Looking for places to eat in Caernarfon? This small walled town packs plenty of good eating inside it, from breakfast and historic pubs to Sunday lunch, Italian, fish and chips and ice cream.
Last checked October 2026.
A quick note before we start: we run the Black Boy Inn, so we are not neutral. What we can be is honest. Here is where we would send our own friends, sorted by what you are in the mood for, with our own front door included where we think it earns its place.
In this guide: Pub meals | All-day eating | Italian | Coffee and cake | Fish and chips | Welsh dishes | Quick answers
Pub meals with history
The Black Boy Inn
Best for: a historic pub meal, Sunday carvery and breakfast.
The sign on our gable says built circa 1522 and calls us one of the oldest inns in Wales. We sit within Caernarfon’s old walls on Northgate Street, known locally as Stryd Pedwar a Chwech (Four and Six Street). We are a family-run inn, we have won awards for our food, and we have been reviewed by the Telegraph and the Daily Post.
We cook with a field to fork approach, sourcing from suppliers across Gwynedd and Anglesey, and our menu is in Welsh and English. On it you will find the Black Boy’s Famous Welsh Pie, a steak and ale pie made with slow-braised Welsh beef, and a mixed grill, along with cawl y dydd (soup of the day) and Welsh rarebit to start. Menus change with the seasons, so please check the current ones on our restaurant page.
Good to know at the Inn
- Our Sunday carvery runs from 12pm until the meats run out, with a nut roast as an alternative, and it is served in the coach house.
- You do not have to be staying with us for breakfast. Walk-in breakfast is available for non-residents in our bar areas until 11.30am. It is cooked to order, so come a little early on busy mornings and avoid Sunday at around 9.00am if you can.
- If you have allergies or intolerances, ask a member of staff for the allergen menu.
- There is a children’s menu for under 12s.
- You can order by QR code or our app, or at the bar.
- We do not allow dogs into the inside areas of the Inn.
Book a table at the Black Boy Inn
The Four Alls
Best for: pizza and small plates, and cask ales.
Tucked inside the town walls on Hole in the Wall Street, with a second entrance on Palace Street, this Georgian-era (or possibly older) pub is owned by Robinsons brewery and serves their cask ales, as CAMRA’s pub listing notes. It is a good bet for pizzas and small plates to share, and there is a small beer garden. Dogs are welcome.
All-day eating with plenty of choice
Wal
Best for: all-day eating, from breakfast to steak.
On Palace Street, Wal covers a lot of ground, from all-day breakfasts and burgers to steaks, pasta and pizza, with a good range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. Its Visit Snowdonia listing says the meat comes from Llanfair Hall, just four miles away. Dogs are welcome too. You can find out more on their website.
Italian, in the shadow of the castle
Osteria
Best for: Tuscan pasta for two.
This tiny Tuscan restaurant on Hole in the Wall Street is a favourite with visitors and locals alike, and it is well known for its wine list. It is small, so book ahead.
Coffee, cake and something sweet
Caffi Tŷ Winsh
Best for: coffee, soup and cake.
A characterful independent café by the dock, with vintage seating, a cosy fire and homemade soups, cakes and Welsh rarebit. Gluten-free cakes are on offer too. It is spread over two floors, so if access matters, check with them before you go.
Scoops
Best for: ice cream and Dutch pancakes.
A family-run ice cream parlour on Palace Street serving homemade ice cream and Dutch pancakes, with indoor and outdoor seating and some gluten-free options. Take a look at their website.
Fish and chips
Nemo Fish and Chips
Best for: a classic portion by the castle.
A family-run chippy on Castle Square, serving cod in a golden batter. Take your portion down to the waterfront and enjoy it with the castle behind you.
Welsh dishes to look out for
Cawl is one of Wales’s best-loved dishes, a warming broth traditionally made with lamb or beef and seasonal vegetables, and you will find it on our menu as cawl y dydd. Welsh rarebit is a savoury cheese topping grilled on toast, and ours is served on a toasted baguette with a salad garnish. If you would like to try making Welsh rarebit at home, our post on two classic Welsh recipes covers it, along with leek and potato soup.
Quick answers
Where can I get Sunday lunch in Caernarfon?
We serve a Sunday carvery at the Black Boy Inn from 12pm until the meats run out, with a nut roast as an alternative. It is a good idea to book ahead.
Can I get breakfast if I am not staying?
Yes. At the Black Boy Inn, walk-in breakfast is available for non-residents in our bar areas until 11.30am. Wal also serves all-day breakfasts.
Are there vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options?
Yes. Our menu has meat-free dishes such as halloumi fries, Welsh rarebit and a wild mushroom and spinach spaghetti, and our staff can give you the allergen menu. Wal lists vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, and Caffi Tŷ Winsh bakes gluten-free cakes.
Is there a children’s menu?
Yes. Our children’s menu is for under 12s and has a choice of main meals and sides.
Before you go
Opening times and menus change, so it is worth checking with each place before you set off. We last checked the details in this guide in October 2026.
Planning the rest of your day? Have a look at our ideal full day out in Caernarfon and our facts about Caernarfon Castle. If you would like to eat with us, you can book a table here. Croeso i Gaernarfon!