Top St Ives restaurants & place to eat

St Ives is a very popular attraction for visitors to the West Country. Famed for its artist enclaves and picture-perfect harbour, narrow winding streets and the Tate St Ives (where there is a cafe with great views), this town also has a growing reputation as a haven for foodies with a huge range of St Ives restaurants and places to eat. 

If you are looking for places to eat in St Ives, this seaside town has it all! From a seafood supper, a spot of fine dining, a satisfying pub meal, or a simple pasty on the seafront, St Ives won’t send you home hungry. 

Unsurprisingly, Cornwall leads the way for seafood and St Ives certainly rewards seafood lovers; if you want a takeaway of freshly landed shellfish or a slap-up meal at a St Ives restaurant there are quite a few options you can try out. 

There are so many things to see and do in St Ives; read our guide so you get to know all about it. If you are planning a foodie holiday in St Ives, we’ve got an amazing collection of self-catering holiday cottages for you to choose from. Click on the button below to get yourself inspired.

Coast to Go: best for laidback meals with sea views

Enjoy a great meal at one of the top restaurants in St Ives,  Coast to Go. Relax with your friends and family and enjoy sea views across the bay to Godrevy Island at The Beach Restaurant. 

Situated along The Wharf, which skirts the harbour, this easy-going dining proposition is perfect for a relaxed affair. 

The menu is full of all the family favourites like burgers, pizzas, and a bold selection of delicious coffees. 

As well as dining in, you can also enjoy a takeaway and enjoy your lunch in St Ives as you wander along the seafront.

Custom House Pizza: best for rustic pizzas and West Country ciders

Sometimes all you need is a pizza. For over 50 years, this simple food delight has conquered the globe from Cape Town to Canada and back again; you can even get a decent pizza for you and your tribe at the Custom House Pizza House in the heart of St Ives. 

Offering authentic Italian-style pizzas with ciders, you won’t go home hungry; your eyes will pop out of your head when you see the number of toppings and variations available. 

If you fancy an easy-going treat, this is one of the top places to eat in St Ives. 

One Fish Street: best for freshly landed seafood

A trip to Cornwall, for many, includes a culinary excursion to a seafood restaurant. 

The Duchy is surrounded on three sides by open sea with fishing villages up and down the coast, so it stands to reason that the fish is delicious, fresh and abundant. 

One such example of Cornwall’s gourmet seafood restaurants is St Ives’ One Fish Street, which is located in the heart of the town. 

It’s not just the cod, herring, plaice, and turbot that lead the way here; there are oceans of shellfish to bolster the interesting menu. 

Be sure to book ahead to avoid missing out.

The Cornish Bakery: best for epic hot chocolates by the sea

The weather can’t be golden every single day; it wouldn’t make us treasure the times when the sun is out cracking the flagstones, would it? 

So, if it’s a tad cold or gloomy, cheer yourself up with a sweet hot chocolate from The Cornish Bakery. 

Close to the harbour, the sheer range of baked goods for a warm snack is immense here. 

This is the number one spot in St Ives for those of you that love a hot chocolate above all else.

Harbour Fish & Chips: best for traditional fish and chips by the sea

Seaside holidays historically revolve around the all-important trip to the local chippy. 

It’s a bit of a lottery finding the best place for a bag of chips and, when you arrive in a new town, you don’t have the benefit of local knowledge. 

Well, allow us to step in and vouch for Harbour Fish & Chips. Being down on the harbour guarantees that this place is always a popular spot but believe us when we say it's busy because it’s great, not because of its convenient location. 

This is one of the best places to eat in St Ives if you are looking for a simple takeaway option. If you are eating your chips out on the harbour, watch out for the divebombing seagulls – they are very sneaky.

The Beach Restaurant: best for fine dining

Do you want to eat in style on your holiday to Cornwall? 

When you feel like dressing up to get red-carpet ready for some fine dining, head to The Beach Restaurant. Located on The Wharf, you can enjoy sea views from table side as you indulge in some haute cuisine, Cornish style. 

The St Ives restaurant is open for lunchtimes and evenings with enticing surf and turf choices alongside a bold selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. 

There is a large selection of liqueurs and spirits, wines, and beers to choose from too to make your meal even more special.

Talay Thai Kitchen: best for something exotic

Fancy something hot? Getting spiced up is a certainty at Talay Thai Kitchen, one of Cornwall’s best-loved exotic restaurants. 

Book ahead to enjoy a slice of Bangkok in St Ives, with delicious favourites like pad Thai, green curry, and pad kee mao. You can also order your meal to be delivered or picked up for eating in the comfort of your holiday cottage. 

Look forward to the interesting choice of Thai lagers available that complement the food to a tee, making a trip to the Talay Thai Kitchen an informal treat for all the family.

Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage in St Ives

Now we’ve inspired your taste buds, why not consider staying at one of our self-catering holiday cottages in St Ives? 

We have some beautiful accommodation all perfect for an escape to this gorgeous part of Cornwall. Plan your break in the South West with us today.