51 Best Hotels in Wales

This country-chic hotel in the town center is renowned for its excellent food, especially the afternoon tea. Rooms in the former coaching inn, and its surroundings (including stables, a Victorian lodge, and a 17th-century cottage) are stylishly decorated in neutral tones. Try a craft beer in the wood-paneled Foxhunter Bar and check out the artwork by Alexis Snell. Be sure to book well in advance if you want to stay here during the Abergavenny Food Festival.

A drive south on the coast road from Aberystwyth brings you to this early-19th-century Georgian-style, bright blue building right on the harbor, among many other colorfully painted structures. Modern design and strong colors dominate the public areas and bedrooms, which have wonderful harbor views. Rooms are stylish, comfortable, and furnished with Welsh textiles. The sophisticated, modern Welsh brasserie specializes in local seafood, and there's a decent bar menu for more casual dining.

This town house, a hop and a skip from the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, bucks the trend in a city where big, modern hotels are usually a safer bet than boutique lodgings. The rooms aren't huge but make good use of the space; No. 5 has a seafaring theme in keeping with the hotel's history (it was originally a captain's house). All have large, comfortable beds and generously sized tubs in the bathrooms.

This magnificent Jacobean mansion on the banks of the River Wye, about 7 miles west of Hay-on-Wye, has beautiful fabrics and furnishings, open fireplaces, a sweeping carved staircase, and a paneled library dating back to 1632. The bedrooms have a traditional feel with antique-style pieces and canopied beds. On the fixed-price dinner menu, the restaurant serves such dishes as Welsh Black beef with mushroom ravioli or honey-glazed duck with saffron potatoes.

Now a hotel, the Victorian-era Port Authority building in the Maritime Quarter has lost none of its period features: moldings, pillars, stained glass, and wood floors. The modern rooms, in both the main building and in a town house across the road, are immaculate, with crisp cotton sheets and colorful Welsh blankets. The separate Townhouse building across the street offers greater privacy (and is more affordable). 

Built on the site of a 6th-century abbey in 5 acres of lush forest overlooking Camarthen Bay, this dignified 18th-century house is awash with period details. Bedrooms in the main house are furnished with antiques and four-poster beds, while those in the Coach House are simpler; all are decorated in white with splashes of color and have a chic beach house vibe. Excellent suppers made with local produce are available each evening in the top-notch restaurant, Rhosyn.

Hosts Ian and Gwawr Mowatt are charmingly adept at making their guests feel at home in this former Victorian artists' colony. Today the polished slate floors, high ceilings, and classic color schemes exude charm and country-house sophistication. Bedrooms are bright and spacious, with beamed ceilings, claw-foot tubs, and spectacular views across the valley. There's a cozy guest lounge with a fireplace, and the traditional Welsh breakfasts are excellent. There's also a self-catering studio if you're looking for even more privacy (prices start at around £300 for three nights in summer). The house is about 1 mile south of Betws-y-Coed.

On the seafront, this traditional hotel is a home-away-from-home thanks to its friendly and welcoming owners and staff. Apart from the location, its main selling point is the delicious home-cooked breakfast. The building dates back to 1842 but the decor is decidedly contemporary with bright, well-equipped bedrooms—the doubles have king-size beds. There's also a restaurant where dinner is equally appealing; try the cawl (lamb stew). 

This luxury seafront hotel has welcomed many illustrious guests since it opened in 1854, including Napoleon III and seven British prime ministers. Although original features remain, the decor is contemporary. The most prized rooms are the five Rooftop Rooms, which have the best views and their own balconies. Traditional British cuisine made with local produce is served in the chic restaurant and afternoon tea is available in the comfortable lounge.

Between Amroth and Tenby, this luxury hotel has a breathtaking location perched above Carmarthen Bay; most of the superbly appointed rooms have stunning sea views. The decor retains a jaunty nautical theme, from the room keys topped off with a knot or rope to the coastal artwork and regionally made oak furniture. There's a state-of-the-art marine spa with infinity pool, steam room, and rock sauna; the treatment room for couples has a giant picture window with a bay view. The restaurant specializes in locally sourced produce, but nearby Lan Y Mor is a better option for dining. 

This luxurious Victorian house has panoramic views over Betws-y-Coed. Built in the 1870s, the bed-and-breakfast successfully combines period features and contemporary style. The bedrooms are well equipped and the owners are extremely hospitable. Aberconwy House is usually a 10-minute walk from the center of Betws-y-Coed, but current renovations to the path mean that guests should allow 25 minutes to get there via an alternate route.

In the middle of town, this refurbished 500-year-old coaching inn is full of character; the low-beamed bar, decorated with memorabilia from the days when stagecoaches stopped here, has a log fire in winter. Rooms in the hotel or in a modern addition in the former stable yard vary widely; the most luxurious have four-poster beds and antiques. The restaurant serves contemporary cuisine made with local produce. The hotel is on A40, 6 miles southeast of Abergavenny.

