Our top 5 North Wales cafés for a slice of the Great British Bake Off

Like a cuppa & a piece of cake on your hols? Don’t miss these fab North Wales cafés for their showstopper bakes & cakes. We reckon Prue & Paul would approve.

T.H.Roberts, Dolgellau

Like a bit of character with your cuppa and cake? Look no further than this delightful Dolgellau café. T.H. Roberts used to trade in knobs, knockers and assorted other bits and bobs: the café was once home to the town’s ironmonger and hardware shop. It is still beautifully fitted out with its original cabinets, counter top and huge sash windows, but the sundries on sale are rather more delectable. Reasons for this being included in our top five cafés are: the consistently delicious scones, shortbreads and cakes. The hearty homemade soups and always-more-than-a-little-moreish quiche. But the dish that calls us back time after time is this: the totally-out-of-this-world Welsh rarebit. A contender for the best in Wales. Expect bags of charm and a place you will probably want to linger in for a while – check out the lovely reading room kitted out with its books and newspapers. T.H. Roberts is a dog-friendly café, open Mon – Sat, 9am  – 5.30pm. Closed Sundays.

The Swellies, Y Felinheli near Bangor

The Swellies is a wonderful little café in Y Felinheli near Bangor. Named after the infamous ‘swellies’ – the tidal currents which flow through the Menai Strait just a stone’s throw from the café itself – it enjoys a slightly more sheltered waterfront spot on the picturesque Port Dinowic marina. Look out for the delicious Anglesey-raised bacon and sausages, as well as plenty of veggie and vegan options. The pear and stilton salad is a firm favourite – and a great prelude to something sweet. If you’re passing between meals, you would be very well advised to stop by for some morning coffee or afternoon tea. A word of warning: whilst the portions are generous, don’t ever agree to share a cake at The Swellies. You will always regret it. Keep the deliciousness all to yourself. Homemade made with love, and service with a smile. The Swellies is open daily from 9am until 5pm, closed on Wednesdays.

The Slate Caverns Café, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Now don’t get your cakes tins in a twist here. The baked goodies at The Slate Caverns Café aren’t made on site. BUT. They are all made by local North Wales bakeries and suppliers, so we think this lovely mountainside café more than qualifies for our list. You’ll find a fine selection of hot and cold meals as well as some truly scrumptious cakes, biscuits and traybakes. But it’s the setting which makes it really special. The Slate Caverns – up in the Snowdonia mountains near Blaenau Ffestiniog – is an important part of our Welsh industrial heritage and a fascinating place to explore. As well as being able to tour the historic deep mine, you can take an off-road explorer trip high up into the mountains, whizz around on over ground AND underground ziplines, and bounce about on giant subterranean trampolines. You can even split your own slate! Can you think of more exciting place to work up an appetite? The Slate Caverns Café is open daily from 10am – 5pm.

The Llew Glas Café, Harlech

Visitors travel long distances to eat at this friendly little café in the centre of Harlech. Everything is fresh and homemade to an exceptional quality. The menu features plenty of local produce – Welsh cheeses are very much the star of the hearty Ploughman’s lunch. There are delicious soups, sandwiches, quiches and cakes, but the showstopper has to be the truly magnificent scones. So good they have featured in our dreams. Go full whack and enjoy them with clotted cream and jam because these are grade A calories you will consume with no guilt. Llew Glas means Blue Lion, and you’ll find the café on Blue Lion Square in the centre of Harlech. And by the way, Harlech is a fab little town to explore with its winding streets, medieval castle and huge mountains & coast views. The Llew Glas Café is open Mon – Sat, 10am – 4pm. Closed on Sundays.

Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanbedrog, Llyn

Cake and culture go well together don’t they? To some of us cake IS culture. Throw in a bit of Victorian gothic, Welsh arts and heritage and a magical coastal setting and we’re sold. For many reasons this place just HAS to be on our list. Plas Glyn y Weddw is a stunning arts and heritage centre near Llanbedrog on the picturesque Llŷn Peninsula.  It’s a place where you can view and buy contemporary Welsh art, enjoy an outdoor theatre performance, roam around beautiful gardens and woodlands, amble down to the beach and generally take the air. It will make you think of parasols and prettiness. You really should go visit. When you do, make sure you set aside plenty of time for afternoon tea (lunch is also a good option). The cakes are Mary Berry-esque in their magnificence and beauty. We have a feeling she’d like it here. The Plas Glyn y Weddw café is open daily until 4.30pm.

And after all that cake if you fancy walking it off take a look at our Best Walks in Snowdonia !