Best Welsh Restaurants in the UK and Ireland

In total, there are 7 award winning Welsh restaurants in the UK and Ireland, based on the combined awards from the leading UK restaurant guides.

Were you expecting to see more Welsh restaurants listed? Remember, at Leading Restaurants we only list restaurants holding awards from major food guides in the UK and Ireland; that's less than 3% of all restaurants here.

The best Welsh restaurant in the UK and Ireland is Gem42 in Newport (based on our unique combination of the leading UK restaurant guides) where head chef Sergio Cinotti serves up award winning Italian, Welsh influences Cuisine. Gem42 currently holds 3 AA Rosettes.

There are currently no Welsh restaurants holding a Michelin Star in the UK and Ireland and indeed no restaurants serving Welsh cuisine at all listed in the Michelin Guide; perhaps the Michelin inspectors will expand their tastebuds soon!

There are currently 7 listed AA Rosette Welsh restaurants in the UK and Ireland consisting of 1 restaurant holding 3 AA Rosettes, 2 restaurants holding 2 AA Rosettes and 4 restaurants holding 1 AA Rosette.

The UK restaurant scene has recently granted Welsh cuisine a long overdue moment in the spotlight, revealing a culinary landscape that is far more nuanced than its stereotypical leeks and lamb. At the pinnacle stands Ynyshir in Powys, where Gareth Ward has taken hyperlocal Welsh produce and transformed it into one of the most thrilling tasting menu experiences in Britain. His approach is ferociously ingredient led, marrying rugged coastal flavours with a swagger that feels utterly contemporary. Not far behind in prestige is Sosban and The Old Butchers on Anglesey, where chef Stephan Edwards crafts an intimate, Michelin starred experience that feels almost monastic in its devotion to Welsh seafood, dairy, and foraged elements. Beyond these headline acts, the broader Welsh dining movement is gaining momentum, propelled by restaurants such as The Walnut Tree near Abergavenny, a venerable institution that continues to uphold the regions culinary heritage with a deft modern touch. Even in cities like London, Welsh born chefs are beginning to champion their national cuisine with newfound confidence, weaving laverbread, salt marsh lamb, and artisan Welsh cheeses into menus aimed at a discerning urban audience. The result is a dining culture that finally acknowledges what those in Wales have known for years: that the country offers some of the most compelling and characterful cooking in the UK today.