Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Built in 1870 this is one of the finest Victorian country houses in Wales. Precise attention is paid to all the little trimmings, canapés are a joy and one has the distinct feeling of being cosseted. Whilst the cuisine is classic it is not inflexible and little flashes of rebellion occasionally surface in the best possible way. A good wine list with house wine at £18.95.

In tranquil and scenic Llanberis, the Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel stands as the epitome of comfort and luxury, and its proximity to Snowdonia makes it a particularly attractive and peaceful retreat. There are a number of outdoor activities for the adventure oriented while those who prefer to unwind in a more leisurely fashion could visit the nearby parks and gardens, or travel on the famous Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Simple and bright furnishings adorn the hotel rooms, and there is no compromise on comfort. For the 'constantly connected' generation free wi-fi enables them to connect their laptops and surf with ease.

The Victoria Restaurant offers a wide variety of traditional British menus for lunch and dinner and has a carefully selected wine list to accompany while the well-stocked bar is just the place to relax over a drink. During the spring and summer, you could relax and enjoy the view from the conservatory.

A large curved room with oak floors, windows looking through the trees to the mountains and the aroma of fine food welcome customers to this beautiful café that can be found in the small village of Brynrefail in North Wales. Caban Cyf manages the building and site to provide, amongst other things, affordable workshops and studios for the local business community and to offer free services to the local schools.

A healthy mix of organic, local produce and fruits and vegetables from the kitchen garden is used to create affordable and delicious dishes such as dandelion leaf salad or wild nettle soup. During summer there's an abundance of fresh, juicy berries and honey from the beehives in the garden, in autumn there could be velvety pumpkin soup, and in winter the garden produces Jerusalem artichokes.

Caban hosts a popular globetrotting buffet evening with a different theme each Saturday. Make sure you do book before visiting them.

The Penhelig Arms is an 18th century inn located on the picturesque Dovey estuary in Aberdovey, where guests can enjoy beautiful harbour views from the comfortable and luxurious deluxe suites. The Fisherman's Bar is a reputed hotspot for locals and visitors where they can relax and enjoy a pint of real ale while they grab a quick bite to eat. But it is the restaurant with its fresh and inventive brasserie style cooking that is the real draw there.

Starters such as grilled fillet of mullet or trout with flaked almonds can be followed by roast rack of local lamb served pink with roasted root vegetables and rosemary jus. For dessert there is the delicious warm chocolate, orange and hazelnut brownie served with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream or eton mess. Also available is a selection of Welsh cheese with biscuits. Champagnes and fine wines accompany the meal exceptionally well although you could opt for some chilled beer instead.

Located on the balmy side of the Lleyn peninsula Portmeirion represents a large part of the life's work of Clough Williams-Ellis, a man through whom the vision of an Italianate village on the Welsh coast became reality and a lasting monument. Dishes prepared from local produce play a large part on the menu in the restaurant blessed with superb estuarial views. The wine list is notable with really good house wines at £11, supported by an excellent range from across the globe, all at less than £15 a bottle.

If you've associated Hole in the Wall with gangsters and game shows then it's time to think again as it could also point to a cobbled street in Caernarfon that is home to a quaint little French bistro. Done up in a slightly retro theme, the décor at Le Bistro is quite relaxed and informal with low lighting and French music playing in the background.

The unstinting use of local produce is evident on the menu, whether it's the succulent Welsh Black beef from Angelsey, or the free range eggs that form the delicious crème brûlée. A delightful feast could begin with smoked bacon and chilli cream, or terrine of pork, chicken liver and apricot with red onion confit, followed by fillet of local wild sea bass, fresh lemon and ginger. The roast breast of Welsh spring lamb with fresh thyme and Llanberis honey is definitely a high point and finally save space for a dessert of dark and white chocolate pot with amaretti biscuit with crème anglaise.