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Situated within the town walls of the Royal Borough of Caernarfon and only two blocks away from the main entrance to the Castle, Black Boy Inn makes for a perfect stopover while exploring a world heritage site with both Roman and Edwardian history. For over six centuries the inn has provided fine food and drinks for both travellers and locals alike and its undulating walls, low ceilings, roaring open fires and thick wooden oak beams create a cosy old-worldly atmosphere.

Unfussy yet skilful preparation of quality ingredients characterises the attractive dishes here. A passion for fresh seafood using the locally sourced, organic Welsh produce, starters such as smoked mackerel, pan fried tiger prawns and deep fried chicken dunks and mains on the lines of steak and ale, roast silverside of Welsh beef are all visibly popular. Game pie with venison, rabbit and pheasant in a rich red wine and thyme gravy, topped with flaky pastry also features on the menu. A wide selection of wines from around the world is on hand to pair up with the food at the Black Boy Inn.

This almost dolls-house little Georgian manor house is delightful and one can quickly see why people become addicted to the place. The dining room is straight out of a gourmet heaven, with a Michelin star and 7/10 in the Good Food Guide. Not unsurprisingly it is founded on simplicity with relatively limited choices from a menu that is memorable. Try the shellfish tagliatelle as a starter before moving to breast of guinea fowl with mango and celeriac and lime leaf sauce. The hardest part may be the pudding decision where the competition is pretty deadly, but many would fall for the cinnamon biscuit of rhubarb and apple with elderflower custard. The wine list is serious stuff too with some careful selection given and needed.

A wonderful, in every sense, 16th century country house surrounded by 1200 acres of totally unspoiled National Trust owned land. The panelled dining room, very typical of the décor throughout this essentially family home, is the hub around which the rest of the house revolves. Joanna Reddicliffe reigns supreme in the kitchen, producing imaginative and entertaining dishes with good use of the wonderful local ingredients. Her father, Jonathan Barkwith, eminence grise, fine wine enthusiast and owner is an evident host and guests have been known to leave without realising they had been in an hotel. A real gem of a wine list, many below £20, with creditable house wine at £10.50.

Situated in the picturesque seaside town of Criccieth, in North Wales, Poachers Restaurant stands out with its green exterior, surrounded by masses of colourful flower baskets. The intimate, cosy atmosphere makes Poachers a suitable choice for any occasion, from romantic dining for two to a casual dinner with the family. Family owned and operated, Chef Welshman Martin Bischoff is the man behind the stoves whilst you may find Jill, his wife, managing the dining room.

The seasonally changing menu features an international cuisine, and the freshest Welsh ingredients are used to create dishes that include Asian duck breast, marinated herring fillet, beef lasagne and sirloin steak. Fish is the main attraction at Poachers, and variety is splendid; expect to find the likes of baked cod fillet served with a creamy sauce of cockles and mussels, pan-seared swordfish with lime and mango sauce, and sautéed fillet of salmon with a basil pesto cream sauce.

For the little ones there is a special kids menu, designed to match their taste and appetite.