Guide to St. Ives

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden—Barnoon Hill—The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden contains the largest group of Hepworth's works, permanently on display where she lived and worked from 1949 until 1975. The museum and garden offer remarkable insight into the work and outlook of one of Britain’s most important twentieth century artists. Sculptures in bronze, stone and wood are on display in the museum and garden, along with paintings, drawings and archive material. 10-4. Admission: £7 

The Leach Pottery—Higher Stennack—Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, the Leach Pottery, St Ives, is among the most respected and influential potteries in the world. Over the last hundred years it has forged the shape of Studio Pottery in the UK and beyond. Scores of potters, students and apprentices, from across the world have come to the Leach Pottery to train, creating a uniquely international environment in the heart of Cornwall and maintaining the Pottery's creative principle of East/West exchange. Today, the Leach Pottery Studio, Museum and Gallery continue developing Bernard Leach's historic legacy. Admission: Free on Tuesday 

The Penwith Gallery—Back Road West—The Penwith Gallery is the home of the Penwith Society of Arts in Cornwall. The gallery, formerly a pilchard packing factory, has a remarkable complex of buildings, including three public galleries, sculpture area and archive. This allows for a varied and interesting series of changing exhibitions throughout the year. The society was founded in 1949 by Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon, Bernard Leach, Sven Berlin and Wilhelmina Barns–Graham, amongst others. Later members have included Patrick Heron, Terry Frost and Henry Moore (honorary member). This association with so many progressive and influential artists has given the Penwith Society a unique place in British art history. Today the society continues to play a central role in the thriving and vibrant St Ives art community, exhibiting contemporary art from Cornwall and beyond. 10-5. Admission: Free. 

Tate Gallery St Ives—Porthmeor Beach—Tate St Ives features work by iconic 20th century artists who lived and worked in the town, including Alfred Wallis, Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth, demonstrating the role of St Ives in the story of modern art. This is combined with a new program of large-scale seasonal shows. Thirty-minute tours—Daily at 11am, noon, 2pm, 3pm. Admission: £10.50. 

Cellar Bistro—Fore Street—Serving evening meals from Tuesday to Saturday, Cellar Bistro offers tasty, hearty, classic dishes using fresh, quality produce in a wonderful candlelit atmosphere. Early Eaters Menu (6-6.30pm) includes 2 courses for £23 or 3 for £29. 

The Cornish Deli—Chapel Street—The Cornish deli exists to bring the best quality Cornish and regional produce to its customers. Fantastic quality local meats, cheeses, seafood, snacks, and regional specialties for take away. Incorporated within the Cornish Deli is The Deli Café, offering hot and cold drinks, brunches, lunches, afternoon tea, and evening meals. 

Source Kitchen—Digey Street—A café and luxury food store located on The Digey—a cobbled street between shops, Tate Gallery and Porthmeor Beach, in what was once the UK’s first ever surf shop. Source Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, fair trade coffee, and a mix of quality Cornish and International products. 

The Hub—The Wharf—Occupying a brilliant harbor-front location, The Hub is a modern bar serving freshly ground coffee and light bites during the day and craft beers, cocktails and a tempting menu in the evening. Mouth-watering dishes of free-range, oak-smoked pulled pork, Cornish rare breed beef burgers and artisan bread delivered fresh every morning are common staples on The Hub’s menu. 

Porthminster Beach Café—Porthminster Beach—Nestled beneath the steep slopes of Porthminster Point, right on the beach with unbeatable and uninterrupted views across St Ives Bay to Goddrevy Lighthouse. Now open all year round for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. The café specializes in Mediterranean and Asian seafood cuisine and is an oasis of taste and visual beauty. 

The Rum & Crab Shack—Wharf Road—The Rum & Crab Shack is a fresh, quirky restaurant overlooking St Ives harbor and serving up seriously good seafood. The edgy rustic and nautical interiors bring a bright new feel to the waterfront and great food in a relaxed atmosphere.  

Sea Food Café—Fore Street—A fun fine dining experience, the Seafood Café provides a large array of fresh shellfish, seafood, Cornish meat and free-range poultry all tantalizingly displayed for you to make an impossible choice. The sticky toffee pudding is NOT to be missed! 

The Searoom—The Wharf—The Searoom is positioned perfectly on the harbor so you can sit back and watch the world go by. The ideal place to enjoy Cornish nibbles and bits along with a cocktail made with Cornish spirits.  

Moomaid of Zennor—Street-an-Pol—Maybe you’d rather spend your time, £s, and calories on the best ice cream in Cornwall. “We make luxury Cornish ice cream on our family run dairy farm perched on the cliffs between Zennor Hill and The Atlantic Ocean…. Flavours range from traditional favourites such as Vanilla Bean & Cornish Clotted Cream and Honeycomb, to more unique concoctions like Limoncello Lemon Curd, Salted Caramel Praline and our now infamous Shipwreck Ice Cream.” Tempted? Yes, please.