At Bangpo Seafood on the island of Koh Samui, tables in the sand are piled with deep-fried red snapper and spicy mango and sea urchin salad -- flavors as intense as Thailand's sunshine.
Like many of the best beach restaurants and shacks, family-run Bangpo makes food that's fresh, authentic, and affordable. It encourages you to linger over your meal, while soaking up the ocean views and the prime people-watching.
In Uruguay, for instance, chic locals and in-the-know tourists congregate at Parador La Huella in the beach town of Jose Ignacio for lazy midday meals that can last until it's nearly dinnertime. The salty sea breeze only improves the taste of sea bass cooked over coals, washed down with a pitcher of clerico.
Read on for a harbor restaurant that lures sailors to a small Greek island and more of our favorite places to eat at the beach, part of Travel + Leisure's coverage of the 100 Places to Eat Like a Local.
--Travel + Leisure Staff
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