For a small town, St Ives eats well above its weight. You’ve got proper Cornish pasty tradition, harbour-fresh seafood, a genuine cream tea rivalry with Devon, and a run of restaurants with views good enough to justify the prices. Here’s how to navigate it.
Cornish Classics
Who makes the absolute best Cornish pasty in St Ives?
Local favourites include St Ives Bakery on Fore Street, known for its traditional crimping, and Pengenna Pasties, known for its historic recipe. Everyone in town has a personal favourite, so honestly, a taste test is the only fair way to settle it.
What is the correct way to eat a Cornish cream tea?
Split the scone, spread the jam first, then top it with a generous dollop of clotted cream. Doing it the other way round (cream first, jam on top) is the Devon style, and mentioning that out loud in a Cornish tea room is done at your own risk.
Where can I get the best fish and chips by the harbour?
There are several well-regarded chip shops around the harbour front, and locals’ favourites tend to shift a little year to year, so it’s worth asking your accommodation host for their current pick. Wherever you go, eating it on the harbour wall with the boats in front of you is the whole point.
Where can I buy authentic Cornish ice cream?
Look out for Moomaid of Zennor, a well-known Cornish ice cream brand made just along the coast from St Ives and widely stocked around the town’s cafés and kiosks.
Seafood, Views & Local Favourites
What are the best seafood restaurants in town?
The Fish Shed, tucked at the western end of Porthmeor Beach, is a great option for fresh, off-the-boat fish. Porthminster Beach Café and Porthmeor Beach Café are also long-standing local favourites for seafood right by the sand.
We’ve eaten at these restaurants several times, and the food has been fantastic every time. Our favourite thing to do is reserving an outside booth at Porthmeor Beach Café for a delicious cooked breakfast.
Which restaurants have the best sea views?
The beach cafés at Porthminster and Porthmeor both trade heavily on their views, sitting right above the sand looking straight out to sea. Several restaurants up around the top of the town and along the harbour front also have strong outlooks, so booking a window table in advance is worth doing in season.
Both restaurants have amazing views, but for me, Porthmeor Cafe just edges it.
Do I need to book restaurants months in advance for St Ives?
For the most popular spots in peak summer, yes: several weeks ahead is sensible, and the very well-known places can fill up even earlier. Outside July and August, and outside weekends, you generally have much more flexibility to turn up and get a table.
Where is the oldest pub in St Ives?
The Sloop Inn, right on the harbour front, is one of the oldest and most historic pubs in town, with a history stretching back centuries. It’s a genuine local as well as a visitor spot, which is usually a good sign.
Are there good vegan and gluten-free dining options?
Yes, most cafés and restaurants in St Ives now cater reasonably well for vegan and gluten-free diets, reflecting how common these requests have become. It’s still worth checking ahead for smaller, more traditional spots where the menu may be more limited.
Is there a local brewery or gin distillery to visit?
There isn’t a working brewery within the old town itself, but plenty of pubs and bottle shops around St Ives stock a strong range of Cornish beers, gins and spirits from breweries and distilleries elsewhere in West Cornwall, so ask behind the bar for the current local favourite.
Read our complete guide to the best places to eat and drink in St Ives.
Guides
The Ultimate St Ives Travel Guide: 100+ Questions Answered
Planning Your Trip To St Ives
Walking & Exploring St Ives
An Art Lovers Guide To St Ives
Where To Eat In St Ives
Dog-Friendly St Ives
The Ultimate St Ives Beach Guide
Parking, Trains & Getting to St Ives
The best accessible places in St Ives
The best places to park in St Ives
The best things to do in St Ives
The best places to stay in St Ives
