When it comes to British traditions not many can top the ritual of enjoying a delicious roast dinner on a Sunday afternoon. With the meat of your choice, crispy roast potatoes and a whole host of roasted vegetables, we can’t think of a heartier way to round off your winter weekend.
As you can imagine, there is stiff competition within the area to establish the best of the best, so we’ve put together this guide full of our favourites. Hopefully you find one of our recommendations useful and the pictures get your tastebuds salivating. And many of them are just a stones throw from our accommodation, so what better excuse do you have to book a stay with us?
Our Picks for the Best Sunday Roast in St Ives
St Ives has some wonderful places to eat, all vying for the position of best roast in town. Here are our stand-out performers…
Host St Ives
We are starting our list strong, with arguably the pick of the bunch. Host St Ives has had many a claim made about it being the best Sunday roast in St Ives. And we completely get it.
Located in the former Natwest bank, Host is a brilliant place to retire to on a cosy Sunday afternoon or evening. Their roast dinner is available 12:30-15:30 and 17:00-20:30 and comes in at a very reasonable £19.50.
Choose from a range of delectable meats to accompany your head-sized Yorkshire pudding and veg sourced from local farms, giving you an authentic Cornish Sunday roast experience. They also have an extensive wine list that blends local and international wines to enhance your meal. Bring your dog along too and they can cosy up in front of the log fire!
Porthminster Kitchen
Situated on The Wharf in St Ives, Porthminster Kitchen boasts breathtaking views over the harbour, while staying above the hustle and bustle to create a relaxed and luxurious feel. You’ll be delighted to hear that their Sunday roasts follow a similar outstanding theme. It’s not just us who highly-rate their roasts, they were recently nominated for The Good Food Guide’s Best Sunday Roast 2024 award!
With 3 different Sunday roast variations to choose from, whichever way your palette leans there will be something for you. Choose from locally reared roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and horseradish, slow-cooked pork shoulder with saffron apple puree, or winter vegetable pithivier with a Red Wine Gravy. All of these are served with a plethora of vegetables sourced from local Cornish farms.
Price is sorted by the number of courses you choose to order, starting with one course at £20, two courses being £27 and the full three courses coming to £32. Available every Sunday 12-3pm.
It is also worth noting that they do allow dogs but only on their small outdoor balcony, so it is advisable to call ahead to reserve a table for you and your four-legged friend.
The Loft
Unlike some restaurants on this list, The Loft doesn’t quite get the same attention due to not being directly on the sea front. This doesn’t mean the views aren’t as spectacular as the food though, and it is well worth popping out onto the terrace to take in the surroundings. However, as it is likely to be chilly outside when having your roast, we would only recommend a couple of minutes gazing at the harbour!
When it comes to their Sunday roast, The Loft has a fabulous range of options, including those suitable for the gluten-intolerant among us. Take your pick of meats (and alternatives) from beef, pork or chicken, and the vegetarian option, squash & beetroot Wellington. All are served with vegetables sourced from nearby. Definitely one for the whole family during your stay in St Ives.
Roasts are served 12-2.15pm so be sure to book ahead. The latest price for adults is £16.95 and children £9.00.
A special mention has to be made for the beef. If you’re after tender and juicy slices of beef that just melt on your tongue with exceptional flavour, this is the place for you. Oh, and if you pop outside the view isn’t bad too!
The Sloop Inn
Now, The Sloop Inn arguably boasts the best location of all on this list. Located on The Wharf in the standout spot right on the harbour front, The Sloop Inn is synonymous with the town. Anyone who has visited will be able to tell you where the iconic pub is and what makes it such an essential part of any trip to St Ives and, having been situated here in St Ives since 1320, they’ve had a minute or two to come up with a good Sunday roast.
Choose from either beef, chicken or pork to be accompanied by all the trimmings you could ever dream of along with the usual veg. The Sloop Inn doesn’t offer a vegetarian/vegan Sunday roast, so if that’s a deal breaker we recommend you peruse the rest of the pub menu.
You won’t be surprised to hear they have a fantastic range of drinks here to help you wash down your food, with our recommendation being anything Cornish! A pint of Doom Bar or Rattler will have you fully wrapped up in the best of Cornwall. From the Sloop Inn, a few of our properties are within stumbling distance, so why not settle in and sample the whole range.
Priced at £14.95 for an adults meal, we don’t think it’s particularly badly priced at all. It is worth noting that they only serve Sunday roasts during the months outside of the main summer season, so if you’re here in June, July or August scroll back up the list for the next best option.
Best Sunday Roasts in Cornwall
If you fancy going slightly further afield (not by much though) there are plenty of decent Sunday roast options in the area surrounding St Ives. Here are our picks for the best Sunday roasts in Cornwall…
Tremenheere Kitchen, nr Penzance
Located near the village of Gulval and close to Penzance, Tremenheere Kitchen has one of the best Sunday roasts Cornwall has to offer. Jo and the team have worked hard to perfect their roasts which has resulted in many diners raving about them. This is a must visit for its overall atmosphere and a delicious menu, especially if you’re heading to Penzance or Tremenheere Gardens.
