### Welsh Restaurants Claim Top Honours in The Good Food Guide 2025
The esteemed Good Food Guide has shone a spotlight on Wales’s vibrant culinary landscape, revealing its selection of the nation’s best local restaurants for 2025. With Paternoster Farm in Hundleton taking top honours, a total of nine Welsh establishments have received the Guide’s coveted recognition for their commitment to independent, accessible dining across the country.
Announced on Wednesday, 16 July, The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants for 2025 reflects an extensive process, with nearly 60,000 nominations submitted by the public. Now in its 15th year, the awards aim to champion independently run venues that offer both affordability and excellence. The nominations came in from diners across Britain, with the Wales list standing out for its blend of well-known favourites and lesser-known gems.
#### Paternoster Farm: Overcoming Adversity
This year’s winner in Wales, Paternoster Farm, is an enterprise that has weathered recent storms. This rustic restaurant, set in a former milking parlour, had been at risk of closure due to a lease dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council. Following months of public pressure and a groundswell of community support, the restaurant announced an extension of their tenancy until August 2027 after productive discussions with the council.
What sets Paternoster Farm apart is its hyper-seasonal approach: the daily-changing menu is shaped by the produce grown on-site and locally sourced ingredients. Diners can expect everything from home-reared meat to freshly caught oysters in a setting that retains the charm of its agricultural roots.
#### Celebrating Welsh Excellence
Y Marram in Newborough, Anglesey, is a newer entry on this distinguished list. Run by the Barrie brothers—known for their previous ventures Marram Grass and Lerpwl—the restaurant offers an authentic dining experience steeped in local produce. Y Marram has quickly developed a following for its fresh pastries, hearty brunches, and curated food events, all rooted in the flavours of Anglesey.
Carmarthen’s The Warren also comes with a strong pedigree. An ethically-driven restaurant and café, it has been recognised repeatedly by The Good Food Guide for its unwavering focus on sustainability, local sourcing, and organic produce. Chef Deri Reed’s establishment is lauded for simple, wholesome dishes served with integrity and care.
#### Fire, Flavour and Community
The capital city is represented by two establishments: Mesen and Casanova. Mesen in Rhiwbina has made a name for itself with innovative open-fire cooking and a menu designed for sharing, all set in a relaxed neighbourhood setting. Meanwhile, Casanova on Quay Street continues to impress with Italian-influenced cuisine since opening in 2005, offering refined dishes and a personable approach—testament to owner Antonio Cersosimo’s enduring passion for Welsh-Italian collaboration.
Swansea’s entry, The Shed, is run by Jonathan Woolway, who brought home experience from London’s iconic St John to establish a restaurant that prioritises Welsh ingredients and classic techniques. National critics and local customers alike have praised its consistently high standards and passion for local produce.
The Black Bear Inn in Bettws Newydd offers a bittersweet inclusion. After earning national acclaim—including its fourth consecutive appearance in the Top 50 Gastropubs and a much-coveted spot in the Michelin Guide—owners Josh and Hannah Byrne announced the pub was up for sale, capping a remarkable chapter for this Monmouthshire destination.
#### From Seaside to Rural Retreats
Representing Pen Llyn, The Dining Room in Abersoch impresses with a menu inspired by seasonal changes, focusing squarely on the best Welsh produce. Despite its relatively low profile, the bistro’s inclusion confirms its growing reputation amongst both locals and visitors.
Lastly, Carmarthenshire’s Y Polyn continues its legacy as an award-winning restaurant, transforming over the years from an ordinary pub into a dining destination. With accolades ranging from AA rosettes to the title of Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Carmarthenshire, Y Polyn maintains its position among Wales’s most beloved establishments.
#### A Testament to Welsh Hospitality
The breadth of styles and settings across the nine venues selected by The Good Food Guide reflects both the diversity and the depth of the Welsh food scene. From coastal bistros to countryside pubs, these restaurants are united by their devotion to local sourcing, community, and innovation.
This year’s list is more than just an accolade; it is a recognition of resilience and creativity in the face of economic and logistical challenges. The Welsh dining landscape continues to thrive, buoyed by passionate chefs, loyal customers, and a growing national reputation.
As The Good Food Guide looks ahead to its next edition, these Welsh restaurants have firmly established themselves not just as local favourites, but as vital ambassadors for the nation’s rich, evolving culinary identity.