Abergavenny Food Guide
Abergavenny. It’s a town of natural beauty with a strong community, recently named as the best place to live in Wales by the Sunday Times, host of the much revered annual food festival, and a place I am fortunate enough to call my hometown.
However, I hold the belief that there is a lack of plausible and trustworthy information available when it comes to eating out here.
This food guide has taken me several weeks to compose - though the research, knowledge, stories, and images (of which there are 190) have been collated over months and even years.
Whether you’re a new resident to the town, passing by, or have been here a while, I’m hoping that there is something new you will discover here - options include: breakfasts, light bites, quick lunches, set menus, quirky offerings, roast dinners, Michelin stars, pop ups, street stalls, and special occasions.
All that make the guide are independent, tried, tested, and rubber stamped with my approval.
You won’t be finding Costa, Dominoes, Greggs, McDonalds, or other large chains. Support the local independent businesses that make our town unique.
I will be regularly updating/maintaining this guide with any other places I feel deserve their spot. This guide is subjective and I have purposely omitted some well known venues that I don’t rate.
The snowy mountain picture above was shot by Julie Tattersfield (@julie.tattersfield.photos).
Breakfast
The first of five categories in this guide will give an overview of my recommended breakfast spots.
There are eight venues for breakfast, which include traditional settings for a fry up and a mug of tea, a trendy South Pacific inspired coffee shop, and an entirely vegetarian cafe that started as a stall in the market.
Price: £
Little Green Refills is a store, coffee house and community space that possesses an emphasis on sustainable, ethical, and low waste produce.
LGR started out as a small stall in the Abergavenny market and now Beth and Ellen have a shop that is stocked with locally made products including jewellery, candles, skin care, plus a mini food hall that stocks unpackaged foods, oils, and vinegars.
You can purchase coffee from their downstairs counter, and take a seat in their upstairs cafe for all things vegetarian. Menu items range from vegetarian breakfasts, bagels, kimchi toasties, and pancake stacks.
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9 Market Street, NP7 5SD.
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Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm.
Sunday: 10am - 4pm.
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littlegreenrefills@gmail.com
07598147080
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A full shelf of NGCI cakes and GF alternatives on the menu ✅
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Price: £
An old school caf with clutches of regular customers that occupy the tables outside, Luigi’s is Abergavenny’s equivalent of Satriales.
Luigi’s cafe is part of the furniture in Abergavenny, maintaining their presence in the town for over 50 years (since 1973) under owner Luigi Basini and his daughter Gabriella Basini. The business continues to thrive all these years later under the Basini family.
It’s a traditional restaurant setting with booths, an outdoor toilet through the back, and a friendly team.
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10 Cross Street, NP7 5EH.
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Monday - Saturday: 8:30am - 4:00pm.
Sunday: 8:30am - 3:30pm.
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01873 855103
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Price: ££
The first of several spots on Lion Street, Bean and Bread are probably the most popular breakfast/brunch spot in the area.
It’s very ‘Instagrammable’, which is something I usually try to avoid, but it cannot be denied that they offer a slice of city life in a small town. It’s the type of place you’d imagine middle aged blue voters might come to gossip and consume their bodyweight in goji berry smoothies.
The kind of place wannabe ‘influencers’ will post about and receive several of the typical fake and shallow comments: “this looks amazing!!!😍😍😍” or “OMG! NEED to try here!”, which the same hollow accounts remark on any post they lay their eyes on as they tirade through their news feed.
I mean no disrespect to Bean and Bread, none of this is their fault. I commend that they have brought a vision to Abergavenny and it has worked.
Their pink hummus and avocado toast is a lovely dish with a vibrant beetroot hummus, spiced chickpeas, and some poached eggs that I requested to be added as extras.
Though, on other occasions I’ve been left feeling underwhelmed - their breakfast bowl is also pictured below and I was disappointed that the avocado wasn’t given much seasoning or love after it’s flesh was scooped from it’s shell and lobbed into the bowl, plus I don’t think of frozen hash browns at a place like this. But still recommended!
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36 Lion St, NP7 5PE.
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Monday - Sunday: 9am - 4pm.
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01873 598864
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Price: £
Part of the allure of Abergavenny is the mountains - some call them hills but us locals will become defensive - that visitors travel from far and wide to see and hike.
