Porthminster Beach Cafe

Featured reviews

• C

  claire constantine

  ·3 months ago

  “Such a gem of a place to eat in ST. Ives and about as close to the beach as you can get. I love this place. And the food so fresh and tasty. Can only recommend to eat in this beautiful place and location..”

• M

  MISS NAGYOVA

  ·4 months ago

  “Our dinner last night at Porthminster Beach Cafe was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. We were warmly welcomed and seated by the window with our dog, giving us the most beautiful views of the beach and creating the perfect dining experience. The food was exceptional. We started with beautifully presented prawn dumplings and scallops, both absolutely delicious. For mains we enjoyed the catch of the day which was cod served with asparagus and mash, perfectly cooked and full of flavour. Desserts were equally impressive. The yuzu posset with Thai green curry sorbet was unique and exquisite, while the strawberries with strawberry sorbet, shortbread and mascarpone were fresh and indulgent. The Australian Riesling, the wine of the month, was fantastic and very generously gifted to us by Mick Smith, the owner and amazing executive chef. The service throughout the evening was professional, friendly and attentive, making us feel genuinely welcome. This was our fourth visit over the years while holidaying in St. Ives, and every single time our experience has been outstanding in every way. Thank you for another perfect evening! Mick, your restaurant truly is the best in St. Ives!”

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• C

  Christopher C

  ·4 months ago

  “Lovely restaurant on the beach Summer marine vibe inside Ceviche as a starter …but more of a carpaccio..the fish was perfect but 1-2c too warm..and the dressing was really poor. pretty much tasteless And tiny tiny portion, strangely Then half lobster with fries …very nice and fresh , tasty sauce and good fries …(I would cook the lobster 90 Seconds less IMO) Lots of good wines by the glass ..kudos to the owners for that . Charming service Overall, a great experience Would I go back ? You bet Bravo .”

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• K

  Kat T

  ·4 months ago

  “We visited this restaurant for dinner and ordered oysters, mussels, lobster, and steak. Every dish was excellent - fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The location is also stunning, with breathtaking views of Porthminster Beach. Unfortunately, the service did not live up to the quality of the food or the setting. We and another couple asked whether we could be seated at one of the tables by the sea, but were told that those tables had been reserved six months in advance. While we understand the need to honor reservations, it was disappointing to see that half of the window tables remained empty throughout our meal and were still unoccupied when we left at 7:30 pm, even though the restaurant closed at 8:00 pm. Another disappointment was the staff’s apparent reluctance for guests to enjoy the view from the balcony. They seemed far more concerned with keeping the windows spotless than with helping guests appreciate one of the restaurant’s greatest assets—the spectacular ocean view. Overall, the food and location were outstanding, but the service left us feeling that the dining experience could have been managed much better.”

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• Y

  Yuhang LIU

  ·4 months ago

  “Porthminster Beach Café was one of the highlights of my time in St Ives. The Monkfish Curry was every bit as good as its reputation. Rich, fragrant and beautifully balanced, with tiger prawns, mussels, tamarind, turmeric and coconut bringing plenty of depth without overwhelming the fish itself. The monkfish was perfectly cooked, firm and meaty, and the jasmine rice was ideal for soaking up every last bit of the sauce. The real surprise for me, however, was the St Ives Bay lobster from the day’s specials. Exceptionally fresh, sweet and full of flavour, it was a wonderful reminder of just how good Cornish seafood can be when it’s landed locally and simply prepared. The setting speaks for itself, with stunning views across Porthminster Beach, but what really completed the experience was the staff. Every member of the team was warm, welcoming and genuinely enthusiastic about the menu. Their recommendations were spot on and made choosing from such an appealing menu much easier. There were several other dishes I would have loved to try, but unfortunately my appetite didn’t quite match my ambitions. That’s probably the best reason I can think of to return next time I’m in St Ives. Highly recommended！”

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• T

  Thais Ben

  ·4 months ago

  “Having found Porthminster Beach Cafe on the Michelin guide we decided to visit. All of the food was exceptional and we were very happy with the selection we chose. Great selection of drinks including some good whiskey. Highly recommend.”

• P

  P C

  ·5 months ago

  “We were in St Ives for a week and Porthminster Beach Cafe was really our favourite restaurant. The produce were great and the cooking was fantastic and the view of the beachfront made the experience unforgettable. Parking, however, was not easy. It’s about 5 mins walk from the Railway car park but that car park was usually full. We had to cancel our last reservation after waiting 30 mins for a car park. Will be back when we return to St Ives.”

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• V

  Virginia Lyons

  ·5 months ago

  “A very lovely restaurant with amazing sea views. The amaretto sour cocktail was delicious. I had the asparagus soup to start followed by a oyster mushroom and broad bean risotto, both vegan. The food was fresh and tasty. The rest of the group had mussels which they said were probably the best they’ve ever had. Highly recommend.”

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• É

  Étáin O Dwyer

  ·6 months ago

  “We had a gorgeous meal here over Easter weekend! Every course was presented beautifully and had such amazing flavours, and there was a great wine selection. The views from the restaurant are gorgeous, would 100% recommend to anyone visiting St Ives ❤️”

• H

  Helen Plumridge

  ·6 months ago

  “We have returned to the Porthminster time and time again because the food is delicious and the view is spectacular. Fish dishes all fab. The tomahawk steak was a winner this time as was the honey tart with blue cheese paired with a sweet port ~ yum! We didn't agree with the £50 service charge and reduced it to £25 as our bill was c£400 for 6 of us. Plus the service is friendly and efficient but it doesn't go the extra mile. Overall however ~ highly recommended restaurant 😋”

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