Mermaid Seafood Restaurant in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

Just had an amazing meal at this restaurant. Food was cooked to perfection. Really great atmosphere with the restaurant being packed and doubling its covers on some tables, demonstrating how much it is valued by locals as well as tourists. Service was with a smile and incredibly good value. Well done team, lovely evening thank you.

Make a reservation - was really busy. Food was delicious , the grilled fish and Cornish potatoes was very tasty. Service fast and friendly. Olde worlde atmosphere. Dogs not allowed .

We’ve visited the Mermaid restaurant many times over the years and it never disappoints, super tasty food and spot on service. I would highly recommend.

Truly fantastic. Great seafood and a lovely oldy worldy setting. Excellent service and terrific value for money. We've been here many times before and will come again. It never disappoints.

I went out for a meal with some friends, and while the food was absolutely delicious, the overall experience was disappointing, thanks to the service. Our waitress seemed completely disinterested from the moment we sat down. She never smiled once, and any time we tried to engage with her, she just looked miserable. To make matters worse, she barely gave us a chance to ask for more drinks—she rushed off so quickly after dropping things off that we constantly had to flag her down. Great food, but the poor service really put a damper on the evening.

In my opinion the best restaurant in St Ives. I had the Monkfish prawn, chorizo and halloumi skewers and my wife had the Lemon sole, sea bass and haddock. Both were very well presented and delicious. Service was very good. Hope to return again soon.

Been a few times over the years. It is excellent. Good superb, fresh and tasty. Staff lovely and friendly. Would highly recommend

The Mermaid, thank you what wonderful service and delightful food. We had a table booked for 8pm, but received a call at 7:05pm to say our table is free if we want to come in earlier more than welcome, a very nice personal touch and great customer service. The food, fish soup lovely nice and thick, lots of fish. The main courses duo of fish and Mermaid fish platter were excellent perfectly cooked. Our service was excellent, thank you to the owners and staff for a great evening out at dinner.

Having visited St Ives on a number of occasions over recent years we had never visited The Mermaid but had heard so many people recommending it. We were rather sceptical that anywhere could be as good as people had told us, how wrong we were! Beautiful fresh seafood arrived on our table and exceeded our expectations. Dishes which focus on the quality and freshness of the seafood were received with delight. Combine this with the lovely staff who smile and laugh with you and give you time and the result is what can only be described as a top class dining experience. Well done the Mermaid! We will be back!

Visited on recommendation. So pleased we did. You need to book early, as the place is very small & books up far in advance. Greeted by lovely friendly staff. The food was beautiful. The interior is quaint and very interesting. I loved looking at all the old photos & recognising areas around St Ives. Would 100% recommend to others. Annoyingly my husband doesn't eat fish. He had steak & chips. (Nothing else just as he wanted)

We had a fantastic experience at the Mermaid Seafood Restaurant. The standout feature was, of course, the incredible seafood. The menu offered a wide variety of fresh and expertly prepared dishes, with each one bursting with flavor. The quality and freshness of the seafood were evident in every bite. The ambiance of the restaurant was another highlight. It had a cozy, nautical theme that perfectly complemented the seaside location, creating a relaxed and enjoyable dining environment. The service was impeccable, with attentive and friendly staff who made sure that every aspect of our meal was perfect.

Tried to book this restaurant as it had been recommended to us by friends, I received a message to say we were on a reserve list and then on the day got a text message to say we’d got a table ! What a great idea to prevent disappointment when they’re fully booked. Lovely restaurant … very busy, obviously really popular and rightfully so, service was great greeted very warmly and felt welcome. Food was delicious well cooked and plentiful. Seafood platter was a lot for one person but rather that than leave feeling hungry. Seafood curry was a must have … my advice would be book early as they get very booked up, would definitely recommend.

