The Sea Shanty Beach Cafe in East Devon

Nice food 😋 👌 😍 great service and friendly atmosphere 👌

Food was great and a fantastic place for a walk or relax and dog friendly.

We had a drive around this coast whilst on holiday and came across this cafe on the beach at Branscombe. I had a cup of tea and a slice of treacle tart and my wife had a cappuccino and some carrot cake. All nice and tasty and very good service.

What an absolute gem. Perfect location, great service and good food. And with beautiful views, what more could you ask for.

After a long, beautiful coastal walk, I popped in here with my dog. I had a delicious Cornish pasty and a cup of tea served by a very helpful and friendly man. There are different coastal walks as well as being able to stroll along the beach, which had some sand, which was good for walking and for my dog to play on.

Great place have a rest and refresh whilst out walking the South West Costal path from Seaton to Sidmouth - despite the weather forecast the weather was Ok and was able to sit outside - ordered and the food is bought to you

just popped in for a coffee. plant milk drinks available. menu looks good price with some vegan and vegetarian options.

Stopped here midway on our Coast Path walk from Beer to Branston. Staff were gracious about us using their picnic table with only orders of ciders while eating our own lunch. Had we not packed a lunch, we would absolutely have availed ourselves of the foods on offer. At the mouth of the stream that entered the sea, the Sea Shany was extremely well located of walkers & beach visitors, with a large establishment that offers a variety of food options, and of course a bar. The surrounding cliffs standing guard over (or perhaps more aptly ceding ground to) the sea, with a wide pebble beach and generous lawn, plus the babbling stream, all made for a happy place filled with children & dogs, and the rest of us "normal," quieter visitors. The atmosphere was one of peace & joy, and we loved watching the dogs asking to cross the stream in the water (while their owners walked across the bridge), or angling for a swim in the ocean. The sunny day helped, but even if it were overcast or rainy, one could imagine an enjoyable visit indoors.

The Sea Shanty Beach Cafe and Shop is the main facility at Branscombe beach. There is a cafe, shop and take away counter, that sells some very nice ice cream. The area has lots of picnic tables and is a very nice facility. The toilets on site are accessible from both the cafe and the nearby car park. The one thing I thought that was missing was a hydration/ drinking point. There may have been one, but I didn’t see one. The cafe can be reached via a narrow (even for Devon) lane or via the spectacularly beautiful Southwest Coast Path

An incredible building in an incredible setting. Only had ice creams though so can't comment beyond that.

As always can't fault it highly recommended 👌

What a lovely welcoming cafe. Dog friendly inside and out. Friendly chatty staff. Excellent food. All in a fantastic location overlooking the lovely beach. We both had fish and chips and it was absolutely delicious

Great service with friendly customer service. As busy as you are with oodles of holiday makers, you never disappoint. I just had a simple BLT today but even that was done with style. Bacon plentiful & delicious. The salad was great too. Hubby had fish & chips & he said it was the best he had in ages. So thank you again. You're the best.🥰 PS. You could teach a lot of eateries in the area a thing or to & show them how it should be done! Davina Blake MBE.

Visited 3 times already as the food is delicious! Staff are all friendly, polite and efficient and the setting is beautiful. If you have dogs, this is the beach and cafe to go to!! Milkshakes are amazing and we couldn’t get over the price of £3.50!!! Wouldn’t get you a glass of milk from our neck of the woods! Definitely check this place out if you are in the area!

Friendly, good value. Warm welcome on a wet day.

We come here every year when we visit this part of Devon. There is a great range of food, good portion sizes and quality ingredients. Staff are attentive and we’ve always had great customer service. What a gem in a stunning location.

The shop sells great ice cream and the staff are very friendly. However, the coffee is poor, sadly - too much water/milk and not enough coffee. This is not on at £3+ a cup.

Service prompt and friendly on a busy sunny day, had fish and chips and fisherman's platter-quality and quantity of food excellent!

