Best restaurants in St Ives

In a setting that wouldn’t look out of place on a postcard, this cafe offers panoramic views of St Ives Bay, and a menu which runs the gamut from fresh fish dishes to vegetarian options.

Forget sand covered sandwiches in your beach picnic and instead opt for this beachside restaurant. Coastal chic interiors are supported by serene views and a menu of seafood dishes which borrows from the global larder.

Sometimes you just want a decent steak or a big plate of fish and chips, and it's here that Firehouse Bar & Grill delivers. Bag a seat at one of the windows for great views of the harbour. 

A sibling to the ever-popular Porthminster Beach Cafe, this smart restaurant offers an all-day menu which is underpinned by seasonal, local produce. 180 degree views of the harbour make for the perfect dining backdrop too.

Relaxed yet atmospheric, Little Palais sells top-notch wine, artisanal cocktails and a small menu of cheese and charcuterie plates, plus nibbly sharing bits. Ask for pairing recommendations too, the staff are always happy to oblige. 

This secluded restaurant just out of St Ives is testament to the premise that if food is good, crowds will come in droves. Expect globally inspired pub grub that is a far cry from your typical pint and pork pie.

Found on The Digey, one of St Ives’ most famous and most beautiful streets, Source Kitchen’s reliably good seasonally changing menu turns out freshly-baked pastries in the morning followed by delectable sharing plates come nightfall.

Doing what it says on the tin, this deceptively large dining room serves up some of the finest fish dishes in St Ives. There’s a kids menu too, so it’s suitable for all the family.

Less beachside cool and more Parisian chic, this cosy subterranean restaurant is a great choice for a romantic supper. Expect a menu featuring fish caught that same day, plus other classics like sirloin steak.

Allow yourself to be swept up by Harbour Kitchen’s colourful interiors and terrace overlooking the ocean. As for food, expect seasonally changing dishes which make the most of Cornwall’s natural larder.

Take a rustic first floor dining room, buckets of wonderfully fresh crab and 100 different kinds of rum from all over the world, and it seems you have the recipe for a lively, fun restaurant.

That rare restaurant which works for both date night and family dinners, The Mermaid is a long-standing St Ives staple which impresses with its menu of locally caught fresh seafood and well considered wine list.

Tucked away at the top of the town, this is one of St Ives' best kept secrets. The pared back dining room offers stunning views over the harbour, and the seasonal tapas is really very good.

Boasting a stunning terrace with views across the bay, The Loft is popular with locals and visitors alike. The menu is unpretentious yet sophisticated, while a children’s menu and veggie options ensure all feel welcome.

This St Ives mainstay defies all ‘greasy burger joint’ expectations with its fastidiously sourced beef, hand-cut chips, indulgent desserts and plentiful vegetarian and vegan options. Who ever said fast food had to be low quality?

Adam Handling’s Ugly Butterfly concept has settled in the luxury Carbis Bay Estate in Cornwall, just a mile from St Ives. Aside from a stunning coastal setting and jaw dropping views, Handling’s restaurant offers access to the Estate’s private beach and promenade. Expect typically inventive cooking that features plenty of local produce - not just fish and seafood but also Cornish Gouda, locally foraged ingredients and Saint Ewe eggs.

Unpretentious and fairly priced, this family-run haunt has been thrilling locals and tourists alike since 1957. The accessible, crowd pleasing menu ranges from traditional fish and chips to hearty fish pies, plus indulgent desserts too.

Come for the stunning alfresco beachside setting (perfect for watching the sunset) and stay for the menu of lively tapas which champions local produce. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a dolphin or two.

Fragrant plates of Thai curries and small sharing starters keep this place packed out in summer when holiday makers crave a change from seafood. With a first floor dining room, there are great views to be had too. 

This imaginative fine-dining restaurant has a fish focus, and uses the very best of the bay to keep diners well fed. Dishes have an international lean. Think hand dived Orkney scallops with rare breed pork.

This chippy may have a quirky name, but everything else here is resolutely traditional. Expect a no-frills menu of high-quality fish suppers at reassuringly reasonable prices, while friendly service cements Balancing Eel as a must-try.