Deganwy Restaurant Guide

2023 Review: In the “stylish National Trust-owned surroundings” of this Grade I-listed seventeenth-century manor house on the outskirts of town – run these days as a spa hotel – this dining room is notable for its reliable standards, although it is “not adventurous in any way”, and the formality can make for a “slightly stuffy atmosphere” for some tastes. Unless you have a major appetite, you do “need to decide between afternoon tea and dinner” – both would be a stretch!

“The only recognised fish restaurant in the area” – this Grade II listed building has housed Don & Gill Hadwin’s split-level venture for two decades, with an informal bistro downstairs and a Victorian-style dining room on the upper level.

With its “fantastic location”, “very good service” and a “great simple menu cooked extremely well”, this modern beachside venture is widely recognised as one of the better places to eat on the north Wales coast. Denbigh-born chef Bryn Williams sold his London flagship Odette’s in May 2024 to ‘spend more time in Wales’ – which could benefit Porth Eirias. He is scheduled to open a new venue not far away at Theatr Clwyd in Mold next year.

A “fantastic seashore location, with beautiful views from the wide terrace across the Menai Straits” is the main attraction at this bistro with a “real buzz” – the first in a now four-strong North Wales chain (and with ‘general store’ spin-offs both here, in Menai Bridge and Conwy). “You have to choose wisely to get food to match” and “the seafood is not surprisingly a good place to start”. But its “very wide-ranging all-day menu has something for all tastes” and wins it nominations as “a good place for an everyday meal”.

“Cooking of the very highest standard with every dish a tasteful delight” has won acclaim (a Michelin star and an impressive four AA rosettes) for Stephen Stevens at his converted butcher’s shop on Anglesey, just over the Menai Bridge from mainland Wales: one of the most accoladed dining destinations in Wales, serving an ambitious ‘culinary journey’ for £175 per person. But while no-one doubts the high standards here the venue itself doesn’t delight everyone: “we found the room itself somewhat cold, but the chef-proprietor clearly more than knows his stuff and provides a very warm face to the dining experience”.

“Not the easiest place to find, but worth the effort” – local-born Nick Rudge’s small three-year-old is modern in terms of decor but occupies a period building with large windows at the heart of this historic town on the Welsh coast. He brings skills honed over the stoves of The Fat Duck to realise a high-quality tasting menu for £95 per person in the evening: reports say “the young and enthusiastic team are producing very good food with a difference and are destined for great things”.

2023 Review: “Best Chinese in Llandudno” is arguably a double-edged compliment to this well-established fixture, which occupies an old ice cream factory in this characterful Victorian seaside resort. But local reporters say its cooking is “consistently good” – “vegetables and fish dishes always seem particularly fresh and tasty”.