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Eating Out

There is a variety of pubs, cafes and restaurants within easy distances where you can relax and savour their very different characters. You will find sample menus for many local places to eat in Isfryn.

Nearby Pubs

  • The nearest pub is The Brigands Inn (named after the band of red haired brigands who terrorised this area in the 1500s), just 2.5 miles down the road in the tiny hamlet of Mallwyd. It is about 30 minutes walk, or 15 minute cycle.
  • Dinas Mawddwy is 3 miles away and boasts the Red Lion (Y Llew Coch in Welsh), a proper, friendly, locals' pub with no frills, where you can be sure of home cooked pub food and plenty of it! It also offers takeaways. About 50 minutes walk along the back lane.
  • Also in Dinas is the Buckley Arms Hotel which does freshly made chinese food.
  • Cemaes (3 miles) is the home of Ty Cemaes shop and cafe and the Penrhos Arms (which also does takeaway food). Further on, at Glantwymyn (5 miles), you will find the Dovey Valley Hotel.

Nearby Cafes

  • Ty Cemaes, in the village of Cemaes 2 miles away, does delicious home-made coffee, cakes, breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
  • Caffi Carys at Mallwyd Service Station next to the Brigands Inn does a good-value hearty breakfast and more 9-1.30 every day except Tuesday & Wednesday.
    For a welcome tea break from your exploring, try the Caffi'r Hen Siop in the village of Dinas Mawddwy

Machynlleth

In Machynlleth there are numerous cafes and pubs serving food and drink.Here are a few.

  • Ty Medi in the High Street serves up vegetarian and vegan foods.
  • The Wynnstay is an ancient coaching Inn that serves food and specialises in Italian wines. Their wine list runs to 11 pages!
  • The Shilam Tandoori gets many good reviews, but we've not been there yet.
  • The White Lion does classic Pub Grub
  • There are two(!) Hennighans Fish and Chip shops on the High street. They regularly win awards for quality.
  • There are several cafes along the length of the High Street too.

Dolgellau

In Dolgellau, the best cafe is surely T H Roberts, just down from the square, opposite the Royal Ship Hotel. It's a family business in a fantastic, listed former hardware shop with a dangerously large range of homemade cakes, wickedly big fried breakfasts and excellent coffee. The Cork, Fork & Feathers is another nice cafe, wine bar & deli. For  more wine, try Dylanwad, a lovely wine bar and off license, with friendly advice on offer about the great selection of wines to drink and buy. It's in Porth Marchnad, just a stone's throw from the main square. It has a good selection of Welsh wines & spirits.

For restaurant food, we recommend The Royal Ship and Y Sospan, both on the edge of the square.

A lovely Spanish family run the Tafarn y Gader Tapas bar on Ffos y Felin and a separate Deli just up the street.

The Stag is a friendly pub serving excellent, wood-fired pizzas and The Torrent Walk has just been taken over by two well-regarded local chefs and is gaining a reputation for good food.

Corris & Esgairgeiliog/Ceinws

If you’ve taken the mountain road to Corris, call in at the lovely and friendly Idris Stores Café & Shop for delicious treats. You can also stop by for a pint or pub grub at the The Slaters Arms just up the street.

If you fancy a trip further off the beaten track, why not visit the quirky Tafarn Dwynant at Ceinws (2 miles from Corris, 9 miles from Isfryn) for a mix of pub and art gallery. The food has always been good when we've eaten there.

Corris Craft Centre, just north of Corris on the main road has a café, as well as a selection of craft shops (and delicious gin from the Dyfi Distillery which is based on site!)

Beyond Corris on the B4405 is the Ty’n y Cornel Hotel on the edge of Tallyllyn lake at the foot of Cader Idris. It’s a great place to relax with a drink by the lake and serves good food.