Cafe On The Beach

Cafe on the Beach is a hidden gem with front-row ocean views and a laid-back atmosphere that’s hard to beat. The breakfast was top-tier—fresh, flavorful, and served hot. Staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Whether you’re starting your day or winding it down, this place hits the mark. A must-visit if you’re after quality food with a view that speaks for itself.

First time here.... DEFINITELY coming back. Zack was great, friendly with a smile and attentive. Food was AMAZING. Its always hard to find a place my Husband and I both enjoy. The outdoor eating area was nicely shaded. Looking forward to our next time.

Great food and even better service. Aaron was our server and he was great. Snapper and shrimp basket was so fresh and crispy with light batter. A must get. If you’re not in the mood for fish get the chicken Rockefeller. Patio is dog friendly. With awesome views of the beach. This hidden gem is a must.

Amazing breakfast options. I had the eggs benedict with lobster and they were 10/10 as well as the mimosas they serve. This place has a great vibe and really nice staff. Definitely one of the best spots at the island !!!

This is my favorite restaurant on SPI! Such a good vibe right on the beach, quiet, cozy, and great food as well. They have lots of yummy food options and drinks were great as well. We typically end dinner with a nice walk to the beach. I come here every time I'm in SPI - love it!

Great spot for lunch or dinner by the beach! We were seated right away, and the service was excellent. I highly recommend the fried snapper plate, as well as the creamy Spanish seafood bisque — both were outstanding

We had the omelet and the breakfast taco both were the best breakfast around and so full of flavor. Waitress was great and the view is very relaxing too.

We came for lunch. The service was a little slow. But it was not bothersome at all because the magnificent views made up for it. Plenty of outdoor seating at this small restaurant located at the back end of the two star motel. Did I mention the beach front views! They have a boardwalk access to the beach, which is a great plus! The food we ordered was good. We especially enjoyed our fruit smoothies!

There are so many great places to eat at in SPI, but we chose to hit this one twice, it was so good. Great service and a great view to top off some really good food. For dinner on our first night we each had the hushpuppies and the Grilled Red Snapper Sandwich. The house-made jalapeño hushpuppies were solid. Okay - they weren't solid - they were crunchy bits of goodness with a light airy center, full of flavor. The sandwich was amazing - the fish was perfectly grilled and seasoned - the condiments for the sandwich were fresh, especially those super tasty pickles. They were perfect layered right over everything. The cilantro lime tartar sauce was a welcome addition, and I normally don't do tartar sauce. If you knew me and tartar sauce, you would realize the monumental feat of me putting it on this sandwich. Epic. We came back the next morning for breakfast - and I had a gigantic order of migas. They came with jalapeños, which was huge for me. These hit the spot and washed down well with some expertly made mimosas. All in all - I would send anyone here looking for a great spot in SPI.

The chips served with sandwiches are sprinkled with Parmesan cheese--which is not mentioned on the menu. This was an immediate problem for our son with a dairy allergy. There were flies and birds everywhere. The staff were nice. I ordered the teriyaki chicken sandwich, which has pineapple on it--but the inedible core of the pineapple was left in! Prices are high for poor quality food.

Cafe on the beach is connected to The palms resort in South Padre Island. We stopped in here for some light snacks while spending a weekend in SPI. There is only outdoor seating and they had some issues with the kitchen when we arrived. I got a refreshing margarita and we ordered some crab cakes and oyster rockfellers. The food was good the crab cakes were decent size and delicious and came with a great sauce to dip them in. Oysters Rockefellers is cooked oysters with bacon, onion, creamed spinach, and hollandaise sauce. We had a great dining experience and somewhere I could see myself going back to.

Great spot to head a bite and have a great view of the beach. The restaurant is located in the back behind the hotel but services anyone. Great drink menu, and delicious food with a view.

We came for lunch. The service was a little slow. But it was not bothersome at all. The proximity to the soft sound and magnificent views of the beach waves made up for it. They have plenty of outdoor seating at this small restaurant located at the back end of the two star motel. Did I mention the beach front views! They have a boardwalk access to the beach, which is a great plus! The food we ordered was good. We especially enjoyed our fruit smoothies!

There was a nice shaded area to enjoy the beach view. My mom and I got the hamburger and it was fantastic! The service was great! The only challenge might be finding a parking spot.

