La Pepa

Chiringuito La Pepa is a wooden beach bar on the sand at km 7 of the Gran Vía in La Manga, on the stretch belonging to San Javier. The beach appears in dozens of reviews, while food mentions focus on sardines, calamares a la andaluza (Andalusian-style fried squid) and, above all, lobster dishes.

Lobster is best pre-ordered

The dish many return for is lobster, served with huevos rotos (broken fried eggs over potatoes) or in rice. The kitchen is small, and several customers say both lobster and paella should be ordered one or more days ahead. The rest of the menu is typical of local beach bars:

• Griddled sardines
• Calamares a la andaluza (Andalusian-style fried squid) and fried seafood
• Caldero (local fish and rice stew)
• Marineras (Russian salad on bread rings topped with anchovy)
• Lemon slush, also with rum

Portions are generous and the fried seafood is fresh.

What customers value most

Food, setting and waiting staff whom most describe as friendly and quick are the most-repeated topics in reviews, alongside the beach itself and lobster.

Bookings and summer hours

La Pepa fills up, and the dining area operates with phone bookings. In high summer it opens daily from mid-morning until midnight. Outside those weeks, Google lists it as open daily, but only until mid-afternoon.

With children and by car

It has a children's menu, Wi-Fi and nearby parking, making it easier to spend a full beach day at km 7. The beach bars in La Manga section lists others on the sand along this stretch.