Pembrokeshire is enjoying a growing reputation for fresh produce and coastal cuisine supplied by an emerging wave of independent producers and dining establishments.
It’s worth looking out for the ‘Pembrokeshire Produce Mark’ when buying locally as it indicates that what you are buying has been made in Pembrokeshire.
Take a slow journey around this magnificent stretch of coastline to discover wildlife, watersports and an array of local flavours and superb produce.
Feast on locally sourced lobster, hand foraged seaweed, craft gin, crab sandwiches and locally reared beef with our dining guide to eating out in Pembrokeshire.
Read more:The most indulgent and delicious tasting menus in Wales right now
1. The Griffin, Dale
The small village of Dale in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park has a sheltered wide bay that dazzles with colour when the sun goes down over the Welsh coast.
As well as enjoying the gorgeous sunset, make sure to have dinner and drinks on the roof terrace of the traditional and award-winning Griffin Pub for stunning sea views.
They have a great selection of Welsh ales and a delicious, seafood-heavy menu. Much of the seafood, is locally caught by the Griffin’s local fisherman, Mark.
The menu offers a vast range of fresh seafood dishes and local produce, from mackerel to turbot, razor clams to scallops, crab to lobster and other home-cooked dishes to suit all tastes.
One to try: Pint of Shell on Prawns with Marie rose sauce and wholemeal bread
Griffin Inn, Dale, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3RB
2. Lobster and MôR
Lobster and MôR in the small village of Little Haven is a chic, takeaway café that's renowned for its quality coffee, flavourful crab sandwiches and deli offerings.
You can also take home the live catch of the day from their very own aquarium if you want to cook your own seafood supper. There's a tangible ethos on sustainability and responsible fishing at Lobster and MôR, with all lobster pot caught on the 'Martha Rose' and swiftly sold to hungry customers.
Local produce blends seamlessly with nautical gifts, picnic paraphernalia and deli items. Freshly caught seafood can also be purchased alongside Caws Cenarth cheese and their locally distilled Tir and Môr gin.
One to try: Takeaway crab sandwich and a bottle of their very own very Welsh Dry Gin – Tir & MôR
Grove Place, Little Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 3UG
3. The Grove, Narbeth
Head to the gorgeous Preseli Hills and you'll find privately owned luxury hotel The Grove. Douglas Balish is the Executive Head Chef at Grove of Narberth, overseeing and cooking for their fine dining restaurant the Fernery.
You can expect the best of Pembrokeshire produce along with fresh vegetables and herbs grown in the Grove's very own kitchen gardens.
The Grove is famous for its indulgent tasting menus. They currently have two tasting menu options to choose from, a five-course menu and an 8-course menu.
Tasting menus are served in the Fernery Restaurant Tuesday to Saturday, with seating times between 6.30 pm and 9.00 pm and advance booking is essential.
One to try: 8 Course Tasting Menu - typical dishes include Lamb with baba ghanoush, goats curd and cumin, also Perl Las with celery and Eccles cake.
The Grove, Molleston, Narberth SA67 8BX
4. Something's Cooking, Letterston
If you fancy exploring inland, Something’s Cooking is a superb chippy that has achieved a five-star Seafish Fish Fryers Quality Award.
But it doesn't just do fried fish. With two beers on tap and a sit-down restaurant in the back, Something's Cooking is far from your average chippy.
The restaurant creates tasty dishes using crab from Porthgain, hake from Milford Haven, and Abergwuan scallops wrapped in Gwaun Valley bacon.
Yes, there's your traditional battered cod, but you'll also get delicious fresh fish cakes and scallops, all washed down with an ice-cold lager - and there's a very tempting selection of cakes on display too. It's very popular with families.
One to try: Home Made Crabcake made with crab, cockles, white fish, laverbread, white wine and served with a sweet chilli sauce.
3 Haverfordwest Rd, Letterston, Haverfordwest SA62 5SB
5. D. Fecci and Sons, Tenby
Possibly the best fish and chips in Wales, Feccis have been serving visitors and locals alike since 1935.
With potatoes grown up the road in Pembrokeshire, and groundnut oil making haddock, cod and calamari fantastically light, the chippy also serves up fresh mackerel in the summer.
One to try: Takeaway battered fish and chips, of course, eaten on the beautiful seafront looking out to Caldey Island.
