22 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.

Tasteful antiques, polished wood, and comfortable chairs by cheery fires distinguish one of Wales's most luxurious country-house hotels. The part-17th-, part-18th-century building is set in walled gardens 2 miles out of town. Bedrooms in the house combine elegance and practicality; seekers of privacy may prefer the cottage suites scattered around the estate. The outstanding restaurant makes good use of local ingredients and, pleasingly, there are separate vegetarian and vegan menus.

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 good Modern British cuisine, such as Conwy Valley Lamb Wellington. Beauty treatments are also available on-site.

The significant charm to this small guesthouse on the outskirts of Holyhead comes as much from the quaint, country-style rooms as from the owner and caretaker, Len Williams, whose welcoming and obliging nature earns much praise. Cleanliness is not just a virtue here—it's paramount, and shows throughout the property. There's no restaurant, but room fridges are stocked with breakfast cereal, cookies, milk, and the fixings for hot chocolate, tea, and coffee. The ground-floor room offers a tad more privacy with its private entrance and enclosed patio and garden.

A drive south on the coast road from Aberystwyth brings you to this early19th-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.

The place to go for total Victorian country elegance, Lake Country and its 50 acres of sloping lawns contain a trout-filled lake bordered by an impressive spa. Comfortable and quiet, the hotel has first-class service and excellent contemporary cuisine. Four-course dinners may include pan-roasted loin of Welsh venison followed by caramelized rice pudding. Period furniture and fine fabrics decorate the large bedrooms; some have four-poster beds. The hotel is in Llangammarch Wells, 16 miles southwest of Llandrindod Wells.

Awesome views of mountain-ringed Lake Vyrnwy are just one asset of this country mansion on a 24,000-acre estate. For the ultimate sporting vacation you can try fly-fishing, hike or bike on the nearby paths, or rent a sailboat. The less energetic can linger in the superb spa, which offers a range of massage treatments and has a pool overlooking the lake. Leather chairs and log fires add to the feeling of luxury, and the bedrooms are full of pampering touches. The sophisticated contemporary cuisine includes seasonal game and local lamb as well as tapas.

Perhaps the best of the many B&Bs on Cathedral Road—a handsome enclave of Victorian houses—this place close to the city center is a great find. The rooms are reasonably sized; some have antique-style furnishings (one has a four-poster bed), while others have a more contemporary vibe. Breakfasts are good and hearty. You can order light snacks in the bar, or the staff can recommend places to eat nearby.

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.

This historic Georgian mansion, now a luxury hotel which also offers self-catering accommodations, was for many years the home of the Nanteos Cup (alleged to be the Holy Grail and now in the National Library of Wales). The sophisticated, traditionally furnished rooms have all the modern amenities; the suites are particularly grand. The restaurant, Nightingale, is renowned for its creative use of local produce and the bar has a good selection of Welsh beers and spirits. Nanteos is 4 miles southeast of Aberystwyth.

This Georgian country house hotel, a 20-minute drive north of the city center, has wonderful views across Cardiff and over the Bristol Channel to Somerset. Rooms are decorated in classic style and have all modern amenities, including tea and coffee. The food can be described as upmarket gastro-pub grub and a good afternoon tea is also available. There's even a small gym.

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.

This refined country house, built in 1741, feels more like a home than a hotel. The eight rooms in the main house are spacious and traditionally furnished with plush fabrics and antiques while the four duplexes in the Stables are more rustic and ideally suited for families. All meals are available, but the afternoon tea is a real treat. There's even a small spa with a jacuzzi, sauna, and beauty treatments. The hotel is 3 miles southeast of Brecon off the A40.

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; seafood is also worth a splurge.

These twin hotels, a stone's throw away from each other, could hardly be more different: one is a restored 15th-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. Nespresso machines and locally made biscuits can be found in the rooms at both sites. The Bull's restaurant, Coach, offers top-notch pub fare like fish-and-chips, and the atmospheric bar has a good selection of draft beer.

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 luxury lodging. The public areas and their wood paneling are magnificent, especially the trading floor which is now a stylish restaurant, Culley's Kitchen & Bar, which serves beautifully presented dishes made with local produce.

This grand-looking hotel from 1896 is surprisingly contemporary on the inside, with modern furnishings that complement the original architectural flourishes. The service is efficient, and the large bedrooms are equipped with up-to-the-minute gadgets. There's a decent restaurant, and the spa offers reasonably priced treatments (a full-body massage costs £65).

Once a coaching inn, this sophisticated lodging on the edge of town retains its sense of history. Rooms are decorated in country-chic style and furnished with antiques; specially commissioned art featuring flowers adorn the walls. The restaurant serves hearty Welsh breakfasts and good-quality Modern British food at lunch and dinner. When the weather's nice, the small garden is a lovely spot for an evening drink.

This luxury hotel on the southeast edge of the city features spacious, contemporary rooms, a restaurant with delicious Welsh produce, and a strong contemporary art collection. Tyddewi, the Tower Suite, is based in a former windmill and has 360-degree views from its upper floor. Beauty treatments are available at the hotel owners' other property, Penrhiw Priory.

A Victorian Baptist chapel and adjoining stables have successfully been converted into a cozy and comfortable B&B, keeping many original features. The rooms are decorated in a contemporary style, with Welsh textiles and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Breakfast is taken at the owners' other property nearby, the Erskine Arms, which has some equally appealing accommodations and good pub food.