Places to Eat
As readers of Wales - Great Little Places, we know that
you are looking for quality. So we've gathered here a
selection of good places to eat throughout Wales. When
you're on your travels please call in and try them.
There's a wide choice to suit all palates, from tearooms to bistros, top restaurants to cafés located at popular visitor centres. They all have one thing in common - a commitment to serving real food based on quality ingredients sourced locally wherever possible. This is 'slow' food, as opposed to the fast variety. If you're making a special trip to eat in any of the places listed, please phone to check opening times/ booking arrangements.
Award winning café restaurant (now in its 32nd year) in outstanding location on the harbour. Sample fresh crab and lobster locally caught in Cardigan Bay. Also home of the Original Honey Ice-Cream serving an ever-changing selection of sorbets, ice creams, yoghurt and soya ices. Harbour Room with views of Aberaeron for small weddings, private dinners and meetings. Seasonal opening – please telephone for details.
Cosmopolitan bistro in beautiful canalside setting, part of Brecon’s theatre complex. An engaging culinary concept – imaginative meals and salads with the emphasis on flexibility. The dishes complement each other and can be combined in any way – share a dish with the rest of your party or keep the plate to yourself. Try something new, or enjoy an old favourite with a twist. Great choice of modern-style wines.
Deservedly popular and highly regarded family-run restaurant serving the best in Modern European cuisine (bringing ‘real food and real values back to everyday life’). Menu changes daily to incorporate the freshest ingredients complemented by a personally sourced wine list. Warm, informal and friendly atmosphere. Winner of numerous awards. One of Wales’ finest places to eat.
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You can tell by the name that this is something different! Learn all about sheep and sheepdogs, then eat in the homely licensed café/restaurant on site. The food fits the surroundings – tasty Welsh teas, cakes and traditional favourites, served in beautifully converted farm building with slate floor and old beams. Good choice of preserves and crafts for purchase make attractive gift items.
Leading light in the cosmopolitan food scene along the Usk Valley. New owners bring an inventive, fresh approach to country bistro cooking, with a fusion of local and modern influences. This family run former drovers’ inn and restaurant offers friendly service amd am atmospheric setting for any occasion. Excellent wine list, Welsh real ales and, for old time's sake, a variety of both draught and bottled ciders.
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A small, friendly and informal bistro in the heart of this old market town, popular with locals and visitors alike. Offers a selection of imaginative and freshly prepared dishes with plenty of choice for vegetarians. A good mix of influences, with cosmopolitan touches working with traditional Welsh ingredients. Try the world-famous Welsh lamb and sample the interesting, very reasonably priced wine list. Also open in the day for tapas, coffee, cakes and the sale of exclusive wines.
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Traditional village inn that attracts food lovers from far and wide. The Queen’s Head has built its considerable reputation on offering satisfying cooking based on the best local ingredients – and it’s great value. Regular house specials include steak, mushroom and ale pie, goose and duck, while the fish menu is influenced by the local catch. Now offering, just beyond the gate, a one-bedroomed romantic cottage.
Two dining rooms offering a casual and more formal atmosphere. Chef-proprietor Donald Hadwin’s menu is a mix of Welsh, British and international influences with an emphasis on top quality, fresh ingredients prepared with care and flair. Desserts are also hand-made. Good wine list. Indisputably one of Llandudno’s leading places to eat. Near to hotels, the promenade and the Victorian pier.
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Cosy, intimate, timber-framed restaurant run by Mark and Felicity Seager that enjoys a reputation as an oasis of good food with an exceptional wine list. The emphasis here is on local Welsh produce, freshly prepared by Mark whose menus change with the seasons. Teas, coffees, lunches and evening meals are served. Advance booking recommended.
Amser Da (‘Good Times’) is the restaurant, Blas ar Fwyd (‘A Taste for Food’) the delicatessen. Quality is the hallmark of both, and they work in tandem – people come from far and wide to shop and eat. Amser Da, a fusion of Welsh and modern European influences, is well known for its fish, game, lamb and vegetarian dishes. Excellent cheeseboard.
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Located in a 16th century timber framed building, this charming café, restaurant and delicatessen has been refurbished throughout. New owners and staff have built on its excellent reputation providing delicious, locally sourced food, freshly prepared on the premises. You will find the delicatessen filled with a fine selection of cheeses, freshly baked cakes and bread, treats for the kitchen and table, as well as unusual gifts.
If you want a bird’s eye view of the comings and goings in this charming small market town, sit at one of the window tables in Ivy House and enjoy Sue's home-made, mouth-watering scones and cakes. Lots of vegetarian dishes are on offer at lunchtimes and you can also book a candle-lit evening meal. A new deli counter features Welsh produce.
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A real find! A gastro pub in an unexpected location. It’s a real food experience with a big emphasis on locally sourced produce, all served up in a pub of character and charisma. Enjoy modern contemporary cooking and meet the locals in a friendly bar. One of their home brewed ales – Otley 08, was awarded the coveted CAMRA title of Champion Beer of Wales 2006/7 at the Great Welsh Cider and Beer Festival.
A popular and busy bistro style restaurant just off St. Peter’s Square with its delightful mix of medieval, Tudor and Georgian influences. On The Hill prides itself on offering seasonal food sourced locally whenever possible. Excellent value for money and a versatile menu that varies from simple lunchtime meals and snacks to innovative cuisine for evening dining.
The Pen y Cae Inn is a hidden treasure nestled in the idyllic hamlet of Pen y Cae. Located just 30 minutes from Swansea, it has been lovingly restored using local stone, slate and green oak. Locally born owner Anthony Christopher and Head Chef Frederick Pallade's great passsion is food and the menu is simple and contemporary using only the very best ingrediants and seasonal produce.