The peaks of the Blorenge, Sugar Loaf, Skirrid, and Deri surround the town. At the base of The Skirrid you’d be forgiven for assuming you’re in the middle of nowhere without a chance of some food and drink. Luckily, signposted opposite the Skirrid car park is a small family run caf called The Copper Kettle.
I am partial to a fried breakfast, as you will soon realise whilst scrolling through this category, and they do my favourite in the town. Plus, it’s always well earned after a walk up/down the mountain.
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Emm-lee, Llanddewi Skirrid, NP7 8AP.
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Monday: 9am - 5pm.
Tuesday - Wednesday: closed.
Thursday - Sunday: 9am - 5pm.
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01873 851929
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Price: £
After several years of their successful Dugout pop up bar, brothers Will and Eoin Duggan have taken the plunge of opening their flagship cafe/bar opposite Morrisons on Lion St.
It’s a relaxed space for coffee, a place to work, or a pint. Pastries are sourced from Ty Melin, who you will read more about later on, cakes from Nos Da Bakery based in Newport, and sandwiches provided by another familiar place in this guide, Myfs Kitchen.
The Dugout brew their own coffee, and a good one too, with Eoin’s chow chow Murphy the face of their brand.
Eoin is a keen athlete, and has recently completed his first Iron Man events. He has set up a running club called Caffeine and Cardio - The Dugout is the meeting spot for their regular runs.
They have a huge garden out back under renovation - this is going to be one to watch as they’re looking to bring pop ups in - hustlerburger being their first in mid-March of 2024.
With their front of house staff including Millie, Maddy, and Eliza, the brothers have infused a real sense of community into their site after only being open for several weeks. There is no smoke and mirrors here. These are genuine people doing good things for the town.
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30 Lion St, NP7 5NT.
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Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Wednesday: 8am - 5pm.
Thursday - Saturday: 8am - 10pm.
Sunday: 9am - 10pm.
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07475815499
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The blueberry and coconut flapjack is their most popular sweet treat, and vegan too!
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Lemon and pistachio cake ✅
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Price: £
Up a side street from the town centre, you can find Annette’s on Lewis Lane. Similarly to Luigi’s, they have a traditional caf feel and are extremely popular with their locals.
I appreciate there is a popular venue a mere 100 yards from here in the shape of Portico Lounge, owned by the Lounges group. They boast 200+ sites across the UK (as per information on their website).
I personally try to refrain from eating at these type of places as I know who will benefit more from the money I spend there. That’s not me taking a swipe at large chains or sticking my middle finger up to them for the sake of it. I think some chains are done well, especially The Lounges group. But I prefer to give my money to a smaller business.
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Lewis Walk, Lewis Ln, NP7 5BA.
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Sunday - Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Saturday: 9am - 4:30pm.
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01873 850699
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Price: £
Known to most as The Trading Post, Y Bwyty have moved down the road from their previous location next door to The Coffee Pot and slotted in beside The Kings Arms. The site was formerly the Get Together cafe and for those who can remember way back when, Make-a-Shake.
The service is fast paced and capable, with seating spanning across three stories.
The Trading Post rebranded as Y Bwyty in April 2024 to shake the cafe label when they open as a restaurant in the evenings.
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27 Nevill Street, NP7 5AA.
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Sunday - Friday: 8:30am - 4pm.
Saturday: 8:30am - 5pm.
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01873 737522
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Price: £
Ty Melin translates to Mill House - this was the name of co-owner Angharad’s childhood family home. Alongside Lance, the couple set up their bakery back in 2020 and have two branches in Cardiff, plus a unit in Mamhilad.
They opened a third store in Abergavenny back at the start of 2023. Their signature croissant bombs are a work of art - but you need to get there early because they sell out so quickly!
Below you can see their creme brûlée and lemon meringue croissant bombs.
If you haven’t managed to get there early enough, their Kouign Amman (caramelized layers of French pastries) are worth a try.
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54 Frogmore St, NP7 5AR.
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Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Sunday: 8:30am - 2:30pm.
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Contact Ty Melin through this form.
