Shortlisted: The Seven Best Tenby Pubs That Locals Love!

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Last updated on October 7, 2022 by Wandering our World

Tenby is always a place we return to. This historic town has plenty of things to do thanks to its glorious beaches with views of St Catherine’s Island, alongside lots of history to explore. Whilst for kids there’s the Dinosaur Park to visit alongside Manor Wildlife Park where you can meet meerkats!

Regardless of how you choose to spend your time in Tenby, if you’re like us then after a day of adventuring you’ll want some fantastic food and a refreshing pint.  

Luckily, we’ve put together a list of what we believe are the best pubs in Tenby just for you! 

Related: Exceptional Restaurants in Tenby That Locals Love

As you’ll see, there’s plenty of seats in the sun, cosy fireplaces to huddle around on cold days, and a fair number of dog friendly pubs in Tenby too.

So sit back and relax as we guide you through the best pubs in Tenby!

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Drazen Zigic

The Seven Best Pubs In Tenby For Food, Beer & Fun

1. HARBWR Bar & Kitchen

It’s always good to support a pub that promotes local ale and you can’t get much more local than brewing in house!

Tenby’s very own brewery and tap room have the ideal location too, as HARBWR is situated on St Julian Street which links the town centre to the beach and harbour. So if you’ve been strolling around town or on the beach, then this could be a great place to unwind. 

There’s a fairly informal atmosphere in HARBWR, but it’s the walled beer garden which we really love. That’s the perfect place to enjoy the sun (and you can have dogs there too), and even better, the garden has heating installed so when the evening kicks in you don’t need to move inside to get warm.

And if you’re looking for a pub in Tenby with entertainment, there is live music usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as well as live sports shown on the TV. They even a pub quiz now and then too!

As for drinks, usually on tap you’ll find their own HARBWR Caldey Lollipop, HARBWR M V Enterprise and HARBWR RFA Sir Galahad. But if ale isn’t for you then they have a fully stocked bar with all the drinks you’d expect in a good pub.

So what about the food? Well, being so close to the sea means there are plenty of fish options on the menu. However there’s also lots of pub classics like Chicken Wings, Burgers and Steak to dig into, along with lighter options like sandwiches.

Great food and drink, a lovely heated garden where dogs are welcome and entertainment. It’s easy to see why we enjoy our visits here so much, and why HARBWR makes our list of the best pubs in Tenby.   

Address: Tenby Harbour Brewery Tap & Kitchen, St Julian Street, Tenby, SA70 7AS

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/NatashaPhoto

2. Five Arches Tavern

Wooden beams. A large fireplace. Dim lighting. Exposed brickwork.

When you combine all of that like Five Arches Tavern have done, the result is a very relaxed and dare we say it, even romantic atmosphere – that makes this place perfect for enjoying a drink or meal with a loved one.

In fact the fireplace in this traditional looking pub isn’t just large, it’s believed to be the largest in Tenby! Can you imagine a better place to enjoy a nightcap?

If you’re not sold on the fireplace, then you’ll be pleased to know that not only can you grab some great ale here – with Sharp’s Atlantic & Doom Bar available – but there’s also some fantastic food to enjoy too.

The dishes served at Five Arches are traditional British fare, with lunch and evening meals available. Classic comfort food like Fish & Chips, Lasagne, Steak and Burgers are on the menu, plus there’s a few veggie options too.

Need more encouragement to visit? There is live music every Wednesday and Friday from 8pm, whilst on Sundays the entertainment often starts at 4pm!

With your dog welcome too, how can you resist that fireplace on a cold day? In fact we’d probably say this is our favourite pub in Tenby when it comes to warming up when the Welsh weather decides to be problematic!

Address: St Georges Street, Tenby, SA70 7JB

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Pro2sound

3. Three Mariners

Nightlife in Tenby can be fairly lively and one of the biggest contributors to that is the Three Mariners!

Not only are there rock bands every Friday night here, but they’ve also got a resident DJ to get people dancing, and even host the odd karaoke night. Regardless, dim lighting and fairy lights provide a very relaxing atmosphere whether you’re in for a drink, a meal or to be entertained.

And if you’re looking for a place to watch sports then the Three Mariners could be perfect too as they show football, cricket, rugby, boxing, darts and MMA on their five big screens. Or should you fancy a game of pool or darts yourself, then why not show off your own skills.

There tends to be a good selection of ale available here, which goes perfectly with the variety of hearty meals available. The menu is based around British and Welsh cuisine, with the Beer Battered Cod and Roast Dinners particular highlights.

But if you’re wanting something to eat that isn’t too heavy, they have a selection of light bites for under a fiver – perfect to go with a pint or two.

If you’re looking for one of the best Tenby pubs for entertainment and sports, then the Three Mariners is hard to beat!