Lower Frog Street, Tenby SA70 7HS
6. Pembrokeshire coastal foraging experience
Search for your own fish supper on a coastal foraging experience in Pembrokeshire. Coastal Foraging Founder Craig Evans and his canine companion Llew will expertly guide you around rocky, Pembrokeshire shorelines to seek out, and even cook, your very own coastal haul on this immersive foraging experience.
There's a range of courses that take place across the Pembrokeshire coast where you can discover an impressive abundance of culinary, coastal pickings from mussels, crabs, clams and cockles, to oysters and sea vegetables.
Tidal bounties are often paired with rich Carmarthenshire butter, wild garlic and rock samphire, before being cooked al fresco on a Swedish style fire log. There's nothing quite like an ocean-to-plate dinner as the waves break on the shoreline.
Deep-water species and elusive wild delicacies can also be found on the low tide course. Traverse the lower shore amongst soft corals and sponges to seek out delectable crabs and prawns.
Email info@coastalforaging.co.uk for Pembrokeshire locations and booking
7. Plantagenet House, Tenby
Tenby’s cluster of tiny streets and pastel-coloured buildings hide its best restaurants and cafes down the narrowest of alleys. One of these more secluded dining finds is Plantagenet House, a warren of flagstone floors, exposed beams, and a 40ft medieval Flemish chimney. If you book early enough, you can bag a table in the fireplace itself.
Diners are spoilt for choice by the menu, which makes the most of the fish brought in from the harbour every day.
One to try: Vegan Thai Coconut Curry with squash, chargrilled spring onion, spiced rice and roasted almonds
1 Quay Hill, Tenby SA70 7BX
8. Blas Restaurant, St Davids
Meaning 'Taste' in Welsh, Blas is the upmarket and award-winning restaurant offering from contemporary art hotel, Twr Y Felin.
Dine in the stylish surroundings of a former windmill with a menu that's influenced by season and local surroundings. Head chef Sam Owen delivers dishes that are largely experimental and feature the very best of Pembrokeshire produce with a modern twist.
Expect beautifully plated and locally sourced lobster, crab, mussels and clams, as well as Welsh beef, duck and fowl. Chef's coastal foraging exploits may also add the likes of samphire to the menu if you're lucky.
Typical dinner dishes include pan-fried halibut with salt-baked celeriac and cockle sauce, chicken parfait with apricot and toasted brioche, and Perl Wen cheesecake with blackcurrant and wild fennel.
One to try: Welsh Lamb Rump, Potato, Onion and Peas.
Blas Restaurant, Twr y Felin Hotel, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
9. The Shed Bistro, Porthgain
When it first opened, The Shed had lofty dreams of being a high-end seafood restaurant. But punters finishing a day at the wild coast and rugged paths in North Pembs just wanted fish and chips.
This place elevates the seaside staple to something else, with John Dory and monkfish options, and chips hewn from local potatoes.
There are still daily specials too- featuring whatever the owners or their mates have caught that morning.
You can grab your supper and enjoy spectacular sunsets from the quayside outside. You can forgive the pricey portions for the unique atmosphere of this sleepy seaside village, with the smell of seaweed in your nostrils, and the sound of waves lapping at the bottom of the wall.
One to try: Whole Sea Bream, served with Garlic, Lemon & Fresh Herbs served with a Fennel & Apple Salad.
Porthgain, Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire SA625BN
10. Stackpole Inn, Stackpole
Sometimes, after a day at the beach or a coastal walk, you just want good pub grub. The Stackpole Inn does just that - all the normal pub crowd-pleasers cooked exceptionally well.
The popular pub is located inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and is 4 miles from Pembroke Castle and a mile from the beach at Barafundle Bay. it's the perfect pub lunch stop after a day of exploring the stunning coastline.
One to try: Whole roasted Cornish seabream, capers. Penclawdd cockles, beurre noisette, lemon and crispy polenta chips.
Jasons Corner, Stackpole, Pembroke SA71 5DF
11. The Druidstone
If the stunning view over St Bride’s Bay isn't enough, The Druidstone offers a range of tipples as well as top-notch food. The Hotel and Cottage accommodation has a well-deserved reputation for quality food and has been in the Good Food Guide consistently since 1974.
