In designing pocket beaches enclosed by hard structures, the equilibrium shoreline position and the morphological response to storm conditions are key aspects. In this paper a generic methodology is presented that can be used to design pocket beaches based on equilibrium profiles and assess the performance on storm retreat, long term losses and assessment of suitable ecological habitats. The proposed methodology is an iterative process composed of three main steps: 1) determining the equilibrium shoreline, 2) storm impact modeling, 3) assessment of the beach performance and ecological evaluation. The equilibrium shoreline positions are modelled with a calibrated ShorelineS model. The storm response of the pocket beach is computed with an XBeach model validated on hydrodynamics (waves, currents) and morphological changes. Based on the assessment of the pocket beach ‘performance’ using shoreline retreat and sediment losses as the main parameters, the design of the structures and shoreline is then altered iteratively. The methodology presented in this study has been developed during a > 10 years rehabilitation project of the Romanian coast. During this project the phased construction sequence enabled continuous improvement of the methodology and the implemented numerical models using field measurements.