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GF orange and almond cake ✅
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Vegan chocolate banana bread✅
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Lunch
Eight lunch spots include homemade Thai specials offered in a traditional British setting, a bakery that ships to their customers in the US and Canada, and an outdoor stall that has been run for 40+ years.
Price: ££
Established back in 2005 and a well known business to residents in the country’s capital, Madame Fromage unfortunately closed down their Cardiff Castle Quarter Arcade site. To this day the masses are still dismayed by that closure, however back in 2021 they opened a Deli in Abergavenny which is still being run.
Specialising in cheeses from Wales, around the UK and Europe – each cheese is hand selected from artisan producers, farms, dairies and suppliers comprising a portfolio of over 150 cheeses. They have a unit in Cwmbran which allows collection and delivery of their products.
Their tightly packed Abergavenny deli has a handful of tables, and a variety of hearty lunch options available - crostini, bruschetta, soups, pies, and daily specials.
They can also create hampers/platters which are ideal as gifts or for a night in.
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16 Nevill Street, NP7 5AD.
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Monday - Saturday: 10:30am - 5:00pm.
Sunday: 11am - 3pm.
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01873 856118
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One very small step at building entrance.
Price: £
@harrys_sandwich_and_coffee_bar
I’ll keep this simple: I absolutely love Harry’s.
Run by owner Giuseppe, he has been providing the town with his hand crafted Italian deli food for the last 14 years. Me and my close friend Conor spent a lot of our unemployed time here in between episodes of Ice Road Truckers aged 18-20. I’ve even been sent here on judging assignments for National Awards, how times have changed.
Seating is limited inside with a couple of stools on a bar overlooking outside, but in the warm weather there are tabes and chairs out front.
My personal favourite savoury item is the nduja, halloumi, spicy salami, and mozzarella toastie. Sweet? The homemade bakewell tart with a scoop of clotted cream.
This is my top tip for a quick bite at lunch: carvery meats, baguettes, paninis, and cakes that are all homemade by Giuseppe, and have Italian influences, including chocolate with pistachio and lemon tart.
Be aware that breakfast is also available here, and a popular one too. Baguettes can be purchased with all the typical British fillings of sausage, bacon, eggs, and mushrooms.
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3 St John’s St, NP7 5RT.
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Sunday - Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Saturday: 8:45am - 4pm.
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07759449077
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Both savoury and sweet ✅
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Available but limited ✅
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Price: £ - ££
This is one of my favourite spots in Aber.
When I was in my teens, my group of friends used to come here every Saturday morning for our fuel (fried breakfasts, a latte for Tom, and bean baguettes for Mitch) before heading off to football. We referred to this building on the back of Abergavenny market as ‘The Cube’ due to it’s appearance.
Since then, the sites ownership has changed hands. They still offer traditional cafe food such as breakfasts, toasties, and jacket potatoes, but more interestingly they offer a selection of Thai dishes.
Ibo and his wife Kwan run K&K Kitchen. Ibo hails from Turkey and spent a lot of time cooking in London before meeting Kwan and settling in Abergavenny. Kwan taught Ibo all he knows about Thai food, and they used to work together in the caf until Kwan gave birth to their first child - she now stays at home to take care of the baby, and Ibo holds the reigns in the kitchen.
Kwan still makes all of the Thai pastes and sauces from scratch, and Ibo rustles up the other fresh components to go with them. Ibo jokes that when they receive positive reviews he attempts to take the credit, but Kwan reminds him she has made the pastes.
My recommended dishes are the Panang or Massaman curries, and their excellent chicken pad Thai - which is only £9.95. I could happily go to eat at K&K’s every day.
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The Kiosk, Brewery Yard, Market St, NP7 5SD.
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Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm.
Sunday: closed.
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kwan.runtale@gmail.com
07552933329
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Price: £
I’m going to level with you, I never would have gone to Coffee Pot without a recommendation. But boy am I glad that both my partner, who used to work here, and my friend Max passed this information onto me.
They’re situated right next to the previously mentioned Madame Fromage. The decor is a little shoddy - but their toasties are well worth visiting for. A chicken, bacon, brie, and cranberry club was £7.95 at the time of writing, with an upgrade from crisps to chips available for an extra £1.25.
Coffee Pot have an abundance of regular customers, which can be attributed to the warmth of owners Brian and Laura, their charming team of staff, and Laura’s ability to bake fresh cakes.
