Sussex


<p>Nothing says summer like eating al fresco in a beachside cafe, watching the waves while you tuck into pancakes, fresh seafood, salty chips or a big indulgent sundae. Here are five of the best beachside cafes in Sussex, chosen for their good food, warm welcome and cool breezes. Dive in! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crabshack-marine-parade-worthing"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Crabshack (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.crabshackworthing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crabshack</a>, Marine Parade, Worthing</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/crabshack.png" alt="CrabShack, Worthing" class="wp-image-84783" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/crabshack.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/crabshack-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/crabshack-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/crabshack-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Worthing&#8217;s family-run CrabShack was chosen by <em>The Guardian</em> as one of the top 10 beach restaurants in the whole of Europe. The menu is relatively small and changes daily, depending on what&#8217;s available. But whatever you choose, everything is done to perfection. From old-school prawn cocktail and fresh-dressed crab served served with saffron mayo and Nordic bread to heartier dishes like Sicilian inspired fish stew or a Korean gochujang hake burger with Asian slaw, this is serious but unpretentious seafood heaven. Eat outside on the terrace or grab a takeaway and head down onto Worthing beach. Can&#8217;t decide what to order? Bring a pal and split a fish plate for two, laden with a bit of everything. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-east-beach-cafe-littlehampton"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="East Beach Cafe (opens in a new tab)" href="https://eastbeachcafe.co.uk/" target="_blank">East Beach Cafe</a>, Littlehampton </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="900" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/08/EBC-first.jpg" alt="East Beach Cafe, Littlehampton" class="wp-image-48491" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/08/EBC-first.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/08/EBC-first-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/08/EBC-first-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/08/EBC-first-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>



<p>Eyecatching much? The unique East Beach Cafe at Littlehampton is a visual feast as well as a tummy-pleaser, designed by award-winning Thomas Heatherwick. Food-wise, think uncomplicated seaside classics done very well indeed. Thai crab cakes, prawn Marie Rose sandwiches and of course fresh locally-caught fish and chips are just some of the delights that have Muddy&#8217;s stomach rumbling. There&#8217;s also a brunch menu served all day, with lighter bites like eggs Benny, and the kids menu is more inventive than most, while still featuring a comforting cheese toastie for the fish-averse. Look out for Friday Fish and Fizz offers. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-perch-lancing-beach"><a aria-label="Perch (opens in a new tab)" href="https://lancingperch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Perch</a>, Lancing Beach</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/perch.png" alt="Perch, Lancing" class="wp-image-84786" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/perch.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/perch-800x800.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/perch-400x400.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/perch-768x768.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/perch-500x500.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Perch is a classic one-stop shop serving coffee and cake, breakfasts, lunches, pizza&#8230; You could quite happily spend the whole day here and Muddy in fact has, on more than one occasion. We&#8217;re talking reliably good, homely fare but anything it lacks in foodie fireworks, it more than makes up for in convenience. It&#8217;s open daily, beginning with dishes including fresh waffles and hot honey corn fritters, moving on to the likes of burgers and felafel, with pizza at the weekends. There&#8217;s also a kiosk whose smaller menu still manages to feature breakfast baps and vegan &#8216;tofish and chips&#8217;. There&#8217;s plenty of outside seating (not to mention the beach itself) and the overall vibe is busy, happy and friendly. Restaurant hours are great for families. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drift-in-surf-cafe-east-wittering"><a href="https://www.witteringsurfshop.com/pages/drift-in-cafe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Drift-In Surf Cafe, (opens in a new tab)">Drift-In Surf Cafe,</a> East Wittering</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/drift-in.png" alt="Drift-In, West Wittering" class="wp-image-84791" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/drift-in.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/drift-in-800x800.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/drift-in-400x400.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/drift-in-768x768.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/drift-in-500x500.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>You had us at &#8216;surf cafe&#8217;. This stylish haunt in East Wittering is just next door to a surf shop, and beachy vibes abound. It&#8217;s all driftwood-style panelling, light Scandi colours and rustic, sunbleached wood. The food is on the indulgent side and the coffee is reputed to be excellent – vital if you&#8217;re gearing up for a day at nearby West Wittering. There&#8217;s an extensive menu of salads, sandwiches and wraps, and a frankly mouthwatering selection of pancakes and all-day brunch options from a stack of corn fritters and smoked salmon to BBQ brisket hash. This is one screaming out to be incorporated into a relaxed day with friends or family, just drift right in. Watch out for last food orders though – it&#8217;s 3:30pm Mon-Fri, 4pm on Sat and 3pm on Sun. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lucky-beach-cafe-kings-road-arches-brighton"><a aria-label="Lucky Beach Cafe (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.luckybeach.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucky Beach Cafe</a>, Kings Road Arches, Brighton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/luckybeach_coolcafes.png" alt="Lucky Beach, Brighton" class="wp-image-84776" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/luckybeach_coolcafes.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/luckybeach_coolcafes-800x800.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/luckybeach_coolcafes-400x400.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/luckybeach_coolcafes-768x768.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/luckybeach_coolcafes-500x500.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>While best known for brunch and burgers (ELLE in fact reckons this joint serves the UK&#8217;s best organic burgers), Lucky Beach&#8217;s fish tacos, open crab sandwiches and Berlin eggs (poached and served over whipped sumac yogurt, buttered greens and herb toast with zhoug) are also worth getting to know. Everything is hyper-locally sourced, the fish is caught sustainably right here in Brighton, and the meat is Sussex-bred and reared. The team behind this cafe also run Brighton&#8217;s oldest organic coffee roastery, so the coffee&#8217;s top notch too. Soft drinks are made on-site (watermelon match, anyone?), and the booze is local too. And alongside sister Brighton cafe Redroaster, the team raises money for and donates profits to social projects in Rwanda, where the coffee comes from. </p>



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