Really nice location to eat while viewing the beach and waves. There was a 30 minute wait to get seated. I had a Peña colada with a rum float. It tasted a little off and kind of bland but I finished it anyway for the alcohol absorption. The blackened snapper sandwich was also fairly bland and uneventful. Service was friendly and quick and the location is great.

Met the fam a little before sundown; I was fashionably late because birthday. I'd driven since 8am so I went straight for drinks. Good times; rest of the clan enjoyed a nice supper. First time on South Padre! It is a lovey setting while the digs are dated. Saw the same host each visit; seems like they have a good crew. This time we all chowed down! Might as well indulge in the island seafood and pick the most $$$$ item on the menu. That'd be the $31 Crab Cake Benedict. Seeing the dish arrive at the table reminded me of an old job at a country club. I was on the F&B side; made breakfast tacos for the members in the morning. It was a nice kitchen to cook in. All the chef driven specials were amazing. The corporate controlled menu was hideous. It's the same crab cake folks; total lack of seasoning. Eggs were fine as was the hollandaise. Hash browns were also sub par. Go for the drinks!

The view here is obviously stunning and makes for a perfect pre or post beach day meal. We were seated under the covered patio, which was the perfect in between of inside/outside seating. The Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich was alright--- the sauce was good but parts of the chicken were kinda hard and difficult to chew. They had many other options though, so maybe try something else!

Absolutely fantastic food! The wait staff was super friendly! I had the coconut shrimp and it was amazing. Very clean establishment

This dog friendly is literally feet from the water. There was about a 45 minute wait, but it was well worth the wait. The staff does their best to get everyone seated a quickly as possible. The food and service were both wonderful. Any restaurant that allows dogs gets five stars. And being that close to the beach is a plus!

The blackened Mahi and Mahi fish tacos we ordered were a little tough, maybe over cooked. We've had worse, but we've had better. The frozen margarita was mah. Service was rather slow on a slow mid-week night. Other reviews must be based off a different wait staff and possibly chef. The best part of the meal was the Caeser salad with a crispy fried cheese stick. We enjoyed the open-air beachside view. Not sure we will be back next visit south.

We came here because of the Yelp rating and we were very disappointed. Everyone's food lacked flavor. We ordered 5 different entrees and a couple appetizers. The fried food was all grease, no flavor. The appetizers had little to no flavor. Just not great. Shrimp skewers seem to be best bang for your buck with melted lemon butter. They do not have a kids menu. Our waitress was nice although not very attentive. Good if you want to see the water in the distance but you aren't right on the water and I'm sure there are other places with water views that have food with flavor. Very laid back spot. Bathrooms didn't have paper towels. It's outside so at one point during a meal I had 2 bugs in my food.

The reviews do not reflect the food. I got salad, burger, and French fries everything was bland. The meat was not seasoned and the lettuce was wilted. Bathrooms are never cleaned properly. Soap was missing in dispenser and cook goes back to work.

Grilled mahi tacos and sweet potato fries were quite delicious. As was the Jamaican coffee which I poured over ice. The key lime pie was good but should've been a little colder. My only regret was that I went at night and couldn't enjoy what would've been a great view.

Food was great, but the two women servers were swamped and did their best to accommodate everyone. The chips and dip came with the meals rather than before. Also the younger server it took her a while to warm up. Every server should be pleasant. There isn't much ambiance but seeing the beach and relaxing was nice.

love the beach vibes! great service and food! fair prices and great atmosphere. wonderful views! try the seafood Combo and the "the islands best burger"!

During the month of March, they treat adults under 25 as children. My daughter and her friends (ages 21-24) were turned away because they don't accept anyone under 25 who are not accompanied by their parent or legal guardian! Lol! 24 year olds need their parents to eat brunch!?! Completely irrational and quite frankly, insane. This is not a Denny's. This is a higher priced, quaint restaurant and they are turning away people that would like to dine on the beach, just because they are on their Spring Break vacation. We've eaten here before, but will never be back. And our experience last time was less than stellar. Started out great with a male manager who was on top of it. Once the new female manager came in, things went downhill. We had to send our lobster and steak back because they were both way over-cooked. The steak came back and was even worse. See pic. Anyway, great location, but horrible policies and inconsistent food quality and management.

