Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in West Cornwall

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in West Cornwall? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

St. Eia

4.8

4.8 (45)

£26 to £40

European

St Ives

About the restaurant

St. Eia is an intimate restaurant, wine bar & bottle shop tucked away in the back streets of St. Ives, a stone's throw from Porthmeor beach and the Tate Gallery.

We serve seasonal bistro inspired food alongside wines which focus on conscientious farming practices and family values.

Daily changing wines by the glass and an ever expanding selection of super rare and exciting wines by the bottle at reasonable prices.

Top review

Julie

Dined 5 days ago

A charming restaurant with wonderfully enthusiastic staff. Great food and amazing selection of wines. Had such a memorable evening, thank you!

Host St Ives

4.8

4.8 (318)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

St Ives

About the restaurant

We cook on fire in a beautifully restored 19th century bank in the heart of St Ives!
Steaks and fish from a Japanese barbeque and hand stretched pizzas from a woodfired oven!
Fun dinning in smart casual bar where service is at heart of what we do!

Top review

Richard

Dined 7 days ago

Great place with lovely food!! Service was superb, definitely worth a visit.

Discover more

Popular dish

Pizza Napoli

Porthminster Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (2573)

£26 to £40

International

St Ives

About the restaurant

Porthminster Kitchen serves up a refreshing, playful take on Cornish cuisine, introducing a menu of smaller plates and lighter options which combine global flavours, fresh local ingredients and creative cooking.

We have stripped out much of what is unnecessary; dairy and gluten take a backseat in favour of fresh and exciting textures and flavours.

Porthminster Kitchen enjoys awe-inspiring panoramic views from its location in the heart of St Ives. From your vantage point above the harbour, escape the hustle and bustle and relax on our sun-drenched terrace, or gaze out from huge windows and take in the 180° view.
We are dog friendly but have limited space for our furry friends please let us know when booking to avoid disappointment.

Top review

Kate

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

We loved this place so much we went back the next day! Fantastic food , great views & friendly staff

Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling

4.9

4.9 (1389)

£41 and over

British

St Ives

About the restaurant

Visit us at Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling for a quintessentially British experience, whether it be in our restaurant, terrace or bar, or for afternoon tea, exploring the best of South-West’s larder, with surreal coastal surroundings.

We are so lucky to have one of the most beautiful views of Fistral Beach, nestled inside the historic hotel, The Headland. You are overlooking the clifftops over the ocean, watching the world pass you by.
It’s truly a place where all of your problems disappear.

We see Cornwall as a hidden gem in this fabulous country, so we only use what we find in the South-West of England from our fisherman, farmers and suppliers, keeping our menu hyper-local and traceable. Our restaurant menu is created for you. Pick up to 4 courses of our regularly-changing menu, so you can eat in the way that you most want to.

We are breaking down the boundaries to the conventional ‘fine dining’ restaurant. Instead, it’s dining for you, at your leisure.

Top review

ScottVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

This restaurant is one of the best I have ever experienced. The food was incredible, the service was otherworldly good, and the ambiance was spectacular.

Tricky's at The Tolgus Inn

4.8

4.8 (570)

£25 and under

British

Redruth

About the restaurant

Tricky's Restaurant and Bar is a great place to dine. Our large restaurant offers cosy corners for intimate diners as well as space to accommodate large parties. We have created a varied menu to cater for all tastes and budgets. From light lunchtime bites to a hearty three course meal and, there's plenty for the children enjoy as well!

We offer fantastic food, wines, real ales and great service! Combine all these with a warm welcome and you can see why Tricky's is as popular as ever.

We are now open for breakfast Monday - Saturdays mornings between 9-11.30am.

When booking please state in the notes if you require seating in our dog friendly lounge area or any specific seating preferences and if we are able to we can seat you accordingly.

Top review

Sue

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Warm welcome , friendly staff, prompter ice and good food.

Quarterdeck Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (41)

£25 and under

British

St Ives

About the restaurant

We look forward to welcoming you to our lovely Restaurant.

Relax on the outdoor terrace or gaze through the huge windows taking in the awe-inspiring views across Porthmeor Beach and St Ives Bay.

