Eating Out: Sun, sand and superb seafood

Whether you're waterskiing or sun worshipping on Europe's beaches this summer, you won't have to stray too far from the sand for seriously good food.

After a hard day soaking up the sun, enjoy the catch of the day fresh out of the sea or Italian specialities such as spaghetti with lemon, olive oil and parmesan at the shoreside Aqua Taverna, Little Venice, Mykonos (00 30 22890 26083).

On the coast of the Mediterranean is where you will find Gambero Rosso, Piazza della Vittoria 13, 57027, San Vincenzo, Livorno (00 39 05 65 701021), one of Italy's most highly acclaimed restaurants and home to inventive chef Fulvio Pierangelini, whose creations include chickpea purée with prawns.

Eating on the beach gets a sophisticated twist at the hip restaurant, bar and club Effet Mer, Route du Grand Travers, La Grande Motte, Languedoc Roussillon (00 33 4 67 56 02 14; effetmer.com), where prawns are sautéed with lime and served with avocado soup and fromage blanc ice cream.

Metropolitan chef Mark Hix has returned to his West Country roots to open Hix Oyster and Fish House, Cobb Road, Lyme Regis, (01297 446910; hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk), where you can feast on a salad of mussels, scallops, crab, oyster and sea greens while enjoying the sea views.

Watch watersport fanatics enjoying the Ostend coastline through the wall of windows at Ostend Queen, West Helling 8400, Ostend (00 32 59 29 50 55; kursaaloostende.be), where Michelin-starred chef Pierre Wynants oversees a menu that includes the signature Zeevruchtenschotel, made with oysters, lobster, king crab, Ostend grey prawns, black tiger prawns and winkles.

After a three Michelin-starred meal at Restaurant Carme Ruscalleda, Nou 10, Sant Pol de Mar, near Barcelona (00 34 93 760 0662; ruscalleda.com), which might include spicy tuna with strawberry ice cream, cherry tomato, wild rice and purslane, take coffee in the garden that overlooks the Med.