In Caernarfon's historic center, this whitewashed inn dating from the 16th-century has loads of character and a popular restaurant. Rooms at the original inn are crammed with original features (one has a four-poster bed) but larger and brighter accommodations are available in the 19th-century extensions. The traditional British restaurant menu, starring the likes of pies, steak, and fish, uses local produce when possible for its dishes. 

Carefully restored in period style as a guesthouse, this former Victorian home (pronounced haylog, which means "sunny bank") is nestled at the foot of the Berwyn Mountains. Stone fireplaces and an oak staircase are original elements of this 1861 house. Bedrooms are bright and reasonably spacious with modern furnishings. Hosts Diane and Peter Crocker are full of advice on local walking routes and beauty spots.

This immaculate, impeccably run Victorian hotel is traditional in style, but has a contemporary edge. Bedrooms are decent-size, with color schemes of gray, raspberry, or vanilla. Those at the rear of the building have lovely views of the woods or the garden. Fresh flowers and plush period furnishings add charm to the public areas.

A friendly welcome awaits at this cozy 17th-century farmhouse 2 miles outside Llandrindod. Surrounded by 300 acres of countryside, the delightful Nixon family's home is decorated in classic country-house style with warm, rustic tones and exposed stone walls.

These twin hotels, a stone's throw away from each other, could hardly be more different: one is a restored 14th-century coaching inn, the other a contemporary lodging. Bedrooms at the Bull have exposed beams and traditional furnishings. A better choice are the Townhouse's contemporary rooms, named after their color schemes—Sky, Clementine, Lilac, or Cream. Locally made coffee, tea, and biscuits can be found in the rooms at both sites. The Bull's restaurant offers top-notch pub fare like fish-and-chips, and the atmospheric bar has a good selection of draft beer.

Nestled within Conwy's medieval walls, this former coaching inn has wood beams, stone fireplaces, and plenty of antiques. Illustrious former guests include William Wordsworth, Samuel Johnson, and Charlotte Brontë. The bedrooms are plush and luxurious, with elaborate modern bathrooms. The restaurant and bar are decorated with paintings of scenes from Shakespeare's plays—traded by distinguished Victorian artist John Dawson-Watson in return for lodgings. Here you can enjoy seasonal Modern British cuisine, such as Conwy Valley Lamb Wellington. 

This former coach house in the center of Brecon has been converted into a luxurious place to stay, and the friendly hosts—a wealth of information about the local area—can arrange transport to and from the best walking paths in the Beacons. Rooms are named after Welsh historical figures; Brychan, the suite, has a rolltop bath plus robes and slippers. Inventive Welsh breakfasts, such as scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and laverbread, are served in the bright dining room; there are also several options for vegans and vegetarians.

Formerly the Coal Exchange, where it is said the world's first £1 million deal was struck in 1901, this building has now been turned into a comfortable three-star lodging. The public areas and their wood paneling are magnificent, especially the trading floor which is now used for weddings and events (take a peek around the door to the right of the reception desk). Rooms are individually decorated in a contemporary, neo-baroque style. The restaurant, Culley's Kitchen & Bar, serves beautifully presented dishes made with local produce.

This cozy, traditional B&B in the center of Llanberis sticks to its old-fashioned Welsh roots, and that's precisely the appeal. The house was built in the 1860s, and the decor is avowedly traditional—from the Victorian-style entrance hall to the comfortable and spotlessly clean bedrooms. They serve delicious cooked breakfasts, too; try the salmon with scrambled eggs.

In the 17th century Felin Glais was a barn; today it provides spacious and comfortable accommodations but still hasn't lost its ancient character. Breakfast is great, with the meat and eggs coming from local producers. The owners will also provide packed lunches for hikers (£10). The inn is in Abersycir, 3 miles west of Brecon.

Most of the stylish, contemporary rooms in this Victorian town house have their own lounge; the Loft room has six cabin-style single beds. There's an equally stylish one-bedroom self-catering cottage next door. Free parking is available nearby. 

This highly regarded dining pub dating from the early 20th century, in the village-like suburb of Llandaff, offers two chic rooms that are cozy homes away from home. Both have super king beds and coffee machines as well as original features and antiques. Room 1 has a roll-top bath while Room 2, slightly larger, overlooks the hills toward Castell Coch.

Housed in an art deco shopping arcade on one of the city's main shopping streets, Hotel Indigo is a stylish mid-range lodging with local flavor. You know you're in Wales as soon as you walk in, thanks to the Celtic murals and blown-up photos of local celebrities like Shirley Bassey. Rooms are themed to reflect the city's history and culture. On the top floor you'll find fantastic views and a restaurant, Lefel 6, serving refined cuisine made with local produce. 

This comfortable and immaculate Victorian house sits across from the train station, a five-minute stroll from the sea. The small but comfortable bedrooms have been tastefully refurbished in muted tones, with modern furniture. The charming hosts are full of information about the area.