I tried the hidden restaurant in a stunning location that's not as exclusive as you might think

Restaurant at Dylan Coastal Resort, Milk Wood House, Laugharne - The breakfast was epic
-Credit: (Image: Jo Ridout, WalesOnline)


Not every restaurant in Wales has a substantial and noticeable shop front on a busy street in the centre of a town, located as close to substantial footfall as possible - some are hidden away in a quiet corner but attract diners due to their mesmerising location.

On a recent visit to Laugharne I ate at a restaurant that was as unique as the view of its incredible location, perched high above the Taf estuary offering the most mesmerising vista. It's a restaurant that is not in full view, not on a high street, and not even sign-posted on the main road that ambles through this pretty township.

That's because this restaurant is a slice of something much bigger and more intriguing that just its stand alone function - Milk Wood Bar & Kitchen is the restaurant found within the main building at Dylan Coastal Resort, a luxury lodge site nestled into a hillside above the estuary and Dylan Thomas' famous boathouse.

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Restaurant as part of a luxury lodge resort
The restaurant is part of a luxury lodge resort -Credit:Jo Ridout, Media Wales

The location is one of the restaurant's unique qualities but also maybe one of its challenges - the restaurant is on the first floor of the main resort building called Milk Wood House where, on the ground floor, you will discover the amazing spa, swimming pool, hydro pool and gym that people staying at the resort in one of the lodges can use for free, as well as book a treatment in one of the pamper rooms.

The spa is available to local residents via discounted membership and anyone from outside the resort can book a pamper treatment, and that's the same for Milk Wood House restaurant - it's open for bookings from off-site as well as resort residents. For the latest restaurant reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here

The massive selling point - the location
The massive selling point - the location -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

It's a tricky aspect of the eatery to maybe explain - it's not exclusive but the resort in which it sits is - but if you are heading for the Laugharne area then is it worth navigating the pretty little lane to the resort and eating out at its restaurant.

Milk Wood House is a substantial building that has been wisely designed, cloaked in massive sheets of glass to ensure maximum connection to the truly mesmerising and sweeping view of the estuary that extends for miles to Gower peninsula and Worm's Head. The location, affording the building and the restaurant on the first floor such a spectacular vista, is its main selling point, but we wondered if the food would be tasty enough to distract us from gazing out of the window until our grub had gone cold.

Stepping inside the building you are greeted by friendly staff and an instantly relaxing scent wafting from the spa area, but it's the sweeping stairs that are calling you to climb one flight to find Milk Wood Bar & Kitchen. Now the smell has morphed into snatches of aromas of food cooking from the kitchen, located behind the bar.

Relaxed ambience
Relaxed ambience -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline
A range of seating options
A range of seating options -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

One end of this open-plan level is dedicated to the bar, with comfy armchairs inside and sliding glass doors leading to a terrace with patio heaters and a view of the landscape to warm the heart found outside.

But the majority of the area is dedicated to the restaurant, with bouquet seating, benches and booths along the far wall and sweeping through the middle of the space joined by circular tables in the 'prime spots' where surely you feel immersed in the view, next to the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows.

If you sit at a booth seat at the back of the restaurant , due to it being on a raised platform and the clever addition of a slice of mirror running along the wall reflecting the view, you are still connected to the landscape outside.

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Well-designed space means floor-to-ceiling windows for maximum connection to the view
Well-designed space means floor-to-ceiling windows for maximum connection to the view -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline
The front row seats can boast the best views
The front row seats can boast the best views -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

We sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant as the 'front row seats' were taken and were very happy with the location. We ordered a 'D' cut gammon with free-range egg and chunky chips plus a Celtic Pride Dylan Burger, which comprised a Welsh beef burger, melted Welsh cheddar, bacon, onions, tomato, lettuce, burger sauce and chunky chips.

The gammon cost £18.50 and was tasty and nicely cooked to a level of being succulent and the quality of its local sourcing was evident by its freshness - it was a standard, classic dish as expected but not outstanding. However, the burger was very impressive - falling apart somewhat and melting in the mouth, it was declared as one of the best tasted for quite some time by someone who states it is his favourite meal, so great praise indeed. It cost £19.00.

Main meal
Main meal -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

The dessert menu was a mouth-watering collection of classics, we ordered the £8.50 raspberry crème brûlée with rosemary shortbread biscuit which was a perfect balance of crisp and smooth, sweet and tangy, with the rosemary shortbread a surprising but welcome added layer of flavour.

The other order was a warm triple chocolate brownie with dark chocolate sauce and burnt white chocolate and deserved to be eaten slowly to enjoy every explosion of rich texture and sweetness, costing £8.50.

Raspberry Crème Brûlée with Rosemary Shortbread Biscui
Raspberry Crème Brûlée with Rosemary Shortbread Biscui -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline
Warm Triple Chocolate Brownie with Dark Chocolate Sauce and Burnt White Chocolate
Warm Triple Chocolate Brownie with Dark Chocolate Sauce and Burnt White Chocolate -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

As we dined slightly later, by the time dessert came one of the 'top tables' was free and so we enjoyed our sweet treats next to the fabulous view.

The restaurant has a terrace that is by far the prime position for enjoying a meal at the restaurant but the evening weather, although dry, had been a bit chilly so we stayed inside. However, the next day the sun decided to appear and for breakfast we bagged ourselves a table on the terrace.

When the weather is good the outside terrace is the prime spot
When the weather is good the outside terrace is the prime spot -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline
Incredible view in both directions
Incredible view in both directions -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

Some people might claim breakfast can be boring - only offering a range of mainly obvious dishes that you can order almost anywhere, but this is not anywhere - this was like sitting on the edge of utter bliss immersed in the most incredible of views. Plus this wasn't an ordinary breakfast either - it was so epic we still talk about it now.

Yes, we ordered the standard and classic full English, although called a 'Full Welsh Milk Wood Breakfast' and an american pancake stack layered with Beechwood smoked streaky bacon & lashings of maple syrup, but the quality of food that arrived at our table was evident from the first mouthful.

Breakfast on the outside terrace was epic
Breakfast on the outside terrace was epic -Credit:Jo Ridout, WalesOnline

I am very fussy about bacon, I don't like it thick, rubbery and fatty, so the crispy texture was perfect and the maple syrup brought a rich, deep flavour to the dish without making the pancakes soggy. The stack cost £8 and was so enjoyable I would have paid more.

The 'full Welsh' was, again, packed with taste and flavour borne out of using locally-sourced, quality ingredients well worth the £10.50 price tag. Throughout our meals the staff were absolutely lovely - getting the balance right between attentive and not too much interruption - the restaurant wasn't full but I think even if it were the ambience is so relaxed they could have easily coped.

I will be going back - especially for breakfast
I will be going back - especially for breakfast -Credit:Jo Ridout, Media Wales

The menu has already changed somewhat to a winter seasonal spread and Gareth, the head chef employed in late 2023 by the resort to upgrade the restaurant, told us that there were plans to add fine dining via a French inspired menu to the offering in the future.

The interior of the restaurant is apparently due a change too, I just hope the refit and uplifted menu don't lose the relaxed ambience and connection to the view and the menu doesn't become too expensive to be prohibitive for regular attendance. That said, I will definitely return to dine at Milk Wood Bar & Kitchen and can recommend it as a place to enjoy a quiet meal or a sociable gathering of family and friends in the most special of locations.

Find out more about the restaurant, the menus and the resort here.