Serving hungry tourists and residents for more than 25 years, Porthminster Beach Cafe is the sort of restaurant that wouldn’t look out of place on a postcard. Its enviable beachside location allows guests to take in stunning panoramic views of St Ives Bay, as well as local landmarks such as the Godrevy Lighthouse. Porthminster Beach Cafe is also unique in that unlike many of Cornwall’s star attractions, it stays open all year round - on cooler or rainy nights, simply cosy up on the glass-covered heated terrace.
The dining room here is a simple and breezy whitewashed affair, featuring sanded down wooden floors and large floor-to-ceiling windows which guarantee all tables can take advantage of the view. The menu at Porthminster Beach Cafe takes diners through from breakfast to dinner and is made up of dishes influenced by the flavours of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, although everything on the menu is underpinned by a commitment to local produce, fresh seafood and foraged coastal ingredients.
The Beach Cafe is not exclusively a fish restaurant, although the setting naturally lends itself to including seafood dishes on the menu. Vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t be put off though, as they are well catered to here, with always a least a few options free of meat and fish available. You might start your meal with a Cornish fish taco or a spiced onion bhaji, before following it up with the likes of a mild Indonesian monkfish curry or butter poached brill fillets topped with Porcini mushroom and fresh truffle shavings.
End your meal on an indulgent note with a deep-fried banoffee pie or helping of sticky toffee pudding, or opt for liquid afters instead with the short but considered list of European wines. Have the little ones in tow? Choose from the dedicated children’s menu of fish and chips and pasta.