Wales welcomes its first two-starred Michelin restaurant

Wales is well-known for its protected dark sky reserves that offer world-class views of the cosmos, but the country is now making headlines for an abundance of stars of a completely different kind – Michelin stars.

Ynyshir, in the village of Eglwys Fach north of Aberystwyth, has become the first restaurant in Wales to receive a two-Michelin-star rating.

For many chefs, receiving a star from the long-running restaurant-review brand is considered the pinnacle of success. But Ynyshir has gone one further, becoming one of five restaurants to be newly bestowed a two-star rating in the 2022 edition of the guidebook.

The restaurant, which previously held a one-star-rating for a number of years, puts on a real show for diners, plating up around 30 courses that offer an eclectic mix of Asian-inspired flavours, from char siu pork to green curry shrimp, all utilising Welsh produce where possible. The food is accompanied by a fittingly unique atmosphere, complete with a spinning disco ball and thumping dance music.

In its online review of the restaurant, the Michelin Guide website notes, “If you’re after a truly unique experience, then a journey to rural Wales and this part-Georgian house – painted matt black, with tipis in the garden – will tick lots of boxes.”

“Chef-owner Gareth Ward and his team take their diners on an immersive culinary journey that starts with being shown all the fine Welsh produce that they’ll be experiencing in the 30 or so servings that follow,” it adds.

However, Ynyshir isn’t the only Welsh restaurant to singled out for praise by the prestigious brand, with six other venues around the country receiving a one-star rating in the latest edition of the guide.

Home, in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, and SY23 in Aberystwyth have both received a star each for the very first time, the latter also scooped the coveted ‘Opening of the Year’ award.

Elsewhere, Beach House in Gower, Sosban & The Old Butchers in Anglesey, The Whitebrook in Monmouthshire and the Walnut Tree near Abergavenny all retained their one-star rating from last year’s edition of the guide.

Learn more about Wales’s star-studded food and drink scene.

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