A land of rolling hillscapes, patchwork fields, and ancient woodlands, Powys is an enchanting place to uncover during a dreamy retreat in Wales. With Eryri National Park and the Brecon Beacons within easy reach, days can be filled with verdant explorations, revealing winding paths and dappled secrets as you go. And when your day’s adventures come to a close, one of the many sumptuous restaurants invites you to dine in style as you feast on food foraged and grown across the county. From Michelin Star tasting menus to hearth-warmed country pubs, embrace a culinary escape with these spellbinding restaurants in Powys.
Ynyshir
Two Michelin Stars
The only restaurant in Wales to hold two Michelin Stars, Ynyshir is hard to resist when staying in spellbinding Powys. A stone’s throw from the wild landscapes of Eryri National Park, this enchanting restaurant embraces rugged beauty alongside its artfully curated menu. Welsh sheepskins and locally crafted pottery set the scene, while a soothing soundtrack fills the air. An experience as much as a meal, seats are chosen at the time of booking, whether you opt for a front row seat or a backstage pass, which unveils the magic of the kitchen for a truly exclusive evening. Dishes take inspiration from around the world, with Japanese techniques holding a special place on the menu, usually consisting of around 30 bewitching courses cooked by Chef and Owner Gareth Ward over a birchwood fire. The menu is a surprise, making full use of the seasonal and local larder. From melt-in-the-mouth Wagyu beef to fresh cod and lobster, a meal at Ynyshir is a moment worth savouring.
Chapters
Michelin Green Star
Nestled in Hay-on-Wye, a town renowned for its beloved literary festival and streets lined with bookshops, Chapters beckons to all who seek a storybook repast somewhere special. Boasting a Michelin Green Star, this welcoming restaurant in Powys showcases the freshest produce, from local beers, ciders, and spirits to delicious ingredients gathered from their very own garden. The menu changes regularly, highlighting the joys and flavours each season brings. Homegrown ingredients are pickled, fermented, cured and puréed, crafting a delectable orchestra of techniques and tastes. Think roasted carrots with Carlin pea hummus and goat’s curd salad, whipped taramasalata and croutes, and chilled fig leaf rice pudding topped with forced rhubarb and a sumptuous almond tuille. With a bottle shop in the heart of the Chapters, you can sip on delicious, organic wines as you dine, and take away a few bottles to enjoy in your luxury abode.
The Checkers
A 17th-century coaching inn close to the border with Shropshire, The Checkers blends the welcoming atmosphere of a country pub with Michelin Guide creativity and flair. Stone walls and a wood burning stove infuse the inn with inviting warmth, while a seasonal tasting menu, orchestrated by Head Chef and Owner Andrew Birch, takes you on a journey across the verdant landscapes of Wales. Each dish favours locally sourced ingredients, with simple yet satisfying ensembles leading you through each course. During the week, dishes such as line-caught sea bass with a leek, truffle, and chicken sauce fill the menu, while Sundays are reserved for a traditional roast tasting menu. Vegetarian tasting menus can be pre-booked, and the wine pairing adds a final flourish to the meal, ensuring each dish is perfectly complemented.
The Felin Fach Griffin
Sister to award-winning Cornish pubs The Gurnard’s Head and The Old Coastguard, The Felin Fach Griffin has perfected the art of Welsh hospitality. Uncover cosy interiors and farm-fresh menus surrounded by the wild beauty of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. Dishes harbour a deep love of home-grown ingredients, whether it’s game from nearby estates or cheeses from local, world-renowned dairies. As such, the menu is simple yet celebratory, inviting you to cherish the flavours found across Wales’ rich landscapes, from lamb reared on the doorstep to peas and mint harvested that very morning. Lunchtime at The Griffin is made for walkers, with classic dishes such as fish pie and Glamorgan sausage sating appetites and fuelling afternoon adventures. Meanwhile, dinners here promise a spellbinding selection of choices, from wild mushroom agnolotti with a parmesan velouté and truffle to cod with a romesco sauce and smoked almonds and pork belly with roasted squash. Complementing the experience, The Griffin invites you to explore its welcoming bar to the fullest, featuring Welsh beers, refreshing spirits mixed to perfection, and carafes of vintage wine.
Gwen
For those who seek a dark and sumptuous dining experience, Gwen is a dreamy blend of cocktails and cuisine tucked away in one of Powys’ beautiful market towns. A humble exterior hides a sleek, enigmatic bar that serves irresistible cocktails and wines, from a perfectly poured espresso martini to a delightfully boozy Solero-inspired concoction. Bar snacks are available, but for a truly unmissable experience, slip through the heavy leather curtain and take a seat in the bespoke dining area. Seating only eight guests and placing you with a clear view of the kitchen, suppers at Gwen are unlike any other. A tasting menu escorts you through an assortment of thoughtful dishes that combine local ingredients with global influence for a meal as unforgettable as your setting.
Lake Country House
Made for tranquil dining in the heart of Wales, Lake Country House invites you to leave the world behind as you step into its serene dining room. Every meal is celebrated at this sprawling country estate, from breakfasts in the darling orangery to elegant afternoon teas in the grand dining room. Lunch and dinner promise an equally special occasion, with dishes that range from sautéed asparagus with garlic butter brioche and crispy serrano ham to cannon of Welsh lamb with potato and Worcestershire hop cake, kohlrabi and mint cassoulet, and apricot and ginger puree. Sundays are reserved for relaxed dining centred around a traditional menu, inviting you to slip into a food-infused reverie. Indulge in ham hock terrine on piccalilli toast, roast striploin of beef with Yorkshire pudding, honey-glazed root vegetables, and creamy cauliflower cheese, and poached pear and almond crumble, with crème fraiche ice cream and a decadent dark chocolate sauce.
Three Horseshoes Inn
With canine companions welcome to join you in the bar, sun-soaked beer garden, and beach huts, this bewitching gastropub offers a serene place to recharge after a breathtaking walk through the Brecon Beacons. Ingredients echo the pub’s devotion to Wales and the community, with meat from local butchers, farm-fresh vegetables from Primrose Organics, and a wealth of foraged flourishes. Soul-warming pub fare lies at the heart of the menu, be it beer-battered fish with fluffy chips, indulgent pies paired with creamy mashed potatoes and greens, or a Sunday lunch that ends the week on a food-fuelled high. The bar sits ready to ply you with tempting tipples, whether you long for a rich red that lingers on the tongue or a crisp cocktail that’s best enjoyed in the garden as the sun sinks beneath the skin and birds sing in the distance.
Restaurant FIR
Another spellbinding restaurant in Powys to feature in the Michelin Guide, Restaurant FIR has taken a historic coaching inn and transformed it into an enticing foodie experience. The dining room is intimate, with much of the focus being drawn to the open kitchen as the chefs execute their craft to perfection. The tasting menu changes almost daily, using the area’s finest ingredients and bold techniques to create something unexpected and utterly delicious. Imagine chalk stream trout with sansho and Kewpie, Angus beef rib with Antur hops and cherry, and the most decadent Welsh cakes you will find, served with an astonishingly creamy Welsh butter. Playing with local fare, while inviting Japanese influences, each dish is a celebration of flavour, with the proposed wine flight elevating the menu to new and unfathomable heights.
Feeling inspired for a culinary sojourn? Uncover our collection of luxury cottages in Wales.
