Our Favourite Beach Side Cafes on the Isle of Wight
Penned on the 8th August 2012
In no particular order...!
The Dell Cafe, Puckpool - Eclectic fully licensed beachside café with a cosmopolitan feel.
Accessed either by walking along the seawall between Seaview and Ryde or catching the Dotto Train from Ryde or through Puckpool Park, where ample free parking is available. They serve an extensive breakfast and lunch menu with specialities such as home-made fishcakes, local seafood, fresh filled baguettes, wraps, ciabattas and fresh exotic salads.
The Wonky Cafe can only be accessed by foot, either through Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, or walking along the coastal path from Bembridge or you can walk along the beach from Seaview when the tide is out.
A nationally protected sandy beach sheltered by the impressive Culver Down, this hidden gem is well worth the trek. The menu varies from a fabulous cooked breakfast through to paninis and homemade pizzas. And they usually have special nights when you can enjoy a themed night of food, music and bring your own booze.
Wight Locations have an abundance of unique and individual self catering holiday cottages on the East of the Island with something to suit everyone.
Baywatch, St Helens.
Baywatch was placed in a top 10 UK seaside cafes in Telegraph in 2008 and Condé Nast Traveller reviewed the place favourably and it has been listed among Britain’s top 40 alfresco tables. The menu is varied offering the obligatory seafood selections including as Moules, to Bolognaise and Burgers. With the location to die for on the Duver, and views out across the sea to Bembridge Harbour, you can just while away the hours watching the comings and goings of the nautical variety.
Boasting the best sunsets on the island, The Waterfront Bar has an extensive selection of fish platters and dishes, as well as the usual restaurant favourites. And they have live music on Sunday lunchtimes and Friday evenings to entertain you.
Harbour View Cafe, Bembridge
On the harbour this small, simple, traditional beach cafe offers standard cafe fayre, but has the benefit of the fabulous location on the beach looking out over the sand dunes to the harbour and the hustle and bustle of the boats sailing in and out.
The Beach Shack's homemade crab cakes have won the award for the Best Crab Cakes on the Isle of Wight for the last five consecutive years! Fully licensed and right on the esplanade at Sandown, you can sit out and watch the world go by. Also great to let let little ones build castles in the sand while you sit in comfort, keeping a watchful eye on them.
The Crab Shed, Steephill Cove, Ventnor
My personal favourite and as the name suggests offers fresh crab, lobster & mackerel caught every morning serving up all kinds of fishy delights including the famous crab pasties.
This is a fully licensed cafe in the most perfect location, just a gentle stroll along from Ventnor and hidden away, when the tide is out it is perfect for a spot of sunbathing and rockpooling.
Castlehaven Cafe, St Catherine's
On the south of the island in unspoilt surroundings away from the hustle and bustle. It is ideal for walkers, nature lovers and anyone loving a peaceful seaview. Specialising in clotted cream teas, coffees, and locally caught seafood, all dishes are made to order.