Bakeries in St Ives
From early-morning loaves to celebration cakes, here are the 9 bakeries we know about in St Ives, 3 of them with published opening hours.
All bakeries in St Ives 1–9 of 9
Cornish Bakehouse
Cornish Bakehouse White Hart Build, 51 Fore Street, St Ives Centre TR26 1HE
The baking story of St Ives
St Ives, with its golden beaches and clear light, has drawn artists for over a century, and its harbour once landed vast shoals of pilchards. In the days of the pilchard fishery, lookouts known as huers watched for the shoals from the cliffs and shouted 'hevva!' to alert the boats, and fishing families are said to have baked heavy cake — a flat, rich currant cake — to celebrate the catch. Cornish cream teas are a ritual here, and in Cornwall the jam goes on the scone before the clotted cream. Pasties, saffron buns and fairings fill the bakeries of the winding lanes around the harbour, the old fishing quarter known locally as Downalong.
Local bakes to look out for
- Heavy (hevva) cake – A flat, rich currant cake scored with a criss-cross pattern.
- Cornish cream tea – Scones with strawberry jam first, then clotted cream on top.
- Saffron bun – A golden, fruited, saffron-scented bun.
Bakery hunter's tip: Explore the narrow lanes of Downalong and Fore Street for bakeries, but arrive early in summer — the town gets very busy.
Did you know? In Cornwall a cream tea is assembled with jam first and clotted cream on top — the reverse of the Devon custom.
Bakery types in St Ives
| Type | Bakeries | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Bakers | 4 | 44% |
| Artisan Bakeries | 3 | 33% |
| Bakery Cafés | 2 | 22% |
| Cake Shops | 2 | 22% |
Early birds: first bakeries to open
| Bakery | Area | Opens from |
|---|---|---|
| St. Ives Bakery | St Ives Centre | 9am |
| Moomaid St Ives | St Ives Centre | 9:30am |
| The Garden | St Ives Centre | 10am |
St Ives at a glance
| Bakeries listed | 9 |
|---|---|
| With published hours | 3 |
| Open on Sundays | 2 of 3 |
| Hygiene rated | 6 (100% top rated) |
| Nation | England |
| Local time | Sun 4 Oct, 11:36 |
Bakeries in St Ives: FAQs
How many bakeries are there in St Ives?
We currently list 9 bakeries in St Ives. The list includes independent bakeries, cake shops, patisseries and chain branches.
Which bakery opens earliest in St Ives?
St. Ives Bakery has the earliest published opening time at 9am. Opening times can vary by day, so check the bakery's page for the full week.
Are bakeries in St Ives open on Sundays?
Of the 3 bakeries with published hours, 2 open on Sundays. Each listing shows a live open or closed badge based on UK time.
Do St Ives bakeries have good hygiene ratings?
6 of the 6 bakeries with a published inspection result hold a top rating (4–5, or Pass in Scotland). Ratings come from the Food Standards Agency register.
What kind of bakeries can I find in St Ives?
The most common type is traditional bakers (4), followed by artisan bakeries, bakery cafés and cake shops.