4 Best Restaurants in Wales

Chapters

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Seasonal, local produce is what it's all about at this sustainable restaurant located in an attractive old stone building in the town center. The five-course set menu features beautifully crafted dishes like heirloom tomato with Ragstone goat's cheese, nasturtiums, and pickled shallots; there's also a separate vegetarian and vegan menu.

Old Black Lion

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This 17th-century coaching inn close to Hay's center is ideal for a lunch break after you're done ransacking the nearby bookshops. The restaurant's sophisticated cooking emphasizes local meats and produce—for example, the pan-roasted Welsh lamb rump with gratin dauphinoise. There are also some interesting hot sandwiches available at lunchtime. You can even opt for an overnight stay in one of the country-style rooms.

Shepherd's Parlour

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Sheep's-milk ice cream, delicious cakes, and local produce mixed with international flavors are offered at this little café. Many customers come just for the coffee, especially the Lebanese variety.

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The Classroom

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On the top floor of Cardiff and Vale College's City Centre Campus, this smart restaurant is run by catering and hospitality students with panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The menus, which change with the seasons, are overseen by some of the top Welsh chefs working in the U.K. The beautifully presented dishes are made with local produce; even the bread is baked here. The restaurant also offers cooking master classes and short courses.