Wales


<p>Independent restaurants have had a bit of a rough ride lately. Soaring costs, staffing woes and squeezed spending have made simply surviving another year feel like something to celebrate. So when somewhere local earns a place on <a href="https://www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk/best-of/best-local-restaurant/100-best-local-restaurants-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Good Food Guide&#8217;s 100 Best Local Restaurants 2026</a><strong>, </strong>we&#8217;re not just going to clap politely, we’re going to stand on the table and whoop.</p>



<p>Topping the overall list this year is <a href="https://lalocanda.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Locanda</a> in Lancashire – an unassuming family-run Italian that&#8217;s quietly been serving up exceptional regional cooking and warm hospitality for more than 20 years. Proof that you don&#8217;t need fancypants decor and Michelin stars to be one of the country&#8217;s best.</p>



<p>But while it’s definitely worth the hop over to Lancashire to test out the winner for yourself (the spaghetti alla Trapanese is worth its weight in parmesan), a fair few Welsh faves also earned a spot in the Guide&#8217;s top 100. From rural neighbourhood gastro pubs to bottle-shop-cum-restaurants in the city, here are the Welsh eateries that made the coveted cut. Book ahead, rock up hungry and wear something with a generous waistband.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-black-bear-inn-bettws-newydd-monmouthshire-no-5"><strong><a href="https://www.theblackbearinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Black Bear Inn</a>, Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire</strong> (No 5)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-14T121334.830-1000x667.jpg" alt="Black Bear Inn" class="wp-image-143270" /></figure>



<p>Wales’ highest-ranking entry is this brilliantly unassuming rural pub, tucked in among the rivers, mountains and fields. Don’t be fooled by the roadside setting: from one of the country’s tiniest kitchens comes seriously accomplished cooking, from Dexter beef tartare to haddock and mussels in herb butter and the Welsh Rarebit Giles Coren described as “historic”. Add an unexpectedly exciting wine list, a snack menu you’ll order too much from and you’ll see why diners keep making the pilgrimage.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ogof-cardiff-no-27"><a href="https://www.ogofcardiff.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ogof</a>, Cardiff (No 27)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-14T121307.075-1000x667.jpg" alt="Ogof" class="wp-image-143268" /></figure>



<p>If your dream night out starts with &#8220;just one glass&#8221; and somehow ends with a table full of sharing plates, firstly you’re our kind of person and secondly Ogof is your kind of place. Part bottle shop, part neighbourhood restaurant, this buzzy Pontcanna spot pairs natural wines with inventive, veg-led dishes that make local, seasonal produce the star of the show. Nab a seat by the kitchen hatch, order whatever&#8217;s on the chalkboard and don&#8217;t leave without letting co-owner, Siôn Iorwerth, choose your tipple.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-shed-swansea-no-42"><a href="https://theshedsa1.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Shed</a>, Swansea (No 42)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-14T121239.517-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Shed" class="wp-image-143266" /></figure>



<p>A former grain store on Swansea&#8217;s regenerated waterfront might not sound like the obvious setting for one of Wales&#8217; hottest restaurants, but that&#8217;s exactly what you&#8217;ll find at The Shed. Swansea-born chef Jonathan Woolway, who honed his craft at London&#8217;s legendary <a href="https://stjohnrestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St John</a>, serves bold, unapologetically Welsh cooking with a similar waste-not philosophy. Start with the famous cockle croquettes (with lashings of vinegar), don&#8217;t miss the mighty lamb, leek and laverbread pie and save some room for the sorrel parfait with blackcurrant compôte. Big-hearted food, cracking wines and a buzzy atmosphere mean you’ll be plotting to return before you’ve even paid the bill.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thomas-the-brasserie-cardiff-no-56"><strong><a href="https://thomas-pontcanna.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas the Brasserie</a></strong>, Cardiff (No 56)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-14T121227.642-1000x667.jpg" alt="Thomas The Brasserie" class="wp-image-143265" /></figure>



<p>Turns out ditching the formal white tablecloths might have been a smart move. Thomas Simmons has swapped fine dining for a laid-back neighbourhood brasserie, without compromising on the cooking. Expect brilliantly executed Welsh seafood, comforting classics with a modern twist and one of Cardiff&#8217;s best-value set lunches. If you&#8217;re feeling flush and want something a little fancy, head upstairs to the <a href="https://lofft.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lofft</a>, an intimate 12-seat chef&#8217;s counter for a special occasion tasting menu.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-y-polyn-nantgaredig-carmarthenshire-no-96"><a href="https://www.ypolyn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Y Polyn</a>, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire (No 96)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-14T121215.452-1000x667.jpg" alt="Y Polyn" class="wp-image-143264" /></figure>



<p>With a self-proclaimed no-fuss menu (that’s no foams, gels or technical wizardry to those not ITK), warm welcome and seasonal-first food, this converted tollhouse in the beautiful Towy Valley is, unsurprisingly, somewhere locals are keen to gatekeep. Expect hearty seasonal Welsh cooking with subtle European influences, cracking black beef steaks and desserts you definitely won’t want to share. This is country dining done very, very well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dining-room-abersoch-gwynedd-no-100"><a href="https://www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk/restaurant/the-dining-room/id/52322" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dining Room</a>, Abersoch, Gwynedd (No 100)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-14T121251.918-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Dining Room" class="wp-image-143267" /></figure>



<p>Sneaking into the top 100, and hidden between a butcher&#8217;s and a bakery, this understated Abersoch bistro is proof that the best restaurants don&#8217;t always shout the loudest. Chef-owner Si Toft champions Welsh ingredients at every turn, from Anglesey beef to Cardigan Bay fish, serving beautifully judged dishes alongside inventive sweet treats (don’t miss the rhubarb and custard ice lolly), cracking cocktails and an increasingly impressive selection of local <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/drink/wine/english-wine-week-best-english-vineyards-to-eat-drink-stay/">Welsh wines</a>. Cheers! </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/day-trips/family-days-out-by-train-with-transport-for-wales/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No car, no chaos: 7 family days out by train with Transport for Wales</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/best-places-to-eat-devon-cornwall-somerset-dorset/">Wish you were here: 36 picture perfect places to eat</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/day-trips/family-days-out-by-train-with-transport-for-wales/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No car, no chaos: 7 family days out by train with Transport for Wales</a></li>
</ul>



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Fork yeah, Wales! These Welsh eateries made the Good Food Guide’s top 100

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