We have been enjoying brunch and dinners at The Palm for more than 15 years. They never disappoint. Great food, great service and good wine list!

The location is great. You have a view of the ocean from pretty much any area of the dining region. Service was sub par. Seemed like the waiters might've been short staffed on this certain night. Fish tacos were adequate. I wasn't a fan of the tortilla soup.

I ordered the most basic dish: chicken tenders and fries. They were dry and relatively bland, but not gross. With condiments, they'd be solid. The good rating is simply because of the great service and location. Every server and staff member was INCREDIBLY friendly and helpful-- I noticed that one waiter even offered a patron a blanket when she was cold! Also, they were patient with elderly patrons and were incredibly speedy at taking orders and delivering them. Additionally, the view was gorgeous and right on the beach.

The food is delicious! This was the best seafood I had on the island during my trip, and I ate at several restaurants. I got the combo seafood basket (shrimp and red snapper)...both were seasoned well, lightly battered and super fresh! On top of great food, you can't beat the oceanside view. Highly recommend.

This place only allowed 25+ during spring break but didn't make that clear anywhere online so don't waste your time

Absolutely LOVE the Palm's Cafe! The staff is always amazing and the food never disappoints. The smaller Reuben and the grilled Mahi Mahi are two of the best times on the menu if you're looking for great seafood. The Beachfront salad is also fantastic if you're looking for something lighter. Don't visit Padre without visiting here for a meal!

Have lived in the RGV for 40urs. Had never heard of this restaurant or its location. Ambiance was a 5+ :) Right on the beach side, waves and peaceful! Food was I little lacking on presentation, however, favor was spot on!! Had a new server and was a rookie. Didn't hurt the experience. Will definitely be our go to had the chowder, was excited into get it, looks great, texture was Awsome.... It's missing something though, a bit bland... had to add a little salt and pepper. Will try it again next time easily a top 3 places on SPI

Small so seating is limited but the food is worth it. Everything we ordered was delicious- I call this place the hidden gem of the island.

Such a cute little spot. Lots Of shade if needed. Waiter was great. Checked in every now and then made sure we had Everything we needed. Had some drinks and they where excellent. Food was also cooked to perfection .

The best thing about this cafe is the pancakes. They are to die for. Right on the beach, all the food was great. Not crazy about the birds eating with us, but still enjoyed. Price was fair. Would definitely be back if I'm in the area again.

Great spot to grab a quick breakfast on the beach! Located in the back of the hotel. Not a whole lot of space on the patio but we didnt have issues getting seated during off peak season.

Two of us had the fried shrimp baskets & they were delicious. The snapper Veracruz was to die for!! Lots of bursting flavorful veggies! The appetizer-Parmesan HH spinach dip was good but not too impressive; the tortilla chips that came with it were hot and crisp-fresh! The real homemade key lime pie was SOOO flavorful with great lime flavors with a complex and tasty crust and the topping was light, flavorful and not too sweet!!! It's worth's trip just for the key lime pie dessert!! Ask for Steven M.: he knows his stuff! He doesn't rush you and makes you feel like an Islander on island time!

Really enjoyed eating here. Had the blackened red snapper and it was delicious. Great outdoor seating with a view. Service was good too!

This restaurant is off the main drag but with GPS easy to find. Be aware- parking is limited (very limited). Outdoor seating for dinner is shaded and off-shore breeze makes for a nice evening. We arrived during happy hour with Margaritas half price at $4. Spinach Dip was tasteless. Wife loved bountiful Fish Reuben special and I enjoyed the Snapper Veracruz dinner. Our Happy Hour total (4 drinks) was $85 before tip. No hidden "service fees." We might return during our vacation.

My friends and I come here every year on our girls' trip because they have great margaritas and fried shrimp. They still do! Our server, Tamara, was kind, attentive, and helpful. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is because the spinach dip was really bad. Don't let that stop you from going when you're on the island. Oh, and get the Key Lime pie. It's good too!

This is one of my favorite Beachside cafés. The eggs Benedict is excellent. The service is always very friendly and fast. It's a great place to sit outside on a pretty day.

