More than 70 Welsh restaurants have been named in the AA 2022 Authorized Restaurant Guide.
The 28th edition of the book offers foodies a guide to the best restaurants in the UK with establishments awarded between one and five AA rosettes.
In this year’s guide, 73 Welsh restaurants from around 1700 have been featured.
Only one Welsh restaurant received the highest award of five rosettes, while two received four rosettes and six received three rosettes. There were 36 others who received two rosettes and 28 a rosette.
Read more: The restaurants in Wales recommended in the Michelin Guide
These are the nine best restaurants in Wales according to the guide.
Five AA rosettes
Ynyshir – Eglwys Fach, Powys
(Image: Ynyshir / Instagram)
Located on the Dyfi Estuary, Gareth Ward’s innovative cuisine features meaty meat and huge Asian-influenced flavors. The tasting menu will cost you £ 300 per person, but there will be around 30 dishes, including hand-dipped scallop with smoked roe dashi, wagyu beef fat and Newcastle Brown Ale.
Four AA rosettes
Sosban and the Old Butchers – Menai Bridge, Anglesey
(Image: Daily Post)
Situated in the heart of the Menai Bridge within a former butcher shop, Sosban & The Old Butchers is run by husband and wife team Stephen and Bethan Stevens. The AA Guide celebrates Sosban’s food for its “amazing creativity, compelling imagery, and powerfully impressive flavors.”
The Whitebrook – Whitebrook, Monmouthshire
(Image: Western Daily Press)
Chris Harrod’s beautiful cuisine at The Whitebrook focuses on locally sourced ingredients and freshly picked sea vegetables and herbs. Chris trained with Raymond Blanc and, like his mentor, has received multiple awards for his cooking. 90% of the restaurant’s ingredients come from within a 12-mile radius of this rural Wye Valley restaurant.
Three AA rosettes
Bodysgallen Hall and Spa – Llandudno, Conwy
Set on over 200 acres of parkland, Bodysgallen Hall has spectacular views of Snowdonia and Conwy Castle. The Dining Room restaurant’s imaginative menus focus on local produce and organic, farm-grown fruits and vegetables.
The Walnut Tree Inn – Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
(Image: The Walnut Tree / Instagram)
The Walnut Tree has been an iconic Welsh dining destination since the 1960s. It is now owned by Shaun Hill, a British cuisine legend, serving boldly flavored French cuisine with a host of international influences. Dishes may include squab and petit pois a la Française or medium white pork with glazed cheek and pressed belly.
Palé Hall Hotel & Restaurant – Bala, Gwynedd
Gareth Stevenson cooks in this luxurious country home in the Dee Valley. A rising star of Welsh cuisine, Gareth serves tasting menus that include dishes like Coed-Y-Brenin Venison Tenderloin with pumpkin and burnt orange, as well as hand-dipped scallops with sunflower seed satay.
The Fern – Narberth, Pembrokeshire
(Image: The Grove Narberth / Instagram)
The Fernery is one of two restaurants at Grove of Narberth, a luxury boutique hotel housed in a 17th century manor house. Fernery’s menu makes good use of herbs and vegetables picked from their garden with dishes including Grove vegetables with Hafod cheese, as well as lamb with baba ghanoush and goat curd.
Llangoed Room – Llyswen, Powys
Tucked away in the heart of the Powys countryside, Llangoed Hall offers the perfect blend of classic country charm and luxurious modern amenities. The AA describes Chef Sam Bowser’s food as “tasty, sophisticated and complex, including fermented ingredients and trendy forages.”
Beach House Restaurant in Oxwich Beach – Oxwich, Swansea
Housed in a former coal shop with panoramic views of Oxwich Bay from the Gower, the Beach House is run by Hywel Griffith, who is passionate about celebrating local Welsh produce. Menu items include Gower Marshes Lamb with Pressed Potatoes and Nasturtium or Oxwich Bay Lobster with Lime Leaf Curry.
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