We’re not really ones to go out for dinner very much. We have this awful habit of believing – usually correctly, if we do say so ourselves – that the food we make at home is better… and certainly cheaper. So we tend to grumble our way through restaurant dinners, tutting over a lack of seasoning or a soggy vegetable and mentally rewriting the menu. The only thing we always agree on is it’s nice to walk away without having to worry about doing the dishes.
But breakfast?
Ah, that’s a whole different story.
When in Spain, we’ll happily wander out in search of a morning feast. We’re not talking about the full English, far too heavy for warm sunshine and seaside strolls. Instead, we’ve become connoisseurs of the leisurely Spanish breakfast: a great view, a gentle ambience, and, as we may have mentioned once or twice (or constantly), a proper coffee.
So here it is: our top three favourite breakfast spots.
1. Armonia Beach Club, Los Alcázares – The Undisputed Champion
Top of the list, wearing the golden breakfast crown, is the Armonia Beach Club at the yacht club in Los Alcázares. It’s stylish without trying too hard – sunny yellow-and-white striped cushions, matching parasols and even the flowerpots and the crockery play along. The whole place feels like it’s been designed by someone who’s never had a bad morning, it radiates pure sunshine.
And the setting? Boats bobbing cheerfully, gentle waters of the Mar Menor lapping at the jetty, and that soft winter sunlight that makes everyone look a little bit softer around the edges.
Now the food: on our last visit we devoured generous portions of Eggs Benedict Bremen (two perfectly poached eggs each, a very generous helping of smoked salmon underneath, along with avocado slices), Greek yoghurt with honey and granola, a freshly squeezed orange juice – the kind that wakes you up with a sharp citrus slap, and a wonderful coffee. All for €13.50 each. Honestly, how can you not linger for a couple of hours, watching boats glide in and out and people meander past?
We’re reliably informed that the dinners at Armonia Beach Club are fantastic – though we must confess we haven’t tested that claim ourselves. If dining out is your thing, though, it’s probably worth setting sail!
2. Laguna Beach Chiringuito, Los Narejos – Simplicity at Its Best
Our second favourite is considerably simpler but no less delightful. Laguna Beach is one of the chiringuitos on Los Narejos Beach – beach bars that serve drinks, tapas, and simple but delicious breakfasts.
Here, it’s all about the tostada. A warm toasted baguette topped with chopped tomato and your choice of ham or cheese. Think Spanish bruschetta, but eaten with your toes practically touching the sand, little feathered friends chirpily watching on. Add a coffee, and you’ve got the perfect low-effort, high-pleasure breakfast. That said, they do serve a lovely range of tasty tapas, which we’ve been known to partake of on the odd occasion.
And the people-watching? Spectacular.
There are the striders, power-walking the length of the promenade, determined to defeat the 10,000-step challenge before their coffee has cooled. The strollers who are more concerned with gossiping with their companions.
The cyclists, ranging from Lycra-clad athletes to carefree upright pedal-pushers.
The fitties, pausing to jog, stretch, or contort themselves in the beachside gyms.
And then there are the fatties – that would be us – who fully intend to exercise, but usually settle for a brisk walk between coffee stops. It counts. Sort of.
3. Newlyns Farm Shop Café, Hampshire – A Taste of Home
Closer to home, in Hampshire, our top breakfast haunt is the Newlyns Farm Shop Café in North Warnborough, just off Junction 5 of the M3. It’s not as cost-effective as our Spanish favourites (few things are), but the menu is tempting enough to make us forget the price difference.
Here, breakfast is all about hearty farm sausages, home-reared bacon, and the comforting hum of a warm café on a chilly British morning. People-watching takes a different turn too – it’s far less about Lycra and lean muscles, and far more about smart well to do pensioners and yummy mummies, and of course in the Summer greeting an endless parade of dogs who seem to believe they own the place – maybe because they are guaranteed a doggy treat from the lovely staff.
Combine your visit to Newlyns Farm with a gentle stroll along this very picturesque part of the Basingstoke Canal and you have the perfect morning mapped out.
And honestly? We don’t mind that one bit.
We’ve even been known to take some of the ‘Grumpy Children’ there….and they definitely prefer the full English!
If you ever find yourself in Spain – or Hampshire – with an appetite and a love of watching the world go by, give these spots a try. Breakfast, after all, is the most joyful meal of the day…..according to us Grumpy Old Guides.
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