The best alfresco places in Pembrokeshire
Summer has arrived in all its glory. With Mediterranean temperatures, blazing sunshine and endless blue skies, Pembrokeshire has captured the hearts of all who have visited its beaches and basked in its staggering beauty over the past few weeks.
Some say that it has felt as though they have been abroad, however I believe that when the weather is wonderful in Wales, there truly is no better place to be.
In order to make the most of the sunshine, I have put together a guide for guests of the best alfresco spots in Pembrokeshire. Whether you’re after a cream tea, an evening drink or a delicious dinner sitting outside enjoying the weather, here are my absolute favourites which are, as always, tried and tested!
The best alfresco places for afternoon tea and coffee.
Penally Abbey
Perfect for: Afternoon Tea, Cocktails and Morning Coffee
I may be just a LITTLE bit biased, but the terrace and gardens at Penally are the most tranquil, magical and relaxing spot for a chilled glass of wine, delicious cocktail or a full, homemade, afternoon tea. We are open seven days a week and serve freshly ground coffee every morning and our cake of the day from 2pm. Perfect for some real time out or a special occasion where only cake, cocktails and beautiful sea views will suffice.
Booking essential for afternoon tea | 24hours notice required as everything is made fresh each morning.
Parking: Free hotel car park or on the village green on busier days.
Lawrenny Quayside Tearooms
Perfect for: Coffee and cake (and incredible Banoffee Pie!)
The Quayside café is in a sheltered spot right on the edge of the Cleddau estuary, far from the noise of traffic and with beautiful views across the water. They serve a delicious lunch menu with daily specials and have a famous counter filled with homemade cakes which are made each morning at the café. They also serve a small selection of wine and beers and I would highly recommend ordering a slice of their INCREDIBLE banoffee pie and sitting by the water's edge with a glass of rose.
Opening Times: Wednesday to Sunday | 11am – 5pm
Parking: Free parking by the cafe
Bosherston Tearooms
Perfect for: Traditional Cream Tea (and a REAL pot of tea)
If you are looking for a fabulous tearoom with oodles of character, that ensures the simple, most important aspects of the afternoon ‘stop off’ are done well, Bosherston café is the place. The café has a large beautiful garden where guests sip real tea served with a tea strainer and share the crumbs of their delicious homemade apricot sponge with the confident little birds who visit the lawn. It is tranquil, quaint and fresh - there can often be a short wait whilst Sue ices the cakes fresh from the oven before the lovely ladies, in their floral aprons, deliver it to you with a freshly brewed pot of tea.
It doesn’t get fresher, or better, than that!
Opening Times: Easter – October Half Term | 10am- 4.30pm
Parking: There is a free car park but they ask for a church donation if possible.
The best alfresco places for breakfast
Café Mor
Perfect for: Breakfast Rolls (and stocking up on seaweed butter!)
When it comes to alfresco dining, Café Mor has to be included albeit it’s lack of tables and chairs for guests to sit on. You could say that this is alfresco dining in its truest sense where food is cooked and served outside. There is something particularly special about perching on the grass bank looking out across arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with a freshly made, seaweed buttered, breakfast roll. Grab a coffee or a herbal tea and start the day in the best way, on the beach with a hearty breakfast.
Opening Times: 1st April - September 30th | 10am - 4pm but 9am - 7pm during the summer holidays
Parking: Free at Freshwater West car park
Bubbleton Farm Shop & Kitchen
Perfect for: a full welsh breakfast (and animals!)
If you take the main coastal road out of Penally village, you’ll find yourself trundling down a little lane to the peaceful and incredibly delightful Bubbleton Farm Shop. It is relaxed, informal and cosy with chickens clucking and birds singing. When the sun is shining it is the perfect spot to indulge in a full welsh breakfast made with locally sourced ingredients including the farms eggs. You can watch the farm come to life as you sip a perfectly made coffee. Don’t forget to do some shopping before you go as the farm shop is full of locally sourced produce from the surrounding area – delicious!!
Opening Times: Mon – Sat, 9am-5pm | Sunday, 9am-4pm
Parking: Free parking next to the café
The best alfresco places for lunch & dinner
Salt Cellar Terrace
Perfect for: Cocktails and delicious food (and unreal sea views!)
As you kick back and sip on a delicious cocktail surrounded by sea as far as you can see, it is hard to remember you are in Wales. The terrace at the Salt Cellar is in such an incredible spot - on the esplanade in Tenby with views all the way along Tenby South beach and towards Caldey Island. It also helps that the Salt Cellar serves some of the most delicious food in Pembrokeshire. They reserve their beautiful terrace for guests who are having dinner at the restaurant from 6pm each day so whatever you do, book a table in the restaurant. You will NOT regret it!
Opening Times: 10am – 10pm Monday – Sunday
Lunch served: 12.00-14.30
Supper served: 18.00-21.30
Parking: Pay to park in the Rectory Car Park which is just a few minutes from the Esplanade.
Stackpole Inn
Perfect for: Lunch & Dinner (and peaceful village surroundings!)
The village of Stackpole is quaint, pretty and peaceful and Stackpole Inn is only a stone’s throw from the coastal path that links the famously beautiful Barafundle beach and Broad Haven South beach. It is the perfect stop off for a cold beer and a hearty lunch. The pub is picture perfect and has a gorgeous garden that overlooks the rest of the village and is a fabulous spot for a jug of Pimm’s and one of their delicious fresh fish specials!
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 11pm | Lunch: 12pm – 2.30pm | Dinner: 6.30pm – 9pm
Parking: Free parking in the pub car park or in the school carpark opposite the pub.
Druidstone Hotel
Perfect for: An ice-cold beer (and the best sunset spot in Pembrokeshire!)
This is Pembrokeshire’s best kept secret and everyone who goes there wants to keep it that way. The location is truly unbeatable and when the sun is setting it is hard to think of anywhere more magical to have a chilled glass of wine. It oozes romance and is somewhere you will continue to return to when the sun shines, year after year.
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday | Lunch: 12.30pm – 2.30pm | Dinner: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Parking: Free car park at the hotel
The best alfresco place for a beer in the sun
The Griffin Inn, Dale
Perfect for: A ice cold pint of beer (and a relaxed holiday atmosphere!)
If you’ve been to Dale I’m sure you share my feeling of being on holiday every time you arrive! The Griffin is at the heart of this pretty little village and community, in a gorgeous cove and overlooks the busy beach where water sports are a plenty. It is the perfect place to grab a pint of beer and a bag of crisps before settling down on the beach wall and watching the boats coming and going all whilst enjoying the evening sun.
Parking: Free in the village or you can park in the village’s pay and display car park
Opening Times: Summer: 12pm – late | Winter opening times can vary
Cresswell Quay
Perfect for: Good local beer (and getting to know the locals!)
Cresswell Quay, also known as ‘The Quay’ is Pembrokeshire’s local jaunt and the locals choose to drink here for good reason. It is located on the most beautiful little patch of water which is one of the narrowest points of the Cleddau estuary. If you manage to head down for a drink on a Friday evening, when there is a particularly big tide, you’ll find the quay full of boats and a party atmosphere! This old fashioned drinking pub is also the perfect spot to catch the evening sunshine.
Parking: Free along the road near the Quay.
Opening Times: 12pm – late, seven days a week.
