddings are divine.

The Best Restaurants in St Ives for Dinner?

Porthminster Café.

With its elegant menu, stunning sea views and onsite kitchen garden, Porthminster Café set the standard for elevated seaside dining in St Ives. It has that wonderful St Ives vibe of feeling like somewhere special, while still welcoming diners straight from the beach with sandy toes and salty hair. Come for the location, but definitely stay for the food.

If you want one of those Med-style window tables, book well ahead. It’s worth it, because even on a duller day, the sea and sands of Porthminster Beach glow with colour. As you’d expect, it’s a pescatarian’s delight, with plenty of Asian- and Mediterranean-influenced seafood dishes; however, vegans, veggies and omnivores will also be spoilt for choice.

The Loft Restaurant & Sun Terrace.

For some of the best seafood in town, step away from the seafront and head for the Artists’ Quarter. You will find The Loft in Norway Lane among a house-jumble of traditional fisher cottages and studios. While we love the bright and lively restaurant space, we will always aim to get a table on the terrace with its views across the picturesque rooftops of this older part of town.

The menu changes frequently; however, there is always a great emphasis on fresh fish and seafood. Look out for dishes with a Mediterranean twist, such as the mussels with chorizo. Special occasion? Book ahead to order the lobster thermidor. 

Talay Thai.

Talay Thai Kitchen is a little bit along from Hub St Ives and has those same wonderful harbour views. This friendly restaurant serves authentic Thai dishes, with classics like pad thai and panang curry. If you’re here with friends, order a selection of their small plates and try a bit of everything. The chefs make great use of local ingredients and fresh Cornish fish marries beautifully with those aromatic Southeast Asian flavours.

The Wharf Road eatery is also tremendous fun, with a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Call in on spec or get here early: if your table isn’t ready, you have the pleasure of waiting in the downstairs cocktail lounge (try the Fiery Longtail).

Ardor.

Ardor combines Mediterranean food culture with the freshest Cornish seafood for delicious dishes with a Spanish flair. Head on over for authentic pintxos and tapas or dry-aged cuts cooked over charcoal, all complemented by your choice of cocktail or selection from a curated wine list.

The restaurant is dog-friendly at lunchtimes and it is the perfect spot for a slow weekend with their Saturday bottomless brunch menu or Sunday roasts with a Mediterranean flair. It is a great choice for birthdays and other special occasions thanks to the fantastic food and warm atmosphere.

The Best Restaurants in St Ives for a Cocktail?

Talay Thai Cocktail Bar.

We have already discussed the food options at Talay Thai, however it is also one of our favourite places to go for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail. Enjoy a Fiery Longtail or Mekhong Iced Tea in their welcoming cocktail lounge.