Places to eat along The Coastal Way: A 3-day foodie itinerary

Follow this 3-day Coastal Way food itinerary and enjoy a relaxed road trip discovering places through the food, people and the welcome you’ll find along the way. 

Expect brunch in a buzzing market town, small plates made with local produce, riverside pizza, Welsh gin, farmhouse cheese, characterful pubs, craft beer and seafood landed close to where you eat it.

Start your Coastal Way food itinerary in Aberteifi (Cardigan), a market town on the River Teifi. The town has a lively independent food scene, with bakeries, cafés, restaurants and riverside places to eat all within easy reach of the coast and countryside.

Begin the day at Crwst, an award-winning bakery, brunch spot and deli. It’s a great first stop for coffee, bakes and a generous brunch before exploring the town or heading out towards the coast. Crwst also has a café at Poppit Sands, making it a handy choice if you are planning a beach walk later in the day.

For lunch, head to Yr Hen Printworks a restaurant based in Aberteifi’s historic Old Hope Chapel in the centre of town. The menu is based around small plates, using premium local ingredients alongside wider influences. It is a great choice if you want a relaxed meal that still feels special, with a focus on good Welsh produce.

After lunch, take a short trip to In the Welsh Wind distillery, near Tan-y-Groes. This small-batch distillery produces Welsh whisky, vodka, rum and award-winning gin in a pair of copper stills called Meredith and Afanc. Book a gin tasting or making experience, or distillery tour to learn more about Welsh spirits and the craft behind making them.

Round off your first day with a memorable meal. In the town centre, Grain Cardigan - previously Pizzatipi but now run in partnership with Bluestone Brewing Company - pairs stonebaked pizzas, craft beer and cocktails with a laid-back riverside setting on the banks of the Teifi. 

For something a little different, make the short journey to fforest Farm, a magical 200 acres of loveliness between the Teifi Marshes and Teifi Gorge, where seasonal ‘gatherings’ offer a unique kind of family holiday. Dining options are open to both resident guests and the general public and include wood-fired pizza evenings, seasonal feasts and guest chef collaborations that showcase some of the best local ingredients in a unique countryside setting.

Head south from Aberteifi towards the Preseli Hills and Trefdraeth (Newport) in Pembrokeshire - not to be confused with the city with the same English name Casnewydd (Newport) in South Wales. This part of the journey brings together farmhouse cheese, historic pubs, local brewing and one of the best small-town food scenes on The Coastal Way.

Make time for Pant Mawr Farmhouse Cheeses, near Rosebush. On route you may spot the word CAWS (Welsh for ‘cheese’) written in giant letters on the hillside via the medium of cunningly-planted trees. The family business has been making Welsh cheeses since 1983, using traditional methods and local ingredients. Its cheeses include Caws Preseli, the pungent mead-washed Drewi Sant and the oak-smoked Heb Enw, making this a natural stop for anyone interested in Welsh food and local produce.

Stay in Rosebush for lunch at Tafarn Sinc, one of Pembrokeshire’s most characterful pubs. Sitting in the Preseli Hills within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the tin tavern is described by the pub as the highest licensed pub in Pembrokeshire. It has been a Preseli mountain institution since it was knocked together from galvanised iron sheets in 1876. Expect wholesome pub food, locally sourced ingredients, local cask ales, and plenty of history in the photographs, artefacts and bric-a-brac inside.

Continue to Bluestone Brewing Company, an eco-friendly brewery and events venue on a working family farm in rural North Pembrokeshire. Bluestone creates a wide range of handcrafted beers and has a taproom and shop on site. The brewery also has strong sustainability credentials, including Green Key Accreditation and a SIBA sustainable business award in 2023.

Spend the evening in Trefdraeth - a small coastal town with several appealing places to eat. For relaxed home cooking, Blas at Fronlas serves freshly made dishes using local ingredients in a cosy licensed café. For a pub meal or overnight stay, The Golden Lion offers food, rooms, a cosy bar and a warm welcome in the centre of Trefdraeth, close to the Wales Coast Path.

On the final day take your time between Trefdraeth, Abergwaun (Fishguard), Tyddewi (St Davids) and Porthgain, leaving space for a walk, a beach stop or a gallery visit between meals, the views are most definitely worth savouring as much as the food.

If you have extra time, you can extend the itinerary by adding in an extra day to discover the hidden culinary gems of Fishguard and Goodwick.

Plan lunch at The Shed in Porthgain, an informal fish bistro in a small fishing village on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The Shed is known for local fish and shellfish, including lobster and crab caught by the owner and his son. The fish and chips are how all fish and chips should be: local fish, Pembrokeshire potatoes, and a lovely setting in a tiny port. If you can look beyond the fish and chips (which are so good, it’s hard) they do proper a la carte, too.

After lunch, follow the coast at an easy pace. Porthgain is well placed for a short walk on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a visit to nearby coves or a slow afternoon exploring the north Pembrokeshire coastline. 

For a final night meal, head inland to the Crug Glâs country house for elegant modern British cooking in one of two recently refurbished dining rooms: the Cwtch and the Sun Room – which has panoramic views of the countryside.

Locally sourced ingredients include their own Crug Glâs beef, crab caught off the coast of Abercastell, milk from a neighbouring farm and Pembrokeshire potatoes, allowing ‘A Taste of Pembrokeshire’ to really shine through.

If you have more time on route, while in Aberteifi, look out for Bara Menyn for sourdough and bakes, and Mantle Brewery for local beer. Around Trefdraeth, consider Llys Meddyg for a meal of foraged and seasonal ingredients, cooked in a wood-fired kitchen, or Llwyngwair for a friendly local pub atmosphere.

This 3-day itinerary is designed for a relaxed road trip, with short distances, independent food businesses and plenty of time to enjoy the coast. Book ahead where possible, especially for evening meals, distillery experiences and popular seasonal venues. Opening times can change, so check each business’s website before you travel.

Whether you come for seafood, cheese, craft beer, gin, bakeries or proper Welsh pub food, The Coastal Way offers a delicious way to discover West Wales: local, independent and full of welcome.

Find out more about the highlights and adventures along The Coastal Way.