Here are a few great coastal and beachside cafés and restaurants to tempt you.
The Winking Prawn, Salcombe – 01548 842326
Situated on a quiet, sandy beach The Winking Prawn is perfect for lunch or a drink. It looks like a beach hut, but a ‘posh’ one and reminds me of cafes in Cape Town with its washed out floors and white wood finishes.
The seafood is always good here and in the Summer the ‘barbies’ are great! They re-open after the Christmas rush on the 28th December with breakfast kicking off at 9:45am. Take a walk on the North Sands beach and pop in for a festive treat and a hot drink!
Indaba Fish, Falmouth – 01326 311886
Indaba Fish has majestic views and is perfect if you fancy a winter walk followed by a hot meal or drinks with friends. Raised on the headland overlooking Swanpool beach this is a great restaurant to enjoy fresh fish like sea bass and tasty ocean treats like lobster, crab and scallops! There’s also a daily specials board if you need help choosing.
The prices are very reasonable and the food plentiful.
Hive Beach Cafe – Bridport, Dorset – 01308 897070
This is a perfect beachside cafe with simple but stunning food – even the fish and chips! Having recently just celebrated “Welly Wanging Day” on Boxing day the owners and community are in full Festive flow with New Year coming up soon!
You can be assured of a great meal as they buy in a lot of the fish from a local supplier but if you’re just interested in a pitstop after a brisk walk then they serve up great coffee and cakes too! It’s a gorgeous spot with awesome views.
The Lifeboat Inn, Thornham, Norfolk – 01485 512236
New Year’s Even at the Lifeboat Inn in Norfolk looks set to be a stonking good time for all! The menu is just fantastic and the setting, perfect!
The Inn is not on the beach, but it is just off the estuary in this delightful village and gives you ample opportunity to walk on Thornham beach first and eat afterwards or just stop in on your way home for a drink or a coffee. The prices are good and the menu is always varied and perfect for local delicacies like Cromer Crab or lobster!
East Beach Cafe, Littlehampton, West Sussex – 01903 731903
East Beach Cafe is great all year round but over Winter they open from 28th Dec to 31st December from 12 – 2:30 pm for lunch and on New Year’s Day for their classic and traditional New Year brunch from 10 am – 4 pm! Don’t miss it!
Its iconic architecture belies the warm interior and the views are fantastic over the ocean so you can eat, drink and be merry while watching the waves roll in!
Caffe Vista, Tenby – 01834 849636
This festive Greek caffe overlooks the beautiful North Beach and Carmarthern Bay so you’ve got wonderful views while you enjoy this authentic Greek cuisine. Yanni, the owner, is known for wooing his customers with luscious cakes and really good coffee along with the odd song or two! A classic cafe with great food and views!
Morelli’s, Broadstairs, Kent – 01843 862500
Morelli’s is the perfect soda fountain and coffee bar. They specialise in ice cream in every flavour and it’s divine! In the winter it’s great to have a walk along Viking Bay and then stop off at Morelli’s for a hot drink while treating the kids to one of their amazing gelato dishes.
Don’t miss this month’s special – Cranberry and Vodka!! You’ll love the ambience. All chrome, fluorescent and formica – an ice cream heaven!
Swell Cafe, Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire – 01947 880180
Swell Cafe sits overlooking the little village of Robin Hood’s Bay and the ocean. It’s a perfect spot for sipping hot chocolate and nibbling treats after a brisk walk. Add to the attraction that it’s set in a part of the North York Moors National Park and you’ve got a real winner.
They serve superb carrot cake, strong coffee and a selection of light meals and pastries too! We loved the gift shop and were intrigued by the cinema being integrated – a lovely idea, great spot!
There are many such cafés dotted around the coastline of the United Kingdom and we’d like to list all of them on our site. If you own a coastal café or restaurant, please list it on our site so we can share your details.