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Things to do
Your Guide to St Ives
With its rocky outcrops and golden crescents, St Ives’ peninsula is awash with beach options that rival any in the world. Enjoy outstanding surf, powdery white sands, crystal waters and, of course, some of Cornwall’s best restaurants and cafés just a stone’s throw away. Here, we’ve rounded some of the best things to do in St Ives, whether it’s beaching, eating, shopping or simply chilling out.
Beaches in St Ives
The beaches of St Ives are known to rival others around the world; we’d recommend a dip in the sea or taking in the gorgeous sunsets!
Porthmeor Beach
Right outside our windows, sitting between the studios and the Atlantic Ocean is the sandy strip of Porthmeor Beach. Popular with swimmers and surfers, this beach is fabulously convenient – a couple of minutes’ walk from town and right beneath Tate St Ives and the delicious Porthmeor Café. There is a seasonal dog ban in place so make sure you check before bringing a furry friend along.
Porthminster Beach
The golden curve of Porthminster Beach has a definite tropical feel, with white sands and translucent waters. It looks out over Godrevy Lighthouse and deck chairs are available to rent. Less popular with the surfers, this is an ideal swimming beach and there are refreshments available from the Porthminster Beach Café. A seasonal dog ban is in place so check before you go.
Carbis Bay
Carbis Bay tends to remain quite calm in terms of surf, making it ideal for young families and swimmers. The beach bathes in the glittering light of West Cornwall and a short walk on the east side of the beach at low tide brings you to Porthkidney Sands, where you’ll find an RSPB bird sanctuary, an important habitat for sea birds. There is a seasonal dog ban in place on this beach.
Porthgwidden Beach
Small but perfectly formed, this sheltered sun trap is a popular choice for families and sun worshippers alike. Located just below the Island carpark, Porthgwidden is a convenient picnic spot close to town and is served by the lovely Porthgwidden Café right on the beach. A seasonal dog ban is in place here.
Bamaluz Beach
Bringing a 4-legged friend? Bamaluz beach is the only all year round dog friendly beach in St Ives town, so it’s perfect spot for them to lap up the waves. Situated between the harbour and Porthgwidden beach, Bamaluz often goes un-noticed by the majority of visitors so if you’re lucky it can be fairly quiet!
Porthkidney Sands
Porthkidney Sands is a north-facing beach at the mouth of the Hayle Estuary, 2 miles from St Ives. At low tide the beach can stretch almost a mile out to sea and is backed by picturesque sand dunes. The beach is dog friendly all year round, but they must be kept on a lead on the footpath.
Eating & Drinking
Nestled in the town’s historic corners or sipping sundowners on balconies overlooking the beach, St Ives foodies have the pick of the restaurants, bars, cafes and, of course, the iconic Cornish pasty.
Porthmeor Beach Cafe
Dine al fresco on Porthmeor Beach Café’s buzzing terrace or cosied in one of their heated booths above the sand. Its west facing location on Porthmeor Beach makes it the perfect spot for sundowners, people watching and checking the surf. The café serves breakfast, lunch, tapas and dinner using the freshest and finest ingredients, locally sourced where possible.
Talay Thai Kitchen
Overlooking the stunning St Ives harbour is an authentic Thai kitchen. With both a lounge area where you can enjoy delicious cocktails and mocktails and a stunning upstairs kitchen with sea views, you can work your way through their tapas style menu – perfect for sharing and a great way to experience the amazing tastes and flavours that South East Asia has to offer.
Silco Bar & Kitchen
Sat beside the harbour, Silco is the perfect relaxing social space, where you can enjoy food and drink in equal measures. Everything is made from scratch at Silco and they use local free range ingredients, sourced by trusted suppliers. The menu features an array of flavourful, internationally-inspired small plates, including Singapore crab fries, Katsu chicken, tamarind and coconut fish curry.
Harbour View House
Nestled at the top of St Ives overlooking the harbour, this position gives Harbour View House the advantage of being just far enough away from the town to enjoy some peace while also being just moments from all that St Ives has to offer. Open everyday, with a happy hour 4-6pm, enjoy a delicious food and drink menu; from breakfast to lunch to dinner, plus live music at the weekend!
Porthminster Kitchen
Porthminster Kitchen enjoys awe-inspiring panoramic views from its location. From your vantage point above the harbour, relax on their terrace, or gaze out from huge windows and take in the 180° view. They have a playful take on Cornish cuisine, with smaller plates and lighter options which combine global flavours, fresh local ingredients and creative cooking.
Porthgwidden Cafe
Cafes on the beach in St Ives don’t get much better. Porthgwidden could be called a hidden gem as both its cafe and restaurant are tucked away beneath the steep grassy slopes of St Ives “Island”, right on the beach with unbeatable and uninterrupted views. Have a casual breakfast and coffee or enjoy their classic crab linguine or fish and chips in the restaurant.
