Phillack - Restaurant Guide

“Constantly a No.1 choice in St Ives” for its many fans even after three decades – Aussie chef Mick Smith’s whitewashed café on the beach has an undeniably “lovely setting, especially if sunny and not pelting with rain”, and “spectacular” views across to Godrevy Lighthouse across the bay. While not the culinary beacon it once was in this neck of the woods, it achieves very consistently supportive ratings: fish is the main event on the now slightly “limited” menu, which combines Asian and Mediterranean influences.

2025 Review: A “great view of the beach” (particularly from the deck) and across the bay to Godrevy Lighthouse in the distance has long been the major draw to this seaside café; while the food isn’t quite what it once was (breakfast is take-away only these days), it does its job, with dishes like crab linguine and fish ‘n’ chips playing up the local catch. PS – if you’re making a day of it, they also rent out 36 brightly coloured beachside ‘pods’ or shacks, allowing you to store your beach kit and refuel at this restaurant without the hassle of carting your valuables with you.

“Great fresh fish, good wine list and friendly service – all with a view of St Ives harbour”: this sibling to the Porthminster Café from Aussie-born chef Mick Smith is one of the better venues in a town “stuffed with restaurants, most of them not worth the bother – this one is, with modern British fare that’s both consistent and good”.

This “lovely café” with “a view you won’t forget” is an “amazing spot for coffee, cakes and lunch” through the day, but “at its best on a sunny evening when the tide is out and the surfers are at play”. The food (from a menu whose inspiration flits from Cornwall to Spain, Mexico, the Middle East, Thailand and Japan) is “much better than at other over-hyped St Ives haunts”.

2023 Review: “Simply all that you could desire of a gastropub” – this attractive twelfth-century inn welcomes everyone from walkers from the nearby SW Coast Path near St Michael’s Mount to dog walkers with its enjoyable bistro-style food – “good Sunday lunch” in particular.

2024 Review: Set within a “beautiful sculpture park” outside Penzance hosting works by art-world stars James Turrell and Richard Long amongst others, this pleasant eight-year-old restaurant offers an “excellent selection of vegetarian dishes” (but not just) and classic cream teas. Stop in for the “lovely brunch and then walk it off” in the grounds – or else grab a takeaway from their hut, and picnic on the hill with views of St Michael’s Mount.

“Penzance’s best restaurant, with a good use of local produce” – so say fans of Bruce Rennie’s 10-seater where he serves and cooks by himself at a big, 10-seat table where diners eat each night in a single sitting. Fish is the main event, with the meal focused on the best of the catch landed daily in Newlyn. No walk-ins, as the fish is purchased in the morning for the number of reservations.

Famous bright-yellow inn with a “fabulous and out-of-the-way location” near Land’s End plus “log fires in the winter”, and oft-mentioned in lists of the UK’s best country pubs. There’s little doubt that it coasts (ho ho) a bit and can always rely on its amazing setting on a desolate stretch of the Atlantic shore. It shares ownership with the Felin Fach Griffin in Wales and The Old Coastguard in nearby Mousehole. Top Tip – “sit at a table in the bar area for the best atmosphere”.

“Always-wonderful fish” is the lure to Ben Tunnicliffe’s beamed 1800s gastroboozer, right by Newlyn harbour wall and fish market. Some diners feel it’s a tad “expensive”, but otherwise the tenor of all reports is upbeat.

“This place is very popular and delightful”, according to fans of Jude Kereama’s harbourside restaurant with rooms, whose interesting menus reflect his Kiwi/Asian heritage. One or two reporters tip its cheaper sibling though (“Kota Kai is better value… and has better views!”)

Jude Kereama’s second venue – sister to nearby Kota – occupies the top floor of Celtic House with views across Porthleven harbour from most tables. Its menu is well-rated and mixes ‘Mini Kai’ of smaller bites (such as Duck bao bun or Tempura Porthilly oysters) with main plates of items such as Seafood Laksa or Panko Hake Fillet.

Cornish-born chef Stew Eddy and wife Anna run this diminutive harbourside bistro in a former fishing village with growing foodie cred; there’s some “excellent eating” to be had that makes the most of the local larder, and “menus are being further developed”. The pair also run the adjoining deli and ice-cream shop if you feel like changing location for dessert.

2025 Review: “One to return to for its comfort and lovely views (even in winter)” of St Michael’s Mount and the Lizard – this Cornish seaside hotel with its “buzzy” bar/café is from the same stable as the not-far-distant Gurnard’s Head and the well-known Felin Fach Griffin in Wales. It wins praise for “capable gastropub-quality cooking” and its “buzzy style”. Top Tip – “great Sunday lunch”.

“The food is always tasty and hearty” at this picture-book, 300-year-old inn, named for its situation, just yards from the Helford estuary and its foot ferry across the water. Perhaps “it’s a shame the specials menu doesn’t vary a bit more”, but you do receive “good pub food done well with a formula that seems to work” and it’s “a safe pair of hands for a great meal in a beautiful setting”.

2023 Review: This “glorious spot” by the sea, close to the SW coastal path and with a front-conservatory to take advantage of sea views, was taken over by high-profile chef Michael Caines of Lympstone Manor in 2020. Quell hopes of any culinary fireworks, though – reports here didn’t hit the heights this year, with the experience too often “let down by chaotic service and pedestrian food”.

Chef Tom Sellers is the name behing this Cornish 2026 opening at the Carbis Bay Estate in St Ives, which echoes his 2019 pop-up, Story by the Sea, nearby. The focus for the menu will be a raw bar and charcoal grill, with a locally sourced offering including hand-dived scallops, day boat fish, ex-dairy beef and produce grown in an on-site kitchen garden. Sample dishes include Cornish crab with steamed milk buns; and Nori-wrapped mackerel escabeche with English wasabi and young ginger.

2022 Review: Ben Prior relocated to St Ives after 10 years in Marazion at the highly rated Ben’s Cornish Kitchen (RIP), and in May 2021 he helped re-open the dining room at this small hotel overlooking Porthminster Beach (at whose cafe he’s now head chef) having installed Grant Nethercote as head chef. Reports please!

2024 Review: “A real find” – this “outstanding small eats” spot has an open kitchen which sources its fish, seafood, beef, charcuterie, salad leaves, potatoes, pinot noir, rosé, beer, cider, gin, vodka, rum, soft drinks and more from Cornwall – “keep up the good work”, say fans, who apparently include Rick Stein!

2022 Review: Perched on top of Porthleven harbour, this hip two-year-old café-kiosk is run by Kelvin Batt, also behind the Porthleven Food Festival (the name is a play on the famous Alabama recording studio where The Rolling Stones laid down tracks). The tiny kitchen turns out “tasty” French bistro-style food such as moules-frites – for the full effect you can opt to eat on a pontoon in the harbour.