7 Best Boutique Hotels in Wales

Wherever you head to in Wales, you won’t be stuck for beautiful places to stay. With some of the UK’s most dramatic and gorgeous scenery, there’s a hotel waiting to accommodate you in every corner of the country. Cardiff is home to swish hotels and foodie boltholes, while the vast countryside and national parks deliver on cosy country homes and grand mansions. But to really make the most of your Welsh getaway, you’ll want to stay in the best of the best. Boutique hotels offer a personalised service, an intimate setting, unique experiences, distinctive interiors, and more – it’s the way to go to maximise your all-important break. We looked at reviews, value for money, restaurant quality, service, location, and amenities to find the best boutique hotels in Wales. One night in one of these boutique havens and it’s goodbye to chain hotels!

Best Boutique Hotels in Wales, How do these rankings work?

1. Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire

Wales does country house hotels very well, and the Grove of Narberth could be the best of the best. This Georgian Pembrokeshire haven is tucked away in the peaceful countryside, close to the pretty town of Narberth. They seemingly do everything right – excellent food, gorgeous bedrooms, tranquil grounds, fantastic location, and cosy interior.

Let’s start with the food. There are two restaurants here. The Fernery is the formal dining room, a dinner-only affair where the kitchen uses wholeheartedly Welsh produce to create the masterful tasting menu – it goes up to 10 courses. The Artisan Rooms are less formal and used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – despite being less elaborate, the meals are no less delicious. Breakfast is brilliant, too, with a wide range choice that goes far beyond the usual breakfast buffet. Think: chia seed pudding and blueberry waffles. After breakfast, a coffee in the garden is a must – the grounds are spectacular and there’s a cute walled garden filled with herbs and vegetables that are used in the kitchen. Settle down in one of the swinging outdoor chairs with a book, or if the Welsh weather throws a curveball, get cosy in one of the plush armchairs beside a crackling fireplace.

2. Penally Abbey Hotel, Pembrokeshire

Set amongst fairytale gardens, this lovely, family-run hotel is undoubtedly one of the best boutique hotels in Wales. The location is brilliant, it’s set above the sea and just a thirty-minute walk to the quaint coastal town of Tenby. And if it’s beaches you want, just ask Jacques – he’s the son of Melanie and Lucas, the proud owners of Penally. He’ll be happy to show you the very best spots. It’s this personalised service that contributes to Penally’s magic. You’ll even spot Lizzie’s hand-crafted guides in each of the rooms – not only does she run reception, but she’s also a dab hand at art and graphic design.

The Gothic features can be felt throughout the hotel, although it’s certainly not the spooky kind – Penally is bright, homely, and sleek. We particularly love the quintessentially Gothic style pointed tall windows, opening up (some of) the bedrooms to views of the Pembrokeshire coast. There are 11 bedrooms, and all of them have their own unique style – the attention to interior detail is impressive. The delightful garden tops it all off, with lush, manicured levels leading down towards the sea. The perfect spot for a morning coffee.

3. The Quay Hotel, Conwy

Situated on the blissful Deganwy Marina, with views stretching out to Conwy Castle, the beautiful Quay Hotel is the perfect seaside escape. Watch the sailing boats bob in the Cowny Estuary from the (hopefully) sunny front deck – it’s especially impressive with a glass of crisp wine in hand. The luxurious, idyllic scenery can be seen from all points of the hotel – the bedrooms even have floor-to-ceiling windows.

It isn’t just the beautiful location that makes the Quay one of the best boutique hotels in Wales. The Marina Spa offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in relaxation, with de-stressing treatments and tranquil ‘me time’. That’s bound to work up an appetite – luckily, the hotel restaurant, Ebb and Flow, is world class. Unique Welsh flavours are combined with excellent service to create a wonderful dining experience. The award-winning chef is committed to serving creative dishes using fresh, local ingredients.

4. Parador 44, Cardiff

Having only opened in 2022, Parador 44 is already fortified itself as one of the best boutique hotels in Wales. It comes from the same family that own the Spanish tapas restaurant, Bar 44, the Northern Spanish restaurant, Asador 44, and the Spanish online market, Mercado 44. So, it’s safe to say the Morgan family know that they’re doing when it comes to injecting a bit of Spain into Wales. It’s a food-focused hotel, mixed with a slice of Iberian luxury. Visitors can expect Mediterranean architecture and airy, beautifully designed rooms with bright white walls and natural wooden finishes – there are only nine of them, and they get booked up in advance. The team at Parador 44 create a sense of community with their ‘honesty bar’ – guests can help themselves to tea, coffee, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and snacks in good faith that they’ll pay for it when they leave.

5. Escape, Llandudno

This gorgeous Victorian hotel is a wonderful setting for a fun-filled retreat on the North Wales coast. The Llandudno seafront is just half a mile away, just off the main shopping street, and the area is bursting with outdoor activities, independent cafes, and local seafood restaurants.

There are nine stylish bedrooms, each with its own individual design. While they might have their own styles, they all have the same vintage, cosy feel with unique features. The rest of the hotel has that same vintage design with original Victorian floors, original handcrafted fireplaces, and opulent furniture sourced from European design fairs. It’s clear that the owners have put a lot of love into Escape, making staying here a stylised and personalised experience. Nothing is too much for the kind team here – they’re full of local knowledge and top tips.

6. Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, Hensol

For wine lovers, we can’t imagine a hotel better than Llanerch Vineyard Hotel. Perfect for a romantic getaway, the enchanting vineyard makes for an idyllic sundowner setting. The bistro-style restaurant overlooks the rows of green pastures, but the magic of Llanerch’s restaurant isn’t all in the scenery. The contemporary dining area is stripped back with natural wood finishes and an open kitchen, which serves modern dishes made of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Of course, all the mains are expertly paired with house wines.

Despite being a vineyard, Llanerch is decidedly laid back. It’s not in the least bit up tight, with a friendly team that can’t do enough for the guests. The rooms are bright and warm, with clean finishes and the White Company toiletries. To dial p the romance, check out the Cariad Suite – it’s lit up by a grand chandelier, features as a mosaic-tiled bathroom, and boasts vineyard views.

7. Penrhiw Hotel, Pembrokeshire

This stone mansion is set on the spectacular St David’s Peninsula. Surrounded by dramatic headlands and towering peaks, the setting is one of the most beautiful in all Wales. Penrhiw means ‘top of the hill’, and the hotel is amongst a mix of immaculate gardens and rustic woodlands. The valley at the bottom of the hill leads all the way to St Davids Cathedral, and the location of this hotel also puts guests just a mile from Whitestands, one of the best beaches in Pembrokeshire. So, as established, the location is fantastic. But the owners don’t rely on this to keep the guests coming back – Penrhiw has a charm of its own.

The late-Victorian manor was originally a vicarage in the 1880s, and later became a priory until it became a hotel in 1985. It’s elusive and luxurious, with electric gates, marble fireplaces, and lavish velvet sofas. The walls are even dressed in artwork that has been specially commissioned for the hotel. The service is five-star and formal, the bedrooms are grand and masculine, and the breakfast is excellent. They don’t serve dinner here, but the hotel does offer a free transfer to and from their sister hotel, Twr y Felin.