Found right against the coast, Ardor is a restaurant from renowned chef Dorian Janmaat who brings Iberian and Mediterranean flavours and dining styles to the heart of St Ives in Cornwall. Here, you can expect menus packed full of pintxos, tapas, and plates from the Josper grill, all made with fresh Cornish seafood, dry aged meats and raw ingredients. Ardor is the perfect every-occasion dining spot, whether you’re planning a light lunch, leisurely drinks and snacks, or a weekend meal with family and friends.
Janmaat’s childhood was split between living in Ibiza and Cornwall, spending his late teens studying at Cornwall College before spending 9 years working under the revered Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir. He returned to Cornwall in 2020 as the Executive Head Chef at Idle Rocks where he won several awards. Ardor is his first solo project and is heavily inspired by his Mediterranean background.
Ardor showcases a sophisticated yet simple interior design that gives the space a laid-back feel. Cool stone tones work with stripped-back and earthy table settings and crockery to complement the food on offer. When it comes to the menus, Dorian expertly melds flavours from across the basin alongside some of the more familiar tastes of Cornwall. Small plates are simple, yet refined, highlighting the brilliance of this local produce. Expect the likes of feta flatbread with roasted peppers and pine nuts, crispy salt cod with piquillo pepper salsa, and duroc pork belly pintxos with romesco sauce.
The name of the restaurant originates from the Latin word for heat and passion reflecting the spirit of this part of the world as well as alluding to the fact that many of the dishes on the menu here are cooked over a charcoal fire grill. Here, you can enjoy dishes such as chargrilled octopus, sirloin steak on the bone, and monkfish and prawn skewers, which have come straight off the grill.