29 October 2024
In Pembrokeshire, you can be sure that the very finest produce is used by chefs throughout the county.
Even the experts agree - the latest Lonely Planet guide looking at the best gourmet food experiences in Europe features the ‘Rising Tides of Pembrokeshire’ alongside the likes of experiences in Tuscany, San Sebastian, and the Black Forest. The 2024 Gourmet Trails Europe guide says that the food scene in Pembrokeshire is “booming like the Atlantic surf with producers and chefs playing up foraged flavors”. The introduction says the trail they have identified “spotlights the region’s chefs and producers and their love of nature and reinvention”.
With 186 miles of coastline and acres of productive agricultural land, there’s no shortage of fresh seafood, fabulous meat and dairy and tasty vegetables on offer. All this has sparked a new wave of independent growers – vineyards, bakers, brewers, foragers, artisans, and innovative chefs – who’ve been working together to create a must-visit food scene. Listing them all would take forever but we’veidentified some of the best restaurants and food stalls popping up in the county giving a flavour of the wider world with a true Pembrokeshire twist.
Who doesn’t enjoy pizza on holiday? Here in Pembrokeshire there’s no shortage of authentic pizza offerings, including gluten free and vegan options, and we even have a world pizza champion!
Top Joe’s Pizzeria started off on Upper Frog Street in Tenby in 2012 and expanded to the market town of Narberth in 2018. Their Narbeth chef, Giovanni Recchia, was crowned the best in the world in his category at the Campionato del Mondo di Pizza, the Pizza World Championships, in Rimini, Italy. He’s since opened his own restaurant in Pembroke on Westgate Hill, opposite the castle, serving his speciality pizza as well as homemade starters and desserts. Called Gio Recchia Pizza Contemporania, it’s quietly wowing diners with four different types of pizza: pizza on the paddle, a rectangular pizza with a good crunch, a round pizza which has a good crunch on the outside and is soft on the inside; contemporary Neapolitan pizza, and gluten free pizza.
The Canteen in Newport specialises in stone baked pizzas, with wonderfully named creations such as Y DdraigGoch (the Red Dragon) to eat in or take away. And if you’re visiting St Davids, The Canteen has teamed up with Bluestone Brewing Company to create Grain, a delicious pizza stop with awesome craft beers. Another woodfired option perched above Porthsele beach near St Davids is Pencarnan Pizzas at The Courtyard, where you can munch away while enjoying an equally delicious view. What’s not to love?
If it’s pizza or pasta with a view that you’re after, then head to Sunshine Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, nestled by the beach in the heart of Broad Haven village seafront. Taking pride in serving fresh and flavourful Italian and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, its real selling point is the stunning view that stretches over a pristine sandy beach, creating the perfect panorama for awe-inspiring sunsets.
No holiday on the coast is complete without a British classic: fish and chips. Thanks to being almost entirely surrounded by pristine waters, there’s no shortage of fresh fish. But if there’s only one place you head to, make sure it’s The Shed in the tiny harbour village of Porthgain. A stone’s throw from the water, this friendly bistro offers a variety of fish and shellfish, all of which are caught by owner Rob, or local fishermen in Abercastle, Solva or St Davids.
And another harbourside fish restaurant not to be missed is the Stone Crab in Saundersfoot. Winning best seafood restaurant in Wales in 2023, booking is essential at this popular little bistro. Expect lobster, roasted cod kiev, Saundersfoot crab stuffed plaice or Catalan monkfish and chorizo stew plus a specials board with whatever happens to be good on that day.
For delicious Spanish cooking (with a touch of Welsh seasoning!) look no further than Maria’s at Picton Castle. Maria, a passionate food lover from a small town near Valencia, tells us, “I have never lost my appetite for good Spanish food… I make authentic, rustic dishes, nothing fancy or decorative; only glorious food, cooked with love and drunk with great Spanish wine”. Look out for her tapas evenings and Spanish hot chocolate and churros, or stock up with goodies while you’re there. Alternatively, Ultracomida in Narberth is a fantastic stop for all things Spanish and Welsh from the deli. We challenge you not to leave with a whole bag of goodies for the ultimate picnic or evening in!