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Nevill St, NP7 5AD.
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Monday - Saturday: 9am - 4pm.
Sunday: closed.
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01873 859870
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GF cake ✅
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Price: £
For those with a sweet tooth!
O’Connells Bakery were first brought to my attention by my Abergavenny barber, Stu.
Rhian O’Connell began baking at home, when she would make birthday cakes to order, before setting up a business in Blaenavon - then convincing her partner, Chris, to quit his full time job and run the business together. Their young daughter, Niamh, is already been touted to take over someday! Their son Noah is pictured below alongside his mum and dad.
Even though they’ve been in Abergavenny for 5-years, it can be easy to miss them. O’Connells are located across the road from Tesco, opposite the ‘top end of town’ kebab shop and Serendipity hair salon - meaning there isn’t much footfall.
Their innovative sweet treats often go viral on Facebook, meaning they now ship across the UK and even over the pond to the United States and Canada. Chris and Rhian were able to figure out which products travelled well after trialling some packages to a friend in the States.
Cookie pies, cheesecake eclairs, cookie sandwiches, and cheesecake donuts are typical products that they offer. Your mouth salivating? Just mine? OK, let’s move onto the next one.
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30 Frogmore St, NP7 5AL.
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Sunday - Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Saturday: 11am - 4pm.
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01873 853885
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Available upon request - disclaimer must be signed ✅
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Available upon request - disclaimer must be signed ✅
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Price: £ - ££
Abergavenny market is a huge part of the towns culture. It’s open throughout the week, but ‘market day’ (Tuesday) is chaos in town as everyone jostles to the hub where a huge part of the towns trade occurs.
There are stalls aplenty inside, and several independent food vendors available, including the Caribbean inspired cuisine of Spice Up The Valleys by Michael Hamilton (social media page here). Michael can offer you jerk chicken and curry goat which is wonderful with his fried plantain and dumplings - he is usually in the market on a Tuesday and a Friday, but this can be subject to change depending on his schedule.
Plus the Asian cooking of My Food Heaven over in the corner (@myfoodheavenUK) - they also stock Asian store cupboard ingredients and are open Tuesday - Saturday.
The night markets run on the 4th Thursday of each month, where the market is open late into the evening and various vendors attend who don’t have regular spots during the day. These typically include the likes of: The Dugout Bar, Little Dragon Pizza, and The Mex Co. But more on those later!
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61 Cross St, NP7 5EH.
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Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Wednesday: 9am - 4pm.
Thursday: 4th Thurs of each month (night market).
Friday - Sunday: 9am - 4pm.
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N/A
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Price: £ - ££
Neil Powell are familiar to many, with branches spanning across Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. They supply meat to well known names in the industry, including The Beefy Boys and Stephen Terry.
What many might not be aware of, is their fresh bakery counter. Julian Wheeler is the “master baker” behind their handmade pies.
Alongside their pies, scotch eggs, sausage rolls, pasties, and faggots, Neil Powell have a hot meat counter which can be served up with roast potatoes and vegetables.
The red pepper and turkey balti and pork and apple open top pie are a must here. Enormous homemade scotch eggs contain black pudding or chorizo. There is a lot to choose from and decisions can often take time!
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1-3 Flannel St, NP7 5EG.
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Monday - Saturday: 7am - 5pm.
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01873 853110
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Price: £
Tasty Tatoes has been run by Julian for 5-years, previously by Pete Underwood for 28, and before that Dale for 8. That’s a total of 40+ years the stall has been running in town outside Iceland and the old Wilkinsons (soon to be B&M).
Pete was an extremely popular chap when he owned the stand, and even had a regular customer who would visit 4 times a week for the 28 years he was there.
Julian has stepped into his shoes and become just as popular of a figure - this is helped by his interaction and working with the community to earn their respect.
My go to jacket topping is beans and cheese, but Julian offers a chicken curry and chicken tikka combination which goes down a treat.
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Cibi Walk, NP7 5BF.
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Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm.
Sunday: closed.
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Contact Julian through Facebook.
