Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in South Wales

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in South Wales? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Silures

4.9

4.9 (362)

£26 to £40

Modern European

Cardiff

About the restaurant

Whilst Silures is firmly rooted in Wales, benefiting from the abundance of local produce available, the all-day dining menu is inspired by the broadness and endless possibilities of Modern European cuisine.

The all-day dining menu is available from day to night, with Sunday Roast showcasing on the weekends. The bar is a bustling and non-stop space, open to all and featuring a range of crafted cocktails, draught beer and bespoke bar snacks.

Born in Roath, Cardiff, Silures is an integral part of the community not only by creating an accessible but premium offering, but by championing environmental sustainability, local supply lines and ethical practices.

Top review

Tom

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

Absolutely fantastic food and experience from Andrew and his team .

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Butterflies Bar & Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (1394)

£25 and under

Steakhouse

Pontypool

About the restaurant

Multi-award winning restaurant situated in the heart of the World Heritage Town of Blaenavon.
Originally built in 1832 as the Cross Keys Hotel we have been serving the locals of Blaenavon and beyond for almost 200 years.

We are well known across South Wales for our award winning steaks and hearty portions

Voice awards - Best chef 2018
Voice awards - Best Sunday lunch 2019
Voice awards - Best steaks 2019
Welsh hospitality awards - Best Welsh restaurant 2021
Welsh restaurant awards - Best in South Wales 2023
Best commercial garden - 9 consecutive years

Top review

Zena

Dined 4 days ago

Outstanding!! Food was delicious, the service was A**

Janet's

4.8

4.8 (741)

£26 to £40

Chinese

Pontypridd

About the restaurant

Janet's Pontypridd is a premier and authentic Restaurant that has been proudly serving the Pontypridd area since 2019. Since then, our mission has been to provide high-quality food for all those that wish to combine fun and enjoyable ambiance with skilful cooking into one extraordinary dining experience. We are committed to putting Pontypridd on the map as a food destination.

Top review

Sue

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food and well presented. Very friendly staff and service. Will definitely be back with our family and friends.

Tickled Trout Newport

4.6

4.6 (171)

£25 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Newport

About the restaurant

Welcome to Tickled Trout we look forward to serving you.

Top review

Madison

Dined on 7 Dec 2024

Amazing, this has slowly become one of my favourite places. Food is great, staff are really friendly and the atmosphere is really nice.

The Ivy Asia, Cardiff

4.5

4.5 (3128)

£25 and under

Asian

Cardiff

About the restaurant

The Ivy Asia brings beautiful fusion flavours, exotic cocktails and late night entertainment to the heart of Cardiff, every night of the week. Located in St David's Shopping Centre, just a short walk from the city's historic castle and Cardiff Market, The Ivy Asia Cardiff is perfectly placed to provide a stunning sanctuary for shoppers, tourists and locals alike.

Top review

Louise

Dined 5 days ago

absolutely love Ivy Asia, feels like such a treat. ambiance is so lovely and food amazing! already can't wait until the next visit!

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Experience

New Year's Eve Experience

Experience

New Year’s Eve Outdoor Booking

Experience

Festive Set Menu

The Shed Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (191)

£26 to £40

British

Swansea

About the restaurant

Hiraeth; a term unique to Wales and Welsh culture, an intangible pull on the heart that conveys a deep sense of belonging, the desire to return to the place of one’s birth, to come home. For The Shed Restaurant and Executive Chef Jonathan Woolway, our place in the world is happily Swansea.
Composed along the expanse of Swansea Bay, flanked by the Gower Peninsula and Brecon Beacons, within striking distance of the fertile valleys, coastal plains and farmland of West Wales, the Waterfront City of Swansea sits at the beating heart of nature’s larder. Bounties of the season from land, sea and pasture are at our fingertips.
Our daily changing menus reflect a constant creative evolution, making use of local produce at the very place and moment of their seasonal prime. This begins in the kitchen and is realised at the table; Egalitarian, convivial and accessible to all. Full in heart and generous of spirit.

Top review

Huw

Dined 5 days ago

Best food in Swansea by a country mile Excellent service

Pho Cardiff

4.4

4.4 (489)

£25 and under

Vietnamese

Cardiff

About the restaurant

Pho Cardiff is a healthy Vietnamese restaurant with loads of vegan and gluten free options. We specialise in pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup, and also serve delicious curries, rice dishes, wok-fried noodles and healthy salads, too. We also have loads of starters that are perfect for sharing with friends and family. Over a third of our menu is vegan, and nearly all of it is gluten-free, so we are a great destination for people who follow those particular diets. We are accredited by Coeliac UK. Aside from our lovely food we offer a brilliant range of healthy juices, as well as delicious wine and beer, and a fantastic cocktail menu too. If you're unable to dine-in, you can click & collect your order, or find us on Deliveroo. We look forward to welcoming you!

Top review

Nigel

Dined 5 days ago

Couldn't fault it.... excellent meal. Great service, good value.

Terra Mare

4.4

4.4 (39)

£26 to £40

Contemporary Italian

Cardiff

About the restaurant

Terra Mare is a contemporary Italian restaurant & bar, inspired by Puglia. Located on High Street and brought to you by the team behind Silures Restaurant, Terra Mare is an authentic Italian dining experience, bringing the heart and soul of Italy right to your table.

Inspired by the vibrant flavours and time-honoured traditions of Puglia, our menu is a true journey through the classic Italian way of dining. From cicchetti (small snacks) to antipasti, primi piatti, secondi piatti, and finally dolce (desserts), Terra Mare invites you to savour each moment, every bite, and every sip. Whether you’re indulging in a few plates or a full seven-course feast, our flexible menu is designed to cater to your unique dining desires.

Top review

Louisa

Dined 3 days ago

We had a lovely time here. Had the Christmas set menu which was good value and great food. Decent size portions. The staff were friendly and attentive without being too overly formal. Drinks seemed quite expensive however that’s the same everywhere! Wine was delicious.

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Experience

Five Course Taster Menu

Experience

Seven Course Taster Menu

Experience

New Year's Eve 5-Course Dinner

Bill's Restaurant & Bar - Cardiff Bay

4.2

4.2 (1585)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Cardiff

About the restaurant

Old building with colourful interiors you wish you had in your house but aren’t quite brave enough for? Check and check. We’ve brought the classic Bill’s formula to Cardiff’s Mermaid Bay. Find us in the Pilotage Building, just follow your nose and the sound of clinking glasses.

Top review

Humphrey

Dined on 20 Nov 2024

First class service and food was excellent. Highly recommend.

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4.2

4.2 (267)

£26 to £40

Barbecue

Abergavenny

About the restaurant

At Fire & Fork, we offer a traditional American barbecue experience with our open fire cooking style. Our skilled chefs use locally sourced ingredients to create delicious, smoky dishes that will excite your taste buds. Come and visit us today to experience the magic of open fire cooking.

Top review

matt

Dined on 28 Nov 2024

First time here and will definitely return,the food was outstanding and the service was excellent!The burger we had was probably the best I’ve ever tasted and the ox cheeks were so tender you didn’t need a knife,a little bit more expensive than we’re used to but well worth it 👍

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