The best surf cafés

Popular with surfers of all levels, all year round – Woolacombe Beach is an award-winning, two-mile stretch of golden sand in North Devon. And, whilst this is exactly the kind of place you dream about going every summer – winter is actually one of the best times to hit the waves here – with February being bringing good clean waves (though that may be when the pros are taking up all the space).  

Once you’ve drained all the strength from your arms, the first thing on your mind will be, ‘how quickly can I get somewhere warm for the largest meal of my life’ – and Stoned will answer that call. Pizza is the answer to most problems, or at the very least an integral part of the solution. Grab a pie, kick back on the sand, and surrender to a good time.

With one of the longest running surf schools in the UK, Sennen Cove has all the makings of a perfect surf spot. The beach is west facing, there’s golden sands and decent swells in summer, with even better ones in autumn. Just be cautious of rip currents when the waves are high (and really, just at all times wherever you are).  

Right at the meeting point of the sand, the grass and the town – the last building before the break – is Sennen Surf Lodge. Whether you’re after just a cup of coffee, or you’re looking to refuel, Sennen Surf Lodge has got you. There’s everything from houmous plates, vegan mushroom burgers to classic burgers and surf lodge nachos. There’s even mini poke bowls for the kids. Just be aware, surfers surf in the morning – this place doesn’t open ‘til 11am.

The off season’s taking win after win when it comes to surf – winter at Perranporth is one of the bets times to hit the waves, with February once again being the best of all. As it’s west facing, Perranporth catches some great swells, and there’s a welcoming vibe.  

When it comes to refreshments, you’re in luck. Right on the beach, and yes, literally on the beach, there’s a bar. It’s almost certainly the only one in the UK, possibly the world, to be right on the sand and it’s open for food 9-7pm (staying open until 10 for drinks), though hours and the menu are subject to change. Which, for a beach surf shack, seems about right.

This evergreen beach is good all year round (though like most of the others, winter/feb is great. This little southern stretch of Welsh beach is a great spot for beginners and ‘groms’ (young/teen surfers). It can be a popular spot, so be sure to practise good etiquette. 

About midway up the beach, there’s some parking, and a surf school (if you need it), and just below it, a caravan park – with the famous Eddy’s Restaurant. With surf boards lining the walls, light pouring in from the skylight, and a kicked back no-frills vibe, Eddy’s serves good food, and no nonsense. They’re open from April to October, and cater to vegans, vegetarians, those with special dietary requirements – whomever.

Mount’s Bay Beach stretches from Lizard Point to Gwennap Head, with a sandy and more importantly, safe space – there are no dangerous currents here. The beach isn’t the best for surfing as waves can be inconsistent, but it’s suitable for beginners, which makes it a nice spot to learn. In the summer, there’s SUP, Kite Surfing, Sailing and Canoeing, and there’s St Michaels Mount to visit too.  

When it comes to coffee and food, there’s a lot of options. Island Café if you’re on St Michaels, or Jordan’s Café if you’re out at Marazion Marsh to see the birds. But, if you’re coming straight off the water, you’d be hard pressed to do better than The Copper Spoon for vegetarian food or The Hoxton Special for coffee right on the beach.

Porthleven breaks the winter trend for surfing, and offers consistent clean waves during spring, most often in April. The rest of the year it has smaller waves that the pros might not find big enough to ride – but are perfect for beginners (or bodyboarders). Just be aware, the local vibe can be intimidating – with a competitive line up.  

If you’ve spent the best part of sunrise competing to drop in, you’re going to need some serious calories. And serious calories, means ice cream. Head on over to Nauti But Ice, café come pizza place come ice cream shop. The only downside here is, you might have to fight the locals once again, this time for a seat.

One more for spring, Poldhu can tend to be a little flat during summer, with the best waves most often in March. The best part about Poldhu? It’s a teeny tiny beach, with a wonderful open landscape. Whether you catch decent surf or not, you’ll enjoy hanging out there. 

The downside? There are limited options for a snack or a drink, by which we mean one option. But thank goodness that option is Poldhu Beach Café. Ready for you once you come off the waves at 10am, they serve breakfast until 12 and lunch from then until 3pm. And in June, July and August? There’s pizza every Friday night from 5-8pm. If nothing else, grab a well-made coffee, and enjoy this quiet cove.

St Ives is where it gets confusing. There are a LOT of beaches in the vicinity. To the northeast, you have St Gothian Sands, Gwithian Beach, Upton Towans Beach, The Towans, Mexico Towans Beach, Hayle Beach, Porthkidney Beach, Carbis Bay Beach and… big breath… Portminster Beach and Porthgwidden and Porthmeor Beach.  

As it happens, most of those beaches are on the same stretch of sand, and the name delineates the rough area. You’ve really got your pick of spots to hit the waves, so if it seems like the one you’ve chosen is a bit packed, then just wander on down the road. But out of the above, the most renowned for surf is Porthmeor. Best during winter, particularly in December – summer is the time for newbies and young’uns.  

There’s plenty of places to grab a bit to eat in St Ives, so take your pick. But when it comes to coffee, a good bet is The Yellow Canary, which is a short walk from Porthmeor or the harbour. Serving coffee since 1972, you can bet they’ve learned a trick or two about a good cup of joe.

If St Ives is feeling rather busy, the aforementioned St Gothian Sands is the last stretch of sand on this long strip that stretches from St Ives Bay. Next to Gwithian, St Gothian too is better in the winter, but its best month is supposedly February. Otherwise, a good spot for beginners the rest of the year.  

Whilst you’re there, there’s a few choices for pit stops. You can either head straight to Kabyn Café, right on the beach, for some well needed coffee (especially if you’re trying to stay warm whilst watching others) or you can head to Chomp! Gastro Beach Bar. Chomp is hard to miss, with a bright pink and powder blue theme. They serve sharing plates sourced from local providers and on occasion have live music, perfect to end the day with.

Harlyn Bay isn’t just big, it feels big. Right on the South West Coast Path, the relatively level topography means you can see for miles. There’s loads of space on the sand to set up, and this is another winter (particularly December) winner. The smaller waves the rest of the year are better for newer, older surfers, as it’s worth being careful in the water due to some submerged rocks.  

Right at the entrance to the beach, by the car park, you’ll find The Beach Box Café – where you can grab anything from coffee and local pastries to breakfast baps, pizza, burgers chips and more. They’ve even got a bar in an airstream, for living those surf dreams.