St Ives has three beach cafes, a cluster of harbour-side pubs, and a growing number of serious restaurants in the narrow streets behind the waterfront. The town’s food scene benefits from the same thing that makes the art scene work - a year-round community that demands quality, not just summer tourist trade.
Parking in St Ives is a battle from June to September. Eat early, walk from the park-and-ride, or stay in town and walk everywhere.
Beach Restaurants
Porthminster Beach Cafe
Porthminster Beach Cafe is the restaurant most people come to St Ives to eat at. It sits on Porthminster Beach with a terrace directly on the sand, serving Mediterranean and Asian-influenced seafood using fish from Cornish day boats. The menu changes frequently - expect dishes like Thai fish curry, grilled lobster, and sharing platters of local shellfish.
Multiple award winner. Open for lunch and dinner from spring through autumn, with a shorter winter schedule. Book the terrace in summer or prepare to wait.
Porthmeor Beach Cafe
Above Porthmeor Beach on the north side of town, with views over the surf break. More casual than Porthminster - pizzas, burgers, salads, and fresh fish during the day, with a fuller dinner menu. The Tate St Ives gallery is next door, making it a natural lunch stop after the gallery.
Porthgwidden Beach Cafe
The smallest of the three, tucked below the Island headland on Porthgwidden Beach. Simple, well-executed seafood and Mediterranean food. The intimate size and sheltered position make it a favourite with locals who know to book it for evening meals in summer.
Restaurants
Ardor
A newer addition to St Ives, Ardor on Fore Street serves Iberian-influenced seasonal menus from chef Dorian Janmaat, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens. Dry-aged cuts, fresh local fish, and seasonal produce. The wine list leans Spanish and Portuguese. Worth booking for dinner.
St. Eia
An intimate restaurant and wine bar in the back streets near Porthmeor Beach. Seasonal bistro food - think braised short rib, grilled fish of the day, and interesting vegetable dishes - alongside a list of natural and low-intervention wines. Small enough to feel personal.
Pubs & Casual
Hub Box
Hub Box overlooks the harbour with a balcony facing the water. Award-winning burgers, craft beers, and a relaxed atmosphere. Dog-friendly. A reliable option when you want something quick and satisfying without booking. Open since 2003 and still one of the most popular casual spots in town.
The Sloop Inn
The Sloop is St Ives’ oldest pub, right on the harbour. Low ceilings, flagstone floors, local ales on tap, and a menu of pub classics. The terrace overlooking the harbour is one of the best spots in town for a pint. Dog-friendly.
Quick Bites
St Ives Bakery on Fore Street sells saffron buns and Cornish pasties. Blas Burgerworks does gourmet burgers with local beef. For fish and chips, The Balancing Eel on the harbour is the local pick. Ice cream from Moomaid of Zennor - made on a farm between St Ives and Zennor - is worth the queue.
Where to Stay
Arghanti is a two-bedroom dog-friendly duplex in the town centre, 200m from the harbour. St Ives View has sea views and sleeps six. Treloyhan Manor Hotel sits above the town with parking - a genuine advantage in St Ives. Browse all places to stay in St Ives.
See also: Beaches in St Ives | Things to Do in St Ives | Where to Eat in Newquay