If Asian-style food is more your thing, then Lokky’s, near Saundersfoot, has stormed the foodie scene with its Pan-Asian menu that fuses together flavours in a way that will have your tastebuds tingling for more. And it’s not just us who think that; they’ve recently been named the winner of the Golden Chopstix Award. You’ll find the irresistible blend of flavours and aromatic ingredients from Thai, Filipino, Japanese and Korean cuisines perfectly partnered with fiery cocktails, chilled beers and friendly service. If it’s purely Chinese you’re after, visit their sister restaurant, Dragon Palace, nearby, or for Japanese flavours, make a beeline for Umi on Tenby’s high street. Wandering along the same high street, you might also detect delicious aromas wafting out of Tenby market… Let your nose lead you to the fragrant delights of Nora’s Kitchen. Malaysian-born Nora’s tiny food stall serves up high-quality, authentic Malaysian food such as Beef Rendang, Nasi Goreng Kampung and Chicken Satay to eat-in or takeaway.
We also adore Hwb in Narberth with its multiple street food kitchens, craft brews on tap and the occasional eve of live music - fantastic! Bee’s Thai kitchen does beautifully fresh pad Thai while Tikka G does amazing Indian thali plates - try their chicken tikka loaded naans. There’s also Top Beef serving up juicy Welsh burgers and Grub Street Food’s delicious tacos. Good vibes, good food, good beers. What more could you want?
A special mention must be given to Runwayskiln. This coastal cafe stands by Marloes Sands and offers an incredible selection of vibrant, delicious meals. It’s casual, dog friendly and petite so make sure to reserve a table if you want to eat inside. And Paternoster Farm is a hidden gem quietly racking up the accolades: at this 'field to fork' farmstead restaurant, you eat in the former milking parlour, perhaps snuggled into one of the old stalls, beneath clumps of pampas hanging from the rafters, with an open kitchen at one end generating a steady stream of ingenious and heterogeneous plates from Michelle Evans' fertile culinary imagination.The seasonal set menu is a rolling feast that changes every day depending on supplies from the farm and beyond, but the following should give a clue to the kind of food on offer: asparagus with crab, pickled chilli, lemon and dill, with the brown meat folded through a silky mayonnaise; baked whole bream with romesco; glossy, golden-crusted mutton, leek and smoked Snowdonia cheese pie served with garden kale and Café de Paris butter.
For a more chilled Australian surfer vibe, head to Kookaba in Saundersfoot, offering a range of burgers, seafood and steaks, including Kangaroo, and of course, a perfectly chilled “Tinny”. Or Tap and Tan, an independent craft beer taproom and live fire cookery joint in the heart of Tenby. Cooking over coals, they serve mouth-watering meat platters and dishes like BBQ pulled pork bun, and low and slow smoked pork belly rib char sui.
Of course, any self-respecting beach holiday needs ice cream - or gelato - and Llaeth Preseli is not to be missed. Made using milk from their farm in New Moat, their gelato comes in ever-changing flavours - try the White Choc & Cherry if you can. Fresh milk & milkshakes available from their 24/7 vending machine too. Can’t beat farm fresh!
Or head to Pointz Castle above Newgale beach for delicious gelato made using milk from their herd of dairy cows. Pop in to watch them being milked while you eat your ice cream.
Finally, when in Wales, there’s only one cake you should eat – a Welsh Cake – and in our opinion, nocuppa should be drunk without one! So, add MamGuWelshcakes* in St Davids and Saundersfoot to your foodie ‘must eat’ list. Owners Thea and Becky have taken the traditional recipe to a whole new level, introducing 14 varieties including a savoury selection!
*Mamgu (pronounced mam-gee) is Welsh for grandma, granny, nanna or nan
You can thank us later!
Don’t forget to share your tasty adventures with us on Instagram and Facebook by tagging us #VisitPembrokeshire. We love to see what new discoveries you’ve made.
