Beach House Bar & Restaurant

You walk into Festival House expecting tourist fodder, but Beach House has proper swagger. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Irish Sea beautifully, but you'll be too busy eyeing up neighbouring tables to gawp at the horizon for long. The menu reads like someone actually cares about provenance and technique – think pan-seared sea bass with samphire rather than the usual Promenade chips-with-everything approach. Service runs smooth even when they're rammed (which they often are), and the cocktail list shows real thought. Yes, you're paying Central Pier prices, but the quality justifies it. Book ahead for weekend evenings unless you fancy waiting with the Tower Ballroom crowds.