Drifter Café St Davids – New Café Review | Ty Gwilym
Drifter Café: A Welcome New Spot to Eat in St Davids
One of the joys of a holiday in St Davids is watching the little city quietly reinvent itself each season, and this year there's a brand-new reason to linger over breakfast. Drifter has opened its doors in the heart of St Davids, and we couldn't resist calling in to see what all the fuss was about.
A fresh face on the St Davids food scene
St Davids may be Britain's smallest city, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to good food and great coffee. Drifter is a brilliant addition to the line-up — a relaxed, friendly café with a laid-back coastal feel that suits the pace of life out here on the peninsula. Whether you're fuelling up before a walk on the coast path or treating yourself after a morning at the Cathedral, it's exactly the kind of easy-going spot St Davids does so well.
What we ordered
We went for one of their açaí bowls — a generous tub of deep-purple açaí topped with fresh raspberries, sliced banana, coconut and a satisfying scatter of granola and nuts. It's the sort of breakfast that feels like a treat and a virtuous head-start to the day all at once. Alongside it we picked up a double Espresso — rich, properly made, and brewed with beans from Bay Coffee Roasters, so you know you're getting a quality local cup.
Service was warm, and the takeaway packaging meant we could carry it all off and enjoy it somewhere with a view — which, in St Davids, is never far away.
The perfect takeaway breakfast — in the garden at Ty Gwilym
We're a little biased, but our favourite thing about a Drifter takeaway is where you get to enjoy it. We brought ours back to the garden at Ty Gwilym Holiday Cottages, settled at the table in the morning sun, and ate breakfast looking straight out over St Davids Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace. Blue skies, birdsong, a proper coffee and an açaí bowl — it's hard to think of a better start to a day in Pembrokeshire.
It's a lovely reminder of just how central our cottages are. You can stroll into the city, pick up breakfast from a great independent café like Drifter, and be back in your own private garden within a few minutes — Cathedral Bell Tower views included.
Plan your visit to Drifter
- Where: Right on our doorstep — less than 100 yards from Ty Gwilym Holiday Cottages. Turn left as you leave us and you'll spot it in moments, in the centre of St Davids and within easy walking distance of the Cathedral and shops.
- Opening hours: 8am – 4pm — perfect for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon coffee.
- Find them online: Follow Drifter on Instagram at @driftersstdavids.
For more of our favourite cafés, restaurants and pubs nearby, see our guide to the best places to eat out in St Davids.
Make St Davids your base this year
There's no better way to discover little gems like Drifter than to stay right in the middle of it all. Our four self-catering cottages — Ty Gwilym, Bwthyn Lil, Bwthyn Gwe and Bwthyn Aur — sit in the heart of St Davids, moments from the Cathedral, the coast path and Whitesand Bay.