There’s fine dining—and then there’s Ynyshir, a Welsh culinary maverick that doesn’t follow the rules because it wrote its own. Bon Vivant is thrilled to welcome this bold, brilliant and beautifully wild restaurant to our family of global gastronomic partners.
Set between the Artists’ Valley and the Dyfi Estuary in the Welsh countryside, Ynyshir is part restaurant and part house party, led by the razor-sharp instincts and punk rock spirit of chef-owner Gareth Ward. Here, plates come fast, beats come louder, and the experience is unlike anything you’ll find in the UK—or anywhere else. It’s not for the faint-hearted, and that’s precisely why it’s special.
The first and only Welsh two Michelin starrred restaurant, Ynyshir has rewritten the rules of what top-tier dining can look, sound, and taste like. And yes, that taste? Think fire-fuelled cooking with local Welsh produce, all dialled up to eleven. Expect bold, umami-packed flavours that punch and dance on the palate with every bite.
Gareth Ward calls it the restaurant he wants to eat at. We’d call it a gastronomic joyride. It’s just 20 guests, four nights a week, and never on Saturdays—a deliberate model that champions creativity, energy, and an industry-changing approach to work-life balance.
Dining at Ynyshir is a full-body experience. The 4–5 hour menu barrels through Japanese techniques, nostalgic nods, flame-licked shellfish, and velvet-aged beef, with no space for tweaks or substitutions. Rory Eaton, Beverage Director and wine whisperer, will match your preferences avoiding a fixed wine pairing and with some of the world’s most exclusive bottles—not with flowery tasting notes, but with stories, memories, and a spark of irreverence.
There’s no classical music. There are no stuffy jackets or hushed tones. Instead, you’ll find custom sound systems, 20+ plates served with swagger, and a vibe closer to a warehouse rave than a white-tablecloth institution. But don’t be fooled: behind a tight-knit crew of culinary renegades and one full-time DJ lies one of the most technically impressive kitchens in Britain, delivering a tasting menu built on craft and precision.
We couldn’t be more excited to represent this Welsh wild child and help amplify the voice of a restaurant that defies easy definitions—except one: world-class.
This is Ynyshir. A two-starred house party. And everyone’s invited.
