Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Where to Eat
Alba Restaurant
BRITISH Situated in the former lifeboat building on
the wharf, Alba has quickly established a reputation for fine modern British food. It's
set over two floors, the upper of which has fine sea views, while the lower gives you
the opportunity to watch the chefs at work. Local produce such as Cornish beef is
served with roast shallots and a red-wine jus, while Cornish crab is served with lin-
guine with chili and basil. There are separate menus for vegetarians and for children,
and set lunches offer good value.
Old Lifeboat House, The Wharf.
&
01736/797222.
www.thealbarestaurant.com. AE, MC, V. Main
courses £12-£19. Daily noon-2:30pm and 5:30-9:30pm.
Porthminster Beach Café
SEAFOOD This upmarket beachside cafe spe-
cializes in local seafood and stunning sea views. The daily changing menu has Asian
and Mediterranean influences, and dishes might include line-caught sea bass, fried
cuttlefish with black spices and citrus miso, or Parmesan baked sardines. Desserts
range from caramel bananas to rich chocolate--and-orange crème brûlée
served with
marmalade ice cream. It's also open for coffee in the mornings.
Porthminster Beach.
&
01736/795352.
www.porthminstercafe.co.uk. Reservations recommended.
Main courses £8.75-£19. MC, V. Daily from 9am for coffee, then food served noon-4pm and 6-10pm.
Shopping
St. Ives has some of the best shopping in Cornwall, with plenty of good-quality beach
and outdoor wear stores as well as galleries and shops selling local arts, crafts, gifts,
and food. The main shopping street is cobblestoned Fore Street, with plenty of quaint
shops hiding in little streets at the bottom of the hill. Along The Wharf by the harbor
is the
Fishermen's Co-operative
store (
&
01736/796276;
www.fishermens
co-op.co.uk), selling all sorts of outdoor and waterproof clothing for the changeable
weather. A
Farmers' Market
is held every Thursday on The Stennack.
Entertainment & Nightlife
St. Ives is full of pubs and bars, with a couple of small nightclubs. For more relaxed
entertainment, head to
St. Ives Jazz Club
at The Western Hotel, Royal Square
(
&
01736/798061
;
www.stivesjazzclub.com) on Tuesday evenings, where you can
enjoy modern jazz.
The Royal Cinema
(
&
01736/796843;
www. stives.merlin
cinemas.co.uk), a small cinema on The Stannack, Royal Square, shows latest releases.
The best pubs around this area include the
Gurnard's Head
between St. Ives and
St. Just (
&
01736 796 928;
www.gurnardshead.co.uk) and
Tinners Arms
in
Zennor (
&
01736 796 927;
www.tinnersarms.co.uk). Another suggestion for a good
meal, and day out further afield is
The Victoria Inn
(
&
01736 710309;
www.
victoriainn-penzance.co.uk).
Where to Stay
Primrose Valley Hotel
This Edwardian villa has been stylishly converted
to receive guests from its position in a residential cul-de-sac across the railway tracks
from Porthminster Beach. The furnishings are contemporary, from the soft Italian
leather chairs to the oak tables. As befits a house of its age, the bedrooms vary in size,
and four of them open onto views of the sea. Although there's no formal reception
desk, there is a beauty therapy room where you can relax and enjoy some pampering.
Breakfast is a treat, with high-quality local produce a feature.
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