Best places to eat in Wales
We've rounded up our favourite restaurants in Wales, from Ynyshir Hall to Felin Fach Griffin, Restaurant James Sommerin, Llys Meddyg, Bar 44 and Coast.
Looking for the best places to eat in Wales for St David’s Day? Read our guide for the best places to eat in Cardiff and Gower Peninsular as well as the Welsh coast. Here are the best gourmet experiences to inspire a trip to Wales whatever the time of year.
Pysgoty
Slap-bang on the harbour front at Aberystwyth, with sweeping views of Cardigan Bay, Pysgoty is owned by husband-and-wife team Craig and Rhiannon Edwards, who also run Jonah’s, the town’s only independent fishmonger. That means the kitchen never needs to worry about having a constant supply of local fish and shellfish, and although the menu takes a global influence with dishes such as tandoori monkfish medallions or moules marinières, chef Pawel Banaszynski flies the Welsh flag with roast cod, chorizo and laverbread risotto; and Cardigan Bay lobster with herb butter and chunky chips.
Gower Seafood Hut
A converted horsebox trailer located on The Mumbles promenade, the Gower Seafood Hut was a runner-up in the Observer Food Monthly’s best cheap eats category thanks to pocket-friendly street-food snacks like cockle popcorn with laverbread mayonnaise. It’s owned by Sarah Kift and Chris Price, who look to their Mediterranean holidays for inspiration – think Italian-style fritto misto of sardines, squid, whitebait, samphire and capers – but always using locally sourced fish from Swansea Bay and around the Gower coast.
Look out for weekend specials such as Never Mind the Scallops: queen scallops rolled in breadcrumbs and served with retro red cocktail sauce and a wedge of lemon. Hot seafood by the sea doesn’t get much better.
Ynyshir Hall
Currently one of five Michelin-starred restaurants in Wales, the dining room at Ynyshir Hall, near Aberdovey’s beautifully wild coastline, creates culinary magic with Welsh lamb, local Wagyu beef and organic pork; they’re such sticklers for detail that the hotel’s breakfast sausages are even prepared to their own recipe. Much of the produce comes from the hotel’s own kitchen garden, while mushrooms, samphire and elderflower are foraged. No wonder chef Gareth Ward was named the Good Food Guide 2015 Chef to Watch. Bedrooms are equally striking, idiosyncratically but luxuriously decorated in jelly bean-bright colours.
Felin Fach Griffin
For an expertly crafted pie to wash down your pint of Monty’s Mischief, you’re in safe hands at the Felin Fach Griffin, near Brecon. The Good Food Guide’s Welsh Country Dining Pub of the Year 2015, it also holds a Bib Gourmand award and is one of three Sawdays Hotel’s of the Year for 2015. This is comfort food done with a light touch; warm pork, apple and black pudding terrine, perhaps, or local duck breast with butternut squash, potato gratin and kale. A run of cosy bedrooms on site means you don’t have to rush home afterwards, either.
Milkwood
Neighbourhood dining reaches new heights in Pontcanna as the chefs behind The Potted Pig trade in its city centre bank vault for a more suburban location. Dealing in clean and contemporary dishes crafted using the best of the South Wales larder, Milkwood is right at home with the area’s restaurants, bars and artisan shops.
Dolaucothi Arms
Set in the tiny village of Pumsaint, and part of the National Trust’s Dolaucothi Estate, Dolaucothi Arms is a 16th Century coaching inn that overlooks two rivers, Cothi and Twrch. Food is renowned, to the point where we shortlisted their chicken, leek, bacon and cider pie in our 2014 ‘Britain’s best pub pie’ competition. There are two menus, bar and seasonal, with the latter being a touch fancier.
Llangoed Hall
Just outside Hay-on-Wye, you’ll find the Jacobean ‘white palace’ allegedly home to the first Welsh parliament. Now the site is home to a country house hotel with acclaimed restaurant, extensive gardens (walled, rose and fruit among them) and stunning bedrooms. For dinner, choose from a four-course or tasting menu. With the likes of lobster croquette, golden and crisp, surrounded by a moat of rich Parmesan sauce and mackerel with pickled vegetables and tomato.
Beach House
Owners Neil Kedward and Zoe Agar have looked to Oxwich Bay, on the stunning Gower Peninsular of South West Wales, for the setting of their third venture, Beach House. With an impressive seaside spot and a bounty of local fresh seafood, it’s popular with locals and tourists alike.
The Admiral St David
A relaunch of the restaurant at The St David’s Hotel, in Cardiff Bay, sees Wales’ first Australasian-inspired dining spot. Docked within a striking sail-shaped structure on Cardiff Bay, The Admiral promises to marry Welsh produce with influences from Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and Sri Lanka.
