In the Town of Books | Hay-on-Wye's Best Restaurants
On the border of England and Wales, bookshop capital Hay-on-Wye is not only a reader’s haven but also a centre of culinary excellence. Boasting tearooms, restaurants, cafés and bistros, there is something for everyone in this literary hub. Following our initial hunt for the Best Eateries in Hay-on-Wye, we return to the town to take another look at the best restaurants and cafés, providing delicious food for thought.
1. The Old Stables Tea Rooms
The Old Stables Tea Rooms
The Old Stables Tearooms is a consistently popular, multi-award-winning café in the heart of Hay-on-Wye. With its extensive breakfast feasts, nutritious light lunches and hearty meals created from locally sourced, home-grown ingredients, it offers a smorgasbord of uniquely tasty treats. Stop by for the speciality cream tea — fresh sandwiches, a selection of teas, and warm scones with a dollop of award-winning Passion Preserves. In the summer of 2014, The Old Stables Tearooms achieved three gold taste awards from the Guild of Fine Food for their marmalades and delicate strawberry and rose jam, before winning four silver and three bronze awards for their Passion Preserves at the famous World Jampionships. In addition to this impressive catalogue of accolades, The Old Stables scooped the gold award from the Countryside Alliance for using local and home-grown produce – making it the Welsh Champion for serving local food. The rustic interior of brick fireplaces, nostalgic advertisements, memorabilia, and old wooden chairs complements the inspiring cuisine, evoking comfort and high quality in a relaxed and countrified atmosphere.
Old Stables Tea Rooms, Bear St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Powys, UK, +44 (0) 7796 484766
2. Old Black Lion
Restaurant, Contemporary
3. The River Café
Cafe, Restaurant, British, Vegetarian
5. Tomatitos Tapas Bar
Bar, Restaurant, Tapas
6. Radnor Arms
Radnor Arms
Just outside of Hay-on-Wye sits the Radnor Arms, a traditional, stone-built inn set against the backdrop of the Black Mountains. The period fireplaces, dark wood furniture and original, statement beams give a convivial and atmospheric feel to the intimate and cosy space. Enjoy a rustic pork, apricot, and pistachio terrine accented with rum, spicy apple sauce, and toast, or pan-fried tiger prawns with chilli butter, served with an aromatic lime mayonnaise. Move from this excellent starter on to a chicken breast with a brie, pancetta, artichoke, and shallot stuffing, served with spicy tomato and tarragon white wine sauce and new potatoes, or baked apricot and nut roast, topped with goats’ cheese, and served with beetroot and red onion sweet marmalade.
Radnor Arms, Llowes, Hay on Wye, Herefordshire, UK, +44 (0) 1497 847460
7. Red Indigo
Restaurant, Italian
8. Swan at Hay
Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, European
9. Harp Inn
Harp Inn
The warm welcome received on entering The Harp Inn, just outside Hay-on-Wye, is a result of centuries of practice — this local favourite has been a public house since 1796. All the dishes are handmade using only the finest local ingredients and promise classic flavours delivered to a seemingly effortless professional and delicious standard. Enjoy a homemade local steak and Wye Valley Brewery ale pie baked in sumptuous shortcrust pastry with fresh vegetables and proper chips, or homemade mixed-bean casserole with basmati rice and a dressed side salad using the very freshest leaves. Conclude the evening with a generous cheeseboard consisting of local, artisan cheeses and punchy homemade chutney, or perhaps, for something a little sweeter, sample the rich sticky toffee pudding with a cup of coffee locally roasted in Hereford and ground in Glasbury.
The Harp Inn, Glasbury-on-Wye, Brecon, Powys, UK,+44 (0) 1497 847373
By Lucy Freeland
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