From the breezy dunes of Normandy to the dreamy lagoons of the Algarve, our writers select their favourite seaside spots for eating and drinking. On Menorca's north-east coast, Es Grau village boasts Tamarindos, a bar and restaurant with tables under trees and a terrace on stilts over turquoise water. Try grilled brioche with sobrasada sausage, Mahón cheese and local honey, or paella with Menorcan red prawns.
La Mar de Fondo on Playa de Frexulfe in Asturias is a creaky wooden bar perched on a hill overlooking a near kilometre-long beach. It offers a laid-back vibe and serves food and drinks, perfect for a quiet morning coffee watching the water sparkle through eucalyptus trees.
In Cabo de Gata, La Isleta del Moro is a tiny fishing village with Restaurant La Isleta on the rocks by the jetty. Enjoy an ice-cold beer as the sky turns Technicolor over the cliffs, watching fishers haul their boats up the beach.
El Refugio in Zahara de los Atunes offers views of grassy dunes and white sand, with a terrace shaded by a fig tree. Specialising in bluefin tuna, a local delicacy since Phoenician times, it also serves retinto steak, salads and affordable Spanish wines. No bookings – a waiting list operates at the door.
Le Cabanon on Plage du Buse in the south of France reopened this April with a new hatch serving coffees, gelato and Aperol spritz. Sit on a huge driftwood trunk to watch cormorants and kayakers while enjoying steamed clams and freshly baked focaccia.
