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Are you after family-friendly pubs in St Ives? Looking for traditional Cornish pubs in St Ives? Or maybe you want to celebrate with cocktails in St Ives?

Purely for research purposes, of course, we sampled some of the top pints in the best pubs that St Ives has to offer. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s sure to be something that whets your appetite on our list of the best pubs in St Ives. 

Carbis Bay Holidays’ Top 10 Best Pubs in St Ives:

  • The Golden Lion
  • The Queens Hotel
  • The Sloop Inn
  • The Pilchard Press Alehouse
  • Beer and Bird
  • Hub
  • The Firehouse
  • Rum and Crab Shack
  • The Lifeboat Inn
  • The Union Inn

 

Read on to see our pick of the best places to head for a pint, or something more exotic.

Pint of Cornish Ale in a counter with black taps

Family Friendly Pubs in St Ives

The Golden Lion

With two bars clad in cosy dark wood and a beer garden at the rear for your young ones to play in, this typical country pub is the perfect place to bring the family for an afternoon pint. 

To accompany your drinks at this ‘locals’ local’, the Golden Lion’s menu of hearty pub classic and lighter bites is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of little eaters. Head there on a Sunday to catch the weekly roast dinner, serving a selection of three locally sourced roast joints. 

Open: 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm Sundays. 

Food served: 12pm to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 8.30pm. 

Dog friendly.

The Queens Hotel

This town centre gastropub has a simple goal; to provide great, affordable pub food in a friendly, relaxed and charming environment. Away from the dining room, relax in the cosy sofa area or pick up a cue and challenge the family to a game of pool. Or, with WiFi available, kids can keep themselves entertained on their devices. 

Open: 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 10.30pm Sundays.

Food served: 12pm to 2.30pm and 12pm to 9pm (12pm to 6pm out of season).

Dog friendly.

Seafront Pub in St Ives, Sloop Inn

Traditional Cornish Pubs in St Ives

The Sloop Inn

One of Cornwall’s oldest pubs, reportedly open since 1312, the Sloop Inn sits right on the harbour front of St Ives. The Sloop Inn offers visitors heaps of Cornish character, with slate floors, open fires and local artists’ work displayed around the walls. 

With a kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s seafood that this historic inn specialises in, with an extensive menu served in the Lounge and Cellar bars. And to complement the seafood offerings, the Sloop Inn bar has got you covered with its own 1312 gin. The small-batch gin is distilled in Cornwall from Cornish potatoes and infused with aromatics including rosemary. 

Read more about Cornish gins with our guide to the top 5.

Open: 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 10.30pm Sundays.

Check with the Sloop Inn for daily food serving times. 

Dog friendly.

The Pilchard Press Alehouse

Easy to miss as you wander the streets of St Ives, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the pale blue double doors that conceal this pint-sized Cornish gem. But be warned, with only a wood-topped bar and two tables available, you may be fighting for a seat at the unique St Ives micro-pub. 

With their selection of six craft beers changing weekly at The Pilchard Press Alehouse, you’re sure to find a refreshing new pint to sample on your visit to this charming Cornish micro-pub. 

Open: 4pm to 10.30pm Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 7pm Sundays.

No food served.

Dog Friendly.

three half pints, one of ale, one of stout and a lager

Best Craft Beer in St Ives

Beer and Bird

Opened in 2017, this family-run craft beer bar offers visitors craft beers in abundance (a 12-page menu!), all complemented by their selection of fried chicken-centric comfort food. 

Craft beer novices shouldn’t be daunted by the prospect of picking a pint, Beer and Bird’s friendly bar staff are on hand to help you make an educated selection from their ever-changing selection of casked and kegged beers. 

Vegetarian and vegan visitors needn’t miss out on the fried ‘chicken’ action, as Beer and Bird offer a great selection of seitan burgers that are just as delicious as their chicken versions. 

Open: 12pm to 11.45pm seven days a week. 

Food served: 12pm to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 9pm.

Not dog friendly.

Hub

Reopened in April 2019 after a huge refurbishment, Hub St Ives is a must-visit for craft beer lovers. The two-storey bar and burger joint sits on the harbour front and offers panoramic views across St Ives Harbour. 

A favourite with locals in the know, Hub offers a range of incredible local and international craft beers, all complemented by their extensive menu of burgers, hot dogs, seafood, nachos and ‘dirty’ fries. 

Open: 9am until late seven days a week.

Food served: 11.30am to 10pm. 

Dog friendly.

Berries cocktail with slice of lemon and a black straw

Best Cocktails in St Ives

The Firehouse

The Firehouse is a must-visit for gin lovers in St Ives. Situated in the heart of Fore Street, this bar and grill serves a range of great food, including brick-fired pizza and flame-grilled steaks – but the gin bar is where the Firehouse really excels. 

Self-proclaimed specialists in the ‘wonderful world of gin’, the Firehouse’s bartenders match a selection of specialist gins with their own dehydrated fruit garnishes and a variety of tonics.

However, while there’s nothing better than an expertly mixed G & T, we recommend sampling one of their ‘Cornish Garden’ cocktails. The moreish mix of Cornish gin, cucumber, elderflower, ginger beer and fresh mint is a treat for any discerning cocktail connoisseur.

Open: 11.30am until late seven days a week. 

Food served: 12pm to 3pm and 6pm until late. 

Dog friendly.  

Rum and Crab Shack

Specialising in, you guessed it, rum; this bar and restaurant offers a huge selection of rums from around the world.

Their extensive menu offers a description of each rum to help you navigate the mass of spirits on offer; because as the Shack says, ‘rum is a mix of ideas, tomfoolery and experience’.

The Rum and Crab Shack have developed a great range of cocktails incorporating some of the many rums on offer. We’d recommend sampling a ‘Drop the Anchor’, an indulgent mix of chocolate, coconut and (of course) rum. 

Enjoy your drink on its own or pair it with something from their wide food menu; the Crab Mac n Cheese is particularly great. 

Open: 12pm to 11pm seven days a week.

Food served all day. 

Dog friendly.

bartender pouring a pint in a st ives pub

Best Vegan Drinks in St Ives

The Lifeboat Inn

The harbour-side Lifeboat Inn offers visitors comfort and views by the bucket load. Overlooking the lifeboat station and out across St Ives harbour, let the Lifeboat Inn with its crackling log fire and homely decor. 

The pub serves a range of locally brewed beers from St Austell Brewery, all of which are suitable for vegan visitors; though be aware the cask ales are not. If you’re planning on staying for food, (and why wouldn’t you?) we recommend pairing your vegan pint with a portion of the vegan South Indian vegetable curry.

Open: 8am to 11pm seven days a week.

Food served: 8am to 9pm.

Dog friendly.

The Union Inn

This traditional pub, set over two levels on the back streets of St Ives, draws you in with its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Offering a selection of draft ales and lagers such as the award-winning Cornish favourite, Doom Bar Bitter and Korev Cornish lager. Any vegan visitors to St Ives can quench their thirst at The Union Inn with a pint of Cornish Rattler cider; made without any animal products or processing aids. 

Open: 11am to midnight Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm Sundays.

Food served: 12pm to 3pm and 5.30 to 9pm.

Dog friendly.

Whatever you’re looking for in a pub, traditional settings, experimental cocktails, vegan and craft beers, a pet or family-friendly environment; St Ives pubs have the answers

So, why not try somewhere new next time you’re in town? And for the ultimate cornish experience try one of our self-catering cottages in St Ives.