Restaurants in Southeast Wales
-
A
Misbah Tandoori
One of the best curry houses not only in Wales, but in the whole of Britain, the Misbah is an authentic Bangladeshi family restaurant with a large and loyal following.
reviewed
-
B
Bizzie Lizzie's Bistro
A warmly lit basement with country-kitchen pine furniture and green-and-white check tablecloths, decorated with bric-a-brac and old street signs, Bizzie's has a half-vegetarian, half-carnivore menu - whichever you are, go for the delicious nut roast with chilli and tomato sauce.
reviewed
-
C
Mermaid Restaurant & Coffee Lounge
A bright décor of blond wood and fresh flowers complement the menu of fresh local produce, home-baked bread, good wine and real ale. The Mermaid is famous for its slow-roast salt-marsh lamb from the Gower peninsula, and a kid's menu where everything is freshly prepared - no frozen chicken nuggets here. The building was once the Mermaid Hotel, a favourite haunt of Dylan Thomas.
reviewed
-
D
Malt House
In this town of tearooms and cafés, the Malt House stands out with its chic designer décor and Spanish menu - choose from traditional tapas such as chorizo in wine, tortilla or calamari, and main dishes such as fish casserole or chicken brochettes with rosemary and lemon. There are also all-day breakfasts and a lunch menu of panini, pizza, pasta and tapas.
reviewed
-
E
Knights Restaurant
Seafood is the speciality of the house at this intimate and elegant waterfront restaurant (chef Michael Knight is a favourite of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones). Local crab, sea bass, salmon and Dover sole make regular appearances on the menu, as does sewin (Welsh sea trout) in season. The monkfish with bacon, leeks and brandy sauce is recommended.
reviewed
-
F
Chelsea Café
Golden yellow tablecloths and dark red banquettes against wood-panelled walls and a red-brick chimney breast make for a snug dining room at this popular restaurant. Check the blackboard specials for filo-pastry parcels filled with prawns, squat lobster tails, cockles and laver bread, and roast loin of lamb with a smoked bacon, date and rosemary jus.
reviewed
-
G
Joe's Ice Cream Parlour
For an ice-cream sundae or a cone, locals love Joe's – a Swansea institution founded in 1922 by Joe Cascarini, son of immigrants from Italy's Abruzzi mountains. There are also branches at Parc Tawe Shopping Centreand Mumbles.
reviewed
-
H
698
A very stylish bistro and coffee lounge with a modern European menu (pan-fried scallops on pea purée to start, followed by grilled fillet steak with creamy mash and a wild mushroom jus), the 698 is also family-friendly, with high-chairs, baby-changing facilities, and books and toys to borrow.
reviewed
-
I
Vietnam
Rather girly red, pink and white décor here, but it's a firm favourite with the local Asian community so the kitchen must be doing something right. Authentic Vietnamese dishes such as bo bia (rice-paper rolls with peanut sauce) and thit vit quay (roast duck with rice).
reviewed
-
J
La Braseria
Having gained a reputation as a favourite hang-out of the Swansea glitterati (Catherine Douglas-Zeta-Jones is a fan), this place is enormously popular, often packed solid at weekends. It's a Spanish bodega-style place, with a global menu ranging from beef satay to local lobster.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Govinda's
This sparkling restaurant specialises in vegetarian and vegan cuisine using locally sourced organic produce. The menu ranges from Indian samosa, dhal and vegetable curry, to veggie lasagne, nut burger and vegan cheesecake. It's run by Hare Krishna, but there's no proselytising.
reviewed
-
L
Didier & Stephanie
Swansea's top restaurant is an intimate and relaxed place, run by the Gallic duo with their names on the door. It's well regarded for its French cooking, refined setting and attentive service, and it offers good-value set menus at lunch (two/three courses £14/17).
reviewed
-
M
Wild Swan
Swansea's best Cantonese restaurant is sumptuously decked out with red leather sofas, delicate Chinese screens, and even a pond filled with koi carp. The menu covers all the classics from stir-fry squid with black bean sauce to aromatic crispy duck.
reviewed
-
N
Thyme Out
Located upstairs in the Salt and Pepper kitchenware shop, this stylish little café serves the best coffee in town, and also does breakfast (croissants, eggs or a fry up, 09:00 to 11:00) and lunch (soup, quiche, baked potatoes, noon to 14:30).
reviewed
-
O
Dylan's Books'n'Bites
Armchairs and tables scattered among the bookshelves in the Dylan Thomas Centre bookshop make an agreeable spot for a coffee and a read. The lunch menu includes home-made soup and sandwiches, plus dishes from the more formal restaurant upstairs.
reviewed
-
P
Miah's
Housed in a beautifully converted church with bare stone walls, exposed roof beams and tables ranged around a mezzanine at half-height, Miah's is a cut above the six-pints-and-a-curry type of Indian restaurant. The tandoori trout is exquisite.
reviewed
-
Q
Retreat
Part of an incense-perfumed holistic centre, this New Age vegetarian and vegan café serves a range of healthy salads and sandwiches, as well as some naughtier dishes, including a delicious dairy-free chocolate fudge brownie.
reviewed
-
R
Boat Inn
A great riverside pub strewn with nautical knick-knacks and a particularly snug 'snug', the Boat dishes up better-than-average pub grub and a good menu of daily specials.
reviewed
-
S
Mythos
Exposed beams, stone walls and dramatic lighting make this lively Greek bar and restaurant memorable, but it's the authentic, delicious food that justifies that pretentious exclamation mark in the name: tzatziki, grilled haloumi, spanakopita (spinach-filled pastries), lamb and chicken souvlaki, moussaka – served as meze or main-sized portions.
reviewed
-
T
Courtyard Café
Grab an outdoor table in the cobbled courtyard here, among the pot plants and flowers, and order succulent crab salad or bubbling Welsh rarebit, washed down with a glass of wine.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
Bella Napoli
This cheery little southern Italian restaurant serves up classic pizza and pasta dishes, and is staffed by cheeky waiters who occasionally burst into song. Children are welcome.
reviewed
-
V
Wedges Coffee House
This is a cosy family coffee house, serving excellent home-cooked soups, curries and vegetarian dishes. In summer, the tables spill out into a sunny garden at the back.
reviewed
-
W
St Mary's Tearooms
A traditional tearoom serving home baking, sandwiches and hot lunches, St Mary's also dishes up a decent fried breakfast.
reviewed
-
X
Chepstow Farmers' Market
Self caterers can check out the local produce at the Chepstow Farmers' Market .
reviewed
-
Green Room
Laugharne doesn't exactly abound with gastronomic options, making this cafe a welcome find. It serves lighter dishes by day (salads, quiches, pasta) and hearty home-cooked bistro meals after dark. Delicious desserts, views of the castle and comfy sofas add to a cosy, welcoming ambience.
reviewed