We were so lucky to get a space as they had a cancellation. Normally they are booked in advance because the food is good. Definitely eat there again if we are visiting St.Ives

Booked well ahead of visit and I would recommend that as it gets very busy. Small restaurant but quirky. Food was nice. Prawn cocktail starter was the highlight of the visit. Something so simple done extremely well. Fish curry was nice and tasty but fish platter was a little soggy. Would go again.

This restaurant has been a firm favourite for many many years. We booked fairly last minute and were lucky enough to get a cancellation. The food was amazing; smokies were delicious and we both had the surf and turf; wonderful! Lovely atmosphere and swift friendly service without being made to feel rushed. There is such a lovely atmosphere in the Mermaid, 100% recommend.

Ok ...am I missing something this is a local restaurant serving straightforward well cooked fresh fish but the ambience lacks a certain something . The mermaid fish platter was a good selection of fish, the special came with mash but no vegetables/ salad - no option of additional sides. The decor is fun but the tables are simply spayed clean with plastic flowers yuk ! Service is attentive but felt formulaic - as sadly did the whole experience. Service was " too prompt" we had ordered and eaten starters and main in half an hour !! Perhaps not a good night.

We had a lovely evening with the lovely staff at The Mermaid - what a super atmosphere, with a real buzz of contented people and friendly, smiley staff who bent over to help us decide what to eat and sorted out any changes to dishes that we wanted to make. We both enjoyed our monkfish based dishes - and the bread and butter pud was superb! It was our big night out of the weekend and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A big thanks to chef and everyone who made us feel well fed and welcome, you were the highlight of our weekend.

What a lovely little find. Some of the best seafood we have eaten. Simply prepared and served. Would definitely recommend.

This is a lovely restaurant - the interior/decor are lovely and atmospheric; one of my favourites. The food was tasty and the portion size was pretty good. The service was the least positive - fine but somewhat uninterested and insincere perhaps. But this is a minor grumble; I would still look forward to going back.

Food was unbelievably good with great service. Totally recommend the lamb, vegetable Thai curry and smoked haddock smokies. Will be back to try more of the menu.

Lovely atmosphere, cosy feel, friendly staff, wonderful food, excellent value. We’ve already booked to return in May.,

Excellent quality and service, extremely pleasant welcome and more than efficient service with the quality of the ingredients and first class

We enjoyed our visit to The Mermaid…have been passed this place several times over the years and always said ‘we must visit’. So glad we finally did! The interior is kinda quirky, the service efficient, the menu nicely varied (including non-fish options), with great portion sizes (all fairly priced). It’s quite a stroll up hill from the harbour, but there is a car park nearby if that’s an issue (free after 4pm). Online booking was very easy too, so definitely worth making a booking if you’re visiting St Ives.

If you love fish and seafood, you must eat here! We booked in advance to make sure of a table, had a lovely cosy table to ourselves. The fish dishes we had were spectacular, cooked to perfection, and a very nice wine too! Definitely Five Stars.

This really is one of the best seafood restaurants in the South West of England. Not only do they serve great food but the service is so good as is the atmosphere. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas when we went and every table was booked so it was lively. It is imperative that you book as it seems to be fully booked most nights which is not surprising.

Great food, always tasty attentive service. Very tasty , Booking is advised as walk ins are not guaranteed Out fave dinner out

A really good meal in a delightfully atmospheric restaurant. we had wonderful fish dishes and had friendly service. a great experience

Just the best seafood and service anywhere and all at such a reasonable price. Such a great friendly atmosphere and everyone we take just loves it.

This unsuspecting treasure cove of fresh food and wonderful service. My husband and I have traveled around the world and tried everything from fresh Wagu beef to fine Italian delicacies, but nothing would compare to the meal we had at The Mermaid. We were incredibly lucky that when we walked in and asked if they had a table, they had recently had a no show and were able to slot us in. It is a small place, however it didn't feel cramped and crowded. You and your party could have some personal and private space while also being immersed in the surroundings of the restaurant. We opted for starters and mains and we couldn't have been more blown away by the quality and care in the food. I had fish in both courses, and you could taste the freshness, and there was no overwhelming taste of salt like you get in some restaurants. My husband chose a beef stir fry for his main, and despite being something you wouldn't expect from a seafood restaurant, he was speechless. In each dish we had, there was attention to the presentation, showcasing the food in front of you. These were dishes that you couldn't stop eating, but you knew if you asked for another portion it would be too much, so we enjoyed every single bite. We couldn't thank the servers and the chefs enough for both the meal and he service that we received.

