Il Lido Italian Canteen

Il Lido Italian Canteen occupies part of a building on the Cottesloe beachfront that began life as a seaside cabaret. The Lido Cabaret and its attached picture garden, an open-air cinema, opened in 1936 to a design by architect Howard Bonner for the Hatfield family, and for more than two decades it was one of the main social venues for Cottesloe and the surrounding suburbs. Over the years the premises have traded under several names, including the Lido Coral Room and La Tropicana, and the National Trust classified the place in 2010. The picture garden site has since been redeveloped.

Today Il Lido runs from early morning to late evening, which is why it works so well as a cafe stop. The doors open at 7am every day for breakfast and coffee, with house-made pastries on the counter, and the kitchen continues through lunch and dinner. As the day goes on the menu moves to antipasti, handmade pasta, dolci and a selection of cheeses, while aperitivo and a wine list cover the drinks side.

The location is the other draw. Il Lido is on Marine Parade, the road that runs behind Cottesloe Beach, so it is an easy place to start the day before a swim, to sit over a coffee after a morning walk on the sand, or to settle in for a glass of wine as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. The canteen format keeps things relaxed, so it suits couples, groups of friends and families alike.

The restaurant says bookings are a plus but walk-ins are fine too, so you can usually drop in for a coffee and pastry without planning ahead. Sample breakfast, cheese and main menus are published on the website, which is useful if you want to check what is on before you go.

Il Lido is at 88 Marine Parade in Cottesloe, about 15 minutes' drive from the city centre; by public transport, take the Fremantle Line to Cottesloe station and walk down to the beach. Combine it with time on Cottesloe Beach, a look at the Indiana pavilion on the beach, or a browse of the shops on Napoleon Street.