A foodie’s guide to Solva
Solva is famous for three things: lime kilns, pirates and food. And while we’re not experts at lime extraction, and unsure whether we know any actual pirates, we’ve gone to great lengths to make sure we’re accustomed to all of the delicious foods produced and sold in this stunning harbour village. All in the name of research, of course, so that we can put together this foodie’s guide to Solva to help you have the most mouth-watering experience on your holiday. You’re welcome!
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
Harbor view heaven
We start our foodie’s guide to Solva with possibly the best view to pair with a nice cold glass of bubbles and a slice of something deliciously homemade: Cafe on the Quay. Set on the second floor of Solva Boat Club, the food is delicious and made to order, the balcony is a fantastic sun trap and the views out to the famous bend in the harbour mean that you can sit for hours watching boats bobbing and swimmers braving the estuary.
Opening hours: 10am to 4pm, every day except Wednesday
Foodie type: Light lunches, cake, coffee & tea
Budget: £
Our favourite: White chocolate and cranberry tiffin – it’s to die for!
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
Best breakfast in the West
If it’s a hearty breakfast in the heart of Solva you want, then this is the place to be! Thirty Five Cafe and Restaurant are renowned for their excellent full English breakfasts, which you can enjoy at the river’s edge on a sunny day. There’s even a Pooch Pitch where you can leave the dogs tied up so that you can enjoy your bacon in peace! From here you can easily join the coast path to walk off all that yummy food. Perfect!
Opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Thursday
10 am to 9 pm, Friday & Saturday
Foodie type: Breakfast, lunches, dinner, cake, coffee
Budget: ££
Our favourite: Bacon that’s not too crispy and not too soggy…just right!
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
The Heart of the Harbour
With a strong maritime history, it would be easy to believe that The Harbour Inn, located right at the mouth of the picturesque harbour, had always been an alehouse for thirsty sailors. In fact, this sturdy building was the residence of the harbormaster when the harbour was a busy mining and lime hub. Despite its acquisition by a Welsh brewery, the building retains a lot of its original character such as fireplaces and beams and is still run by a local family. The food is good, the beer flows and they offer an excellent, plentiful Sunday carvery that’s not to be missed.
Opening hours: 12 noon – 9 pm during the summer, carvery from 12 – 3 pm on Sundays
Foodie type: Bar meals, Sunday lunch
Budget: £
Our favourite: Crispy Yorkshire Puddings!
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
Serve up a seaside supper
Who says you have to go out to have a superb supper in Solva? Mrs Will the Fish provides a stunning seafood platter, pulled straight from the Irish sea,…you couldn’t’ get much fresher and wholesome than this! Her delicious dinners consist of shrimp, lobster and dressed crab – a true taste of Solva to have in your traditional, beautiful St Davids Escapes cottage. Why not team your luxurious dinner with a dram of Solva Gin for an authentic Pembrokeshire evening in?
Opening hours:9 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday, 1 pm to 6 pm on Sundays
Foodie type: Takeaway
Budget: £
Our favourite: Everything – what’s not to love about freshly caught and prepared seafood?!
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
Vintage Tea Party
This delightful tearoom is tucked away in Lower Town, opposite Raul Speek’s eclectic gallery. The Old Pharmacy Tea Rooms is a must on your foodie’s guide for several reasons. Where else can you order afternoon tea and receive a cup of artisan loose leaf tea, fresh crab sandwiches and freshly baked scones and cake? Add to that the gorgeous and well-chosen vintage interior, and you’ll want to come back here every day for tea in a china cup!
Opening hours:10 am to 6 pm daily
Foodie type: Cafe
Budget: £
Our favourite: If we’ve not convinced you on the crab sandwich front, then you must try their delicious ice cream sundaes…
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
Traditional Treats with a Twist
Mamgu is the Welsh word for grandma, and so it’s apt that this individual cafe serves up Wales’ traditional sweet delicacy, welshcakes. Like flattened scones with raisins, these are delicious eaten warm with butter. Unlike Granny’s cakes, Mamgu Welshcakes has given these traditional treats a modern makeover, and you can now sample triple chocolate welshcakes, white chocolate and cranberry, cinnamon or the savoury leek and Caerphilly cheese – yum! This fantastic cuisine is unique to this village and is highly recommended in our foodie’s guide to Solva.
Opening hours:9 am to 5 pm daily
Foodie type: Cafe
Budget: ££
Our favourite: For a refreshing twist, lemon welshcakes with a mint tea. If you’re visiting at Christmas, order a box of mince pie with brandy butter to be delivered to your cottage – a real festive treat!
Foodie’s Guide to Solva:
Delicious dining experience
From Welsh rump steak to The Cambrian Lobster roll, The Cambrian Inn is a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. This is not just pub grub, this is fresh, locally sourced gourmet food cooked by local chef Matthew Cox. This is honest, unpretentious, well-cooked and thoughtfully presented food. You won’t have tasted British classics like this in a long time…its the aim of the owners to deliver home-cooked food in a stylish manner. Book during the holiday season to avoid disappointment – you won’t want to miss this superb dinner spot!
Opening hours: Dinner is served between 5:30 and 9:30 pm daily
Foodie type: Restaurant
Budget: ££
Our favourite: Keep an eye on the specials board for fresh treats such as scallops. We especially love the Greek Lamb Souvlaki kebab – be warned, you may not need that starter with this deliciously filling dish!
We hope that this foodie’s guide to Solva has stuffed you full of meal and snack ideas to keep you fuelled and ready for your adventure during your Solva cottage stay.
Looking to eat in St Davids instead? We’ve written a tasty little guide for that, too – check it out here!
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