Rest Bay is the best of Porthcawl's three beaches — a wide, west-facing crescent of clean sand and reefs at the north end of town, with the Bristol Channel breaking onto rocky points at either end. It has held a Blue Flag for years and is the headquarters of the Welsh Surfing Federation; surf school lessons and board hire run from a permanent base above the beach.
At low tide the beach extends a long way out and rock pools appear at the southern end. The cliff path north leads to Sker Point and Sker House; the path south leads back to the harbour and town centre. Parking is at the top of the slipway and fills up early on warm weekends. There is a café and toilets above the beach all year.