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Wales has developed a thriving restaurant scene over the last decade or so, and not just in major towns. Some truly outstanding food can be found in rural pubs and hotel restaurants. More and more restaurants are creating dishes using fresh local ingredients—Welsh lamb, Welsh Black beef, Welsh cheeses, and seafood from the Welsh coast—that show off the best of the region's cuisine.
On the beach at Oxwich, this stylish Michelin-starred eatery is considered one of the best in all of Wales. The beautifully presented dishes are made using excellent local ingredients, particularly seafood. Menus start at £94 for three courses. The solid wine list features some interesting additions from Wales, Macedonia, Croatia, Uruguay, Lebanon, and Armenia.
Regarded as one of the best chefs in the United Kingdom, Shaun Hill has been at the helm of this rustic-chic restaurant 3 miles northeast of Abergavenny since 2008. The focus here is on local, seasonal produce with international influences; lunch is £42 for two courses. There are also a couple of cottages nearby if you want to stay the night.
This two-Michelin-star restaurant, housed in a Georgian mansion set among parkland, is one of the best eateries in Wales thanks to its wonderful dishes featuring the best local, and international, meat and fish. The only option offered by chef Gareth Ward is a tasting menu featuring a whopping 20 dishes—the whole experience takes four to five hours. There are just five tables and a bench for two next to the open kitchen as well as a table for four in the kitchen. There are also 10 elegant rooms if you would like to stay the night.
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 two-course set menu features beautifully crafted dishes like crab and potato samosa with Welsh kelp and local cheese with pickled walnuts. Advance notice is needed for diners with specific dietary requirements.
Named after the nickname for people born within Conwy's town walls, this sophisticated eating place above an old cinema is the place to go for fine dining. Chef Nick Rudge, who trained at Heston Blumenthal's the Fat Duck, only serves a nine-course seasonal tasting menu inspired by the produce and heritage of Wales. A lighter lunch is available for £55 on Friday and Saturday.