Such a lovely Cafe, well worth the gentle, peaceful walk to it from the village hall car park. Super-nice staff, comprehensive menu and excellent food, everything clean and well-tended. We'll definitely return!

This place provides great food at good prices. We had a lovely meal. The portion size was good & tasted great. Staff were very helpful & friendly & the place was very clean. There was plenty of room in the carpark. I would definitely recommend for families or couples like us.

Great food and coffee, and right next to the beach, friendly staff as well

Great dog friendly place to enjoy the best breakfast I’ve had on the sw coast path, it was really busy when we arrived but our order was taken quickly and the food came out piping hot soon after. Highly recommend

Fantastic gem of a place, very reasonable

Only stopped for milkshake a d cake bur was delicious and friendly sraff

Excellent food and service with nice views.

What a gem. Gorgeous beach cafe on a beautiful beach 🥰 Loads of parking also, it is metered but pretty fairly actually.

Absolutely gorgeous looking cakes, had a lovely pot of tea and apple cake after walking from Beer. The fish and chips I saw coming out looked divine

Found this little gem of a place by accident. Wonderful scenery of the beach and sea 🌊. Sit outdoors in the open or undercover, or if you prefer, sit inside for a drink and snack/meal. Welcoming, friendly and polite staff, making sure I knew that my dog was also allowed inside. That's right very dog friendly 🐕. I just had a wonderful Strawberry milkshake and a slice of shortbread, which was very nice and well priced. Snacks, cake,side orders, sandwiches 🥪 and full meals are served here as well as many different types of drinks, all well priced. Hope to visit again soon. The cafe is right beside a paying car park and meters from the beach ⛱️, what else could you ask for on a sunny afternoon 😀.

Lovely place to spend some time and get sustenance!

Perfect location, everything you need for walker who wants to take a break to a family beach outing 👍

The food was great and the location is brilliant

Had an amazing Ploughman's meal here after a long trek along the coast.... well needed and de-lish.

We visited the Sea Shanty for the first time at the weekend, having moved nearer to Branscombe and were blown away by the location and standard of food. I can honestly say that the chips were the best I have ever tasted and the service was impeccable too - incredibly friendly staff and a really quick service with incredibly fresh and delicious food. Another bonus is that it's right on the beach with incredibly views. Thanks guys! We definitely will become regulars here!

What a great spot. Perfect tonic to a 17 mile walk on the coast path the previous day and no sleep on the cliff edge! Lovely swim and breakfast. Lovely staff also. Get there early on weekends as gets super busy.

What a find. A delightful cafe. Excellent menu. Licensed with good local cider. The staff are happy and helpful and service super fast.

Top notch cafe that could have fallen into the rip off tourist trap with a captured market but instead offers a high quality experience to suit all tastes... highly recommended

Brilliant spot to chill with the family. Lovely food. Beautiful views. Great drinks with fantastic options. 100% coming back

The main lady on the till was super friendly despite them being so busy! And I’m from Lyme Regis but this is the best fish and chips I’ve had in the whole of the south west!

What a fantastic place. Very welcome after a long walk. The cheese and ham ploughmans was enough for two! SO much lovely salad, and pickles, fresh bread and quality ham & cheese. ( I couldn't eat it all so made a cheeky ham roll to take with me). My husband ordered ham, egg and chips. It arrived and he remarked on the ' nice chips'. Then, the waiter arrived with another fried egg! It was from the chef who apologised because the first egg had split! He hadn't even noticed, wouldn't have mattered, but a nice touch. Lovely airy atmosphere,with lots of indoor, sheltered or outdoor places on the beach to eat. Perfect lunch to aid us on the steep walk back to our campsite up the hill.

Very capable and helpful staff, lovely food, friendly atmosphere. Very busy but staff managed it all very well so not a problem.

What a find. I was cycling around East Devon and the Sea Shanty was a welcome needed stop. Great food, great staff and very accommodating towards a dirty cyclist.

