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Milford Waterfront

From a 17th-century whaling town and shipbuilding outpost to a modern marina, Milford Haven has developed into a touristic, waterfront destination with an impressive array of independent restaurants and cafes alongside upscale accommodation. Portia Jones takes us on another foodie tour.

© Portia Jones

Martha’s Vineyard As part of a multi-million-pound redevelopment programme, Milford Waterfront and Milford Marina are fast gaining a reputation as an emerging destination in Wales with plenty to offer hungry visitors.

Located on the doorstep of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, curious foodies can venture out into a remote Welsh country that’s currently enjoying a growing reputation for fresh produce and coastal cuisine, supplied by a new wave of independent producers, cafes and restaurants.

Despite the renovations and new tourism offerings, Milford Haven is still Wales’ largest fishing port, and home to the local in-shore fleet. This nautical town was built on fish, and its proud marine heritage is widely reflected in the many fish dishes and seafood offerings on menus at Milford’s waterfront restaurants and chic bars.

Take a trip to this oceanside dining hotspot and discover vegetarian and vegan bistro dining, handmade ice cream and chocolate, fresh seafood and locally produced artisan bread and baked goods.

Impasto Pizza Bar

Piping hot Neapolitan rustic-style pizza can be found at Impasto, where this waterfront pizzeria perfectly blends Italian and Pembrokeshire produce. Inside you’ll find a simple, stripped-back design with tiled flooring, unfussy wooden tables and condiments in industrial tomato tins, creating an effortlessly cool, European vibe.

Loaded salads and a selection of classic tagliatelle dishes grace the menu, but traditional Neapolitan pizza is the real draw here. The dough is made daily and customisable pizzas are cooked to order in around 90 seconds in their traditional stone oven, ensuring swift service and molten hot fresh slices.

Try the salami, mozzarella and San Marzano tomato topped ‘Devil pizza’ for a spicy kick on a soft, thin crust drizzled with chilli oil.

Martha’s Vineyard

Seared scallops, prawns and pan-fried hake fillet can be found at Martha’s Vineyard, a family-run bar and restaurant with marine-inspired décor and impressive waterfront views best enjoyed with a Celtic Pale Ale from Harbwr Brewery in Tenby.

While the restaurant’s exterior is a tad nondescript, inside you’ll find a rather charming, rustic interior along with windswept al fresco dining that overlooks the boat-packed marina.

A strong seasonality and sustainability ethos is reflected in the seafood and meat-heavy menu that features local lobsters and crab caught and delivered fresh from the ‘Martha Rose’ day boat in Little Haven.

Their sea bass, sardines and mackerel menu offerings are also sourced from local fishermen, operating in the choppy waters around Pembrokeshire. Order the half pint of shell-on prawns and a refreshing Tir a Mor Gin from Little Haven to start your seafood feast and opt for a Welsh take on Bouillabaisse, served with baked sourdough bread to dunk in your aromatic fish stew.

Veggie options are also available here and include spiced falafel gyros and a vegan Korean burger complete with Kimchi and spicy Gochujang ketchup.

Dulse, Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront

The latest hotel offering in the Celtic Collection is the 100 room, Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront that comes with an exciting new dining venture for the port town called Dulse, named after Pembrokeshire’s edible seaweed that grows abundantly around the rocky coastline.

Decked out in soothing shades of deep-sea blue contrasting with muted tones, the contemporary restaurant strives to provide a relaxing and memorable dining experience with big marina views out of floorto-ceiling windows, and locally sourced seafood.

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Pembrokeshire local Simon Crockford is the talented, executive head chef charged with creating innovative dishes inspired by the coastal landscapes and changing seasonality.

Typical dishes include grilled tiger prawns served simply with garlic butter and lemon and oven-roasted whole plaice with seaweed buttered new potatoes that capture the unique ‘umami’ fl avour of the versatile seaweed that’s sourced from local shores.

The Cheesy Cow

Self-catering guests at the marina’s luxurious fl oating cabins can order beautifully presented graze boxes to take away from the local takeaway Café, the Cheesy Cow.

Th ese sweet or savoury signature boxes can be enjoyed on the smart wooden decking of these distinctive, adults-only ‘fl oatel cabins’ that are located right on the water.

Packed with local produce, homemade items and luxurious treats, the boxes come in a range of themes and fl avours to suit all tastes. Th eir cutesy ‘movie night’ box is particularly enjoyable for a delicious night in, with camembert in a heart-shaped ciabatta, salami roses pizza pastry twists and marshmallows and popcorn.

Along with their popular boxes, the café also off ers baked goods, baguettes, breakfast items, sweet treats, ice creams and hot drinks for those looking for quick eats around the waterfront.

Dilly’s Chocolates

An artisan chocolate shop right on the waterfront, Dilly’s specialises in luxurious hand-craft ed chocolates from Pembrokeshire, sold in stylish surroundings. Th e small shop has an almost opulent ambience with sleek branding and a glass fronted counter lined with exquisite chocolates.

Sample a selection of chocolate barks, bombs and selection boxes of hand-decorated, ganache enrobed chocolates with a range of bespoke fl avours including Honey and Almond, Gin and Lemon, and Dark and Frutti. Th e Cheesy Cow

COCO’s Restaurant

Heritage meets modern in this trendy restaurant and bar located in the Grade II-listed ‘Sail Loft ’ building that once used to service the historic Nantucket Whaling ships.

Th e warming, wood-panelled bar and restaurant have an almost ‘alpine lodge’ vibe with hipster light fi xtures and vintage-style chairs to sink into with a decadent cocktail.

Coco’s is known locally as an excellent sunset spot where the cool kids gather on the quayside, at the sunset bar opposite the restaurant, to sip carefully craft ed espresso martinis, as the sky blazes with colour.

Sunday lunch is particularly good here with generous off erings of meat including Blockwell’s Welsh beef, roast shoulder of Lamb, or cashew and mushroom terrine complete with crispy roast potatoes, seasonal root veg and heavenly red wine gravy.

Foam

A lively spot with panoramic views of the Milford Haven Waterway, dog-friendly Foam is known for its aft ernoon tea, indulgent champagne brunch and sun trap terrace.

Formally the Cosalt Ship Chandler’s building back in 1907, Foam has been thoroughly modernised into a stylish café bar that caters to the fancy brunch and the late-night cocktail crowd. Th e dinner menu features all your favourite pub classics, with grill items, Atlantic ale cod and a range of burgers made with buns within their own bakehouse ‘sugar loaf’.

Th eir themed grazing packages can also be enjoyed with friends in Pembrokeshire’s fi rst al fresco ‘dining domes’ that enjoy impressive 360 panoramic views of the waterfront. COCO’s Restaurant

Foam