Open daily for Breakfast, drinks during the day and Dinner in the evening, with a take-away service available.

Serving fresh local produce and daily specials we can guarantee a delicious meal with locally produced beers and a hand picked wine list.

We welcome dogs on the outdoor terrace but not in the restaurant.

Please inform us of any dietary requirements and allergies

Top review

Paul

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Came twice to the restaurant within a week and had the Fish and Chips both times, the food was very good. Such a lovely place for an evening meal unlike the hustle and bustle of eateries in the town. The views from the restaurant over the sea are lovely, get one of the window seats if you can. A nice relaxing place for a meal or a drink.

The New Inn

4.8

4.8 (49)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Redruth

About the restaurant

We’re passionate about serving delicious, high-quality food that celebrates the best of Cornwall’s rich culinary heritage.

Our menu will be crafted with care, featuring dishes made from fresh, locally sourced produce whenever possible. From traditional pub classics to seasonal specialties, we’re committed to offering meals that are as satisfying as they are flavourful. Whether you’re stopping by for a cozy dinner or a light bite with friends, there’s something on our menu to delight every palate.

Enjoy your meal in our welcoming local’s bar area, perfect for a casual bite or step into our chilled dining area for a more relaxed and intimate dining experience. Whichever you choose, you’ll find a warm atmosphere and great food waiting for you.

Top review

Alison

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Beautiful clean and welcoming proper pub. Staff friendly and food service swift and efficient. Food was lovely, and well priced. Good portions, fresh, and some classic items on menu plus some more interesting dishes.

Porthminster Beach Café

4.7

4.7 (4785)

£41 and over

Seafood

St Ives

About the restaurant

Nestled beneath the steep slopes of Porthminster Point, right on the beach with unbeatable and uninterrupted views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse. Now open all year round for coffee, lunch and dinner.
Porthminster Cafe in St Ives is a multi award winning seafood restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The café specialises in Mediterranean and Asian seafood cuisine and is an oasis of taste and visual beauty.
A Holiday in St Ives would not be complete without going to the beach. Here at Porthminster Beach we have one of the cleanest beaches in the South West. We have been given the prestigious Blue Flag Award which guarantees the highest of standards.

Top review

Dined 2 days ago

Delicious food as always with great staff ! The view speaks for itself. Always a delight , never disappointed.

Discover more

Popular dish

Porthminster Fish Curry

4.8

4.8 (1339)

£25 and under

Continental

Hayle

About the restaurant

The Old Forge holds value to the ethos of high quality ingredients, great flavour, yet simple dining served with warmth and humility.

With our small team of kitchen and front of house staff, we aim to provide a relaxed experience, with consistency, control and quality. Serving seasonal, cheerful and nostalgic food.

Breakfast reservations 9-10.45am
Lunch reservations 12-230pm
Dinner reservations 5-830pm
Coffee and drinks served throughout the day.

Top review

David Clough

Dined 2 days ago

Good service. Great selection of tasty food. Dog friendly.

La Casita

4.7

4.7 (1067)

£25 and under

Spanish

St Ives

About the restaurant

La Casita boasts a relaxed and welcoming ambience. Set in its Carbis Bay location, this family-run restaurant is incredibly vibrant and has a close team of exceptionally friendly staff.
We invite you to join us at the bar for a pre-dinner gin tonic a fino or cocktail. Relax on the terrace with a glass of fine wine sourced from small boutique vineyards in Spain and Europe. Alternatively, we have some superb Cornish and European beers and ciders on offer.
The finest fresh ingredients are meticulously sourced both locally and from Spain. This is at the heart of La Casita's menu which features paella, pizza, chargrilled meats & local seafood, vegetarian & vegan dishes. Our specials change regularly and we have a great selection on our tapas menu.
Children are welcome and have their own menu with a great selection of dishes.

Top review

Francesca

Dined 4 days ago

Fabulous as usual. Staff very helpful and efficient. Food delicious 😋

Explore Diners' Choice best of West Cornwall

Explore more Diners' Choice lists