From the tip of Port Aransas to our very own national seashore, within our sand dunes sit embedded the serenity and solace of the coast. Pleasure comes in stealthy birdwatching, catching red drums off the jetties and even in the sunburn we come home with after lying on the shoreline and wading in the ocean water.
In a beach town like ours, the openness of the Gulf teaches us early on to embrace the weird and abnormal, the wild-at-heart and bowed-head hermit all the same. Around here, sandy bathing suits inside our seaside restaurants and bars feel as woven into our daily lives as the city skyline. Local store owners greet old friends with warm welcomes and kind words, offering that same easy invitation to outsiders. It opens the door to the question on the tongue of every tourist—and curious local—eyes fixed on the beach, with just one more barrier to cross:
“Where can I find something good to eat around here?”
Luckily for you, we’ve got the right answers.
Sunrise start: Find the best view of our picturesque morning sunrise by driving out to the many miles of Padre Island beach. Whether setting up at the first entrance or making the drive to Malaquite Beach, pick up breakfast tacos from staple El Potro off SPID with a side of its refreshing ice-cold limeade in one of the biggest to-go cups in the city. Looking for a stronger pick-me-up? Stop by Kilates, the Island’s newest craft coffee shop, just down the road from the Packery Channel turnoff.
Afternoon delight: Not every beach day demands an early morning call time. If you’re more of a high-noon riser, don’t sweat it—light-on-the-stomach options for a second-breakfast type of beach day dot the Island all the same. For the raw-fish lovers in the group, Port A Poke offers all the classic poke toppings in tried-and-true combos or build-it-yourself bowls. Alleviate some of the cooking sun with one (or some) of the sweet teas on offer, featuring all the tropical fruits you can imagine: pineapple, coconut, lemon, you name it. For the fish-averse, take advantage of the summertime fruit and stuff your portable coolers with Aloha Acai’s full-rainbow smoothie bowls.
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For the casual outing: Part of the beauty of where we live is our ability to treat a beach day as casually as we’d like. If you’re looking for a quick and easy getaway with the girls, a place to spend your hour lunch break or a Sunday afternoon de-stress, sometimes the simpler, the better. Pick up charcuterie materials from Cabana Pantry’s selection of curated goods, or farm-fresh sandwich supplies from Saltwater Gypsies. If you’re looking for something more grab-and-go, a cold cut sub (or seafood-based, if you’re into that) from Surfside Sandwich Shoppe will get you right. Set up on a picnic table right at the Malaquite Picnic Shelter and enjoy a break to the tune of coastal sounds.
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Late-night lounging: Everyone needs to experience the beach town rite of passage of a beachfront bonfire. Get as many of your loved ones as you can packed into a car or two with coolers in tow, nightlights in hand and a rotating set of speakers (and power banks) for a night of nothing but ocean waves, moonlit seas and heart-to-heart conversations to keep you company. Most importantly, you’ll need sustenance capable of staying edible long into the night. Before you head out to start digging the firewood hole, pick up enough pizza to feed a small village from Padre Pizzeria. Using quality, locally sourced ingredients to supply a menu list sure to satisfy meat-lovers, vegetarians and gluten-free palates alike—ranging from pies to wings to calzones to lasagna—it’s an opportunity to indulge in the beauty of leftovers. Even better: It offers delivery to several popular spots across the Island.