As amazing as ever, been a while since we visited st ives, never the plan just a timing thing, so it was great to be back Tbe cauliflower and steaks never disappoint- thanks Matthew see you and your team just before new year all being well!

This is one of our go to places when we visit St Ives. Ate here twice on our most recent visit exceptional as always. The staff are welcoming and friendly without being in your face. Food not one criticism. We are always too full after a starter and main course but I’m sure the desserts are as good. Can’t wait for 2024 and our next visit. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend thanks to the owners, the chefs, kitchen staff and waiting staff for excellent meals.

Decided to try all restaurants we hadn’t been to yet during our week in October including The Mermaid. Very satisfied!! Prompt and friendly service with a good atmosphere. Seemed to be plenty of locals in with repeat bookings for later in the week. Food was excellent (platter and fish & chips). Mermaid mess dessert was epic. Highly recommended

excellent food and friendly service. I book every year for my birthday. the food never disappoints . its first class and atmosphere friendly and warm

We were recommended this place and we weren't disappointed! From the minute you walk in to this charming restaurant, the staff make you feel amazingly welcome. The Inn has the most amazing charm and full of an old fashioned warmth from the decor and lovely nautical additions. We had a great booth all to ourselves and would do it all again in an instance. The food, the drinks, everything was just what you wanted. The choice on the menu played to the seaside location but you could have some fabulous traditional fayre. We had a Monkfish Curry and the Monkfish, Halloumi, Chorizo and Tiger Prawn Skewers... simply delightful and scrumptious. The taste and flavour of the location. Thank you so much, we will be back!

On a short break in St Ives looked online for somewhere to eat. Found this place. Highly recommended if you like seafood, but also plenty of non-seafood dishes to choose from. Very reasonably priced. Thank you!

Food was excellent. Service was good. Atmosphere cosy. A nice restaurant with local history and story. We’ll worth a visit for a seafood lover

Food was undercooked and luke warm. The service was slow. We have been many times over the years, but I feel standards are slipping. Such a shame as this was a favourite place to visit.

We gave this place 5 stars for the following reasons. The staff were professional and helpful. We had 3 courses each and every one was delicious. Husband had prawn cocktail (so many big prawns) then seafood platter (scallops, prawns, sea bass, lemon sole & battered fish with chips) & creme brulee. I had the crispy tiger prawn special (coated in panko & coconut, all big & juicy), trio of fish (lemon sole, sea bass & plaice), followed by the Mermaid mess. Everything we had was perfectly cooked, and scrumptious. To drink, 1 local lager & 2 glasses of wine, and we paid £108 with 10% gratuity. Very reasonable, as portions were big and quality excellent. A real little find, tucked down a back street, but people were queuing up outside waiting for it to open at 6pm, so that tells you all you need to know. We will book again the next time we're in St. Ives. A thoroughly pleasant & scrumptious evening. Very laid-back friendly, family run establishment.

We visited the Mermaid yesterday evening with our little boy. My partner and I got married yesterday at the Guildhall and used this as our wedding meal on the night (just the three of us). It was originally fully booked but after emailing the management they managed to squeeze us in and I’m so pleased they did. The food, atmosphere and hospitality were great. No complaints from us. The prawns were amazing. I would recommend to anyone, not just for the food but the whole experience. A hidden gem!! X

Amazing place.. 10/10....down side ! !! Wine bottles opened before bottle was put onto table ... ( odd in my book ).. & although service was !! errm nice/pleasant ... the table service was really rushed... ??? I like to relax & enjoy .. not to have a waitess hovering ( as that is what it felt like) to clear our plates / table for each course.... unfortunately tho I'll be going back... lol

