A trip to Cornwall wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a delicious cream tea! If you don’t have such a sweet tooth, then you’ll find plenty of other food to enjoy in and around St Ives, from fish caught fresh from the harbour to traditional Cornish dishes like the Cornish pasty.
What is a Cornish cream tea?
A cream tea normally consists of a fruit or plain scone served with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and usually accompanied by a cup of tea. The big debate is what goes on first, jam or cream?
When in Cornwall, the jam always goes on the scone first with cream on top! In the neighbouring county of Devon, cream goes first.
Where to get the best afternoon tea in St Ives
Along with a Cornish pasty, cream teas are a cornerstone of Cornish culture. If you’re spending some time in St Ives, a cream tea is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
Olives Cafe
A hidden gem in the streets of St Ives, this charming coffee shop is a friendly and cosy place to enjoy some fresh homemade scones, prized for their lightness and fluffiness.
They also have vegan and gluten-free options, so that anyone can enjoy.
The Cornish Bakery
The scones are always freshly made and available for eat-in or takeaway. If you’re on a whistlestop adventure around St Ives, grab a loaded jam and cream scone to go. But don’t worry if a cream tea isn’t your thing. There’s plenty more on offer at the Cornish Bakery, including some traditional or savoury pasties and sausage rolls.
Yellow Canary Cafe
A lovely family-run coffee shop located on bustling Fore Street, the cream teas here are top notch! If you like your coffee, Yellow Canary serves up Cornwall’s very own Origin coffee. They also sell a delicious range of focaccia sandwiches and pastries, with vegan and gluten-free options available.
Market Place Tea Rooms
The Market Place Tea Rooms is a more traditional tea room at the top of Lifeboat Hill.
Serving home-baked scones and their famous Cornish crab sandwiches.
Porthmeor Beach Cafe
If you want to enjoy your cream tea with a view, then Porthmeor Beach Cafe is the place to go. Overlooking the golden Porthmeor beach and just below the Tate gallery, you can watch the surfers as you enjoy your scones or perhaps even an afternoon pint.
Scoff Troff Cafe
A cosy and modern cafe that prides itself on using locally sourced produce. Enjoy tea and scones or one of their famous hearty brunches.
Other traditional Cornish dishes to try in St Ives
Cornish cream teas are not the only items on the menu if you’re going on a culinary adventure through Cornwall. The county is famed for prioritising local produce and celebrating the farmers, fishermen and communities that provide the food.
Cornish Pasties
Cornish pasties are what the county is famous for, and a typical Cornish food. The best Cornish pasties use locally sourced ingredients. A traditional pasty contains beef skirt, potato and turnip, but you can also find vegetarian and vegan options.
Our list of the best Cornish pasties in town:
- The Cornish Bakery
- St Ives Bakery
- Cornish Bakehouse
- The Makers
- Yellow Canary
- The Slipway
Grab a pasty and head down to the harbour to take in the views – just beware of the seagulls!
Cornish seafood in St Ives
St Ives has been a prominent fishing town throughout history, so it’s the perfect place to try some fresh local seafood. Some of the most common catches include:
- Oysters
- Plaice
- Mackerel
- Pilchards
- Bass
- Crab
- Lobster
- Turbot
- Flounder
Self-catering holidays in St Ives
If you’re looking for a Cornish getaway where you can save money and self-cater, then why not try one of our self-catering holiday cottages?
Grab some fresh local produce from The Island Centre Farmer’s Market (open Mondays 9.30 am-2 pm) and an organic wine from St Eia and make yourself a Cornish-inspired meal.
All of our holiday cottages are fully self-catering, giving you all the kitchen amenities.
Book one of our holiday cottages today and make the most of your stay in St Ives.