Their food is homemade and locally sourced where possible, including Welsh lamb and fresh fish. The terrace provides the perfect spot to kick back and take in the glorious Pembrokeshire scenery. The Druidstone is open to guests staying with them and club members.
One to try: Pan-fried salmon with hollandaise sauce and asparagus.
Druidston Haven, Welsh Road, Haverfordwest SA62 3NE
12. The Cambrian Inn, Solva
The colourfully painted houses and pretty estuary location at Solva have always attracted tourists.
This pub has slowly built a reputation for serving well-executed food with local produce and reasonable prices. The food is crowd-pleasing fare, think ham and eggs, burgers, roast chicken and chips, but with a bit of extra refinement.
One to try: Seafood paella with Welsh mussels, tiger prawns, squid and chorizo topped with fresh spring onion and aioli, served with lemon and warm ciabatta.
Main Street, Solva
13. Cafe Mor, Pembroke
'Mor' means 'sea' in Welsh, and this humble little beach shack is a celebration of all things fishy.
Housed in a self-proclaimed 'solar-powered-mobile-converted-fishing-boat' at Freshwater West beach, it's one of the only two mobile food outlets in the UK to power their kitchens using solar and wind energy.
Everything is sparkling fresh and seafood availability is subject to whether the conditions are right for the Pembrokeshire fishermen to go out.
One to try: The Fresh West Breaky Roll - Bacon, Free Range Egg, Welsh Cheddar Cheese, Laverbread Patty with Homemade Pickles, Welsh Sea Black Butter, KelpChup or Seaweed Chilli Sauce and dusted with Mermaid Confetti served in a toasted roll.
Freshwater West Beach Car Park, Nr Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire
14. The Cornstore, Pembroke
Where can you sit with views onto a medieval castle while drinking Italian coffee and tucking into a homemade coffee and walnut cake? At The Cornstore in Pembroke!
The homemade cake is the main reason for coming here: choose between carrot cake, chocolate cake, the Cornstore speciality cheesecake, homemade bara brith - and loads of seasonal specials.
Visit the upper floors of their store for a range of beautiful homeware including furniture, textiles, lighting, ceramics and local art, jewellery and gifts.
One to try: Homemade coffee and walnut cake with a cappuccino made using Ferrari's freshly ground coffee.
North Quay Court, The Green, Pembroke SA71 4NQ
15. Blue Ball Restaurant, Tenby
Blue Ball is an award-winning restaurant in Tenby that sources seasonal and fresh ingredients from local Pembrokeshire suppliers, all prepared and cooked on the premises.
It was previously described in the Lonely Planet Guide to Wales as "probably Tenby's finest restaurant".
Fish and seafood dishes are an obvious speciality here thanks to Pembrokeshire's bountiful coastline, rich in seafood and sea vegetables. There's also an impressive range of Welsh steaks, lamb, and innovative vegetarian and vegan dishes.
One to try: Moules Frites - A large portion of mussels cooked in white wine, cream, garlic, shallot and parsley sauce, finished with cream, served with fries.
10 Upper Frog St, Tenby SA70 7JD
16. The Canteen, Newport
As well as a delicious brunch menu, this place serves up their own stone-baked pizzas, handmade Welsh burgers and fresh salads at lunchtime.
The menu is short and concise, but the chefs know what they are doing and turn out super tasty food at a reasonable price.
One to try: Costa Del Newport Pizza - Juicy sun-blushed tomatoes, Gordal olives, creamy mozzarella topped with Gran Lavanto cheese.
Dolphin House Market Street Newport
17. Hooked at 31, Fishguard
Fishguard's only award-winning fish and chip takeaway, this place also does proper sit-down meals in their restaurant.
Their fish is sourced sustainably from Stevensons, who have over 100 years of experience in the fishing industry. Everything is sourced locally where possible: Pembrokeshire potatoes locally made Welsh burgers and sausages, and even homemade ice cream.
They promise over 12 delicious flavours of ice cream made using milk sourced from Pembrokeshire.
One to try: Hooked Paella - mussels, king prawns, squid, chicken and chorizo with smoked paprika-spiced rice, peas and lemon.
