25 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.

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.

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.

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. 

In the 17th century Felin Glais was a barn; today it provides spacious and comfortable accommodations but still hasn't lost its ancient character. Breakfast is great, with the meat and eggs coming from local producers. The owners will also provide packed lunches for hikers (£10). The inn is in Abersycir, 3 miles west of Brecon.

Most of the stylish, contemporary rooms in this Victorian town house have their own lounge; the Loft room has six cabin-style single beds. There's an equally stylish one-bedroom self-catering cottage next door. Free parking is available nearby. 

This highly regarded dining pub dating from the early 20th century, in the village-like suburb of Llandaff, offers two chic rooms that are cozy homes away from home. Both have super king beds and coffee machines as well as original features and antiques. Room 1 has a roll-top bath while Room 2, slightly larger, overlooks the hills toward Castell Coch.

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.

A Georgian town house in the heart of Ruthin has been converted into a gorgeous boutique hotel. Each room is like a tiny art exhibition, designed and decorated by the artist whose work hangs on the walls. There's also a library, gallery, private cinema, and cocktail bar. The highly regarded restaurant, serving locally sourced food, is currently open to guests only on weekdays; reserve in advance. The popular weekly film club and monthly supper club are open to everyone.

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. 

This boutique B&B is a breath of fresh air in such a traditional village, offering guests some real Welsh hospitality in modern, stylish surroundings. You'll find six well-equipped minimalist rooms with Welsh blankets and free Netflix along with Welsh tapas made with local produce on the menu in the shabby-chic restaurant (try one of the grazing boards). The bar has an excellent selection of Welsh craft beers and spirits.

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.

Not only is this five-star campsite in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (aka the Gower Peninsula), it overlooks what has been voted one of Britain's best beaches. There are pitches for tents and motor homes, as well as glamping in heated, well-equipped yurts for up to five people (from £249 for two nights). Breakfast pastries and evening meals from a food truck are available to preorder.

Located in the shadow of Harlech Castle, Y Branwen is a homey restaurant with rooms and a friendly place for an overnight stay. The guest areas are good-size and modern. The smart restaurant has plenty of traditional Welsh flavors on offer, and there are 70 gins and 35 whiskies on the bar menu. Harlech Castle is a short stroll up the hill.

Complete the Welsh countryside idyll at this family-run bed-and-breakfast 8 km (5 miles) south of Holyhead. Spread across 7 hectares (18 acres) against the Irish Sea coast, the farm offers some of the best views on the isle of Anglesey. It's easy to get even closer to the water on several coastal trails or at the nearby public beach. However, the eight individually designed rooms inside are cute and comfortable enough to allow long morning lie-ins, if the birds don't wake you first. Portions of the farm are open to camping and caravans, with showering facilities provided, and they have two vacation homes for rent. Snacks and drinks are sold in the reception.