10 great seaside bars in Europe

— -- As Europe's charms beckon summer travelers, where better to toast the season than at seaside watering holes steeped in beauty and culture? While researching his 30 guidebooks and finding "magic moments" for the tours he organizes, Europe expert Rick Steves wears down cobblestones in pursuit of just those places. He shares with USA TODAY's Monica Hortobagyi favorite spots to see the waves lap, the sun set and local culture come to life.

Café Bar Buža

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Slip away from the energy of Old Town to this shaded escape that clings "like a barnacle to the outside of the city walls," Steves says. Laid-back bartenders serve wine in plastic cups at this hole in the wall, which is "exactly what you'll have to go through to get to this place," he says. "Buža comes with castaway views and Frank Sinatra ambience," and is "the most scenic spot for a drink in Dubrovnik." cafebuza.com/

Ristorante Belforte

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

From the restaurant's three-table balcony, sip on a local wine and savor striking views of the vineyard-wrapped Mediterranean. The "creative cuisine" hinges on fresh catches and reinvented classics. Steves recommends "the hearty zuppa Michela (a seafood soup), fishy spaghetti Bruno, and trofie al pesto (hand-rolled noodles with pesto)." www.ristorantebelforte.it/

Kodylenia's Taverna

Hydra, Greece

Steves prefers Hydra's dinner views from this spot, which marries the charm of Kaminia's port; the bustle of water taxis, hydrofoils and old freighters ("castles of rust"); and "the beauties of a Greek isle escape." Choose front-porch seating for drinks (ouzo, anyone?) and the shaded side terrace atop the harbor for meals, which are guaranteed to be fresh, as owner Dimitris embarks each morning on his boat to secure the fishermen's best catch. www.hydra-kodylenia.gr/kodylenia.htm

Le Cosmo

Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

Like the younger sibling of an A-list celebrity, this town has the savviness that comes with exposure without the diva hang-ups of its Riviera setting. Luxury yachts in the bay give a nod to the glamorous feel of the neighborhood, but the star of this ville is the brasserie that serves "well-presented, tasty meals with good wines," Steves says (he suggests the omelette ni?oise and the red Bandol). It offers views of the harbor and town's "cultural highlight": Jean Cocteau-decorated Chapel of St. Pierre. restaurant-lecosmo.fr/

Cod and Lobster

Staithes, England

The "refreshingly unpretentious" town that drew explorer James Cook to the sea is "a salty jumble of cottages bunny-hopping down a ravine into a tiny harbor," says Steves, where there's little to do but "stroll the beach and nurse a harborside beer or ice cream." Snack on fish-and-chips and people-watch from this pub's outdoor tables, or retreat to its "cozy living room warmed by a coal fire." The old-time photos will reveal that little has changed for Staithes (pronounced "staythz") since Cook's time in the 18th century, as the town is "gloriously stubborn about not wooing tourists." codandlobster.co.uk/

Atlântico

Salema, Portugal