Shoreline

You're walking along the Eastern Esplanade on a decent day, and Shoreline's right there with the sea practically lapping at your table. It's the kind of place that does proper British food without trying to be clever about it—think classic fish and chips, pies, and seasonal specials that change depending on what's actually good. The views across Paignton Bay are genuinely brilliant, especially if you time it for golden hour, and the crowd's a proper mix of locals, families, and tourists who've cottoned on to the fact that this beats eating in your beach hut. Service is friendly and unfussy, which matters when you're this close to the seafront.