Snowdonia is becoming widely recognised as an excellent foodie destination, and for good reason; our combination of high quality ingredients and talented chefs, and of course the stunning settings, all contribute to this well-deserved reputation.
It’s difficult to limit an article like this to just a handful of good places to eat in Snowdonia, so in the interests of brevity we’ve picked just seven eateries around the region. If you’d like to browse even more, please visit our ‘places to eat’ page where you’ll find dozens of additional ideas.
1. Blue Sky Cafe
Where: Bangor
Cuisine: Global influences, so one day’s special might be Middle Eastern and the next day’s could be Thai. Blue Sky Cafe’s food is prepared using responsibly sourced ingredients, and most dishes are very wholesome. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered-for, as are fish lovers and carnivores. Blue Sky also offers a fantastic selection of teas and coffees, so if you’re in any way a connoisseur you won’t be disappointed.
Interesting because: Very informal with lots of events, including live music and even cinema. Blue Sky is extremely popular and usually busy, so sharing a table with a stranger is very much encouraged. A great way to make new friends!
2. Blas y Waun
Where: Waunfawr
Cuisine: Simple but tasty light meals, freshly prepared. The menu includes favourites like home made soups and sandwiches, jacket potatoes, all-day breakfasts and afternoon teas.
Interesting because: Blas y Waun is part of Antur Waunfawr, a wonderful organisation which serves the local community by providing training and employment for people with learning disabilities. The food is prepared and served by end users of the service, and the cafe and its surroundings are very accessible for wheelchair users and people with physical disabilities.
3. The Swellies
Where: Y Felinheli
Cuisine: Tasty, wholesome and rustic with international influences. Plenty of choice for vegetarians and vegans, but they also serve a fantastic array of burgers, home made from Welsh beef. Some really interesting salads, sandwiches and light lunches too – and the kids’ menu includes healthy options.
Interesting because: The Swellies is right on the waterfront at Y Felinheli Marina. Such a beautiful setting, especially on a warm, dry day when you’re happy to sit outside and watch the world go by – the surroundings can feel very Mediterranean on those days!
4. Scoops
Where: Caernarfon
Cuisine: A staggering selection of Dutch pancakes, desserts, teas and coffees. And when we say a ‘staggering selection’, we’re talking sweet and savoury, with unusual toppings ranging from baked beans and cheese to pear, fig, walnut and blue cheese. Ingredients are, wherever possible, locally sourced and organic. As for the desserts... well, you might need to loosen your belt a little more after each visit, and trust us, you will visit more than once!
Interesting because: The Dutch pancakes at Scoops are authentically Dutch, as the owner hails from the Netherlands. The surroundings are wonderful – the tiny courtyard garden at the rear is set in some of the town’s oldest walls, and although you may have to wait a while for a table at busier times of year, it’s really worth the wait as sitting in Scoops’ garden feels like a visit to a fairy grotto.
5. Y Crochan Cafe
Where: Corris
Cuisine: Proudly Welsh, with a fantastic variety of Welsh rarebits to choose from - it really isn’t just cheese on toast, you know! Toppings can include bacon, garlic mushrooms or a hot Welsh mustard, among others. Y Crochan Cafe also always offers a good selection of home baked cakes, all-day breakfasts (using Welsh sausages, naturally), delicious sandwiches and other light meals. Ingredients are grown, reared and produced in Wales, so you can be sure of the highest quality and lowest food miles.
Interesting because: Y Crochan Cafe is part of Corris Craft Centre, so after you’ve eaten you’ll be able to shop for wonderful local arts and crafts. Within walking distance is King Arthur’s Labyrinth, a fantastic attraction where your family will learn all about King Arthur while taking an underground boat ride. Yes, really!
6. Cyfnod Cafe and Bistro
Where: Bala
Cuisine: Welsh ingredients, international recipes. At Cyfnod Cafe and Bistro the menu includes dishes from Spain, Italy, Greece and even the Caribbean, all freshly prepared using quality local ingredients. If your palate is a little less globe-trotting, there are plenty of old favourites to choose from too, including gammon steaks and omelettes.
Interesting because: The history. Cyfnod Cafe and Bistro is the oldest established cafe in Bala. Over the centuries the building has been used as a newsagent, a chemist and even a bicycle servicing shop. It’s a quaint, charming building and the town itself is a great place to explore, either for a spot of shopping in the many independent small businesses or for a walk around Llyn Tegid, the huge lake on the town’s outskirts.
7. Plas Bodegroes
Where: Pwllheli
Cuisine: Fine dining with a very local flavour – wherever possible Plas Bodegroes sources its ingredients in Wales, and some of them are even grown on the premises. The chefs are passionate about sustainable fishing so they don’t serve endangered species, and they are proud to offer modern interpretations of traditional dishes.
Interesting because: The historic building and location are just wonderful, and you can stay the night if you’re looking for a really romantic place to stay and dine. And the awards. Plas Bodegroes has won many of them in its 33 years under its current management, including a coveted Michelin Star which it held from 1991-2008. Widely recognised as one of the best restaurants in Wales – if not the UK – Plas Bodegroes is the restaurant of choice if you’re looking for somewhere really special to eat.