This restaurant is lovely and somewhere me and my family visit each time we holiday in St Ives. This time was disappointing. My sons meatballs arrived cold despite the pasta being hot , I cut some of the meatballs open to check the middle and they were cold. The waitress returned them to the kitchen, a few minutes later she returned the meatballs piping hot however they were clearly reheated which in my opinion isn’t good enough when you are paying the prices you do at this restaurant. Unfortunately my son had to have my fillet steak and I went home hungry. The waitress deducted my sons meatballs from the bill and rightly so as he wasn’t eating re heated food however there was no offer of any further deductions despite me clearly having nothing to eat as I’d had to give my food to my son. Sadly won’t be back again.

Exceptional seafood which is super fresh and delicious. The side dish with the trio of fish was new potatoes which were basic and we didn’t eat them, something a bit more interesting would have worked better. The fillet steak stir fry was very tasty but rather than thin strips the meat was in big chunks and in my opinion would be much better sliced thinner. From a family perspective the menu would benefit from having a smaller children’s fish and chips portion as the adult one we ordered was super tasty but huge. Would recommend this restaurant as it has a lovely feel and great food.

Great food and a great atmosphere. A St Ives must! We ate in on one night and then, later in the week, had the takeaway paella. Both experiences were great but make sure you book in advance to get a table, or turn up at...

Stunning food and extremely attentive service. Really lovely with children too. Was a wonderful meal out.

Lovely family restaurant with a great atmosphere and friendly staff. Great portion sizes, menu choice and a good selection for children. The owners daughter was lovely and accommodating taking a pic for us all. See you next year x

Our 4th ear visiting and the food is always amazing. Cornish smokies are a must for starter and they always have a good choice of specials as well as their standard menu. Mermaid mess is the best dessert on the planet .. only another year...

I really enjoyed my sea bream special. It came with a lovely tomato salsa and asparagus. Would happily have this again. My wife had the monkfish, king prawn, chorizo and halloumi skewers which she had had many times before and would thoroughly recommend.

What a hidden gem.. from beginning to end it was outstanding... service fab. FOOD AMAZING. QUALITY HIGH.. CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK..

Great venue, friendly staff. Brilliant fish. A couple of gluten free options. Worth a stop in St Ives.

Lovely quaint restaurant in the heart of St Ives Specialises in fish and seafood but other dishes available from the menu. My wife and I went with another couple and had booked a table for 6.30pm Upon arrival we were promptly attended to and shown...

Staff really welcoming and personable. Service very efficient, the food was excellent, the grilled Cornish sole of particular note. Great atmosphere and a genuinely enjoyable meal

Awful rude staff, the “computer system” messed up our booking there was no offer to fix it that evening and refused to seat us, we were told to email or call in the morning. Very uncaring attitude from the 2 ladies serving, no wonder they...

Had a wonderful meal tonight, lovely to see Matthew and his staff were fantastic so eager to please. We had a fabulous meal in wonderful surroundings. See you all again soon

Awful experience. They messed up our booking time, and refused to seat us. The lady was abrupt & rude and wouldn’t do anything even though I said I had the email confirmation with the correct time on which was booked since September. I called them...

Great to be back here Very good welcome & service Good buzzy atmosphere I had the Scallops & my wife the Cornish Smokey, as always excellent We both had the Fish Trio, wow! Certainly not disappointed Super evening

I wasn’t expecting to write this review. What started as a beautiful evening with my wife ended with a near divorce-style flirting with a waitress called Sarah. This might already sound unusual, but given Sarah was likely 15–20 years my senior, it started ringing alarm...

Tucked away on a back street, the door opens on to a busy restaurant with a family feel to it. More locals than tourists - which is always a good sign - meant that the staff were rushed off their feet, but it didn't impact...