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Dinner/Evening
Of the fourteen venues in this category, you will find: a chef who has worked at a three Michelin star restaurant, Turkish small plates, Detroit and New York style pizza, the Chinese and Indian restaurants I rate the most highly, and a wine bar.
Price: £ - ££
This business all started and then snowballed during covid, when Myfanwy cooked and distributed meals to people in her village. Her unit is based next door to the train station, where she cooks with high quality ingredients. These aren’t your typical mass produced, processed frozen ready meals, this is proper home cooking.
Check out her Friday night menu, which is available to pre-order and collect weekly. You can also pop in to pick up one of her pre-prepared meals. Alongside all this, Myf does catering for events.
I recently sampled the Friday night menu, which changes weekly, can be pre-ordered then collected from the unit, and is available for just £12. This menu includes a main meal, a side dish, and a dessert. The slow braised lamb ragu lasagne with the right amount of seasoning, thyme, and rosemary, dauphinoise potatoes, and moist blood orange drizzle sponge were all superb.
Recent menus have included the beef wellington main that you can see above, and a bone marrow mash side.
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Unit 4, Station Rd, NP7 5HY.
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Monday - Tuesday: closed.
Wednesday - Thursday: 12pm - 4pm.
Friday: 12pm - 6:30pm.
Saturday - Sunday: closed.
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myf@myfskitchen.com
07887402559
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This is a little outside of town but worth the trip if you can manage it. The Towpath Inn is on the side of the canal and makes a wonderful spot for a drink.
Don’t restrict them to only warm weather drinks, however. They regularly host street food pop ups including The Beefy Boys, Fire and Flank, and The Mex Co.
From his own kitchen, Lee Hammond serves up their speciality pizzas. You don’t need to travel as far as Bristol, Manchester, or London for Detroit style pizza. You can get it here in Abergavenny.
You can see more details via a piece I wrote on them here. Note that when this review was written, the serving hours for both styles of pizza differed. In the lighter months, The Towpath Inn serve both styles Thursday - Sunday. You can see the opening hours amongst the details at the end of this excerpt.
As demand increases, Lee is adapting to cope by opening up the already tiny kitchen for some more space. On my most recent visit (3-days before publishing this guide), both he and Fraser served up 50 NY style and 12 Detroit pizzas in a single evening. There is a homely feel to the restaurant: food and drinks are ordered at the bar, and Lee’s step daughters work front of house.
When it comes to the NY style, I recommend two: a pepperoni topping on the bloody Mary vodka base with an accompanying pot of hot honey, and the ‘funghi’ topping (porcini mushrooms, chive, confit garlic, and mozzarella) on a white wine Alfredo base with a pot of truffle mayo.
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49 Main Rd, Gilwern, NP7 0AU.
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For pizza:
Monday - Wednesday: closed.
Thursday - Friday: evenings.
Saturday: 12pm - 7pm.
Sunday: 4pm - 7pm.
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07700154771
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A Michelin guide recommended restaurant in the very heart of the town centre is something to be excited by. The Gaff opened their ‘original’ restaurant in Abergavenny, where a successful four year period was enough to open another venue in Bath. You can find them tucked alongside Bean and Bread.
The dining room has a relaxed and modern feel, with an open kitchen and bar.
Creative and high quality small plates are on offer. You don’t have to break the bank to dine here - their supper club is available on a Wednesday evening, when three plates cost £30.
I visited again a couple of weeks before publishing this guide. My favourite plate of everything we feasted on was the duck leg with carrot, apricot, and orange. This was a well balanced dish that tied together nicely. Fries and mango chutney are both separately moreish foods, and once combined it’s difficult to refrain from clutching for more. The buffalo fried chicken with slaw and sweetcorn needs mentioning too.
Their bread is freshly baked and comes with a Marmite butter, and if you’re into desserts then don’t miss out on their play on a Snickers bar.
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The Courtyard, Lion St, NP7 5PE.
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Monday - Tuesday: closed.
Wednesday: 6pm - 8:30pm.
Thursday - Saturday: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 8:30pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 2pm.
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01873 739310
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Price: ££
Abergavenny is spoilt for choice when it comes to Thai food in quirky locations. Boonta Too has been run by the same family since 2005. The mother of the family, Tau, is still present with the help of her sons, Toy and Tam, who can be seen outside their Tredegar branch which opened in late 2023.
