Cardiff and South Wales restaurants named among UK's best

South Wales Argus

17-07-2025

The Good Food Guide, in partnership with Square, has announced its 100 Best Local Restaurants for 2025.
The awards highlight the "independently run venues that define affordable and accessible dining across Britain".
Around 60,000 public nominations were received, with the Good Food Guide's anonymous inspectors then whittling the list down to the 100 best.
After four months of nominations, incognito inspections and intensive deliberation, we're delighted to finally share our 100 Best Local Restaurants of 2025 in partnership with @SquareUK.
These are the places you really want to eat at in 2025: https://t.co/Nv1iMFVnSq pic.twitter.com/d8OOIMWYPK — The Good Food Guide (@GoodFoodGuideUK) July 16, 2025
The Good Food Guide said: "This 2025 list celebrates wine bars serving sensational small plates, neighbourhood bistros breathing life into faded towns, and the cherished family-run gems where you can enjoy a great meal for under £20."
While executive director at Square, Samantha Hussain-Letch, added: "The restaurants recognised by The Good Food Guide exemplify creativity and excellence, and we're excited to see how they continue to shape the future of the industry."
The 4 South Wales restaurants among the UK's best
The local restaurants in Wales that are among the UK's best, according to the Good Food Guide, are:
Paternoster Farm, Hundleton (best in Wales)
Y Marram, Newborough
The Warren, Carmarthen
Mesen, Cardiff
The Shed, Swansea
The Black Bear Inn, Bettws Newydd
The Dining Room, Abersoch
Casanova, Cardiff
Y Polyn, Nantgaredig
You can see the full list of the 100 best local restaurants on the Good Food Guide website.
Mesen
Mesen was one of four south Wales eateries to feature among the Good Food Guide's 100 best local restaurants.
It has an overall rating of 'Good' on the Good Food Guide website and is commended for its "big-hearted sharing dishes from the grill".
The website adds: "An attractive, modern-looking spot in a parade of shops in the heart of Rhiwbina (a suburb of Cardiff), Mesen offers a relaxed take on contemporary small-plate dining."
Mesen also comes highly recommended by customers, with it boasting a 4.2 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 51 reviews.
The restaurant has been described by visitors as a "little bit of magic", "a warm haven" and "unique and wonderful".
Mesen has been described by visitors as a little bit of magic. (Image: Tripadvisor) One person commented: "We had a table of 8 and ordered everything on the menu. Everything was delicious and had a unique and thought out twist.
"Staff were great, atmosphere 10/10."
The Shed
The Good Food Guide describes The Shed in Swansea as "cool warehouse dining with a true Welsh heart".
It has an overall rating of 'Good' on the guide's website, while its 'uniqueness' score is 'very good'.
The Good Food Guide says: "'A real asset to Swansea,' this local favourite occupies one end of a former grain store overlooking the steely waters of Prince of Wales Dock on the city's regenerated waterfront.
"Inside, original features such as exposed brickwork, cement, tiles and some serious-looking riveted metal pillars are offset by bright and airy design flourishes, a theatrical open kitchen along one wall, counter seating and some cool, well-spaced modernist furniture – all overseen by a meticulous front of house team.
"Executive chef/co-owner Jonathan Woolway is a Swansea boy who decamped to London for a long stint at Fergus Henderson's St John before returning to his hometown.
"The menu is a hymn to top-notch Welsh ingredients, from Pembrokeshire crab and lobster to Gower asparagus and new season's lamb.
"At times, the food is deceptively simple, but beneath the breezy presentation, individual elements are clearly carefully considered and the cooking is precise."
The Black Bear Inn
The Black Bear Inn, located in Bettws Newydd, also features among the Good Food Guide's 100 best local restaurants.
It has a 'Very Good' overall rating on the guide's website and is commended for "thrilling cooking in a remote, rural location".
The Good Food Guide adds: "It's always reassuring to come across a rural pub in an area barely big enough to count as a village – in this case, a seductive corner of Monmouthshire in the rough vicinity of Usk.
"The weekly changing, all-day menu is built around three each of starters and mains, but opens with an extensive range of snacks, which are definitely worth investigating."
Customers also think favourably about the Black Bear Inn, with it scoring a 4.6 rating (from 163 reviews) on Tripadvisor.
One visitor said: "One of the best meals I have ever had. The beef was to die for. Friendly service and superb cuisine. Well worth a visit to Monmouthshire."
Casanova
Casanova is described by the Good Food Guide as a "no-frills regional Italian trattoria", with an overall rating of 'good'.
The experts add: "Traditional and delightfully untrendy, this trattoria has been serving up a slice of Italy to appreciative locals for more than 20 years.
"Run by chef Antonio Cersosimo (from Calabria by way of Milan) and Neapolitan wine importer Luca Montuori, the proposition is a picture of regional Italian gastronomy, pairing premium Italian imports with bountiful Welsh produce.
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"The concise menu, supplemented by a paper slip of specials, will transport you from the humdrum lookout onto an NCP car park, while charming service invites you to kick back and relax."
The Cardiff-based restaurant also has a near-perfect 4.6 rating on Tripadvisor (from 922 reviews).
Customers have described Casanova as "My Favourite Cardiff Restaurant", "a hidden treasure" and "top class".