Places
to Eat

Places to eat

From cosy pubs to quirky cafes, you will find a wealth of places to eat, drink and watch the world go by in St Brides Bay. What’s more, many of these businesses offer you the chance to dine al fresco and enjoy the glorious coastal views that Pembrokeshire is famed for.

Here are our selection of our favourite places to refuel in Solva, Porthgain and St Davids…

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT IN SOLVA

The pretty harbour village of Solva offers you a variety of cafes, tearooms, pubs and takeaways to keep you fed and watered during your break in South West Wales. From freshly-caught seafood and homemade cakes to real ale and vintage milkshakes, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Find out more about a cottage break in Solva.

Cambrian Inn

Enjoy a true taste of Pembrokeshire at the 16th-century Cambrian Inn, where you can tuck into fresh fish caught daily by local fishermen. Situated in the heart of Solva, the family-owned pub serves a wide selection of meat, poultry, fish, game and vegetarian dishes. The inn is open for lunch and dinner throughout the year, while the bar is open all day, and head chef and manager Matthew Cox works closely with carefully-selected Welsh food producers.

The takeaway with a difference! Treat yourself to affordable luxury by dining on fresh, locally-caught crab, lobster and seafood platters, sold direct from Mrs Will the Fish’s bungalow, Parc Benny, in Upper Solva.

From homemade Welsh cakes and vintage milkshakes to local crab sandwiches and speciality teas, the Old Pharmacy, in Main Street, Solva, offers an array of tasty treats. The family-run tearoom, which has a licence to serve alcohol, is one of the oldest houses in Lower Solva; it was once Solva’s first and only chemist. Here you can refresh yourself with loose leaf tea and homemade cakes while sitting back, relaxing and stepping back in time at this vintage gem.

In Main Street, Solva, near the harbour car park, you’ll find the Ship Inn, a traditional village pub serving hearty food and real ales. The timber-framed building’s original features sit alongside the modern décor, while outside you can listen to the burbling River Solva in the riverside beer garden. Children and dogs are welcome at the pub, which has a large family room complete with dartboard, pool table and games. Plus, there’s a bistro and tearooms to the side of the bar.

Nestled in the heart of the pretty coastal village of Solva, 35 Main Street offers a varied menu, from light snacks and cakes to local seafood specialities. The dog-friendly café even serves doggie ice cream for your four-legged friends.

Enjoy al fresco dining at this family and dog-friendly coastal pub, overlooking picturesque Solva Harbour. Relax on the Harbour Inn’s patio with a chilled glass of wine or pint of cask ale, and choose from a menu featuring a range of pub classics. It’s also the perfect place to visit when you’re planning a ramble, as the pub provides packed lunches, doggy bags, hot drinks and flask-filling, to keep you fuelled while you explore.

Take in the glorious harbour view while sipping something chilled on the heavenly suntrap terrace at Café on the Quay, in Solva. The licensed café offers cakes, light lunches, hot drinks and ice cream, and has seating indoors, as well as outside.

Opened in June 2023, The Hats & Barrels is a welcoming new bar and restaurant in Main Street, Solva. It features a modern, stylish bar, a large beer garden running down to the river, and a menu packed with mouthwatering fare like seafood dishes and ‘over the fire’ skewers.

  • Cambrian Inn
  • Mrs Will the Fish
  • The Old Pharmacy
  • The Ship Inn
  • 35 Main Street
  • The Harbour Inn
  • Cafe on the Quay
  • The Hats & Barrels
Solva1
Solva2
Solva3

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT IN PORTHGAIN

The small coastal hamlet of Porthgain is within walking distance of our holiday cottages, Strumble Lodge, Melin Llanrhian and Glowty’r Felin. The hamlet boasts two popular places to eat, The Shed and The Sloop Inn.

Have a peek at our holiday cottages in Porthgain.

The Sloop Inn

Believed to date back to the 18th century, The Sloop Inn, at Porthgain, was originally a small fisherman’s pub and possibly even a smuggler’s haunt. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pembrokeshire cliffs and with a patio looking out towards the harbour, the pub welcomes families, serves food daily, and is popular with locals and visitors alike.

This relaxed and informal fish and chip bistro serves fish so fresh “you must pin it to the plate with your fork”. The Shed, in Porthgain, specialises in local fish, landed daily and served within hours, and you’ll also find a meat and vegetarian choice. Booking is advised at peak times.

  • The Sloop Inn

  • The Shed

Porthgain1
Porthgain2
Porthgain3

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT IN ST DAVIDS

From pubs and restaurants to cafes and ice cream parlours, St Davids has a wealth of places to keep you fuelled during your Pembrokeshire break. Here’s a selection of where we enjoy visiting when we don’t feel like cooking or simply fancy a cool beverage in the sun.

