The Terrace, St Ives, United Kingdom | (251) 219-4428
Classic hilltop hotel with panoramic water views
In walking distance of Porthminster Beach and St. Ives’ top attractions
Award-winning wedding venue with dedicated event planners
Recently refurbished guest rooms with “boutique style” decor
Suites and Superior Sea Views Rooms feature balconies
All have flat-screen TVs, minibars and Nespresso machines
Stylish restaurant serving locally sourced dishes
Sophisticated lounge/bar anchored by a grand piano
Luxe full-service spa with a broad treatment menu
Pool and fitness room with free classes for guests
Breakfast, parking, and hotel-wide Wi-Fi included
A steep uphill walk from the town center
Potential for road noise in front-facing rooms
Accommodations can feel cramped
Spa and pool are on the small side
Special events may inconvenience regular guests
Awkwardly located parking lot
Built in 1893, this four-pearl hilltop hotel puts guests within walking distance of St. Ives’ town center and offers sweeping views of Porthminster Beach. The scenery can be enjoyed from many of its 46 rooms -- all of which will have soothing, coastal-inspired decor plus appreciated perks like minibars, Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi once refurbishments are completed in late 2017. The elegant Terrace Restaurant and window-banked lounge/bar also overlook the coast, as do the pool and fitness area. Add in a full-service spa as well as sublime event spaces and it’s easy to see why this spot is a popular wedding venue. On the downside, returning from town requires a steep trek uphill. If you’d prefer something more intimate in the heart of town, consider The Keep instead.
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Scene
A vintage, seaside hotel that doubles as a popular wedding venue
Sitting high above Porthminster Beach, just south of St. Ives’ idyllic town center, this Victorian beauty occupies a privileged position and has a broad appeal. Being one of Harbour Hotels' 14 posh South Coast locations, it’s a slick professionally-run property where wedding parties, well-heeled vacationers, and corporate types on retreat can all kick back. It caters to kids, too, offering perks like bunk-bedded family rooms and special menus; nevertheless, it sends a somewhat mixed message because the ambience is decidedly "upscale adult" as are some key facilities. (Children, for example, may only use the pool a few hours per day.)
Location
Overlooking the beach, about 10 minutes south of the town center
Blessed with impressive bay views, this hotel sits on the main road that descends into St. Ives’ center. The town itself is a Cornish classic, appealing equally to both artsy and outdoorsy guests. The latter can stroll downhill to see cultural landmarks -- including the Tate St. Ives and Barbara Hepworth Museum -- in 15 minutes or less, while the latter enjoy an easy approach to Porthminster Beach (which is only a few minutes away on foot via a pretty path) as well as popular surfing spots and hiking trails. Note that the nearest airport, Newquay Cornwall, is a 55-minute drive, and the local train station, with connections to London, is a six-minute walk. If you’re coming by car, the hotel offers free parking (a real plus here in peak periods); however, being located on the other side of the road, it can be tricky to access.- Four-minute walk to Porthminster Beach
Rooms
Breezy, recently refurbished rooms inspired by the Cornish Coast
The coastal-inspired accommodations here (all of which are slated to be re-done by the end of 2017) have classic-meets-contemporary decor and a color palette drawn from the scenery outside (picture granite grays and assorted sand tones enlivened by pops of sunny yellow and sea blue). Outfitted with quality fixtures and fittings, they offer amenities that include high-quality linens, minibars, Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Across the board, the bright white bathrooms -- most with pretty pedestal sinks and combination shower/tubs -- are charming yet rather small. Subway tiles and cottage-y paneling give them visual appeal, while welcome bonuses like fluffy robes, towel warmers, and lovely White Company toiletries lend an extra layer of comfort. Many rooms overlook the water (those that face the road may be subject to traffic noise). Suites and Superior Sea View Rooms add balconies, with the former providing separate living areas too. Note that some rooms can also be connected with ones featuring twin or bunk beds to create family-friendly units.
Features
Expect a full-service spa, an elegant restaurant and other upscale amenities.
Water views are a big draw here, and the hotel maximizes them with its features. Take, for instance, the elegant on-site restaurant: It offers seating both indoors in a contemporary dining room that’s lined with windows as well as on an outdoor terrace where camera-ready scenery competes for your attention with seasonal, locally-sourced fare. Ditto for the lounge-like bar, a light-bathed space overlooking the beach that's sophisticated without being stuffy. The bright fitness zone and pool area, which comes complete with a heated jet stream and hot tub, are similarly designed to let the outside in, though treatment suites in the adjacent spa are darker and more discrete. The views -- combined with on-site coordinators and caterers -- also help make this hotel an award-winning wedding venue: Two function rooms, with a capacity of more than 250 people, plus a private wedding terrace all have the bay as a backdrop. Other features include a 24-hour reception desk, dry-cleaning/laundry services, room service, free parking, and free Wi-Fi.
