27 Best Hotels in Wales

This country-chic hotel in the town center is renowned for its excellent food, especially the afternoon tea. Rooms in the former coaching inn, and its surroundings (including stables, a Victorian lodge, and a 17th-century cottage) are stylishly decorated in neutral tones. Try a craft beer in the wood-paneled Foxhunter Bar and check out the artwork by Alexis Snell. Be sure to book well in advance if you want to stay here during the Abergavenny Food Festival.

A drive south on the coast road from Aberystwyth brings you to this early-19th-century Georgian-style, bright blue building right on the harbor, among many other colorfully painted structures. Modern design and strong colors dominate the public areas and bedrooms, which have wonderful harbor views. Rooms are stylish, comfortable, and furnished with Welsh textiles. The sophisticated, modern Welsh brasserie specializes in local seafood, and there's a decent bar menu for more casual dining.

This magnificent Jacobean mansion on the banks of the River Wye, about 7 miles west of Hay-on-Wye, has beautiful fabrics and furnishings, open fireplaces, a sweeping carved staircase, and a paneled library dating back to 1632. The bedrooms have a traditional feel with antique-style pieces and canopied beds. On the fixed-price dinner menu, the restaurant serves such dishes as Welsh Black beef with mushroom ravioli or honey-glazed duck with saffron potatoes.

Now a hotel, the Victorian-era Port Authority building in the Maritime Quarter has lost none of its period features: moldings, pillars, stained glass, and wood floors. The modern rooms, in both the main building and in a town house across the road, are immaculate, with crisp cotton sheets and colorful Welsh blankets. The separate Townhouse building across the street offers greater privacy (and is more affordable). 

Built on the site of a 6th-century abbey in 5 acres of lush forest overlooking Camarthen Bay, this dignified 18th-century house is awash with period details. Bedrooms in the main house are furnished with antiques and four-poster beds, while those in the Coach House are simpler; all are decorated in white with splashes of color and have a chic beach house vibe. Excellent suppers made with local produce are available each evening in the top-notch restaurant, Rhosyn.

On the seafront, this traditional hotel is a home-away-from-home thanks to its friendly and welcoming owners and staff. Apart from the location, its main selling point is the delicious home-cooked breakfast. The building dates back to 1842 but the decor is decidedly contemporary with bright, well-equipped bedrooms—the doubles have king-size beds. There's also a restaurant where dinner is equally appealing; try the cawl (lamb stew). 

This luxury seafront hotel has welcomed many illustrious guests since it opened in 1854, including Napoleon III and seven British prime ministers. Although original features remain, the decor is contemporary. The most prized rooms are the five Rooftop Rooms, which have the best views and their own balconies. Traditional British cuisine made with local produce is served in the chic restaurant and afternoon tea is available in the comfortable lounge.

Between Amroth and Tenby, this luxury hotel has a breathtaking location perched above Carmarthen Bay; most of the superbly appointed rooms have stunning sea views. The decor retains a jaunty nautical theme, from the room keys topped off with a knot or rope to the coastal artwork and regionally made oak furniture. There's a state-of-the-art marine spa with infinity pool, steam room, and rock sauna; the treatment room for couples has a giant picture window with a bay view. The restaurant specializes in locally sourced produce, but nearby Lan Y Mor is a better option for dining. 

In the middle of town, this refurbished 500-year-old coaching inn is full of character; the low-beamed bar, decorated with memorabilia from the days when stagecoaches stopped here, has a log fire in winter. Rooms in the hotel or in a modern addition in the former stable yard vary widely; the most luxurious have four-poster beds and antiques. The restaurant serves contemporary cuisine made with local produce. The hotel is on A40, 6 miles southeast of Abergavenny.

These twin hotels, a stone's throw away from each other, could hardly be more different: one is a restored 14th-century coaching inn, the other a contemporary lodging. Bedrooms at the Bull have exposed beams and traditional furnishings. A better choice are the Townhouse's contemporary rooms, named after their color schemes—Sky, Clementine, Lilac, or Cream. Locally made coffee, tea, and biscuits can be found in the rooms at both sites. The Bull's restaurant offers top-notch pub fare like fish-and-chips, and the atmospheric bar has a good selection of draft beer.

Nestled within Conwy's medieval walls, this former coaching inn has wood beams, stone fireplaces, and plenty of antiques. Illustrious former guests include William Wordsworth, Samuel Johnson, and Charlotte Brontë. The bedrooms are plush and luxurious, with elaborate modern bathrooms. The restaurant and bar are decorated with paintings of scenes from Shakespeare's plays—traded by distinguished Victorian artist John Dawson-Watson in return for lodgings. Here you can enjoy seasonal Modern British cuisine, such as Conwy Valley Lamb Wellington. 

