28 restaurants in Wales with amazing views
Settle down for a delectable dinner with a view to match. Kathryn Williams and Ed Gilbert report...
WALES is full of excellent restaurants and stunning coastlines and countryside. And, sometimes, you can be lucky enough to get delicious food and an amazing view. From restaurants perched on clifftops to those looking out over mountains, in no particular order these are the places where you’ll enjoy the view as much as the food.
COAST, SAUNDERSFOOT
The award-winning Coast is just metres away from Coppet Hall Beach, so you’ll be guaranteed views of both sea and sky, no matter what the weather.
Owned by the same team as the Michelinstarred Beach House, dishes on the menu include brill with coastal leaves and leeks and beef short rib with chanterelle mushrooms.
■ Where? Coppet Hall Beach Centre, Saundersfoot, SA69 9AJ
BRYN WILLIAMS AT PORTH EIRIAS, COLWYN BAY
With his wealth of experience as one of Britain’s top chefs, Bryn Williams’ beachfront bistro on the north Wales coast holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and was named AA Restaurant of the Year for Wales 2019-20.
The restaurant’s big open space means you’re treated to fabulous views of the beach – and some pretty sunsets too.
■ Where? Promenade, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8HH
BEACH HOUSE, OXWICH
With a stunning menu from Michelin-starred head chef Hywel Griffiths, the Beach House is the perfect place for an al fresco dinner watching the sunset over Oxwich Bay. Hwyel’s cooking focuses on local Welsh produce, so dishes include Oxwich Bay lobster and Gower salt marsh lamb.
■ Where? Oxwich Beach, Swansea, SA3 1LS
HILLS, BRECON
Named after the Hills family who own this high-end burger restaurant, it’s a fitting name because of the fantastic views of the (often) snow-capped Brecon Beacons.
Aside from the panoramic vista, it’s worth a special journey for their Welsh smashed beef burgers, which are some of the best in Wales.
■ Where? Bishops Meadow, Hay Road, Brecon, LD3 9SW
THE OLD HOUSE 1147, LLANGYNWYD
This 12th-century pub combines the traditional and the modern. With breathtaking views of Nant y Gadlys valley, the restaurant offers a unique open-plan dining experience
■ Where? Llangynwyd, Maesteg, CF34 9SB
RHOSYN, PENALLY ABBEY, TENBY
Overlooking the sea near Tenby, this boutique hotel serves a short menu of technicallyaccomplished dishes including Welsh rarebit tart with caramelised onions and crispy ox cheek with pickled swede.
Fresh fish is sourced from Tenby Harbour and hand-picked strawberries come from the farm down the road.
■ Where? Abbey Hotel, Penally, Tenby, SA70 7PY
PIZZA TIPI, CARDIGAN
Woodfired pizzas and local craft beer are on offer at this riverside courtyard restaurant in the middle of Cardigan. Run by four brothers and their friends, Pizza Tipi fits well with Cardigan’s creative vibe.
■ Where? 1 Cambrian Quay, Cardigan, SA43 1EZ
FREDRICKS AT MACHYNYS, LLANELLI
Overlooking the Nicklaus golf course and Carmarthenshire Bay with the wonderful Gower coastline beyond, Fredricks brasserie is located on the first floor of the clubhouse at Machynys.
You can visit for a snack and a drink on the brasserie’s wraparound sundeck or a full meal in its 90-seat restaurant.
■ Where? Nicklaus Avenue, Llanelli, SA15 2DG
WORMS HEAD HOTEL, GOWER
The view from the restaurant takes in the spectacular Rhossili Bay and Worms Head. Serving traditional pub food, dishes on offer include fish and chips, homemade curries and Welsh rarebit.
■ Where? Rhossili, Gower, SA3 1PP
BARAVIN, ABERYSTWYTH
This stylish seafront bar has huge windows looking straight out on to Cardigan Bay and a tempting menu featuring simply-cooked local produce, pizzas, craft beers and cocktails.
■ Where? 1 Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2AP
CASTELLAMARE, SWANSEA
With beautiful views of Bracelet Bay and Mumbles Lighthouse, Castellamare serves traditional Italian cuisine. Choose from a selection of fresh fish, meat and pasta with dishes including calamari fritti and chicken with a black pepper and brandy sauce.
■ Where? Bracelet Bay, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 4JT
THE EBB AND FLOW RESTAURANT, DEGANWY
The Ebb and Flow Restaurant at the Quay Hotel and Spa takes in stunning views of the Conwy Mountains, estuary and Conwy Castle.
Named after the ebb and flow of the River Conwy, the restaurant serves modern twists on brasserie classics including herb-crusted rump of lamb with carrot chutney and ham hock and summer herb terrine.
■ Where? Deganwy Quay, Deganwy, Conwy, LL31 9DJ
TIR A MÔR, CARDIFF BAY
With gorgeous views out over Cardiff Bay, Tir a Môr restaurant at St David’s Hotel puts a modern twist on our country’s culinary heritage, from smoked haddock, salmon and spring onion fishcakes to pan-roasted Brecon lamb rump.
■ Where? Havannah Street, Cardiff, CF10 5SD
LANGLANDS BRASSERIE, SWANSEA
You couldn’t get much closer to the beach at Langlands Brasserie and the menu is designed to make the best of locally-sourced produce.
On the menu there’s fish and chips with mushy peas, prawn and crab cocktail and pork belly with cider and mustard sauce.
