The best restaurants in the UK have been unveiled by the AA in its new Restaurant Guide for 2020 , including 86 of the best dining destinations in Wales.
A must read for food lovers, the homegrown eateries featured include the likes of the Ynyshir in Machynlleth - awarded a whopping five Rosettes for culinary excellence - and recently crowned AA Restaurant of the Year in Wales, namely Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay .
However, there are also eight new Welsh entries in this latest edition of the tome, which contains more than 2,000 restaurants across the length and breadth of Britain which have been ranked by the AA's professional inspectors.
These recent additions are as follows:
Ty Castell, Caernarfon
Number of Rosettes: Two
What the guide says: Close to Caernarfon Castle and occupying a notable 18th-century building, this contemporary restaurant looks far beyond Wales for its culinary inspiration. The interesting tapas-style menu has a global influence, from dishes like cured salmon, pink grapefruit, white radish and ponzu dressing to the teriyaki beef, braised onion and sautéed mushrooms.
Leicester's Restaurant, The Great House Hotel, Bridgend
Number of Rosettes: Two
What the guide says: The 15th-century Great House, a Grade II listed building, is home to this restaurant that aims to provide an exquisite dining experience in welcoming and relaxed surroundings. Reflecting excellent Welsh cooking, expect bold, inventive food that’s underpinned by a sense of quality and local sourcing.
www.great-house-laleston.co.uk
The Gun Room, Plas Dinas Country House, Caernarfon
Number of Rosettes: One
What the guide says: Plas Dinas Country House was once home to the Armstrong Jones family and retains a comforting sense of small-scale intimacy in The Gun Room. Done out with classy restraint – dark oak floors, high-backed leather seats, white linen, and ancestral oils on the walls – it’s a serene setting for modern British cooking founded on a bedrock of splendid local ingredients.
Padarn Brasserie, Royal Victoria Hotel , Llanberis
Number of Rosettes: One
What the guide says: Set within Snowdonia National Park, this Victorian hotel occupies a magnificent spot overlooking the village of Llanberis. Popular with walkers and tourists as much as locals, the modern British menu keeps things simple. Chicken liver parfait and onion marmalade might precede pan-fried sea bream, ratatouille, chorizo, chilli, coriander pesto and straw potatoes.
Gem 42, Newport
Number of Rosettes: Two
What the guide says: The unassuming building is easy to miss, but once inside you’re hardly likely to forget the exuberant Botticelli-style ceilings and crisply dressed tables with Murano glass ornaments. The food is a cut above the average trattoria too – the kitchen works a gleeful fusion of classical foundations and contemporary molecular techniques to deliver an entertaining medley of textures and flavours.
The Lion, Pontypool
Number of Rosettes: One
What the guide says: At the heart of UNESCO World Heritage recognised Blaenavon, The Lion has been revamped with a clean-lined modern look. Its relaxed dining room blends bare tables with neutral grey hues and light fittings that reference the bygone mining days. The food fits the bill, deploying excellent local ingredients in hearty, crowd-pleasing dishes.
www.thelionhotelblaenavon.co.uk
Hare & Hounds, Cowbridge
Number of Rosettes: Two
What the guide says: If you’re looking for elevated country classics where local sourcing is key then look no further than the innovative and interesting food at the Hare & Hounds. This unassuming stone pub sits quietly on the main road in this peaceful Welsh village. Inside, a large inglenook fireplace, open kitchen and relaxed yet attentive service completes the picture.
Holm House Hotel, Penarth
Number of Rosettes: One
What the guide says: In a tranquil, affluent area of Penarth known as Millionaires' Row, the restaurant of this handsome 1920s' mansion overlooks pretty gardens and the Bristol Channel beyond. The setting is smart, uncluttered and modern – it’s all slate floors, unclothed tables and maritime shades of blue – and the kitchen delivers carefully executed modern British dishes with heaps of local flavour.
The other Welsh restaurants in the guide
Bishopsgate House Hotel, Beaumaris
Château Rhianfa, Beaumaris
Sosban & The Old Butcher’s Restaurant, Menai Bridge
Marram Grass, Newborough
Bully’s, Cardiff
Park House Restaurant, Cardiff
Mansion House Llansteffan, Llansteffan
Y Polyn, Nantgaredig
Caemorgan Mansion, Cardigan
Ynyshir, Eglwys Fach
The Falcondale Hotel & Restaurant, Lampeter
Hammet @ Castell Malgwyn, Llechryd
Y Talbot, Tregaron
Brasserie 1786, Abergele
Craig-y-Dderwen Riverside Hotel, Betws-y-Coed
Llugwy River Restaurant@Royal Oak Hotel, Betws-y-Coed
Bryn Tyrch Inn, Capel Curig
Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay
Castle Hotel Conwy, Conwy
Signatures Restaurant, Conwy
Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy
Bodysgallen Hall and Spa, Llandudno
Dunoon Hotel, Llandudno
Imperial Hotel, Llandudno
The Lilly Restaurant with Rooms, Llandudno
St George’s Hotel, Llandudno
Penhelig Arms, Aberdyfi
The Dining Room, Abersoch
Porth Tocyn Hotel, Abersoch
Palé Hall Hotel & Restaurant, Bala
Bron Eifion Country House Hotel, Criccieth
Bwyty Mawddach Restaurant, Dolgellau
Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel, Dolgellau
The Hotel Portmeirion, Portmeirion
Angel Hotel, Abergavenny
The Hardwick, Abergavenny
Restaurant 1861, Abergavenny
The Walnut Tree Inn, Abergavenny
The Stonemill & Steppes Farm Cottages, Rockfield
Newbridge on Usk, Usk
The Raglan Arms, Usk
The Whitebrook, Monmouthshire
Gemelli Restaurant, Newport
Steak on Six, Newport
Rafters, Newport
Slebech Park Estate, Haverfordwest
The Fernery, Narbeth
Llys Meddyg, Newport, Pembs
The Shed, Porthgain
Blas Restaurant, St Davids
Coast Restaurant, Saundersfoot
St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot
Crug Glâs Country House, Solva
Penally Abbey Hotel, Tenby
The Salt Cellar, Tenby
Trefloyne Manor, Tenby
Wolfscastle Country Hotel, Wolfscastle
Peterstone Court, Brecon
Three Horseshoes Inn, Brecon
The Bear, Crickhowell
Manor Hotel, Crickhowell
Old Black Lion Inn, Hay-On-Wye
Seeds, Llanfyllin
Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa, Llanwddyn
Lasswade Country House, Llanwrtyd Wells
Llangoed Hall, Llyswen
The Nags Head Inn, Montgomery
La Luna, Pontyclun
Llechwen Hall Hotel, Pontypridd
The Plough & Harrow, Bishopston
Beach House Restaurant at Oxwich Beach, Oxwich
Hanson at the Chelsea Restaurant, Swansea
The Parkway Hotel & Spa, Cwmbran
Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol
Vale Grill, Hensol
The Fox & Hounds, Llancarfan
Restaurant James Sommerin, Penarth
The Hand at Llanarmon, Wrexham
The AA Restaurant Guide 2020 is available for £16.99 in bookshops and online .