Address: St Georges Street, Tenby, SA70 7JB

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Mikhail Rudenko

4. The Cove

It’s nice to have different food options to enjoy with your pint and we can’t recommend The Cove enough for this reason – their menu items are diverse as well as delicious!

Located on Tenby’s High Street, The Cove offers food from around the world and it’s cooked and created to a very high standard – this isn’t typical pub grub.

Taste a bit of Spain with the Pantas Bravas, head over to Morocco with the Chicken Skewers or stop off in Thailand with the Ribs. If your tastebuds don’t like to travel too far from home then there’s the very tempting Fish & Chips that go down a treat too. There’s plenty of options.

On top of the great food, the set up and interior is relaxed, modern and very photogenic. There’s lots of seating for everyone, whether they come in a group or are couples that want to cuddle up on a sofa next to the window.

But during the summer be sure to take advantage of the seating outside, and as long as your dog is well behaved, you’re welcome to bring them along too!

As for drinks, there’s plenty of beer from local brewers available alongside a large range of gin and cocktails. And if you plan your visit on Wednesday between 5-7pm there are 2 for 1 cocktails!

If cocktails aren’t for you, then you’ll be happy to know that on Wednesday from 9-11pm they also do 2 for 1 on some beers, wine and spirits. 

On top of that, occasionally The Cove also hosts events like bottomless prosecco or live music. So be sure to check out their Facebook page before your visit to see if anything is happening when you’re planning to drop by.

Address: 14 High Street, Tenby, SA70 7HD

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Alessandro Biascioli

5. The Hope & Anchor

After a walk along the picturesque beach and around the harbour it’ll be easy to build up a bit of a thirst. So it’s a good thing the Hope & Anchor is located nearby!  

This is a fairly busy pub due to its perfect location near the beach and harbour, but luckily there’s seating available outside in the garden if there’s no seats left inside. Although during summer you’ll likely want to sit outside anyway and enjoy the seaside views.

During the winter months things naturally aren’t as busy as there’s less tourists around, so settle by the fire during the day or pop in to see a band in the evening – they often have live music during the colder months.

Alongside the location, another reason this place is so popular is the large number of ales available. Harbwr M V Enterprise, which is a pale ale, is a strong favourite with the regulars, but if that’s not for you why not try Harbwr North Star.

Regardless, with five regular ales and two rotating, as well as a good beer, wine and spirits selection, there’s bound to be a drink for you.

Taking advantage of the bounty of the sea, there is a range of seafood available on the menu to make your experience here even better. But if you don’t like seafood, then we recommend trying one of their tasty freshly made curries.

Dogs are welcome in parts of the bar and in the garden too, plus they often have live sport on the TV.

Address: St Julian Street, Tenby, SA70 7AS

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6. Billycan

While primarily a boutique hotel, Billycan is open to the public so you can pop in for a pint, and then get reeled in by the smell of delicious food from the kitchen!

The bar area is very crisp and modern, and you’ll likely be encouraged to try some of the local ale available on tap or in bottles. The delicious Sharp’s Sea Fury is regularly featured alongside some ales from Tenby itself.

We know that ale isn’t for everyone which is no problem here, especially as there’s a notable selection of whisky and gin alongside the extensive wine menu.

The menu is packed with all the gastropub favourites, and if you’re staying for a while you may as well treat yourself to a tasty starter of Nachos or Wings before moving on to the Billy Balls (tagliatelle and meat balls), or Fish & Chips for a main. Of course there are vegetarian and vegan options too.

While food is served from noon to 9pm each day, the bar is open from 11am so it doesn’t matter if you’re staying for food or nipping in for a quick pint, there’s plenty of time for everyone to enjoy themselves.   

Address: Lower Frog Street, Tenby, SA70 7HS

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Daviles

7. The Crown Inn

‘Pete was just saying a bunch might go down The Crown. You know, down The Crown on a Friday’ – Jeremy Osbourne (Peep Show).

If the Peep Show lot can do it, why not head down to the The Crown Inn in Tenby on Friday yourself!

This backstreet pub was recently done up but has kept its traditional pub feel and charm – it’s a great place for a chat with locals, good ales, a bite to eat and some live music during the weekends.

There is a good selection of ales and beer available, and you’ll often come across Brains Rev James and Greene King Abbot on tap. The spirit selection is as good as the beer selection, and if it’s food you’re after then you can’t go wrong with their pizzas and burgers!

On a sunny day be sure to take your drink outside to their small but cosy beer garden – the walls help turn the place into a real sun trap.

Everything is fairly priced which we always appreciate, and there’s a local friendly atmosphere every time we pop in. 

An unpretentious atmosphere and pints at good prices. That’s why The Crown Inn makes our list of the best pubs in Tenby.

Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/JulyProkopiv

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