About El Tico Beach Cantina
El Tico Beach Cantina sits on the edge of the sand at St Ouen's Bay, the five-mile beach that runs down Jersey's west coast. The island's tourism board calls it Jersey's original beach café, and surfboards have been hired out here since 1948. Today it is a casual restaurant with a large outdoor terrace over the bay, plus a surf shop and surf school, so you can watch the waves over lunch or get out on them yourself.
The kitchen opens seven days a week all year, closing only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Breakfast runs 9:00 to 11:30 and lunch 12:15 to 16:00, with dinner from 17:00 (17:30 on Sundays). In summer dinner goes until 21:00, or 20:30 on Sundays; in winter it ends at 20:30, or 19:30 on Sundays. Summer brings gentler waves that suit beginners, while autumn and winter swells draw experienced surfers. The bay faces west, which makes evenings here a good time for sunsets.
Breakfast covers pancakes, avocado and poached eggs, hash dishes and a full English. Later in the day the menu moves to sharing platters, nachos, crab linguine made with local crab, burgers, fish and chips, mussels and curries. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are marked, and children 12 and under have their own choices. Tables are not reserved, apart from a Boardroom for groups of 8 to 14, and the place gets very busy, so expect a wait at peak times. Dogs are welcome on the terrace.
Jersey Lavender on Rue du Pont Marquet in St Brelade is about 3 miles to the southeast, roughly 10 minutes by car. Its fields bloom from early June to early August, peaking in late June and early July, so a morning among the lavender followed by lunch on the beach makes a full summer day.
What to do
- Have breakfast on the terrace overlooking St Ouen's Bay (9:00-11:30)
- Book a surf lesson at the on-site surf school, offered for all abilities
- Browse the surf shop for wetsuits, boards and gear
- Try dishes made with local crab at lunch or dinner
- Stay for a west-facing sunset over the bay at dinner
- Walk the five-mile beach and the dunes across the road
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; beginner-friendly surf in summer, bigger swells in autumn and winter
- Hours
- Posted times (checked October 2026): daily breakfast 9:00-11:30, lunch 12:15-16:00, dinner from 17:00 (Sun 17:30) to 20:30 in winter or 21:00 in summer (Sun 19:30 winter, 20:30 summer)
Good to know
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair access listed by the island's tourism board
- Reservations
- Walk-in
Tips for your visit
- Tables are not reserved, so arrive early on sunny weekends or expect a wait
- Groups of 8 to 14 can book the Boardroom
- Buses 12A, 22 and X22 serve the bay from Liberation Station
- The kitchen handles nuts, gluten, dairy and shellfish and cannot rule out traces
Pair it with a lavender farm
Jersey Lavender · about 10 minutes away
Jersey Lavender in St Brelade is about 10 minutes away, so lavender in the morning and lunch on St Ouen's Bay fit easily into one summer day.
Getting there
Questions
Can I book a table?
No. They don't take table reservations, except for the Boardroom, which seats parties of 8 to 14.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes. Dogs are welcome, and the outdoor terrace has plenty of seating.
Is it open in winter?
Yes. It opens seven days a week year-round, closing only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Can I learn to surf here?
Yes. The on-site surf school offers lessons for all abilities.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of St Brelade and West Jersey
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