Cintra Seafood Bar
Cintra pays homage to the vessel and crew of Great Gale, who sadly met its fate in St Ives Bay in 1893. The Cintra anchor and its memorial can be found on Smeaton’s Pier just near the bar today. Quality and sustainability is at the heart of Cintra’s menu – you can enjoy a huge range of seafood inspired dishes, from oysters to monkfish, scallops to hake.
Onzo Pizzeria
New for 2024, ONZO is a Neapolitan pizzeria on the harbourfront of St Ives. Served daily in the restaurant or to take away, are fresh handmade pizzas, made from scratch, and cooked in an authentic pizza oven – viewable from the open-plan kitchen. Alongside pizzas are other complimentary Italian dishes and a selection of carefully curated drinks including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
The Sloop Inn
One of Cornwall’s oldest and most famous Inns, favourite haunt of locals, fishermen, and artists, believed to date from around 1312 AD, the Sloop Inn is situated right on the harbour front at St Ives with only a cobbled forecourt separating it from the sea. Along with rooms to stay, the Sloop offers a mixture of hot and cold food and you can enjoy a range of drinks and quite often live music!
Activities and Sightseeing
There is such as a variety of activities in St Ives, from paddle boarding to pottery, watching live music to hiking (plus that all important art course you’ve been meaning to book…) Take your pick and nail that perfect holiday itinerary.
Take a surf lesson
Take a ride on the wild side with St Ives Surf School. Based just near the School at Porthmeor Beach, they provide a range of bespoke or group surf lessons and coaching from Porthmeor Beach, Paddleboarding tuition, sea kayaking tours and even coasteering adventures.
Visit the Island and Chapel
Sat between Porthmeor and Porthgwidden beaches, the grassy peninsula boasts stunning views across St Ives and beyond. You can also explore the The Chapel of St Nicholas, one of many chapels in Cornwall dedicated to seafarers, dating back to the fifteenth century.
Visit the Tate St Ives
Overlooking Porthmeor Beach, with views reaching far out across the ocean, Tate St Ives showcases work by artists including Barbara Hepworth, Marlow Moss, Naum Gabo and Patrick Heron, whose captivating works have brought international attention to St Ives and West Cornwall.
Walk the St Ives to Lelant Coast Path
A walk to blow away the cobwebs, travel alongside the railway line high above St Ives Bay, through an area noted for rare wildflowers, migratory birds and novelist Dame Rosemunde Pilcher OBE. There is not too much ascent or descent but the path can be exposed to sea winds so wear warm clothing.
Visit Seal Island or take a boat trip
The many boat trips from the harbour are a great way to see St Ives from a different aspect, as well as doing some seal-spotting. The boat trips operate throughout the day during the season (in good weather), departing from whichever point in the harbour the tide allows. Great views and fresh sea air are guaranteed.
Make your own pottery
Founded by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada 1920, The Leach Pottery reopened to the public as a Museum, Shop and Studio in 2008. Try your hand at throwing during one of their 3 day throwing courses, discover potters through their exhibitions or take in the incredible history in their studios and when visiting the museum.
Places to shop
From special souvenirs, perfect gifts or a present to yourself, to food and treats to sweeten your Cornish adventure, St Ives has an abundance of shops for you to explore.
St Ives Bookseller
“We have a very small space in which we try to fit exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for,” says manager Alice Harandon. A stone’s throw from the harbour, the store has a loyal customer base among locals and returning holidaymakers.
Academy & Co.
Founded in 2007, Academy & Co is an independent clothing and lifestyle store featuring a thoughtful selection of delectably different products, including men’s and women’s fashion, books, ceramics, fragrance, stationery and much more.
Seasalt
Seasalt’s story began in a tiny shop in Penzance, selling smocks, workwear and pullovers to the local fishing population (and artists!) Since 2001, they have been selling simple comfortable clothing inspired by Cornwall’s historic workforce.
Common Wanderer
A destination for the design- and earth-conscious alike, The Common Wanderer provides quality outdoor apparel and hardware fit that champions sustainability and function. Happy exploring!
Off The Beaten Track
Our list wouldn’t be complete without a surf shop, and Off The Beaten Track is stacked with surfing essentials including surfboards, wetsuits, hoods, boots as well as clothing from a range of surf brands.
Oska
Oska’s chic lines and sumptuous colour palettes have gained them quite a reputation. Browse their collection for contemporary design that is elegant, unique and sustainable.
St Ives Farmers Market
Open every Monday from 9:30am-2pm, the Market takes pride in its local ethos, reducing food miles and promoting connections between St Ives’ community and the environment. Pop by for anything from groceries to pottery, cakes and out-of-this-world curries.
Roly’s Fudge Pantry
Roly’s Fudge Pantry’s delicious artisan fudge is prepared in traditional copper pans right in front of you in their shop on Fore Street. The Roly’s classic flavours use natural and authentic ingredients and make an ideal gift – if not eaten in transit. They’re generous with their tasters too!
St Ives Bakery
Their window might be a confection of light pink meringues and chunky rocky road, but St Ives Bakery is serious about its pasties. You can go short or flaky on the pastry and choose from a variety of fillings – from the traditional steak to a selection of vegetarian options.