Palm Beach is a sand-on-your-feet lounge restaurant in Santa Maria, great for cocktails, live music and sunset dinners. Fish usually performs well, prices are European, and the vibe is everything. Worth knowing their strict policy around children before you arrive.
When your first holiday meal sets the tone
Palm Beach shows up early in a lot of people’s Sal story: first stroll through Santa Maria, light hunger, fresh curiosity, and the inevitable temptation to sit down with your feet literally in the sand. Palms, low sofas, music in the air, and that clear feeling of “right, we’re on holiday now”.
Here, the setting hits first. And it colours everything else.
A beach lounge with a restaurant (in that order)
Palm Beach is, above all, a beach lounge–restaurant. The space, the views and the vibe carry as much weight as the food — sometimes more. It works very well for cocktails, long snacks, sunset dinners and relaxed plans with no clock.
It’s clearly visitor-oriented, with European-level prices and a concept built around enjoying the location as much as the plate. If you’re chasing flawless cooking at any cost, it may fall short. If you’re chasing context, it makes more sense.
Dishes that shine… and others that quietly fade
Some things show up repeatedly in a good way. Fish is often the safest bet, along with octopus, fried seafood, and certain tuna dishes done well. The famous tuna with mango sauce splits opinion: some people would come back just for that sauce… others report tuna that was tough and bland. It’s very day-dependent.
The pizzas surprise people positively, especially with sourdough bases and bolder toppings. Meanwhile, options like poké bowls or some “fancy” tuna cuts don’t always land as cleanly.
The vibe runs the show
Staff are often described as friendly and professional, though there are several mentions of small misses: menus arriving late, tables being served out of order, or uneven waiting times even when the place doesn’t look packed.
Live music is a highlight for many… and a headache for others, especially when it clashes with neighbouring venues. Some nights it adds a lot; other nights it overloads.
When everything clicks, the place shines. When it doesn’t, the setting carries the rest.
Kids, rules, and expectations
This is one of the key points. Palm Beach has a strict policy around minors, especially in the beach and lounge areas. Some people love that. Others feel openly turned away — even with empty tables.
It’s not a one-off mistake: it’s a rule. If you’re travelling with kids, it’s smart to ask first and not assume anything, no matter how big the terrace looks.
How to leave happy
It works best at sunset and in the evening, when the setting does its best work. Book if you can, and choose fish or simpler dishes over modern experiments.
Accept that here you’re paying for the place, not just the plate. And if you’re with kids, clarify the rules from the start.
A place you enjoy more when you know what you’re here for
Palm Beach isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t really try to be. It’s a place to relax, watch the sea, listen to music and let the day end well, even if the food isn’t memorable every single time.
If you come for a full atmosphere experience, it often delivers. If you come purely for the cooking, results can vary.
At Palm Beach, the food matters… but the context is in charge.