This is a restaurant which contains plenty of character, underlined by the fact they are located above a florist and have a bring your own booze policy.
I wrote a pretty in-depth piece on both Boonta Too and the family, which can be seen here if you’re interested.
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22 Cross St, NP7 5EW.
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Sunday - Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 9pm.
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01873 737757
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Since local lads Stephen Smith and Andrew Groves took over the old Cantreff Inn pub, Fire and Fork have taken the town by storm with their American BBQ style cooking.
Their sharing platters pull in customers from all over South Wales, with regular changes and tweaks to their menu an extremely refreshing sight. Though, that’s unsurprising. Their chef, Nathan Gething, has experience in kitchens including The Walnut Tree Inn and The Hardwick.
This is another place I wrote a piece on, which can be accessed with this link.
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61 Brecon Rd, NP7 7RA.
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Monday - Tuesday: closed.
Wednesday - Friday: 5pm -9pm.
Saturday: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 9pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 4:30pm.
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01873 379071
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Available but limited ✅
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Into the restaurant ✅
Not into the toilets ❌
Price: ££
Pizzorante has been a solid option for a meal out stretching back several years. The owners of this family run Italian have capable hospitality hands, as proved with their other popular venture Tapas Twist on Frogmore St, which is now unfortunately closed.
All their pizzas, pastas, and sauces are homemade, and I even came here on my 22nd birthday - so long ago that I wouldn’t even want to provide the timeframe.
This is Abergavenny’s neighbourhood restaurant, with familiar faces running the front of house, and their kitchen staff overseeing the restaurant from the pass. Specials are available on a chalk board hung in the dining room.
I once dined here with a group and the staff overheard me and my partner wishing to share our order of pizza and ravioli. Our plates arrived with the dishes split half and half. This is their warm hospitality typified. My top tip is to try their garlic bread starter, which is sliced into strips and stacked in a Jenga style tower.
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Market St, NP7 5SD.
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Sunday - Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Thursday: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 9:30pm.
Friday - Saturday: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm.
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01873 857777
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GF pasta, risotto, and pizza ✅
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Vegan pasta, risotto, pizza, and cheese ✅
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If you’re from Abergavenny, and haven’t been living under a rock, then it is an extraordinarily likely possibility you have heard of The Walnut Tree Inn. They’re possibly our most famous restaurant.
Franco Taruschio OBE and his wife Ann bought The Walnut Tree Inn, in 1963. Back then it was a country pub that was only used for drinking. Franco and Ann decided that they wanted to provide food - this resulted in them revolutionising the industry - gastropubs were unheard of back in this time, and many believe The Walnut Tree was one of the first.
Over 38-years, they won many awards, received praise and recognition from guides, not just in the UK but from overseas too. Franco did not agree with the ethos of the Michelin guide and asked not to be included - Michelin were stunned by this request but reluctantly accepted.
In February of 2001, Franco and Ann sold The Walnut Tree. In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II honoured him with an OBE in recognition of his services to the culinary industry.
If you aren’t local, you may recognise them from S1 E3 of Kitchen Nightmares, which aired back in 2004. Standards clearly slipped after Franco sold up. Since that episode, they’ve retained their reputation, and gained a Michelin star.
Under chef Shaun Hill they have held that coveted Michelin star since 2010. Unsurprisingly, it’s not a cheap meal out - but we are lucky to have a prestigiously acknowledged restaurant with a rich history on our door step.
Thank you to both the legend Franco Taruschio and his grandson, my friend Jack, for providing the detailed back story above. As a youngster, I once had the absolute privilege of eating a pasta dish in Franco’s garden that he had prepared. That’s my claim to fame!
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Llanddewi Skirrid, NP7 8AW.
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Sunday - Tuesday: closed.
Wednesday - Saturday: 12pm - 9:30pm.
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01873 852797
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Available and notification required upon booking ✅
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Available and notification required upon booking ✅
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Price: ££ - £££
There are a few Chinese options in town, but Kongs are the only ones to offer a sit down meal. Regardless of this, I think they are the strongest of the bunch. You can find them at the bottom of the Brewery Yard not far from K&K Kitchen.
I caused a fuss on social media when I wrote about their weeknight ‘all you can eat’ offering', which you can read more about here.
