I already wrote about the Bean Inn, it is worth a trip if you are in the area.

In St Ives centre there is a very nice cafe called Terra Viva (next door to the library); the same owners run an organic hairdresser next door.

The cafè is small but very bright, it’s entirely vegetarian and there are plenty of vegan options, they serve salads, sandwiches, main dishes, soups and ice cream.

We had a coffee with some vegan ice cream, made out of cashew nuts (from Tofutti). The address is Gabriel Street, Royal Square and their telephone is 01736794447.

Up the road from the cafe there is a farmer’s market once a week (I think it’s on Thursday, but I’m not entirely sure) which is quite small but worth a visit, there are also the people from the Bean Inn selling veggie food. We bought homemade jams, local strawberries (they were absolutely great), chocolate, cornish cheese (yummy!) and some indian snacks.

Our best dinner was in a small restaurant on the harbour, a little hidden away (it’s on a first floor and you can’t see it from the street, but there is a sign). The great place is called Spinacio’s but it’s not an Italian restaurant despite the name.

It is just one year old, and the atmosphere is nice, maybe a little bit on the dark side, and it has a strong accent on seasonal ingredient. I had a beetroot and new potato rosti with goat’s cheese, broad bean mash, some wild greens and minted peas, my husband had a curry and it tasted really good, my rosti was delicious, and the peas were superfresh and not overcooked (it is a rare thing in UK!).

For pudding the hubby got some home made macaroons, with orange flavoured  chocolate chips, and said it was one of the best dessert he ever had!

Spinacio’s tel. n. is 01736798818

There are some other vegetarian restaurants around Cornwall, we happen to read a local magazine with the names of the best veggie places, we copied some down, but didn’t visit, so here they are:

Lettuce and Lovage, tel 01872 272546, 15 Kenwyn Street, Truro TR1 3BU

Johnny’s Cafe 50 Penpol Terrace, Hayle (TR274BQ) Phone number: 01736-755928

Treetop Cafe, The Monkey Sanctuary near Looe Cornwall PL13 1NZ  Tel 01503 262 532

And one in Plymouth, Devon, just in case!

Veggie Perrin’s 97 Mayflower Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 1SD, UK. Tel: 01752 252888