08 Jan Porthmeor Beach Cafe St Ives – A Good Place to Eat in Cornwall
At first I wanted to call this article “Eating in St Ives”, following the same idea as my “Eating in…” posts from Andalucia.
But then I realized something.
During my time in St Ives I only had one proper meal and two small disappointments in the form of fish and chips.
So instead of writing a general article about eating in St Ives, I decided to focus on the place where I had the best meal during my stay and then briefly mention my fish and chips experience.
Also I will try to keep this post shorter than usual. This morning I realized I still have around 44 articles to write just about my last two trips, and there are still older travel stories waiting to be published.
Dinner at Porthmeor Beach Cafe
So how did I end up eating at Porthmeor Beach Cafe?
After a full day of driving around Cornwall and visiting Mawgan Porth and the spectacular Bedruthan Steps, I finally reached my accommodation in St Ives.
From my accommodation I could already see the beach.
It was only about 200 meters away in a straight line, so I knew immediately what I had to do.
Even though I had not eaten anything all day, I decided that the first thing I needed to do was watch the sunset over the beach.
So I walked down to the beach, took some photos — some of my favorite pictures from the entire holiday — and then noticed a restaurant just a few meters away.
That was Porthmeor Beach Cafe.
Luckily for me, evenings usually require reservations, but since I was alone and only wanted a quick dinner they managed to find a table for me until the reserved guests arrived.
The Setting – Dining Right on the Beach
I immediately liked the look of the place.
There is something magical about restaurants located directly on the beach. Whether it is a house or a restaurant, the proximity to the sea adds something special.
Porthmeor Beach Cafe has two main areas:
an outdoor terrace overlooking the beach
an indoor space with large glass windows facing the sea
During summer the terrace must be amazing, but that evening there was some wind so I ended up sitting inside.
Still, thanks to the glass walls, the view of the beach and the waves was just as beautiful.
The staff were fantastic.
Young, friendly, smiling and very polite. They made me feel welcome from the moment I sat down.
The Food – Simple but Excellent
Since I had not eaten anything all day I ordered quite a lot:one main dish, two tapas, one beer.
The total bill came to £25.95, which I honestly thought was extremely reasonable considering: the location right on the beach, the view, the quality of the food, the overall atmosphere.
The food was excellent.
And I am not saying that just because I was hungry.
Everything tasted fresh and balanced. I remember thinking how clearly I could taste every ingredient and how well they worked together.
Interestingly enough, I realized afterwards that there was no meat in my dinner, yet the meal felt perfectly satisfying.
Dinner at Porthmeor Beach Cafe
I honestly cannot find anything negative to say about this place.
If I return to St Ives in the future, I will definitely eat here again.
Fish and Chips in St Ives
Because I spent most of my days driving and exploring Cornwall, I did not really spend time researching restaurants.
Instead, on a couple of evenings when I returned tired after long days of walking and driving, I simply grabbed some fish and chips.
One time I ate at The Beach, where fish and chips and a crab sandwich cost me around £16.
Fish and chips at The Beach
Another time I ate at The Balancing Eel, where fish and chips cost around £6.75.
Fish and chips at The Balancing Eel
Now I do not want to offend anyone, but personally fish and chips is simply not for me.
The thick fried crust around the fish just feels too heavy. After trying it once, I ended up removing most of the crust and eating only the cod inside.
England Has Much Better Food Than Fish and Chips
There is a common idea that England has bad food.
I have even said that myself in the past.
But this trip really changed my perspective.
England actually has excellent food: fresh seafood, great cheeses, pies, quality butter, locally caught fish.
So if you visit places like Cornwall, my suggestion is simple:
Try the fresh seafood.
Eat mackerel, crab, cod, crab soup or a fresh crab sandwich.
You will enjoy it much more than traditional fish and chips.
Final Thoughts
My experience at Porthmeor Beach Cafe was one of the highlights of my stay in St Ives.
Great food, friendly staff, reasonable prices and a beautiful setting right on the beach.
If you find yourself in St Ives, I strongly recommend stopping here for a meal.
Sit near the glass wall or outside on the terrace and enjoy the waves crashing onto the beach.
And if you are lucky enough to arrive around sunset, the entire place glows with warm light and becomes even more beautiful.
A beer after a long day exploring Cornwall
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