Formerly the Coal Exchange, where it is said the world's first £1 million deal was struck in 1901, this building has now been turned into a comfortable three-star lodging. The public areas and their wood paneling are magnificent, especially the trading floor which is now used for weddings and events (take a peek around the door to the right of the reception desk). Rooms are individually decorated in a contemporary, neo-baroque style. The restaurant, Culley's Kitchen & Bar, serves beautifully presented dishes made with local produce.

Housed in an art deco shopping arcade on one of the city's main shopping streets, Hotel Indigo is a stylish mid-range lodging with local flavor. You know you're in Wales as soon as you walk in, thanks to the Celtic murals and blown-up photos of local celebrities like Shirley Bassey. Rooms are themed to reflect the city's history and culture. On the top floor you'll find fantastic views and a restaurant, Lefel 6, serving refined cuisine made with local produce. 

The place to go for total Victorian country elegance, Lake Country and its 50 acres of sloping lawns contain a trout-filled lake bordered by an impressive spa. Comfortable and quiet, the hotel has first-class service and excellent contemporary cuisine. Three-course dinners may include pan-roasted loin of Welsh venison followed by caramelized rice pudding. Period furniture and fine fabrics decorate the large bedrooms; some have four-poster beds. The hotel is in Llangammarch Wells, 16 miles southwest of Llandrindod Wells.

Awesome views of mountain-ringed Lake Vyrnwy are just one asset of this country mansion on a 24,000-acre estate. For the ultimate sporting vacation you can try fly-fishing, hike or bike on the nearby paths, or rent a sailboat. The less energetic can linger in the superb spa, which offers a range of massage treatments and has a pool overlooking the lake. Leather chairs and log fires add to the feeling of luxury, and the bedrooms are full of pampering touches. The sophisticated contemporary cuisine includes seasonal game and local lamb as well as tapas.

This grand-looking hotel from 1896 is surprisingly contemporary on the inside, with modern furnishings that complement the original architectural flourishes. The service is efficient, and the large bedrooms are equipped with up-to-the-minute gadgets. There's a decent restaurant, and the spa offers reasonably priced treatments (a back massage costs £50).

This historic Georgian mansion, now a luxury hotel which also offers self-catering accommodations, was for many years the home of the Nanteos Cup (alleged to be the Holy Grail and now in the National Library of Wales). The sophisticated, traditionally furnished rooms have all the modern amenities; the suites are particularly grand. The restaurant, Nightingale, is renowned for its creative use of local produce and the bar has a good selection of Welsh beers and spirits. Nanteos is 4 miles southeast of Aberystwyth.

This Georgian country house hotel, a 20-minute drive north of the city center, has wonderful views across Cardiff and over the Bristol Channel to Somerset. Rooms are decorated in classic style and have all modern amenities, including tea and coffee. The food can be described as upmarket gastro-pub grub and a good afternoon tea is also available. There's even a small gym. 

Once Cardiff's head post office and county court in the Victoria era, this building has been turned into the city's smartest hotel. Located next to the Principality Stadium, it's a favorite with well-heeled sports fans. Rooms are chic and individually decorated in classic-meets-contemporary style. The wood-paneled restaurant, The Sorting Room, has a modern British-French menu that uses plenty of regional produce. A rooftop spa, complete with a hydrotherapy pool, is a welcome retreat from sightseeing.

This refined country house, built in 1741, feels more like a home than a hotel. The eight rooms in the main house are spacious and traditionally furnished with plush fabrics and antiques while the four duplexes in the Stables are more rustic and ideally suited for families. All meals are available, but the afternoon tea is a real treat. There's even a small spa with a jacuzzi, sauna, and beauty treatments. The hotel is 3 miles southeast of Brecon off the A40.

Once a coaching inn, this sophisticated lodging on the edge of town retains its sense of history. Rooms are decorated in country-chic style and furnished with antiques; specially commissioned art featuring flowers adorn the walls. The restaurant serves hearty Welsh breakfasts and Modern British food at lunch and dinner. When the weather's nice, the small garden is a lovely spot for an evening drink.

As a major transportation hub between Ireland, Wales, and England, Holyhead welcomes many 24-hour visitors looking for hot meal and bed rather than a Welsh countryside adventure. Catering to them and other budget travelers, the Travelodge also benefits from its portside location. Rooms also tend to excel guests' expectations, with recent renovations adding extra soft "dreamer beds" and a measure of Scandinavian minimalism. There's no restaurant or pub on site but plenty in the surrounding neighborhoods.