31 West St., Fishguard SA65 9AL
18. The Sloop Inn, Porthgain
Historic pub with dreamy seaside views and delicious seafood. It's thought that the building itself dates back to the 18th century and the main bar is still the original building after undergoing extensive renovation in 1997.
The pub is perfectly located between Fishguard and St Davids and has a menu offering fresh seafood, including home caught lobster, often available in season.
One to try: The Sloop Inn Welsh rarebit chicken supreme, with asparagus and Pembrokeshire new potatoes.
Porthgain Haverfordwest SA62 5BL
19. Loafley Bakery & Deli Co
This gorgeous deli is definitely the place for a heck of a lunchtime treat. Big, meaty sausage rolls, salad boxes, frittatas, scotch eggs and, if you're lucky, get there in time to bag a slice of homemade cake.
They also sell colourful graze boxes at Loafley that are packed full of goodies. No two grazes are the same so you'll never quite know what you'll be getting. Typical box contents include a Loafley sausage roll, some quiche and bread, seeds and nuts, fresh and dried fruit, olives, cheese and charcuterie.
One to try: Macaron Selection Box.
Llandrindod House, Upper Frog St, Tenby
20. Farmers Arms, Mathry
A proper pub serving generous portions of food alongside Felinfoel Double Dragon and guest ales.
Diners can enjoy homemade fish cakes, fish and chips, homemade curry, Welsh ham and eggs and delicious cheesecake desserts, either in the traditional bar complete with beamed ceilings or the garden room at the back.
Sunday lunch is a speciality, with proper roast beef and potatoes and all the trimmings.
One to try: Homemade vegetarian lasagne with crispy salad and garlic bread.
Mathry SA62 5HB
21. Quayside Tearooms, Lawrenny
The popular Lawrenny Quay is a multi-award-winning tearoom set in the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park, with a reputation for serving high-quality Pembrokeshire produce including fresh crab sandwiches.
Sit on the edge of the estuary and savour delights such as wild mushroom tart, lobster, smoked mackerel pate and their speciality: Quaylime pie!
They run six or seven Blackboard Specials every day, all freshly made on-site - but when they’re gone they’re gone!
One to try: Fresh locally caught, hand-picked Crab in local bakery granary bread, served with salad and homemade coleslaw.
Lawrenny Quay Lawrenny Pembrokeshire SA68 0PR
22. Mrs Will the Fish
Mrs Will the Fish is a takeaway with a twist in Upper Solva. Jan carefully prepares and dresses locally caught lobsters, crabs and spider crabs and sells them directly from her bungalow in Parc Benny.
It's a boat to plate business that Jan started with her fisherman husband many years ago when they started selling his fresh catch straight from his boat 'the Vital Spark.'
This small and simple enterprise was predominantly only known to locals who would call ahead and collect the fresh catch. It's since grown to provide gourmet seafood platters for discerning tourists, looking for a photogenic feast by the sea.
Be aware that Jan's platters have now become so popular that she is often sold out before 10 am, so customers are advised to call early to place their seafood.
One to try: Seafood lobster platter - fresh lobster, crab, prawns and crevettes.
Parc Benny, Solva, Haverfordwest SA62 6TN
23. Top Joe's Tenby
This former '60s diner is an institution in Tenby for quality pizza and is a firm favourite with locals and visitors.
Using locally milled flour and speciality ingredients like cured meats from Trealy Farm Charcuterie in Monmouthshire, the place gets rammed in the summer.
One to try: The Inferno pizza, which includes wild boar from Trealy Farm.
Upper Frog St, Tenby SA70 7JD
24. Runwayskiln, Marloes Sands
Runwayskiln is a coastal Cafe and accommodation on the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast Path that works closely with the National Trust. Inside a cluster of traditional Pembrokeshire farm buildings, high above Marloes Sands, you'll find their high-quality cafe serving delicious dishes with local produce.
They strive to offer distinct flavours of Pembrokeshire, serving dishes from Little Haven crab cakes with sorrel mayonnaise, to slow-cooked Pembrokeshire lamb in a wholemeal pitta with sumac, mint and harissa.
The menu features meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan options, as well as serving a variety of drinks and sweet treats such as cream teas and hot waffles with ice cream.
One to try: Roast free-range Pembrokeshire poussinMiso butter, roast potatoes and herb salad.
Marloes Sands, Haverfordwest
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