The Whitley Bay Guide: Coffee, Pubs, Restaurants and Things to Do on Your Doorstep
One of the best parts of staying at Stay Coastal is stepping outside and realising just how much of Whitley Bay is within easy walking distance. This is a proper seaside town — a two-mile Blue Flag beach, a restored Edwardian entertainment hall, an independent café and pub scene that punches well above its weight, and a coastline that stretches from Cullercoats to St Mary's Lighthouse. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, here's our local guide to eating, drinking, and exploring Whitley Bay and the surrounding coast.
Coffee & Cafés
Whitley Bay takes its coffee seriously, and you'll find a genuine specialty scene tucked among the seafront streets.
Relish Coffee — a long-standing local favourite on Marine Avenue, known for consistently excellent coffee and a relaxed, welcoming feel.
No Fret and Rustic Cup — both regularly rated among the very best cafés in town, with loyal followings for their coffee, brunch and scones.
Kith & Kin — something of a local institution for brunch, with a reputation for the best French toast in Whitley Bay.
The Vintage Powder Room & Tea Shop — for a proper afternoon tea, homemade cakes and a cosy, old-fashioned atmosphere.
Earl & Eve — a bar-café hybrid that does a great breakfast as easily as it does a Sunday lunch.
Most of these sit within a short stroll of the seafront, making a morning coffee run part of the daily rhythm of a Whitley Bay stay.
Pubs & Bars
From cosy micropubs to seafront sundowners, Whitley Bay's drinking scene has grown into one of the most interesting on the North East coast.
The Split Chimp Ale House — right on the promenade at Spanish City Plaza, with an impressive range of cask and keg beers and a beer garden that puts you steps from the sand.
The Dog and Rabbit Micro Pub — a craft-focused favourite with an outstanding cask ale range and its own in-house brewery.
The Library — a cosy, quirky bar in the town centre known for craft beer, well-chosen wines and strong cocktails, with a beer garden in summer and a log fire in winter.
Briardene Public House — perched with sea views and St Mary's Lighthouse in full sight, this is a proper coastal local for a pint with a view.
The Fat Ox — a real ale pub with history dating back to 1922, appealing to a wide mix of locals and visitors.
The Champagne Bar at Spanish City — for something a little more elegant, with views out over the bay.
Restaurants & Places to Eat
Whitley Bay's food scene has diversified well beyond the classic fish and chip shop (though there are excellent ones of those too).
Turknaz — a seafront favourite for authentic Turkish cuisine, from mezze to grilled classics, with sea views to match.
OMNI Cafe — a well-loved spot for South East Asian food, consistently one of the highest-rated places to eat in town.
The Boardwalk — a lively option at Spanish City Plaza, popular for its Greek menu and party atmosphere.
Meet Me On The Corner — known for seafood and inventive brunch dishes.
Between the promenade and the town centre, you're rarely more than a few minutes from a good meal, whatever you're in the mood for.
Things to Do: Whitley Bay's Best Attractions
St Mary's Lighthouse and Nature Reserve is the town's most iconic landmark — a Victorian lighthouse built in 1898, reachable via a tidal causeway when the tide allows. Climb the 137 steps for sweeping coastal views, and keep an eye out for seals resting on the rocks below; from March onwards, sightings are common at low tide.
Spanish City is the other unmissable name in Whitley Bay. This whitewashed, domed Edwardian entertainment hall from 1910 has been beautifully restored and now houses restaurants, bars and event space, all beneath its landmark dome — Whitley Bay's answer to Blackpool's Pleasure Beach, but with a distinctly North East character.
Whitley Bay Beach and the Links offer a two-mile stretch of Blue Flag sand backed by open greenery, perfect for a walk in any season and lively with sandcastle competitions and events through the summer months.
The Seafront Promenade between Spanish City and St Mary's Lighthouse is one of the best coastal walks in the North East, especially at sunset, and continues on towards Cullercoats and Tynemouth for those who want to make a longer day of it. Park View rounds things off with a growing strip of independent shops, galleries and boutiques worth a browse between meals.
Why It All Works So Well from Stay Coastal
Staying at Stay Coastal puts all of this genuinely on your doorstep. With self check-in and your own space to come back to, there's no schedule to work around — grab a coffee at Relish before a walk to the lighthouse, pop back to freshen up, then head out again for dinner and a drink at Spanish City, all without ever needing the car. It's this walkable mix of coast, café culture and independent character that keeps guests coming back to Whitley Bay — and choosing Stay Coastal as their base for it.
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