Places to eat in Aberystwyth

This isn’t the only time we have sung Baravin’s praises in our guide. They feature in the nightlife section thanks to their lively bar and the short walk from our Aberystwyth hotel, but the Mediterranean food joint is a very worthy addition to our restaurant write up too thanks to the wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta and a wide range of international dishes. The scenery is just as tasty as the food, with the tables well-arranged to provide views of Cardigan Bay from the oversized windows.

If that’s piqued your Italian taste-buds, Little Italy on North Parade is a charming and relaxed Italian eaterie open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. The food covers all the classics including nine pizza options, a wide range of starters and pasta dishes plus a range of daily specials.

If you really want to take your Italian taste-buds to the next level, book a table at Medina on Market Street. Taking inspiration from renowned chef Ottolenghi, the restaurant serves some of the freshest and tastiest dishes in west Wales and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea and you can even take their lovely food away via their deli and shop. With sharing platters, a wide range of meze dishes and speciality salads, it’s also a healthy restaurant experience, with gluten-free and vegan options available.

A short walk towards the beach from there is Pier Brasserie, also known as Upstairs at the Pier. A family-friendly restaurant with impressive views out to the Irish Sea, the restaurant covers a wide range of international staples and British classics all served in a traditional wooden dining room.

For something a little different, Mama Fays is a Caribbean-themed café and restaurant that specialises in traditional dishes including jerk pork, curried goat and ackee saltfish. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeaway from Tuesday to Sunday, Mama Fays also do a range of burgers, burritos and wraps as well as a varied kids menu.

Nearby on Baker Street is another alternative eating out option, Backyard BBQ. As the name suggests, this is the place to get your fill of smoked meat, beef brisket, ribs slathered in their homemade sauce and a droolsome range of burgers.

No trip to Aberystwyth would be complete without sampling some of their famous seafood and Pysgoty is one of our favourites. The licensed café-bar sits halfway between the harbour and the town’s south beach and makes the most of its location with a stunning open-air seating area overlooking Cardigan Bay.

A go-to local chain, Coffee #1 is a homegrown café that’s deservedly built up a loyal following since launching in 2001. Housed in a historic converted hotel just off the Promenade, they serve up a wide range of home-roasted coffee, loose-leaf tea, breakfast options, salads and soups and snacks, with plenty of comfy seating across two floors.

Another local favourite is Sophie’s. Open daily, they have an extensive breakfast and brunch menu including vegan options and a lunch menu covering gourmet burgers, salads and their Chipstack range, a calorific but so-so-good range of loaded fries. Add in some excellent hot drinks including their dreamy hot chocolate, and you have a winning combination.

Unrelated, but just as good, is the Sophie Bach Tea & Coffee Room. If first-rate coffee, tea, cakes, pancakes and home-cooked breakfast and lunch options are your thing, you’ll love this homely café. It’s also dog-friendly, with four-legged friends given their own comfy cushions, water bowl and range of snacks to choose from.

Over on Bridge Street, Agnelli’s Trattoria and Deli is a small but stylish Italian café and deli. The traditional menu spans a wide range of pasta and antipasti dishes and, if you’re in a rush, you can take your pick from the deli counter and take your goods to the beach and tuck into your espresso, your fresh Tuscan sausage panini and cannoli.

For more artisan goods, head to Ultracomida nearby on Pier Street. A restaurant and shop, they stock a vast range of goods including hard-to-find wine, cider and beer, cured meat and fish, specialist olive oils, olives and pickles and a nose-peg worthy selection of cheese.

Heading out of Aberystwyth, the Pennau Craft & Coffee Shop has been serving up some of the best food and coffee in the region since 1983. A proudly Welsh café four miles from our Aberystwyth hotel, they serve up local specialities including bara brith, Welsh tea and their award-winning local ice cream while the attached craft shop is a great place to pick up local presents, souvenirs and gifts.