Wales has a lot to offer when it comes to food. From sweet treats to hearty meals, there’s plenty to discover. Here’s a guide to some classic Welsh dishes and where you can find them.

 

Welsh cakes

These golden, round cakes are one of Wales’s best-loved treats, traditionally cooked on a bakestone or griddle rather than baked in the oven. Made with flour, butter, sugar and dried fruit, they’re lightly spiced and dusted with sugar before serving. You’ll find them in bakeries and cafés across Wales, especially at the Victorian Market in Cardiff, where the sweet scent of freshly griddled Welsh cakes fills the air.

 

Glamorgan sausages

Glamorgan sausages are made from breadcrumbs, leeks and Caerphilly cheese. A vegetarian favourite, they contain no meat and became popular in the 19th century when meat was scarce. The dish is strongly linked to Glamorgan in South Wales, where you can still find hearty, golden-brown Glamorgan sausages on pub menus today.

 

Bara brith

Bara brith, or speckled bread in Welsh, is a fruit loaf made by soaking dried fruit in tea before baking which is often sliced thick and served with butter. Local bakeries in places like Conwy and Llandudno often have their own closely guarded recipes.

 

Welsh rarebit

This comforting dish is made by melting cheese with ale, mustard and spices before pouring it over toasted bread. Its origins go back hundreds of years, when it was a clever way to turn simple ingredients into something rich and filling. Today, it’s still a staple in pubs and cafés and can be found across Wales.

 

Cawl

Cawl, also known as lobscows in areas of North Wales, is Wales’s national dish. It’s a traditional broth of meat and seasonal vegetables, heated slowly until tender. Lamb or beef are most common. It’s often served with a hunk of crusty bread. Cawl is the perfect warming dish to tuck into after visiting one of Wales’s many beautiful walking destinations.

 

Laverbread

Made from laver seaweed, laverbread is a traditional Welsh delicacy, especially along the South and West coasts. Seaweed is boiled for hours until it becomes a soft paste, mixed with oats and then fried. Swansea is particularly famous for its laverbread, which has been sold at Swansea Market for generations.

 

Welsh cheeses

Wales is renowned for its incredible cheeses, so notable it deserves its own section. Here are five popular cheeses to try on your next Welsh journey.

Caerphilly cheese

A crumbly, slightly tangy white cheese originally made in Caerphilly, South Wales. It’s still a staple on Welsh cheeseboards.

Perl Wen

A soft, creamy Brie-style cheese from Caws Cenarth in Carmarthenshire, known for its delicate rind and buttery flavour.

Hafod Cheddar

An organic, clothbound Cheddar produced on a family farm in Ceredigion, offering rich, nutty notes and a smooth texture.

Perl las

A golden, veined blue cheese from Caws Cenarth in Carmarthenshire, known for its creamy texture, mellow saltiness and a lingering blue finish.

Black bomber

A multi-award-winning extra-mature Cheddar from Snowdonia Cheese Company, famous for its smooth, rich taste and striking black wax coating.

 

Welsh food is best enjoyed as you travel around the country. Whether it’s a sweet treat from a bakery or a warming bowl of cawl at a local pub, there’s always something delicious to be discovered when you’re exploring Wales.