Small cafe with all outside seating on beach side of quaint hotel. Bar drinks very reasonably priced. This place was packed with a 30 minute wait when our party of 3 arrived around 8 pm. We were able to grab a drink and enjoy the view while we waited. Server was pleasant and helpful while we tried to decide what to order. Seared tuna, mussels and crab cakes were all good. (Note: Sauce on crab cakes was good but made cakes a bit soggy, may want to ask for iron the side) Jalapeno hush puppies were ok but not spicy at all and came without a dipping sauce as an appetizer. Creamed Spinach Rockefeller was under seasoned and a bit bland which was disappointing. All in all, I'd go back though.

The blackened shrimp tacos and tortilla soup combo was excellent. Fresh ingredients and spiced just right. This was the best blackened shrimp I've ever eaten. Enjoy.

Food was Delicious! Enjoyed the view and the beautiful weather as well. Service was great. Only minor issue eating outside was the swarms of flies lol other than that, Great experience!

Stopped by for lunch and had the coconut shrimp plate with sweet potato waffle fries. It was delicious! Enjoyed sitting out on the patio but appreciated that it was still covered. I got crab cakes to go for my BF, which were a little disappointing for the price but maybe they're better when you eat them served fresh. Staff was friendly. Will be back to try some other dishes.

Really cool vibe, bacon was fantastic, service was great, food was so good, and appreciated that they didn't charge a credit card fee.

Whatever you do get a Margarita!! SO GOOD Such a cute place, right on the beach. Food is delicious. The staff is very personable and attentive. You can see they are cared for by the management team. Went back for brunch and had an enjoyable experience without the margaritas too! Definitely a must when your in South Padre!

Service was a little slow but very friendly. Nice little outdoor seating. The food was good, nothing amazing but tasty enough. Great location next to the beach.

I was in town to check out Starbase and the work that is going on with the Super heavy and the starship. I just Yelp to find restaurants to eat at and I looked up Eggs Benedict and this restaurant came up. This restaurant is on the beach in back of the motel. I ordered coffee and the eggs Benedict. I found the coffee to be a little weak . The waitress was friendly and she checked on me a few times. The eggs Benedict came not long after the coffee. It looked delicious. The sliver wear they give you is a fork and a butter knife. Being that the eggs Benedict were on a English muffin. Most restaurants give you a steak knive . The hollandais sauce was okay as I've found most restaurants to be The eggs were cooked as they should be. The new owners of the motel were there and chatting with one of the motel guess. Overall this is a restaurant I'd try again.

Visiting the Island from Houston and stayed in a beach house on Lantana. This great cafe was walking distance from our place and also from our spot in the beach near the moonlight beach access. It is next to the Palms hotel. Great little place! The waitress said the shrimp is one of the best things in the menu. Absolutely fantastic shrimp that tasted like the ocean. Great Happy hour specials that are so nice to access from your relaxing spot in the beach. We will definitely be back to enjoy another lunch with a view.

Love the relaxed vibe of this cafe. We started at the bar with drinks served by an attentive bar staff. Engaging conversation made for a lovely start to the evening. We sampled the Jalepeno hush puppies and mussels for starters. The hush puppies were just the right mix of sweet and fire. The mussels stole the show with a mildly spicy sauce. Try them! Next we had the blackened salmon served a nice thick cuts of grilled zucchini and a baked potato. All delicious. The combo fried plate was a full dish with fried oysters, shrimp, and fish. Loved the food and the atmosphere. Definitely earned a trip back!

Food was great, service was right on, and ambiance was very seafood view place.All good.

It's hard to beat good food on the beach. 25+ only and Pretty good food and good selection of drinks

We stopped by for an afternoon cocktail with our dog after walking on the beach...friendly staff and local patrons...spinach dip was substantive but not too rich, served with delightfully thin and crispy tortilla chips...we will be back!

Everything is always good Luis and the guys in back do a great job. Drinks are cold and it real nice when it's not 120 outside. Lol.

Good food and the staff are very friendly. The view is nice with the sound of waves.

Great place for a quick lunch. It is truly by the sea. Had a blackened snapper sandwich and shared a couple of blackened mahi tacos. Both were delicious. And I loved the homemade potato chips/strips...they were very good. My only fault with the sandwich was the bun, they used a hamburger and I would have liked something a little more substantial to keep it all together. It's laid back and dog friendly. And the service was on point.