A pasty is a pasty, right?

No. Not in Cornwall.

As the home of the Cornish pasty, Cornwall takes this hunk of pastry goodness very seriously indeed. From the filling and the flakiness, to the crimping style and recipe secrets, there’s a lot more to a good pasty than you may think.

Starting in one of our favourite Cornish holiday spots, St Ives, we tried out traditional bakeries and local butchers, all to search out the best pasty.

 

Harvey Brothers Butchery

Location: Tregenna Place, St Ives

These pasties are famous for a reason. Handmade in Penzance from a traditional recipe, Harvey Brothers pasties have golden, crumbly shortcrust pastry which is stuffed to maximum capacity with a beautifully seasoned beef and diced potato filling. Simply superb. Enjoy while strolling down to St Ives’ harbour or wandering the seafront in Newlyn and Penzance.

St Ives Bakery

Location: Fore Street, St Ives

If you’re wandering around St Ives and fancy a pasty, this is one to put on your list. St Ives Bakery is a lovely little independent bakery tucked away on Fore Street, and their pasties are handmade, hand-crimped and baked fresh throughout the day.

There’s a good choice too, from the traditional steak to vegetarian, cheese and veg and even steak and stilton. I’m a traditional pasty girl myself, but I do like a bakery that gives you options. The pastry is golden and flaky, the filling is generous and, most importantly, they’re very good straight from the oven.

It’s also the sort of place where you can’t really walk past without looking in the window. The smell of freshly baked bread, cakes and pastries is enough to tempt you in even if you hadn’t planned on stopping. And if you’re anything like me, once you’ve seen the pasties, plans go out the window.

Photo Credit: St Ives Bakery

Philps

Locations: East Quay and Foundry Hill, Hayle

OK, so technically Philps isn’t in St Ives. But it is in St Ives Bay, and when you’re on a mission to find the best pasty in the area, I think it would be a bit rude to leave them out.

Philps is a Cornish institution for a reason. Family-owned and run since 1958, their pasties are generously sized, generously filled and freshly baked throughout the day.

The Hayle shops are particularly handy if you’re staying around St Ives Bay, and it’s well worth the short trip if you’re serious about your pasty tasting. They’re hearty, filling and very much the sort of pasty that means you probably won’t need to think about lunch again for a good few hours.

So while I’m bending the rules slightly by including Philps in a list of St Ives pasty shops, I think you’ll forgive me. It would be a shame to come all this way and not try one.

Photo Credit: Philps Bakery

The Makers Cornwall

Location: Chapel Street, St Ives

We’re fans of small, independent businesses and this fab little bakery, The Makers Cornwall, is a gem. Freshly baked gateaux, buns and scones grace the shop window, along with savoury treats including their pasties (which according to our local sources) are very, very good. Expect flaky, golden pastry and beautifully seasoned, fresh fillings – crimped and baked to perfection.

Photo Credit: The Makers, St Ives

Yellow Canary

Location: Fore Street, St Ives

Yellow Canary is a café rather than your traditional grab-and-go bakery, with an online shop too! We love that they have gluten-free pasties which are prepared in a dedicated gluten-free environment and kept individually wrapped to avoid cross-contamination.

And honestly, finding a decent gluten-free pasty in Cornwall can feel like striking gold. So if you’re travelling with someone who normally has to watch everyone else tuck into the good stuff while they make do with something else, this is definitely one to know about.

The café itself is a nice option if you want to sit down rather than eat your pasty while dodging seagulls on the harbour. Grab a coffee, settle in and enjoy your pasty properly.

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