Restaurant James Sommerin and Coast
If it’s seafood and seaviews you’re after, two of the country’s most sophisticated recent openings are both set close to the waves. In Penarth, just outside Cardiff, Restaurant James Sommerin bagged itself a place in the Good Food Guide’s Top 50 UK restaurants within three months of opening; Michelin stars are already being talked about. Meanwhile, in Pembrokeshire, ex-La Bécasse chef Will Holland has also made a large culinary splash at Saundersfoot’s new Coast restaurant.
Bar 44
The passion for small plates is taking Wales’ kitchens by storm. Nowhere more so than at Bar 44’s two tapas joints, in Cowbridge and Penarth. Owned and run by brothers Tom and Owen Morgan, both branches are under the direction of head chef Tommy Heaney (with input from Jose Pizarro); most of what’s on the menu is either house-made or imported from artisan Spanish producers and the drinks list has an equally strong Spanish flavour, from sherries and wines to cava cocktails. Look out for seasonal specials, too; if you fancy a change from leeks, the end of March sees the bars hosting a calçotada festival.
Llys Meddyg
For something slightly less grand but equally indulgent, try Llys Meddygin Pembrokeshire. Smart modern bedrooms are paired with a kitchen that takes provenance deeply seriously but clearly has fun in the process. It’s dog-friendly, too.
THE BRASSERIE, Wolfscastle
A modern and bright space, with attentive staff on hand, The Brasserie's menu is a tome of Pembrokeshire bounty. Highlights from the 2-AA rosette restaurant include starters of pan fried scallops, glazed curried pig cheeks, pressed ham hock terrine with salt baked pineapple and a quail's egg, while mains include treacle marinated pork fillet served with a confit pork belly croquette and an almond milk rigatoni served with sun-blushed tomatoes and crispy shallots.
GRUB KITCHEN, St Davids
Set in a renovated, 18th-century calf shed, this restaurant is based around the beliefs of head chef Andy Holcroft and his partner, entomologist Dr Sarah Beynon, that the Western world could do with a little education on the nutritious and sustainable virtues of entomophagy (that’ll be eating insects). Dishes change frequently depending on season and supply (Sarah’s family farms much of the meat in neighbouring fields) but look out for toasted cumin mealworm hummus, black ant crusted goat’s cheese, cricket flour crepes and Andy’s signature bug burgers.
ULTRACOMIDA, Narberth
With another branch in Abersytwyth and an outlet in Cardiff, Ultracomida has proven its recipe as half deli/half restaurant really works. The company is known for its commitment to sourcing fine Spanish produce, and for its well-executed tapas. Don’t leave this, the original outlet, without ordering the silky morcilla (black pudding), a plato mixto (cheese and cured meats) and a serving of authentic patatas bravas.
Can’t stop to eat? Fill a hamper with fresh bread, olives and a selection of artisan cheeses large enough to rival the likes of that in Harrods’ food hall.
THE BOAT HOUSE, Saundersfoot
Run by husband-and-wife-duo Gemma and Lee Evans (the team behind The Harbourmaster in Milford Haven’s Nelson Quay), The Boat House is in a prized spot in the popular coastal town of Saundersfoot. With its appropriately designed seaside décor, dine on homely cooking with carefully sourced ingredients and be sure to look to the specials for the freshest catch of the day.
theboathousesaundersfoot.co.uk
THE GROVE, Narberth
For what is arguably the finest food (and comfiest beds) this side of the Severn Bridge, this small, independently owned hotel (sister to Coast in Saundersfoot and Beach House Oxwich) is the ultimate treat for discerning diners.
It’s the attention to detail and delicate finesse of pairing flavours that makes Executive Chef's Allister Barsby's dishes so memorable; a sirloin of Welsh beef, plaice with wild mushrooms and a pistachio souffle with bitter chocolate proved particular highlights.
THE STACKPOLE INN, Stackpole
This is everything a gastropub should be: homely and familiar with unbelievably good grub. The nearby Pembrokeshire Coast Path brings ramblers in their droves for boards of farm ham, cheese (Caerfai cheddar, Boksburg Blue, Caws Cenarth and Heb Enw), pickles, apple, salad, chutney and home baked bread, while an aged rib of local beef is fit for a sharing with chunky chips, rarebit topped mushrooms and beer-battered onion rings.
Some extra bits to take home...
And lastly, If you’re after food gifts to take home, put GinHaus Deli, in postcard-pretty Llandeilo on your itinerary. Stop off for a lunch of Welsh cheeses or a bowl of lamb cawl, then stock up from shelves laden with some of the country’s finest produce. Among our favourites are Coaltown Coffee and Da Mhile seaweed gin. In the same area, don’t miss Wright’s Food Emporium.
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