Fabulous seaside cafe, great location, superb choice of drinks and food, car park alongside for those who prefer not to walk from the village

A lovely spot to eat or have a drink. We went for the full size fish and chips which were the best we’d had in a very long time. Some nice local cider and beer as well. Portions were huge and although we would return one of us at least might opt for the seniors special! The trip down via very narrow winding roads is quite daunting but worth it when you get there.

Nice cafe next to sea side. Paid parking just next to cafe

Brilliant staff and lovely coffee. The rocky road was delicious. You can get hot drinks and cakes to take away aswell which is perfect for going into the beach or doing th coastal walk ti beer

affable staff picturesque beach side cafe aesthetically pleasing interior design 10/10 chunky chips Dog friendly establishment Sapid Marshfield farm ice-cream

We come here often, food is amazing, had a fisherman's lunch smoked salmon, mackerel, prawns, large salad, wholemeal baguette, large portions, service was excellent. Beautiful location, perfect 🤗👍

Great value fish and chips, nice big portions and high quality fish, the Staff were helpful and friendly and the location was perfect for going on a walk. I would definitely recommend!

Not cheap, but worth every penny. Very good chips, pasties and cream tea. Even given, without asking, an extra pot of hot water to top-up the pot of tea. Outstanding quality and service. Thank you to all the staff.

Had a day at branscombe beach and had a few drinks and a meal at the Sea Shanty. What a great place in a stunning location, really enjoyed it and will return before we head home. 👏

A wonderfully busy cafe at the end of a very narrow lane. Large car park just outside makes access easy. Expect to wait a bit in high season. It will be worth it. Large choice of dishes and snacks, to siut all dietary requirements, swiftly served by a friendly team. Dogs are welcome inside. More space is being created with a timber frame extension. If you have a tight schedule there is a good takeaway service on site

Lovely cafe. Great for gluten free/Coeliacs. All GF cakes were kept separate or wrapped in cling film - we felt safe eating here as staff clearly knew about cross-contamination. I had gluten free courgette and avocado cake with lavender icing. It was delicious. The coffee had a good, rich taste. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Enjoyed a lovely breakfast here this morning, had the small vegetarian option and it didn't disappoint. Very filling and tasty. A lovely place to visit

Lovely little beach side cafe with a good range of snacks and larger meals with good drink choices too. Staff all friendly and welcoming, place clean and space indoors and out.

Right on the beach at Branscombe, wonderful location and very friendly staff.

Dog friendly if you sit outside and why not with the lovely views. Friendly service by ordering inside. Great amount of tasty food for the price and location. A perfect stop after a walk on the beach

Nice cafe to relax in after a walk on the beach.

Great place to have a lunch. Great location good food friendly service!

Excellent roast dinner today, really lovely selection of vegetables and great roast potatoes. Couldn't manage a pudding! We love coming to The Sea Shanty and always get a warm welcome. Definitely recommended if you want a lovely big roast dinner in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Excellent food, both in quality and portion size. Friendly and attentive service and a really great location. I would highly recomend a visit.

After a walk, this cafe is a welcome respite. It was dog and child friendly, had beautiful views and delicious cakes. My daughter highly recommends the milkshake.

Very tasty and friendly service, I recommend it👌

Lovley place for a quick bit to eat

Lovely sea side cafe,right on the beach and a welcome sight after a long walk from Sidmouth

Great little gem on the beach. Great food. Lovely atmosphere. Dog friendly too. Well worth a visit. We will be back

Can not fault The Sea Shanty, food was delicious and plenty of it.

Excellent food and service. Always pop in when visiting Branscombe.

Omg what a menu, Michelin star beach cafe ! Fabulous, fabulous place and staff

Hier schmeckt es ausgezeichnet. Daneben gibt es auch leckere Kuchen und Eis

Lovely place to dine . Overlooking the sea, plenty of places to sit both inside and out and dog friendly. Food and service were ok,

We had a great lunch here. We had the prawn baguette and the brie, bacon and cranberry baguette with a side of cheesy chips. The food was great and made using good quality ingredients, was freshly prepared and fairly priced. The staff were warm and welcoming and the cafe was clean and tidy. We sat outside and being right off the beach couldn't have asked for a better view. I would highly recommend a visit.