We’ve been coming to The Mermaid since our first holiday in St Ives in the mid 80s! All I can say is that you are still the best in St Ives for sure! Everything about our visit tonight was perfect : the food (of course);...

Wonderful meal this evening. I started with scallops served with hogs pudding & apple purée. Three huge juicy scallops cooked perfectly with their coral, served on a bed of apple purée with fine slices of Cornish hogs pudding. Lovely combination of spices & textures. Followed...

We visit the mermaid every year when we come to St Ives on holiday. No problem with the food but I get the impression from the staff that they can’t be bothered. Not sure if it’s because they’re busy but they just don’t seem to...

Appalling service. one of our guests dropped his glass and was loudly berated by one of the waitresses. he was told to leave and close the door behind him. really disappointing as the rest of the staff were very pleasant. the food was ok. I...

Fantastic Staff, friendly, great Menu, food was outstanding, service very efficient. Love the personality of the place.

Lovely food and excellent friendly service . Must book as it’s always very busy. We were not rushed and given plenty of time between courses . Will be back .

We booked this restaurant at the beginning of April, and were really looking forward to celebrating my wife's birthday while on holiday in St Ives. We arrived early and were told to sit at a table in a dingy corner with a board in front...

The choice of food was excellent and cooked superbly.The service was very good. A nice cosy restaurant and would definitely visit again.

Disappointing! Recommended by the hotel Concierge, the Trio fish is not tasty, all three tasted blend, grilled but skin was very soggy because it was served skin side down. Salad came with the fish has no dressing, potatoes is not tasty, all and all, disappointing...

We have been here quite a few times and never had a problem but this time it was different neither the food or service was on point . The chips were skin on fries which neither tasted or looked appetising in fact they where terrible,...

Has been a few years since we last visited. It's still a fabulous experience. Really friendly and efficient staff and the food was delicious. I had crab cakes followed by the fish platter. All the fish was cooked to prefection. Three others in the party...

Nice restaurant with lots of history and a great atmosphere. 4 of us visited on a busy Saturday evening. Unfortunately one of our meals was delivered to our table with a hair wrapped around the fish. They apologised and offered a fresh meal but we...

Was lovely food, tried some seafood I would have never tried otherwise, would defo recommend. The only slight let down was our waitress wasn’t fully welcoming however the second lady was lovely.

This restaurant is a little gem. From the bottles hanging from the ceiling to the absolutely fab staff I would never tire of eating here. The food was just absolutely delicious, cooked perfectly and really delicious. We wanted to eat here the following evening but...

The best meal of our 5 day trip to St Ives ! A lovely restaurant, excellent friendly service and exquisite food. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening meal. Thank you to all the staff , it was perfect !

We had a lovely meal here on the last day of our stay in St Ives. We really,loved the unique atmosphere, as a previous reviewer said, it felt like a time warp in a good way! Cosy, atmospheric and welcoming. Our food was delicious, my...

Although the food was lovely, it was overpriced for what we got for our seafood dishes with our friends. Service was also very slow and had to keep asking for things and felt the staff didn't make an effort to care about what they were...

I was treated to my birthday dinner here by my fiancée. Dining here has been such a wholesome experience. The meal was faultless. Hands down some of the best seafood I’ve had in a while. The sticky toffee pud is a must try too! Stepping...

We eat out a lot and have a rule,if we are asked how the food is either during the meal or after then we will give an honest response,if not we feel able to give an honest review on a social platform.On arrival at this...

Had another fabulous meal here. A regular visitor to St Ives and this place too. It’s always busy so book ahead and you won’t be disappointed. Great atmosphere and always enjoy coming here!

The food, service and value were top notch here. The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. We had the homemade bread and butter pudding for dessert and it was exquisite. Would highly recommend. We booked as I read...

This was our third visit and we will be going again. Wonderful seafood and a lovely atmosphere. Only downside was one waitress who looked as though she didn't like the job but it didn't spoil the occasion.

