IT'S NOT often a four-year-old recommends a café - but that's exactly what happened, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of our week!
Our original plan for a day off during the school holidays was simple: a wander around town, a coffee in M&S Café and then a trip to West Shore beach to hunt for shells.
As we were leaving home, my little boy piped up from the back seat: "Isn't there a café on West Shore, Mummy?"
"Yes... yes there is!" Was my reply.
A quick turn at the mini roundabout and we were heading for the big bright blue café overlooking the beach - West Shore Beach Café. Somewhere I'd driven past countless times but somehow never visited.
I'd reported on the business including its milestone of celebrating 20 years under owners Kevin Rice and Alison Armer. Kevin took on the café more than two decades ago after seeing the potential of the much-loved seaside spot, and the café celebrated its 20th anniversary in January 2026.
Walking through the doors, it was immediately clear we weren't the only ones with the same idea. The café, which is just a stone's throw from the beach and boasts striking views across the Bay, was buzzing, but we quickly spotted a table tucked into a cosy corner.
The interior has a relaxed seaside feel, with large windows flooding the space with natural light and blue-and-white striped detailing above giving that impression of a traditional beach hut.
Artwork on the walls was plentiful. The picture beside our table, by artist Susie Grindey, featured the Great Orme looking across Llandudno Bay towards Puffin Island and perfectly captured the café's coastal setting.
The clean, simple décor continued throughout the café, with sturdy wooden tables and matching benches creating a relaxed, unfussy space where the focus was firmly on the spectacular view outside.
Just beside our table sat a pale blue painted cupboard decorated with quirky cartoon stamp prints of beach life. It was a playful touch, adding character and making it feel like there were little details to discover everywhere you looked.
We headed to the counter to order and, honestly, it was the first time in a long time at a café that I felt so welcomed.
The young lad serving us greeted us with a big smile. He was friendly and genuinely warm.
I'm still navigating my coeliac journey, so I'm always looking out for gluten-free choices when eating out so spotting gluten-free options on the menu was a very welcome surprise (yay!).
I opted for the mature Welsh Cheddar and ham toastie on gluten-free bread (50p extra), while my husband chose the Brie, cranberry and bacon panini.
Our little boy decided upon chicken nuggets, chips and beans, along with an ice-cold fruit smoothie served in a glass Mason jar, which he absolutely loved.
We also ordered an extra portion of chips to share (these were not gluten-free). With two drinks, the whole bill came to £37.35.
We didn't have to wait too long for our food to arrive and, when it did, everything was served hot with a presentation that looked really appealing.
I was genuinely impressed with my toastie. The cheese had a lovely flavour and the ham was good quality and tasty and the bread was lovely. Sometimes gluten-free alternatives, especially bread, can feel like a compromise, but this really didn't.
My husband was equally pleased with his Brie, cranberry and bacon panini. The rich, gooey Brie had melted into a thick slice of bacon, complemented by a generous layer of sweet cranberry sauce.
Our little boy was more than happy with his nuggets, chips and beans. It was a generous portion without being over the top.
As parents will know, a café visit with a four-year-old often involves a few toilet stops! The toilets are located outside the café, with a path leading around to the bottom of the building. It was absolutely fine and the staff were happy to point us in the right direction. They were clean, unassuming and, most importantly, did exactly what they needed to do!
Outside the café, there was colourful flag bunting and picnic tables, making it another lovely spot to sit and enjoy the seaside surroundings.
As we left, we spotted a friendly message on a chalkboard thanking visitors for coming, which was a lovely touch and summed up the welcoming feel of the café.
West Shore Café is open every day throughout the summer. From Monday to Friday, it is open from 10am until 4.30pm, with food served from 10am until 4pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, it opens from 10am until 5pm, with food served from 10am until 4.30pm.
What started as a simple change of plan during the school holidays turned into a lovely family lunch at a café I'd somehow never stopped at before - and the credit for that all goes to our four-year-old!
It is definitely somewhere we will be returning to.
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