And don’t forget, we have a wide range of holiday cottages in St Davids.

The Bishops

With seasonal Welsh dishes and specials served seven days a week, The Bishops is the perfect place to keep your hunger pangs at bay. Situated in a central position on the Cross Square, in St Davids, the pub welcomes families and is open for food throughout the year (except Christmas Day). Locally-sourced lobster, crab and mackerel are often available, and you’ll also find a children’s menu to satisfy the appetites of the younger members of your party.

If you’re looking for great-tasting local produce, look no further than St Davids Kitchen, in Nun Street.  The business – a ‘Farm-to-Fork Project’ – is owned and run by farmers Neil and Ruth Walsh, who champion other local producers and fishermen by serving locally-sourced quality, fresh produce. The fare on offer includes Neil and Ruth’s own St Davids Welsh Black Beef and their newly-acquired Ramsey Island lamb and venison.

With its south-facing patio, The Farmers Arms, in Goat Street, St Davids, is just the place for you to enjoy a pint or meal in the sunshine. This traditional pub even has an outside bar that opens on balmy summer evenings. The food on offer includes light bites, sandwiches, main meals and tempting desserts, and there’s also a children’s menu.

The Really Wild Emporium, in High Street, St Davids, includes a small, rustic restaurant where you can enjoy ‘really wild’ food and drinks. The products are mainly foraged or come from local Pembrokeshire producers.

Unwind with a classic cocktail at the St Davids Cross Hotel, where non-residents, as well as guests, can enjoy a meal. The menu at the bar, restaurant and hotel, in Cross Square, St Davids, features locally-sourced produce and meats.

Treat yourself to a spot of fine dining at Twr y Felin Hotel’s Blas Restaurant, for diners aged 12 and over. Blas – meaning ‘taste’ in Welsh – has two AA Rosettes, and offers a menu influenced by the season and local area. And before dinner, why not visit the hotel’s Cornel Bar for an aperitif in this art lover’s snug? The Oriel Lounge, meanwhile, is a dedicated gallery space, perfect for lunch or afternoon tea.

From Salted Caramel to Raspberry Dodge, this Italian ice cream parlour, in the High Street, St Davids, offers a tempting range of sweet treats. The Bench Ice Cream Parlour serves ice cream, sorbets, hot drinks and homemade cakes, to eat in or take away.

Head for MamGu Welshcakes to sample their traditional and alternative Welsh cakes, hot off the griddle. The welcoming and cosy cafe – in the beautiful setting of the St Davids Cathedral Refectory – also offers a delicious twist on old Welsh dishes.

  • The Bishops
  • St Davids Kitchen
  • The Farmers Arms
  • Really Wild Emporium
  • St Davids Cross Hotel
  • Twr y Felin Hotel
  • The Bench Ice-Cream Parlour
  • MamGu Welshcakes
St Davids
StDavids2
StDavids3

Book today

To book your cottage break in St Brides Bay, call us on 01437 702022 or send an email to 

St Davids Holiday Cottages

ST DAVIDS COTTAGES

Famed for being Britain’s smallest city, St Davids is a laid-back gem. Here you’ll find an elegant 12th-century cathedral, the medieval ruins of the Bishop’s Palace, and a host of galleries and independent shops.

Solva Holiday Cottages

SOLVA COTTAGES

Featuring colourful cottages and a picture-postcard harbour, Solva is an idyllic destination for your Pembrokeshire escape. The bustling community is an ideal base for scenic walks and boat trips.

Porthgain Holiday Cottages

PORTHGAIN COTTAGES

Situated between St Davids and Fishguard, the pretty fishing village of Porthgain has been used as a film location. The coastal hamlet is the perfect location for exploring the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

More Pembrokeshire Holiday Cottages

MORE PEMBROKESHIRE COTTAGES

As well as St Davids, Solva and Porthgain, you can choose from our lovely holiday homes in other parts of scenic Pembrokeshire. One such location is Mathry, a village between St Davids and Fishguard.

TESTIMONIALS

A stunning example of self-catering accommodation, Melin Llanrhian was always a striking and impressive house… The owners have taken the property on to another level with the stunning sunroom and kitchen extension overlooking the grounds, in which there has also been much work done.

PHIL FLETCHER, VISIT WALES

Lovely, comfortable cottage in a great location. Loved surfing at Whitesands Bay and there’s a wonderful walk from Caerfai to Whitesands with excellent views. Also, the fish and chips at The Shed in Porthgain is not to be missed. St Davids is full of cafes and nice shops, the cathedral and Bishop’s Palace are well worth a visit – very peaceful. Thank you very much.

THE COLLINS AND DIXON FAMILY