List of restaurants in Wales

The Black Boy Inn at Caernarfon

The number of restaurants in Wales has significantly increased since the 1960s, when the country had very few notable places to eat out.^[1] Today, Wales is no longer considered a "gastronomic desert",^[1] there are currently five Michelin starred restaurants within the country.^[2] Other award systems from TripAdvisor and AA have included Welsh restaurants in their lists. The most significant increase in restaurants has been at the high-end, but there has been growth and improvement in quality across all the whole range of Welsh eateries.^[1]

Many Welsh restaurants attempt to showcase their "Welshness", but few include historic Welsh dishes besides cawl. Instead, they showcase their Welsh ingredients, creating new dishes from them.^[1] There has also been a rise in Asian cuisine in Wales, especially that of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Japanese, with a preference for spicier foods.^[1]

Cardiff

• The Clink Cymru, Cardiff

  Based within Prison ground this restaurant is owned by the Clink Charity. It opened in 2012 and employs 30 full-time staff who are inmates at the prison, under the supervision of head chef Mike Arnopp. The Clink was rated 10th on TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Favourite Fine Dining Restaurants UK 2015.^[3][4]

Clwyd

• Kinmel Arms, Abergele

  17th century inn with an AA two rosette standard and 2015 AA award for Welsh pub of the year^[5][6][7] It has also been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence^[8][9] and was listed in the Lonely Planet guide to Europe's 50 best 'secret spot' locations in 2015^[10]

Conwy

• The Old Rectory Country House, Glan Conwy

  16th century, Georgian, grade II listed building^[11] It has previously held a Michelin star.^[12][13]

Denbighshire

• Tyddyn Llan at Llandrillo

  Forming part of the hotel, the restaurant has been given a Michelin star^[13][14][15] under Bryan Webb as head chef.^[16] It has also been presented with Wine List of The Year Award 2016 from Good Food Guide,^[17] and the AA wine award^[18]

Gwynedd

• Black Boy Inn, Caernarfon

  Built in the 17th century and grade II listed it is understood to be "one of North Wales oldest surviving inns"^[19][20]

• Pete's Eats Cafe, Llanberis

  Used prominently by walkers and hikers, this cafe has won the Best Cafe in Wales in the 2016 People's Choice Awards and the Best Walkers' Cafe 2015. It serves basic food such as "chip butties" and "pint mugs of tea"^[21]

• 

  Ye Olde Bull's Head Inn, Castle Street, Gwynedd
  Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn, Beaumaris, Anglesey

  15th Century inn with two eating venues - the Brasserie and the Loft restaurant.^[22][23] The head chef is Hefin Roberts, considered one of the top 10 young chefs of Wales^[24] and the venue has received a three AA rosette award.^[25]

• Plas Bodegroes, Pwllheli

  Grade II listed Georgian house^[26] that has previously held a Michelin star^[13] and won the Hotels of the Year category in the Sawday’s British Hotel awards.^[27][28]

• Sosban and The Old Butchers, Menai Bridge

  Previously a butchers shop and converted into a restaurant which is known for having no menus and so relies on the choice of the chef, Stephen Stevens.^[29] It has three AA rosettes rating.^[30]

Monmouthshire

• The Whitebrook, Whitebrook

  Formerly known as "The Crown at Whitebrook" and the inn dates back to the 17th century. It has a Michelin star under chef Chris Harrod and three AA rosettes.^{[13][31][32][33]}

• The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny

  Opened in early 60's and since then has featured on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and held Michelin stars.^[13] The Walnut Tree is now under the direction of head chef, Shaun Hill and the restaurant has since won Great Britain’s Restaurant of the Year award,^[34] Wales category at the annual National Restaurant Awards 2015,^[35] has a Michelin star and three AA rosettes.^[36]

• The Hardwick, Abergavenny

  Country road-side restaurant is owned and run by Stephen Terry who is also head chef.^[37] It has been given a Bib Gourmand rating,^[38] it got best restaurant in Wales at the National Restaurant Awards^[39] and has received two AA rosettes.^[40]

• The Foxhunter, Nant-y-derry

  Owned and previously run by chef Matt Tebbutt, the Foxhunter had won the AA Restaurant of the Year 2004^[41] The pub was then leased out in 2014 and its focus was to return it to "its roots of a pub".^[42]

Pembrokeshire

• Cnapan Hotel, Newport

  Grade II listed Georgian townhouse serving Welsh cuisine.

• The Grove, Narberth

  Set in an 18th-century mansion^[43] it was awarded four Red Stars^[44] and a triple AA rosette^[45]

• Coast Saundersfoot, Saundersfoot

  Based on a coast of Pembrokeshire this beachside restaurant is headed by chef Will Holland.^[44] It was awarded the AA Welsh restaurant of the year in 2014.^[45] Chef Will Holland, beachside restaurant

Powys

• The Checkers, Montgomery

  18th century coaching inn, the Checkers, offers a "set taster menu" and has had a Michelin star since 2012.^{[13][14][46][47]}

• Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach

  Dating back to the 15th century, the Hall was once owned by Queen Victoria and is set within a RSPB nature reserve. It has a four AA rosette award^[48] and a Michelin star^[13][14] under chef Gareth Ward.^[49][50]

• The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon

  Restaurant and bar which uses local produce has been given the Bib Gourmand in Wales from the Red Michelin Guide, Inn of the Year for 2013 by The Good Pub Guide and has been featured in the Good Food Guide, Hardens and the Good Hotel Guide.^[51][52]

• Carlton Riverside, Llanwrtyd Wells

  Overlooking the Irfon river^[53][53] the Carlton Riverside, opened in 1991, is run by head chef, Mary Ann Gilchrist. It has previously had a Michelin star^[13] and three AA rosettes.^[54]

• Llangoed Hall, Brecon

  Grade II listed building with features retained from the original designs from the 17th century.^[55] It has an AA three rosette award and has previously had a Michelin star^[13][56]

Vale of Glamorgan

• Restaurant James Sommerin, Penarth

  Named after its owner and head chef, James Sommerin, it has been "ranked 24 in the UK in the Good Food Guide 2016 – the highest placed restaurant in Wales and has been awarded three AA rosettes."^[57]

References