Bangor's Top 10 Local Restaurants And All-Welsh Eats

The Abbeyfield Hotel has a history that can be traced back to the 18th century, having metamorphosed from a Coaching Inn, to a Farmhouse and finally a Hotel in 1968. Well known for the excellent quality of its traditional home cooked food and for only using freshly sourced and seasonal ingredients, the menu of the Abbeyfield Hotel itself is exciting and unpredictable due to this seasonality. Another added bonus is the restaurant’s proximity to several sites of historical interest, such as the old village of Talybont and the National Trust Property Penrhyn Castle.

As the name suggests, The Boatyard Inn offers good food and quality accommodation, complete with a beautiful view of the harbour and the Menai Strait itself. This convergence of good food and picturesque scenery gives it a wonderfully intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Not only is there a wide range of excellent food available, but customers can occasionally listen to the locals play traditional Welsh folk music during the evenings. Eating at The Boatyard Inn is a pleasant and memorable experience all round.

Hailed as a hidden gem nestled in the streets of Bangor, Caffi Sue has been highly praised for its excellent quality homemade fare and for stellar cafe specials. It is especially noteworthy for its delicious breakfasts, which are known for their top-quality bacon rolls and incredibly large helpings. Recognition of Caffi Sue’s dedication to reasonable prices combined with good quality food has steadily grown and now Caffi Sue has become one of the favourite spots for those who enjoy the best of homely and appetizing dishes of every sort.

Creperie Café’s obviously serves crepes and waffles but it is the variety of favours and fillings on the menu that is both mind-boggling and exciting. From traditional favourites such as ham and cheese or mushrooms and onion, to the more exotic choices such as mascarpone cheese and cranberry crepe, or ginger jam and icing sugar; this café has a wonderful assortment of treats that are definitely worth trying at least once. Furthermore, the crepes are accompanied by a coffee that is said to rival some of best in the area.

The Harp Inn has proved to be a massive success amongst the locals and itinerant gourmands alike. The venue offers excellence in its blend of good quality pub food (considered by many to be one of the best in the region), and competitively priced drinks, all of which are served by helpful staff. With an almost unrivalled atmosphere of good cheer and bonhomie, The Harp Inn is absolutely suited for all types of clientele; for both a family dinner or a casual pub lunch with friends.

Unusual in its dedication to serving vegetarian and vegan food, Kyffin is a well-known deli that has become a gift of sorts for the ravenous vegan traveller. Proprietor Jo Potts uses her creativity and inspiration from international culinary cultures to create a wide and exciting array of foods that is sure to whet the curious appetite. With notable mentions going to dishes such as asparagus ‘cheesy’ tart, sweet potato and cashew patties and Sally’s sticky singer cake, Kyffin has an exemplary range of cakes, starters, soups, main courses, and even drinks. This, combined with a superb atmosphere, a lushly gorgeous seating area, a beautiful environment makes Kyffin a must-visit hotspot within Bangor.

A restaurant, comedy show-house, and exhibition space for gigs, Ty Golchi was one of the winners of the Certificate of Excellence in 2014. Celebrated for its excellent facilities, which is especially comprehensive for the disabled and the elderly, Ty Golchi also has a faultless range of local wines, coffees, dishes and food, the last of which (with examples such as the ‘Welsh Lamb Burger’ and the ‘Welsh Rarebit’) is noted for its freshness and seasonality. This is especially evident in its hugely popular Sunday Lunch option, which allows the customer the flexibility of having a meat of their own chose, served with a side dish of vegetables suitable for the season.

With an in-house chef famed for his Welsh Lamb Stew, the Waverley Hotel Restaurant has a reputation for good quality food and reasonable prices. With an excellent range of local cask ales, ciders, beers and wines, as well as in-house specials such as steak and Guinness pie, homemade chips and steak, and tomato and garlic soup, Waverley Restaurant boasts an all-round good-quality experience that is sure to perform on the fronts of food, atmosphere, service and value. For those who are looking for a little more ‘kick’ in their Waverley experience, it is recommended that they visit on weekends, as they have themed disco nights in the bar.

Offering a fantastic view of the Menai Straits, Anglesey, and Snowdonia, Whistlestop on the Pier is widely considered to be the number one restaurant in the area and one that any visitor simply must try if they wish to fully sample Bangor. Whistlestop offers tasty fare such as Welsh Rarebit, Seafood Chowder, Menai Mussels and homemade Anglesey burgers, locally produced ice-cream and the traditional Bara Brith, all of which have received widespread acclaim for their incredible flavour. Its formidable combination of quality, value, atmosphere and first-class service makes it the gem of Bangor and one that certainly should not be missed.