Here you can expect gigantic yorkshire puddings to accompany your tender beef sourced from local cattle farmers, along with veggies full of flavour that have then been lashed in delicious gravy. Of course, we can’t forget the crispy roast potatoes either. Choose from either beef, pork or the nut roast, depending on your preference. The beef is the most expensive and costs £21, cracking value if you consider the quality of the meal though. Sunday roasts are served 12-3.45pm.
Despite being somewhat a hidden gem, they do get awfully busy on Sundays, taking the occasional walk-in. We would definitely recommend booking well ahead though, especially if you have more than people to cater for! This is not one to miss out on.
Harbour House, Flushing
Just across the estuary from the hustle and bustle of Falmouth, Harbour House in Flushing offers great views of the harbour to accompany your Sunday roast. This is certainly the place to visit if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
Offering a set Sunday lunch menu, you have a choice of 2 or 3 courses, being priced at £38 and £42 respectively. Choose from 2 main courses, with the beef being highlighted by many visitors as the headliner. The second option is a parsnip and celeriac nut roast, perfect for vegetarians. Of course, all are served with a yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, gravy & seasonal vegetables. You’ll definitely be leaving full!
We would recommend (if you can) to save room for dessert, the range is pretty special. Certainly one for those with a sweet tooth among us.
Who doesn’t love a delicious meal next to a roaring fire?
The Mexico Inn, Penzance
Located in the Long Rock area of Penzance, The Mexico Inn is one that all the locals rave about. In a charming area within reach of the far south-west of Cornwall you’re tucked away in a spot that gives you all the benefits of Penzance but without the town centre traffic. Oh, and the Sunday roast is pretty special too!
Here you have four choices of Sunday roasts with the choice of beef, pork, lamb or vegetarian option of squash and lentil wellington. All of these are served with the usual veg and plenty of roast potatoes. However, The Mexico Inn roast also includes cheesy leeks to accompany your meal which in our view scores it even higher. What more could you want?
With the most expensive of the meat options coming in at £21 we would say you get more than your fair share of value at The Mexico Inn. They can be very busy on Sundays, so be sure to book ahead. There is also only on-street parking here, so packing your walking shoes is advisable. It’s worth it, we promise!
The Gurnard’s Head, nr Zennor
Situated out on the stunning north coast in the village of Treen, near Zennor, The Gurnards Head has built itself quite the reputation when it comes to roast dinners, especially those of the Sunday variety! While Zennor is hardly the centre of the Cornish universe, there is a good reason The Gurnard’s Head has managed to secure this type of reputation, through consistently delicious Sunday roasts.
With plenty of variety on offer, you’re spoilt for choice. Choose from beef, lamb, plaice, hake or a Sri Lankan lentil fritter for the vegetarians in your party. As you can see, The Gurnard’s Head is definitely one for the seafood lovers among us. While we’re always going to champion the traditional Sunday roast, we can’t help but appreciate the variety they have on offer. You can expect all the usual trimmings with the standard roast options, but the fish and veggie options will have slightly different accompaniments.
Served every Sunday, you have a choice of 2 or 3 courses costing £35 and £42 respectively, which we think is great value for the quality of food on offer. The friendly staff are very receptive, so if you’d like something changed or slightly tweaked just let them know. They’re also dog-friendly so don’t forget the pup!
Despite being in a slightly more isolated area of Cornwall, they still have quite the crowd, especially in the summer season when we would recommend booking ahead.
Look at the size of those Yorkshire puddings!
Nancarrow Farm, St Allen
It is quite a unique dining experience at Nancarrow Farm, located near St Allen, Truro. During the months of September and April their Oak Barn plays host to you with well-spaced tables, a roaring wood burner and live music set against the pretty backdrop of a Millpond. So, if it’s Sunday lunch within a unique and special setting you’re after, Nancarrow Farm is certainly up there for us.
Their menu is straight-forward, offering a meat and vegetarian options. Choose from beef, lamb or a wood-roasted squash option. You can expect the usual Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and a whole selection of vegetables.
There is quite the hype around this place, having featured in an episode of Rick Stein’s Cornwall travel food shows. Lots of people who visited off the back of this recommendation noted that both the location and Sunday lunch are outstanding. As you can imagine, walk-ins are tough to secure, so again we would recommend to book ahead. Between the months of May and August Nancarrow Farm serve a slightly lighter version of the menu to ensure everyone who visits gets to taste their delicious food, all of which is sourced from their own farm.
How good does this beef look?
Explore Cornwall’s Hidden Gems from Your So St Ives Cottage
Now that your taste buds are tingling, we think it’s time you booked your trip! Why not stay in one of our self-catering cottages in St Ives, making for the perfect base to explore Cornwall’s many fine eateries.
Find more guides like this on our blog page, or head to our Explore St Ives page.
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