Wonderful and the loveliest staff. Ate here twice in a wk, every dish was fab but the smokies, wow! I will be thinking about it till our next visit.

As always we were not disappointed with the food, atmosphere and friendly staff. Seabase was gorgeous and my partner had the rump lamb which I tasted and loved, yummy to both. Highly recommended

Over rated under delivered food. Only decent item is Thai fish curry covering bland fish with spices. Seafood Pot 99% mussels! Shame birthday experience ruined by food poisoning next day for our party £360 lighter!

Worth the wait tried to book a table when we were last in St Ives in October but fully booked. This little gem was worth the wait. Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Can’t fault and 200% would recommend. Portions are huge so make sure you’re...

Hadn't booked and was lucky to get a table as a cover didn't turn up. It was full but didn't feel uncomfortable. Despite the crowd, the food turned up in good time, if you are a fish fan, try the fish platter. Great portion, fish...

Visited here with my partner for my Birthday. We had very nicely cooked dinner in a lovely comfortable cosy restaurant with a lovely ambiance. Good value for money too. Would definitely recommend.

Whilst the atmosphere was lovely the food was just ok. I had the trio of fish and they were cooked well but the two bottom ones were greasy with soggy skin unlike the top fillet in the pile which was very well cooked. The smokies...

Very friendly and cosy place. Lives up to the term 'Bistro' as the food comes out very quickly! You have the choice at booking of a booth, a corner table or one of the centrally situated tables, we had a booth, and nice and intimate...

Great friendly staff and excellent food. We asked for a starter to be a main portion which was no problem for the staff.

We visited on a very busy December night and were delighted. Service was excellent, friendly, efficient and with only three people serving a full restaurant it was impressive. The garlic bread was superb, steaks cooked perfectly and all in the most charming setting. A little...

Sadly the Mermaid is living off past glories. It was once the very best. Now, no where near as good. Rude staff. Poor service. At best it was ok food. Such a pity.

The restaurant has a very cosy feel, with a selection of good wholesome seafood offerings where the fish flavours do the talking !. Monkfish skewers and seafood pots were highlights. It was excellent from start to finish and I thoroughly recommend this place.

We have been going to the Mermaid for years and until now I say it was my favourite restaurant in St Ives. However our visit last night for our 30th Wedding Anniversary may be our last , we were greeted by a friendly girl and...

What a wonderful restaurant in the heart of St Ives. My husband and I enjoyed a lovely evening here sampling a lot of their fish dishes. All the food was excellent, the wine was very good value and the staff so friendly. Look forward to...

Walked past this place so many times and it's always looked so warm and inviting, booked this week, and was not disappointed, had a steak, mmmmm, bloody lovely, can't fault anything, well done to all the staff, I'm not a big seafood fan, but I...

Fantastic food, nice atmosphere, will definitely be visiting again. The Fish dishes are some of the freshest I have had for a while.

Had the most wonderful evening. Lovely staff, great service. Fantastic meal. Wasn't sure I was making the right choice ordering steak in a seafood restaurant, but I was absolutely delighted with my meal. We ordered Tempura King prawns, and Scallops for starter, followed by Thai...

Have to say out if all the restaurants in St Ives The Mermaid stands alone. Amazing quality food, fantastic friendly staff & a truly authentic experience in a beautiful restaurant with decades of history, the fact you have to always book this place in advance...

We visit the mermaid every time we come to St ives it’s our favourite , Our recent visit was as always special. Right from the word go service is warm & friendly, The menu has a good selection of dishes we all went for fish...

Food was poor quality, tasteless and needs a complete update. I’ve not had such a bad meal in a long time, excellent fish ruined by thick tasteless sauce. I was clear I couldn’t eat onions and peppers then they were served as a salad on...

Ist visit to St Ives and booked in advance based on good reviews of this as a good seafood restaurant. Couldn’t have been more disappointed. Brusque waitresses, and poor quality food. Lovely fish ruined by covering in a thick gloopy sauce ( not seen food...