There’s nothing better than a day at the beach. Unless of course, it’s a beach picnic.
Whether it’s a beach picnic bbq, a romantic wine and cheese picnic at sunset, or a family and friends day at the beach picnic, sun, wind and sand can make a picnic at the beach tricky.
We never like to stray too far from our fundamental picnic tips where simplicity is key; however, being prepared is also key when it comes to a great day at the beach. Don’t let your beach picnic end up a hot, sandy mess. We put together some fabulous beach picnic ideas and tips to ensure your alfresco beach feast is perfect, but sometimes a few simple accessories can change the way you picnic.
Beach Picnic Essentials
These fabulous beach picnic accessories combine function with style to keep your salads fresh and sand-free, your wine chilled, and you comfy and cool so you can relax and enjoy the perfect beach picnic.
Shade & Wind Protection
Sun protection is a given at the beach. And while a large floppy hat may suffice on a cloudy day, some decent shade and maybe even wind protection may be what’s required for a relaxing, sand free picnic.
These shade solutions are all lightweight, quick and easy to erect, pack down into a carry bag and offer complete sun protection. We also recommend shade tents as a handy addition for kids picnics – on the beach or at the park.
They all anchor well into the sand and the beach tent and canopy can also offer wind protection depending on how you choose to set it up.
Beach Mat
This Sand-Free Beach Mat has a patented Two-Layer System of polyester layers that allow sand to fall through the fabric without being able to come back up. Perfect for a sand-free dining environment. It also rolls up tight with a carry handle for easy transport.
CGear Large Sand-Free Beach Mat
Find more sandproof & waterproof picnic blankets here which are perfect for a day at the beach.
Napkins and Table Cloth
Napkins
Forget paper napkins at the beach. For sand and wind, you want a cloth napkin up for the task. These cotton Turkish tea towels make a versatile and stylish addition to your beach picnic table. Larger than a normal napkin, they offer extra coverage when balancing a plate on your lap and are very absorbent so are great for clean-ups and spills. Easy to wash, they also look stylishly beachy.
Set of 8 Turkish Cotton Tea Towels
Table Cloth
While you may have a beach mat, a light and practical Turkish beach towel makes a great table cloth or picnic rug.
Lay it on your picnic table or over your beach mat, the towel won’t get loaded with sand like a picnic blanket and is easy to shake out. It’s also handy as a light shawl should the weather cool. A light and handy addition to any picnic set.
Smyrna Vintage Series Original Turkish Beach Towel
Beach Drink Solutions
Beaches aren’t the best place for glass and keeping drinks icy cold can be a task. These gorgeous wine canteens and wine tumblers by Simple Modern Spirit can keep an entire bottle of wine chilled for hours (It will also keep liquids hot). Think of it as double cooling insurance for your drinks.
This fancy flask with matching stemless insulated tumblers is a sensible beach solution for drinks whether it be wine, cocktails or mocktails. If it’s bubbles you prefer, try these stylish Insulated Stemless Champagne Flutes. We love these classy drink solutions so much we included them in our picnic gift ideas edition.
Insulated Stemless Champagne Flute
Beach Picnic Table
Keep your spread sand-free with this ultra-portable lightweight folding picnic table. Perfect for the beach, it folds down super small into its own bag and is sturdy enough for cutting on. Need a bigger beach picnic table, we’ve rounded up the best portable folding picnic tables here ranging from tables for 2 to tables fit for a crowd.
Trekology Portable Picnic Table in a Bag
Beach Picnic Chair
Sure, relaxing on the sand enjoying your portable feast is lovely, but so is kicking back in a comfy chair.
This gorgeous directors style picnic chair by Picnic Time is lightweight, very portable and boasts a ton of very handy features such as insulated drink holders, storage pocket and a small fold-out table. It also has built-in backpack straps so it’s super easy to carry once folded.
Folding Beach Chair by Picnic Time
Picnic Set
Keep your picnic compact and stress-free with this beach-friendly picnic set for four. Everything you need in one bag including insulated compartments to keep your picnic food fresh and cold. If you need additional space for food and drinks, the insulated, leak-free collapsible picnic basket is perfect for keeping ice, food, and drinks.
Both are made with tough canvas finish so are more sand friendly than a traditional basket.
Throw in some flexible ice packs to keep it even more compact and mess-free.
We have loads more tips on the best ways to keep your picnic food cold and fresh for longer.
If you are planning on packing hot food for your beach picnic, you can find all our tips on how to keep food hot for a picnic here.
You Might Also Like: We’ve rounded up the most beautiful and practical insulated picnic baskets from traditional wicker to modern collapsible picnic baskets. We’ve also taken the guesswork out of picnic baskets for 2 for romantic beach picnics.
Wine and Cheese Beach Picnic Set
Planning a romantic wine and cheese beach picnic or looking for a simple picnic set up. This wine & cheese picnic table works great for cheese platters, mezze platters or antipasto style picnics. Best of all, it gives you a secure place for your wine and glasses. So practical.
Tirrinia Foldable Wine & Cheese Picnic Table
Light & Music
Create a gorgeous picnic atmosphere with this all in one lantern and bluetooth speaker. The go-to picnic accessory for beach picnics that go past sundown.
DIKAOU Led flame table lamp & Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speaker
Picnic Food Accessories
This delightful little kitchen companion has so many picnic possibilities. Other than making very tidy no-spill sandwiches (which is great for kids), there are endless possibilities for adult finger food and snacks all in a cute sealed little package.
The Pampered Chef Cut N Seal Sandwich Maker
These Stackable Bento Food Containers make packing your picnic food a breeze. You can even assign a box to each person to save on extra serving plates. You’ll have no worries with sand blowing in food or plates hurtling down the beach in a gust.
All-in-One Stackable Bento Food Container With Utensil
Words you never want to hear at a picnic: soggy, wilted or congealed. Sauces and dressing should never be added to picnic food until it’s time to eat. Prevent any soggy sandwich or sad salad incidents at your beach picnic with these tidy little squeezy bottles.
OXO Good Grips On-the-Go Silicone Squeeze Bottles
Last but not least, always have a packet of wet wipes in your picnic pack, especially when sand is involved.
Prosciutto Wrapped Figs with Goats Cheese and Arugula