A cosy café by day and a relaxed, intimate bistro by night, Salt Water Café has been making its mark on Northumberland’s heritage coastline for a considerable amount of time now. This little gem is nestled right in the heart of the picturesque village of Beadnell just a 10-minute walk from the beach, making it the ideal location for some post-swimming refreshments.
Here you’ll find class café décor: rustic wooden chairs and tables, chalkboards displaying the specials of the day and a counter with mismatched tiles. Outside, sandstone walls, hanging plants and red details give it an almost Mediterranean feel, while (almost) floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with light.
The menu caters to all the main meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and, most importantly, afternoon tea, which is available to prebook with prosecco or cocktails if you fancy spicing up your day. Head on over before 11am to catch some breakfast- eggs are available in any form you can imagine or, if you fancy getting down with the locals, opt for the Northumbrian full. If you’re running a little later, you can still make it for lunch, where you can choose from the soup of the day alongside a range of tasty sandwiches. There’s also an excellent selection of teas and coffees, as well as cakes to provide a dash of sweetness.
The space transforms come dinner time, where casual café dishes are replaced by stylish bistro dining. The three-course menu features hearty British fare, as well as options from further abroad. Kick things off with some buffalo mozzarella wrapped in parma ham, or perhaps some black tiger prawns, before moving on to a British rack of lamb or some seafood and shellfish linguine. The dessert menu is compact and appetising; treat yourself to some cheesecake or pavlova, or for those without a sweet tooth, there’s the option of a Northumberland Cheese Platter.