We have wandered into the Sea Shanty Beach cafe three times this week during our stay in Branscombe. The staff have been very friendly, our food has arrived quickly and dirty plates were removed promptly . Staff were quick to clean the tables when customers left, even midweek in late September it was busy. The food was good and reasonably priced. We enjoyed bacon, Brie and cranberry ciabatta with plenty of filling accompanied by crisps and salad. We also had a generous portion of fish and chips. Dog friendly. Also plenty of high chairs and cutlery for children.

My last review of the Sea Shanty bemoaned the rising price of their crab sandwiches. They've been a seaside tradition here dating back donkey's years. But not any more. The new owner is refusing to shell out. I couldn't do a crab sandwich for less than £20, he told me when I called in for my annual treat. That's funny, I said.I was in Cornwall last week and bought one in Port Isaac for a tenner. I suspect the truth is that it's easier to sell fish and chips than mess about making crab sandwiches. Shame really. The Sea Shanty has lost another customer.

I love the Sea Shanty! I have been here several times now for breakfast and lunch as well as the occasional cream tea. I must say that the food has always been fantastic. They do a great bacon and egg bap which I have frequently. The staff are incredibly helpful and polite and I simply cannot fault the service they provide. The atmosphere is also great with sea views from the cafe. I would highly recommend this seaside cafe to anyone.

Well..what a find! Having lived locally for over 30 years…I’m not sure why we haven’t been here before! Stopped on a rather strenuous coast path walk…sat in the sunshine looking over the sea…had a delicious lunch. Husband had a ham roll…came as ordered with no spread…he said it was really good. I had the houmous with crudités and bread (side order of chips as I needed the carb for the next leg of the walk) …and it was great…this place serves good honest food at good prices..and the staff were brilliant! Had a good chat with the lady serving us…will definitely be back..it’s our new favourite place!!

Sea Shanty is fantastic! Staff are wonderful, food is amazing and the scenery is stunning!

The only reason I have given 4 stars overall is that Despite everything being perfect, that we had particularly, is that the cafe seemed to close earlier than we'd have thought. This meant that the only available foods where things like cakes, ice creams, and if you are lucky a pasty from the shop or the main cafe served a very lovely Cream tea (scones etc). The view is fantastic. The venue looks sympathetic to the environment and is Service to buy a pay on exit reasonably priced car park. Plenty of good walks available nearby. As I say, I had hot food which was just a bowl of chips... But they were lovely, and my friends had the cream tea as they been for a walk and arrived a bit later In the afternoon. No complaints only niggles

Great location with seating right on the beach but the cakes were absolutely terrible. The worst treacle tart I have had! It was dry and tasteless and the cakes were not much better. Definitely need a new baker!

Scrumptious BLT sandwich in lovely surroundings (ate outside). Nice loos!

Gorgeous café. Good selection of food and bottled ales and ciders. Wonderful setting.

We quite often eat here. Always clean and the staff are polite. Reasonably priced food. Had baguettes outside last time. Very tasty and nice fresh salad. The most critical I could be was the bread was the part baked stuff. To be fair it was still very tasty and the practicalities of getting fresh bread at Branscombe everyday would make it too costly I suspect. We will definitely eat here again.

This is the second time we’ve been back and have really enjoyed it both times round. My father in law is registered disabled and in a mobility scooter so, aside from the great food, vista, and staff, it’s super accessible for him and a fully happy and inclusive experience for everyone. A tricky drive with narrow lanes but hugely rewarding once you get there. Highly recommended.

Lively beach cafe. Lovely cream tea, but so many wasps...!!

Great spot - good range of food at reasonable price for the privileged location. Good fish finger sandwiches! Busy most of the time but food arrived quickly.

