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Dining with a sea view - Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling, St Ives, Cornwall

Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling

4.9
4.9
1325 Reviews
£41 and over
British
Carbis Bay HotelCarbis Bay, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2NP

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 17 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for scenic views
  • Innovative
Ugly Butterfly, located in the iconic Carbis Bay, just a mile from St Ives in Cornwall, opened in August 2021. In keeping with Adam’s ethos, there’s a strong focus on sustainability.
There’s no such thing as an Ugly Butterfly, in the same way as there’s no such thing as food waste.

The restaurant and bar offers a relaxed experience, with surreal surroundings. We are lucky to
have one of the most beautiful views of the Cornish coast, overlooking the ocean so that guests can
watch the dolphins and seals. The sound of the ocean and the innovative utilisation of our local
ingredients makes guests forget they’re even in the UK.

Our afternoon tea experience takes guests on a journey around Cornwall, celebrating the
best of Cornish produce. The tea itself is grown on the Cornish Tregothnan Estate – the first tea fields in the UK.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    British
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sat 12:00–13:30 Afternoon Tea Wed–Sat 12:00–17:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    01736 805800
  • Website
    http://www.uglybutterfly.co.uk/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Adam Handling
  • Private party facilities
    Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling lucky to have one of the most beautiful views of the Cornish coast. Our open plan restaurant lends itself to semi-private dining, as well as large private hire events and weddings. No matter the celebration, Ugly Butterfly is the perfect location.
  • Private party contact
    Nick: 01736 805800
  • Location
    Carbis Bay HotelCarbis Bay, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2NP
  • Area
    St Ives
  • Parking details
    Parking is available within and next to the Carbis Bay Estate
  • Public transit
    BY RAIL The nearest station is Carbis Bay on the St Ives branch line. There are frequent regular connecting services to St Erth station (on the London to Penzance main line). From the train station it is only a short walk down the hill to the Estate.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Private dining

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,325 people are saying

Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Cornwall

    Best Overall

  • Cornwall

    Best Food

  • Cornwall

    Best Ambience

  • Cornwall

    Innovative

  • Cornwall

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Cornwall

    Great for fine wines

  • Cornwall

    Romantic

  • Cornwall

    Great for scenic views

  • Cornwall

    Good for special occasions

  • West Cornwall

    Best Overall

  • West Cornwall

    Best Food

  • West Cornwall

    Best Service

  • West Cornwall

    Best Ambience

  • West Cornwall

    Good for special occasions

  • West Cornwall

    Lively

  • West Cornwall

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling offers an exceptional dining experience with "amazing food" and "impeccable service" in a stunning setting overlooking Carbis Bay. Guests rave about the "beautifully presented" dishes and the restaurant's commitment to sustainability. The afternoon tea is a standout favorite, and the knowledgeable staff enhance every visit.
1,325 Reviews

  1. Debra

    Devon15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is our second visit for afternoon tea at the Ugly Butterfly. It did not disappoint - imaginativel, inventive, delicous explosive flavours and textures. We loved it!! Thanks so much for looking after myself, my partner, my daughter and her new fiance! We will definitely be back on our cornish easter break next year. Just try keeping us away!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Andrew

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an incredible experience from beginning to end, staff are so friendly, each course was explained with great detail and tasted Devine! Cocktails were innovative and super strong! Would recommend to anyone!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Beth

    Dublin2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely incredible evening. We loved it from start to finish- the food was impeccable and the service was faultless. Couldn’t recommend the ugly butterfly more for a truly special and memorable experience xx

    Is this helpful?

  4. richard VIP

    London10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and setting. My only criticism was it took nearly 40 mins to get our first drink and everything felt a little disjointed to start off otherwise excellent

    Is this helpful?

  5. Luke

    London2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely fantastic restaurant with a brilliant focus on limiting waste produced by the kitchen and using suppliers who manage their environmental impact. One of the best meals that we have ever eaten - the food and drink were stunning and the staff very welcoming.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Annie

    Oxford1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A fantastic evening. Amazing food.and what a view. Staff are wonderful. We loved it.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Joanne

    London4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It was a great dining experience all round. The restaurant is in a beautiful location, the food was excellent, and the service was impeccable.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jane

    Cornwall1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience. Expensive but you can see why. Staff were brilliant and view from our table was breathtaking. Every course from the tasting menu was lovely. So glad we went.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Matthew

    Manchester2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was sensational - the food, the drink, the staff, the interior, the setting. A huge thank you for making last night such a memorable night as we celebrated my husband’s birthday. Every course was extremely well thought through (would HIGHLY recommend the potato & caviar add-on). Never had a meal like this in my life. The wine selection was fabulous including some wonderful alcohol free options for the drivers amongst us. The setting was just beautiful as you looked over the Celtic Sea. Also, a huge mention to all the staff. We were looked after from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. Super friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Thank you and we can’t wait to return.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Neil

    London2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A triumph for British cuisine, creativity and innovation. The perfect experience for food lovers.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling is rated 4.9 stars by 1325 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Cornwall
  4. West Cornwall
  5. St Ives

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 17 times today
Google Map for Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling

Carbis Bay HotelCarbis Bay, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2NP

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    St Ives
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sat 12:00–13:30 Afternoon Tea Wed–Sat 12:00–17:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    British
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Parking is available within and next to the Carbis Bay Estate
  • Public transit
    BY RAIL The nearest station is Carbis Bay on the St Ives branch line. There are frequent regular connecting services to St Erth station (on the London to Penzance main line). From the train station it is only a short walk down the hill to the Estate.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Adam Handling
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.uglybutterfly.co.uk/
  • Phone number
    01736 805800
  • Private party facilities
    Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling lucky to have one of the most beautiful views of the Cornish coast. Our open plan restaurant lends itself to semi-private dining, as well as large private hire events and weddings. No matter the celebration, Ugly Butterfly is the perfect location.
  • Private party contact
    Nick: 01736 805800
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