The World’s Finest Beach Restaurants for Barefoot Dining by the Sea

There's something special about eating great food right by the ocean. The salt air, the sound of waves, and fresh seafood create a unique dining experience. We've found some of the finest beach restaurants around the world that combine excellent food with amazing seaside settings.

At Supremarine, we look at the whole experience—not just the food, but also the location, the atmosphere, and the story behind each restaurant. We've compiled this list of the finest beach restaurants based on several key factors.

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Supremarine Ranking Criteria

We selected these finest beach restaurants based on:

1. Proximity to the Beach: How close you are to the water and whether you can dine with your feet in the sand
2. Food Quality: Great seafood and local ingredients prepared with creativity and skill
3. Atmosphere: Relaxed yet stylish settings that make the most of their coastal locations
4. Special Elements: Unique features like private dining areas, sunset views, or post-meal beach walks
5. Reputation: Recognition through awards, reviews, or local fame

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1. Sublime Comporta Beach Club | Carvalhal, Portugal

Tucked away in Portugal's coastal region, Sublime Comporta Beach Club features a rustic thatched roof and floors made of soft beach sand. The menu highlights locally-caught fish grilled to perfection and served with regional vegetables. Their chilled vinho verde pairs perfectly with seafood, and the tables positioned right on the sand offer uninterrupted ocean views.

What makes it special:

The restaurant sits between rice fields and the Atlantic Ocean in an eco-reserve. Originally a fisherman's hut, it maintains its authentic charm while serving some of the best seafood rice in Portugal. Local fishermen often deliver their catch directly to the kitchen door.

Spain is home to several of the finest beach restaurants, starting with our next selection on the Costa Brava.

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2. Miramar | Llançà, Spain

Chef Paco Pérez's two MICHELIN-starred restaurant, Miramar, offers a sophisticated dining room with large windows overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The menu features meticulously crafted dishes like sea cucumber with caviar and local red prawns prepared in innovative ways. Their Mar and Territory tasting menus showcase the best seafood the region has to offer.

What makes it special:

Pérez grew up fishing in these waters and returned after training with culinary masters across Europe. He pioneered "techno-emotional" cuisine combining cutting-edge techniques with emotional connection to local ingredients. His signature dish—a dessert that looks exactly like sea stones—is so realistic diners often can't believe it's edible.

The French Riviera hosts many of the finest beach restaurants in Europe, including our next choice.

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3. Jardin Tropezina | Ramatuelle, France

Set on the famous Pampelonne Beach, this garden-style restaurant, Jardin Tropezina, uses natural wood tables and is surrounded by Mediterranean plants and trees. The menu blends French and Italian coastal cuisines with dishes like bouillabaisse and fresh pasta with local seafood. By evening, a resident DJ sets the mood as the sun sets over the water.

What makes it special:

This spot was Brigitte Bardot's favorite beach restaurant during St. Tropez's golden era. Today, they maintain a strict "no-phones" policy during sunset hours, encouraging guests to fully experience the magical golden hour without distractions.

Not all the finest beach restaurants are in warm climates, as our next selection proves.

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4. Sansibar | Rantum, Germany

This North Sea destination requires a walk through rolling dunes to reach its weathered wooden structure. Despite its humble appearance, Sansibar boasts one of Europe's most extensive wine cellars with over 30,000 bottles. Their menu centers on North Sea specialties like fresh sole and seasonal turbot.

What makes it special:

Founded in 1978 as a simple beach snack bar, owner Herbert Seckler's fierce independence has become legendary. He refuses to accept credit cards, maintains no website, and originally had no phone. The restaurant now sells its own branded wines, sauces, and clothing, becoming a lifestyle brand with cult status across Germany.

The finest beach restaurants can be found worldwide, including this next spot in the Middle East.

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5. French Riviera | Dubai, UAE

This beachfront restaurant at Jumeirah Al Qasr, French Riviera, brings Mediterranean flavors to the Persian Gulf. The private glass dining domes offer an intimate setting to enjoy lobster and other seafood specialties while being surrounded by palm trees and sea views.

What makes it special:

Each glass dome is temperature-controlled despite being on the beach, allowing for year-round dining even during Dubai's intense summer heat. The restaurant uses a complex illumination system that changes the color of the domes throughout the evening to match the sunset and night sky.

Italy's coast is home to some of the finest beach restaurants with spectacular views.

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6. Il Bikini | Vico Equense, Italy

Set on a terrace above the shoreline, II Bikini provides panoramic views of the Gulf of Naples. Their seafood risotto and Caprese chocolate cake are best enjoyed while looking out over the water to Capri.

What makes it special:

The restaurant sits on the exact spot where the bikini swimsuit was first introduced to Italy in the 1950s, giving the restaurant its name. Three generations of the same family have maintained ownership, with recipes passed down and refined over decades. They're known for hosting impromptu opera performances when local singers dine there.

The finest beach restaurants in Asia often focus on ultra-fresh seafood in casual settings.

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7. Jun Hom | Ko Samui, Thailand

This simple beachside spot has earned a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand for its authentic Thai seafood. The fried fish and stir-fried squid with lemongrass are local favorites, served at tables set directly in the sand.

What makes it special:

The 70-year-old owner still personally selects seafood from local fishermen each morning at 4 AM. She uses cooking techniques learned from her grandmother, including a secret fish sauce recipe fermented in clay pots buried in the sand behind the restaurant. There's no printed menu—dishes depend entirely on the day's catch.

Vietnam offers some of the finest beach restaurants for seafood lovers seeking authentic flavors.

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8. My Hanh Seafood | Da Nang, Vietnam

Just steps from the beach, My Hanh Seafood specializes in local seafood like mantis shrimp and Hoi An mud crab. The preparation is simple but perfect, letting the fresh ingredients shine.

What makes it special:

This family-run establishment became famous when Anthony Bourdain visited and called their chili crab "life-changing." They use traditional clay pots over charcoal fires for cooking, and the owners' children serve as waitstaff while studying English with customers. Each table has a tide chart so diners can watch as the water gradually approaches during high tide.

We end our tour of the finest beach restaurants back in Spain, but on its northern coast.

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9. El Serbal | Santander, Spain

Though slightly set back from the beach, El Serbal offers clear views of the Cantabrian Sea. The menu presents a modern interpretation of northern Spanish cuisine in a refined setting.

What makes it special:

The building was once a 19th-century fisherman's guild hall where daily catches were auctioned. The restaurant has preserved the original stone auction block as its centerpiece, now serving as the chef's table. They specialize in "mar y montaña" (sea and mountain) dishes that combine seafood with ingredients from nearby Cantabrian mountains.

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A Toast to Great Food by the Sea

From high-end dining to casual beachside spots, these finest beach restaurants all offer something special: great food enjoyed with the sea as your backdrop. There's something universally appealing about eating well with the sound of waves nearby.