Busy, great food, clean bathrooms

We visited the Sea Shanty Beach Cafe and Shop back in July for a birthday meal and was really pleased with the whole experience. The staff were polite and friendly and did a great job at making sure everyone got their food together (there was a reasonably large group of us) and were all topped up for drinks. The food was fantastic and I think everyone at some point expeirenced food envy. I ordered the half chicken and could have eaten the plate it was that good. Sitting at the top of the restaruant offered a nice tucked away feeling and offered amazing views of the area and surrounding beach, which was lovely in the evening. I would definitely come back here again.

Where do I start ? What an absolute gem of a place. Excellent choices on the menu from fish and chips, chicken burgers, sandwiches, Childs menu. We eat here twice and each time was marvellous, with excellent value for money. Dog friendly, friendly attentive staff, seating inside and outside, immaculate toilet facilities, with area to also fill up our water bottles to go back onto the beach. Beach front location with amazing views over Branscombe.

Exceptional customer service and great food, at reasonable prices.

Fantastic location on the Branscombe beach. Nice cafe serving basic food (sandwiches, jacket potato, cakes, teas), including gluten free one. Food is generally good. It is good to find place outside and enjoy the sea views. The cafe can be busy in summer and you may queue for food and drink. Staff is polite and attentive.

Good selection of cheapish fare. Right on the beach.

Fantastic, lovely food & served very quickly, even for our larger party of eight with 2 of us needing gluten free option. Highly recommend.

Good dog friendly cafe on Branscome sea front. Gluten free fish & chips are without the batter, however the fish was a very large fillet so more than made up for the lack of batter. Self serve ordering at the counter & a lovely selection of cakes. Ice cream available outside. The cafe is very dog friendly.

Fab. Sea views and great food! Lovely atmosphere, smily welcome from staff and great food. Views are unreal and matched by great breakfast and decent coffee. Will come again!

Perfect place for a mid-hike high tea. With all the coffees and cakes you can imagone on the menu. Though, you do have to go to the counter to order and recieve your consumeables. Very cheap also. Drinks and cakes for 5 people under 30 quid.

Great location and while I can't comment on the restaurant, we did order 2 lattes and an ice cream from the takeaway window - one came out molten hot and clearly with added water, the other all milk but tepid - problem solved by getting an extra cup and mixing them together but not ideal. The ice cream was also fine but clearly a newish member of staff as we had to ask for a pot as the ice-cream was toppling from the off. 2 stars overall probably a little harsh but solely based on own experience that's a fair reflection for making our own drinks - clean toilets and a handy gift shop (didn't use so can't comment on prices) with a great location - guessing it's the summer staff impact but that comes down to proper training of the coffee and ice cream machine.

Lovely delicious food and welcoming kind staff

Excellent cafe/tea room on Branscombe beach, fantastic food and great service. Can highly recommend the cooked breakfasts, coffee and huge range of fresh cakes

Great location and selection. Prime for beach goers and walkers.

Best strawberry milkshake I have ever had in my entire life. The service was super polite and friendly and did everything with a smile. I also loved the atmosphere, I sat somewhere around the back with my family and it all felt really cozy. Would definitely recommend going!

We were staying in one of the local beach huts, no phone signal, no WiFi, but a cafe at the end of a short walk. Now I was dreading taking the kids as British tourists have a tendency to over pay for very poor service and awful food. Well you are in for a treat. While the wife and son walked over the hill my daughter and I were greeted by a lovely lady who passed lovely comments to the daughter on her eyes and the fact she only wanted water (some places turn their nose up at this), she said it would make her clever much to her delight. She went on to explain the difference in Dorset and Cornish pasties and having brought a couple they certainly are very nice, a lot more than just a county where they are made. The prices were very good and the food and drink good value for money, they could if they were a little unscrupulous charge whatever they want as there is no where else round here. Loved the place and will certainly return for a top up, by the way they also have WiFi 😀 The coffee was good too.