Eating out in St Ives
14th May 2025
St Ives has a fantastic reputation as a great place to eat out – and we’ll second that!
You can check out TripAdvisor or read the restaurant reviews; however, you can’t beat a personal recommendation from food-loving locals.
Here’s the Polmanter guide to eating out in St Ives.
Food with a view
For incredible food in the most beautiful locations, try one of the trio of cafés run by the Porthminster Group. The Porthminster and Porthgwidden cafés are located on their eponymous beaches, while Porthminster Kitchen is on the seafront. Please keep an eye on their websites for opening hours and booking details.
There’s also the stunning Porthmeor Beach Café, which is just below Tate St Ives and a must for tapas. Book well in advance to try and secure one of their cosy heated outdoor booths. The café in the Tate itself also boasts incredible views.
Seafood in St Ives
Cintra Seafood Bar serves tapas-style small plates in a lovely harbourside location. There’s a delectable selection of seafood plates as well as meat dishes, veggie options and sides – and a wonderful wine list. Ardor is a welcoming Mediterranean restaurant on Fore Street that serves authentic tapas made from the local catch and fresh Cornish produce.
The Mermaid on Fish Street is one of the most popular and oldest seafood eateries in town. To book a table at this welcoming restaurant, please drop them an email. Everybody loves By The Sea, a seafood restaurant and takeaway that offers much-loved classics like fish and chips, moules mariniere and calamari.
Looking for something a bit different? Try the Rum & Crab Shack on Wharf Road. There’s no need to book for this place, and it’s not just rum and crab either (although how can you resist?).
Casual dining in St Ives
Head for The Hub on Wharf Road for laid-back, American-style dining. Family-friendly and much-loved by locals, it’s a popular place. They take online bookings now (back in the day, you often had to queue for a table, so this is a bit of a bonus…). Just down the road, Onzo is a new pizzeria in the old lifeboat house, serving authentic handmade pizzas to eat in or take away.
Blas Burgerworks in the Warren does the most amazing burgers, while Beer & Bird is the best place for fried chicken dishes. Bier Huis Grand Café on St Andrew’s Street has a brilliant Belgian-style menu with classics such as moules frites, waffles, and of course, a superb beer menu.
Relax in comfort at Tretho Lounge, or try to get an outside table at Silco Bar & Kitchen overlooking Harbour Beach (this place is especially appealing for serving its very own St Ives Gin). We also recommend newcomer Host, housed in an elegant former bank in the centre of town.
Out of town
Outside St Ives, try breakfast at Birdies Bistro or enjoy the Mediterranean vibe of the courtyard at The Old Forge (both Lelant). The Watermill and The Badger Inn (also both Lelant) offer traditional pub food, and both have outdoor spaces for laid-back summer evenings.
There are also a few great spots in Carbis Bay, including lively Italian La Casita and the veggie Bean Inn. For hearty British dishes cooked to perfection, try The Gannet Inn. Down at the beach, there’s a choice of restaurants at The Carbis Bay Hotel.
Closer to home, The Halsetown Inn is our local village pub, and serves classic dishes.
Dining Out with your Dog
St Ives is a very dog-friendly town, and you’ll find that many of the places we’ve already mentioned welcome four-pawed diners. It’s always worth booking ahead and double-checking whether your pooch can join you.
Special mention to Scoff Trough in Marketplace for being super dog-friendly (and their breakfasts will certainly set you up for the day!) and The Loft Restaurant & Terrace in Norway Lane – we love the romantic roofscape views from this inviting eatery. Sit outside the legendary Sloop Inn with your happy sea dog, watching the world go by.
Outside town, Birdies Bistro in Lelant is always a good option when you’re dining with your dog. You can combine lovely lakeside walkies with an ice cream or snack at Moomaid By The Lake in Lelant, where dogs are always made most welcome.
Let’s just stay local…
For those post-beach evenings, you can always simply unwind at Polmanter with a meal from our welcoming Stable Bar and Restaurant. A takeaway service is available if you fancy to tucking into home-made pizza from the comfort of your own pitch.
Fancy a take-away?
It wouldn’t be a trip to Cornwall without fish and chips. Head to the Balancing Eel near Harbour Beach – they’re the best in town! Becks Fish and Chips in Carbis Bay is a popular locals’ choice, with both a restaurant and takeaway, and Sharky’s (in nearby Penbeagle, between St Ives and Polmanter) is another great choice.
Fancy something a bit different? You must try Talay Thai, an authentic Thai restaurant that also offers takeaway (sip one of their cocktails while you wait…). For Indian, go for The Curry Garden or the Rajpoot (both in St Ives), and our local Chinese is Hong Kong Kitchen. We thoroughly recommend St Ives Pizza Company (again, in nearby Penbeagle).
If you want to stay on site, there are a number of local businesses that deliver to Polmanter – just ask us for the latest list.
Between us, the Polmanter team has an encyclopedic knowledge of local pubs, takeaways, restaurants and cafes. If you want any more recommendations, please just ask us.