The Ultimate Guide to St Ives

If you have already been to St Ives then you will know how lovely it is, but if you haven’t, then you are in for a treat. Yes, it’s busy in the summer holidays and for New Year’s Eve (we went thinking it would be very peaceful, little did we know it’s the 3rd place in the UK to go, to see in the New Year) but ignoring the popularity of the place, it really is wonderful.

If you are fortunate to be there on a glorious sunny day and can sit outside with a drink or two and watch the world go by, you really do feel you have been swept further away than just Cornwall. With beautiful cobbled streets, delightful boutiques and too many pubs, restaurants and bars to visit in a short break, it really is a great UK staycation.

St Ives boasts 5 beaches, so you can usually find a quiet spot to sit and watch the waves even in the busier months (one thing to note, is that from Easter Sunday to the 1st October dogs are only allowed on one beach, which is the smallest, so you may need to have an early start to your day to get a good spot.)

We have also been lucky and have seen a seal swimming in the harbour and a pod of dolphins swimming out to sea, so keep your eyes peeled while relaxing on the beach.

Where to stay

We usually stay in an Airbnb so that we have a dog-friendly, self-catering accommodation but there is plenty of accommodation in the town to choose from. The only thing to be mindful of is parking. You will be lucky to get a place with parking, however there are many car parks located just a short walk from the town so you should be able to get a spot no matter where you are staying.

Hotels and B&B’s

• St Ives Harbour Hotel
• Trevose house
• The Olive Branch
• 27 The Terrace

Holiday letting companies

• Cornish Gems
• St Ives holidays
• Cornish Horizons
• Aspects Holidays

Luxury stays

• Boutique Retreats
• Sand and Stone Escapes (check out black moon!)
• The Tide House
• Wella

Things to do in St Ives

If you are anything like me and it’s a sunny day when you go, then just relaxing on the beach, watching the waves and eating fish and chips (why not take a bottle of prosecco with you as well, you’re on your holiday after all) is the most perfect day. However, if that’s not your cup of tea or the weather isn’t great, there is so much to do in St Ives to explore the local area.

• Walk to Carbis Bay – This is an easy 2 mile walk following footpath signs out of St Ives to Carbis bay and down to the beach
• Walk the Coast path to Zennor – This is more of a challenging walk following the coast path out of St Ives to Zennor, however halfway you will see the Tinners Arms for a rest and refreshments.
• Walk the coast path to Penzance or Marazion – This is a bigger walk to do but you can always catch a bus or taxi back to St Ives after. You can spend the rest of the day exploring St Michaels Mount when you get there too.
• Shopping – There are beautiful independent shops and high street home and clothes shops along the cobbled paths of St Ives to explore so make sure you have your money ready to spend.

• Harbour Amusements – It’s only a small one and never too busy but has some great 2p machines and games which are sure to bring a smile onto your face whether you are a child or a child at heart.
• The Tate – Well known for displaying lots of beautiful modern art and overlooking the glorious Porthmeor Beach, this is a great visit if you are wanting to inspire your artistic side.
• Boat trips – There are numerous boat trips to take in St Ives which is always a fun idea and with the hope of seeing seals or dolphins it’s definitely worth it.
• Surfing – There is a surf school offering lessons to surf, paddleboard, kayak and coasteering which is always popular with locals and tourists.

Places to eat

I’m not sure about you, but when we go away I’m always excited to try out new restaurants and you are in luck as St Ives has plenty of options. Here is a list of my favourite places to go to.

• Blas Burgerworks – this is probably one of our favourite places to eat. You will be lucky to get a table for dinner in here due to the tiny size of the restaurant but don’t worry if not, as they do takeaways. So go and order your food and enjoy a drink in a local pub before picking up your food. If it’s a lovely evening you could always go and eat your dinner on the beach!
• Porthmeor Beach Cafe – This is our favourite place to have a cocktail and watch the sunset. It is opposite the Tate and overlooks Porthmeor beach so it’s a great spot at kicking back and watching surfers. The menu has more of a tapas feel to it but sometimes after a long day relaxing on the beach, just picking at food as you watch the world go by is just perfect. They also do a great breakfast.
• Rum and Crap shack – Do you like Rum? Do you like Crap? Well, this is the place for you! Even if you answered no to both of those questions, don’t worry, you will still find lots of wonderful things to eat. They do a mix of seafood, meat and vegetarian food so there is something for everyone on their menu. The only downside I would say is that they don’t have anywhere outside to sit, so not the place to enjoy a meal in the sun.
• St Ives Harbour Hotel – We have never eaten here to be honest but for no reason other than we normally stay a few nights and always end up going to our favourite places. They have a small ‘rooftop’ seating area which is usually quiet, so it’s lovely for a drink in the evening as the sun goes down (is there a theme starting to appear…)

• Hub – Easy food in a chilled out vibe. If you want burgers, beers and sausages then look no further. They have a great view overlooking the harbour so its a good place on a rainy day where you can look out to sea but be in the warmth. Another great place for breakfast as well with your classic menu of full English and bacon sandwiches.
• Talay Thai Kitchen – We love Thai food so always take the opportunity to get a Thai when we find one. It has a great menu of classic Thai dishes and some you may have not tried before and all in a beautiful setting. They also do takeaways so if you fancy a night in your pajamas instead, you can always still enjoy their food at home.
• Beer and Bird – One of those places that say exactly what they do on the tin. They offer a huge selection of different beers and you guessed it, a mouth-watering selection of chicken dishes.
• Firehouse – Surprisingly this place is dog friendly which you wouldn’t first think of from the outside. Inside its very contemporary and offers a gin bar (need I say more) and a mix of grilled meats, pizza and veggie options.