■ Where? Brynfield Road, Newton, Swansea, SA3 4SQ
THE DINING ROOM, PORTMEIRION
Built into the cliffs south of Porthmadog and boasting its own private peninsula on the stunning southern shoreline of Snowdonia, Portmeirion really is a thing of beauty.
Designed by Sir Terence Conran in an art deco style, Hotel Portmeirion’s Dining Room restaurant
serves contemporary Welsh food cooked with local ingredients.
■ Where? Portmeirion, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, LL48 6ER
TOWER RESTAURANT, LAKE VYRNWY HOTEL & SPA, POWYS
Lake Vyrnwy Hotel has a breathtaking location overlooking a mountain lake in the rural Powys countryside. While the Tower Restaurant offers a full à la carte menu of brasserie cooking, you can also graze from their tapas menu featuring dishes such as tempura prawns and salt and pepper squid.
■ Where? Llanwddyn, Powys, SY10 0LY
LLANERCH VINEYARD, HENSOL
This working vineyard, located in the heart of the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan countryside, is home to an award-winning restaurant, cookery school and luxury hotel. With views out over the vineyard from the restaurant, you can enjoy a glass of their own Cariad wine with your meal.
■ Where? Hensol Road, Hensol, Pontyclun, CF72 8GG
YNYSHIR, MACHYNLLETH
One of the UK’S most critically acclaimed restaurants, currently holding two Michelin stars and five AA rosettes, Ynyshir is located in a country house that was once Queen Victoria’s hidden retreat.
Tucked away between the golden sands of Borth Beach and the rugged mountains of Snowdonia National Park, Ynyshir’s views are as stunning as the food.
■ Where? Eglwys Fach, Machynlleth, SY20 8TA
DYLAN’S
Set over three Welsh sites, Dylan’s restaurants are not short of a cracking view whichever venue you choose. This restaurant is in Criccieth and it’s situated in a glass-fronted art deco style building, overlooking the bay towards Harlech Castle. The Menai Bridge and Llandudno venues have equally lovely outdoor spaces.
With a focus on seafood, dishes include crab and lime arancini, seabass tacos and moules mariniere.
■ Where? Llandudno, LL30 1BE, Criccieth, LL52 0HU, and Menai Bridge, LL59 5EY
THE TAVERN ON THE BAY, ANGLESEY
This gastropub has mesmerising panoramic views which take in the Anglesey coastline and beyond to the Great Orme. Refined pub dishes include chargrilled gammon with egg, pineapple and chips and Goan chickpea and spinach curry with sticky coconut rice.
■ Where? Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, LL75 8RJ
THE DECK, PENARTH
With great views out over the marina, you could almost be eating lunch in the glamour of Monaco or Cannes. The Deck’s menu draws influences from across the globe with dishes including pan-seared duck and spicy Brazilian fish stew.
■ Where? Penarth Marina, Penarth Portway, Penarth, CF64 1TQ
LANGDON’S, ANGLESEY
Langdon’s is a family-run restaurant next to Holyhead Marina with stunning sea views. Hearty homemade cooking on offer includes a Sunday carvery, pizzas, mixed grills and curries.
■ Where? Holyhead Marina, Beach Road, Newry Beach, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 1YA
THE SHED, PORTHGAIN
This renowned bistro is situated in the pretty coastal hamlet of Porthgain on the north coast of the St Davids peninsula.
The emphasis is on locally-caught fish and chips as well as daily specials including monkfish and prawn curry and hake with tomatoes, olives and capers. If you can’t get a table then you can always just perch on the harbourside.
■ Where? 56 Llanrhian Road, Porthgain, Haverfordwest, SA62 5BN
TAFELL A TÂN, LLANGRANNOG
Based right on Llangrannog beach, Tafell a Tân serves delicious wood-fired pizzas, cakes and craft beer. The “Moch Mawr” is topped with chorizo, ham, pepperoni, Italian sausage and BBQ sauce, while the “Just Beet It” has a beetroot base, mushroom, spinach and a chestnut and apricot crumb.
■ Where? Llangrannog, Llandysul, SA44 6SN
ST BRIDES SPA HOTEL, SAUNDERSFOOT
On a clifftop overlooking Saundersfoot in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, St Brides Hotel is best-known for its infinity pool.
The hotel’s Cliff Restaurant serves up Pembrokeshire produce and locally-landed fish with dishes including lobster risotto with pickled carrot and Pembrokeshire duck breast with buckwheat crespelle.
■ Where? St Brides Hill, Saundersfoot, SA69 9NH
THE SECRET, SWANSEA
The Secret is located on Swansea Bay’s seafront with impressive views of the beach. During the day you can enjoy cooked breakfasts, filled baguettes and coffee, while in the evening more involved dishes include a tomahawk pork chop with roast new potatoes and teriyaki jackfruit burger with sweetcorn salsa.
■ Where? Mumbles Road, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0AY
THE HARBOURMASTER, ABERAERON
Expect a menu showcasing a larder of Cardigan Bay seafood and fish, Welsh lamb and beef, local organic vegetables and excellent wines from the renowned Harbourmaster restaurant, which overlooks Aberaeron’s quayside.
■ Where? 1 Quay Parade, Aberaeron, SA46 0BT
RUNWAYSKILN, MARLOES SANDS
A pretty stone building set above the epic Marloes Sands beach about a 15-minute walk away.
Runwayskiln serves weekly specials like homemade beefburgers and feta and nectarine salads as well as top coffee and delicious cakes. They’ve also opened a kiosk for those who just need a cold drink or ice cream while walking the coastal path.
■ Where? Marloes Sands, Haverfordwest, SA62 3BH