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Brewery Yard, Lion St, NP7 5PB.
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Monday - Wednesday: closed.
Thursday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm.
Friday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 9:30pm.
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01873 850320
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Price: £ - ££
The only restaurant of it’s kind in this area, Sushi House has added some much needed diversity to the eating out options after taking over the old Legends cafe.
I personally recommend the prawn gyozas, chicken karaage, and chirashi. If you like sushi but your dining companions don’t, then not to worry, there is plenty more available in the shape of grilled salmon/chicken/beef teriyaki, katsu curry, yaki soba, plus warm appetizers.
It’s great to see restaurants like this popping up in Abergavenny. Use them or lose them!
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5 Market St, NP7 5SD.
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Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Sunday: 5pm - 10pm.
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01873 269816
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Price: ££
On the same street as Madame Fromage and Coffee Pot, Gurkha Corner is my personal standout of the Indian cuisine restaurants in Abergavenny (of which there are several).
They aren’t limited to Indian food though, as their name suggests. You can get some more traditional Nepalese offerings including momos (steamed dumplings), choila (grilled meat) and a sizzling Gurkhali platter.
Read my expanded thoughts on Gurkha Corner on my blog.
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10 Nevill St, NP7 5AD.
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Monday - Thursday: 12:30pm - 2pm, 5:30pm - 10pm.
Friday - Saturday: 12:30pm - 2pm, 5:30pm - 11pm.
Sunday: 12:30pm - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9pm.
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01873 855800
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Price: £ - ££
Run by owner Bulent, Kahve (which translates to ‘coffee’) is opposite Annette’s cafe on Lewis Lane. It’s a terrific venue out front in the summer, and the decor inside feels cosy and unique, with live music hosted in the evenings.
Bulent hails from Eastern Turkey, but moved to Istanbul at the age of 6. Some of the small Turkish plates at Kahve are influenced by Bulent recreating his mothers cooking from his childhood - the spicy sucuk sausage, Charleston peppers, and grilled halloumi are worth mentioning. Specials are available in the form of Turkish lamb and bean stew. Breakfast and burgers can be dined upon here too, and at more than reasonable prices.
There can be a wait for food at busy periods, but you can feel the love and care that goes into every dish. I’m more than happy to wait knowing the context behind the cooking, and having front of house staff like Noah to chat with in the meantime.
With their beautiful location, cocktails are unsurprisingly a large part of their trade, and it’s believed that Dan Symonds still holds the town record for the most pink panthers consumed in the space of an hour.
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3 Stables Mews, Lewis Lane, NP7 5BA.
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Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Wednesday: 10am - 4pm.
Thursday: 10am - 9pm.
Friday - Saturday: 10am - 11pm.
Sunday: 10am - 4pm.
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07507794651
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Price: ££££
After taking over the former Three Salmons in Cross Ash, Husband and wife owners Simon and Kate King have run 1861 Restaurant for 18-years, to much critical acclaim.
Mentioned in the Good Food Guide, the restaurant has a dated feel and the menu involves plenty of classical French technique - attributed to Simon’s cooking background working under the Roux brothers at the 3 Michelin starred Waterside Inn at Bray and 2 Michelin star Lettonie in Bristol.
I recently visited to sample their 7-course tasting menu, and was well looked after. Highlights included a show stopping dish described as a ‘presentation of venison’: roasted venison loin, braised venison shoulder, venison and juniper boudin, mushy peas, and earthy vegetables - which Simon and Kate grow themselves.
Their selection of British cheeses is worth the drive alone, and I rounded lunch off with a platter of mini desserts: chocolate and cognac mousse with vanilla poached pear, rhubarb and mascarpone cheesecake with rhubarb sorbet, iced pumpkin parfait with spiced bramble sorbet, and a hot chocolate soufflé.
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Old Ross Road, Cross Ash, NP7 8PB.
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Monday - Tuesday: closed.
Wednesday - Saturday: 12pm - 1:30pm, 6:30pm - 8:30pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 1:30pm.
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01873 821297
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Special menus can be designed if dietary requirements are specified upon booking ✅
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Special menus can be designed if dietary requirements are specified upon booking ✅
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Restaurant can be accessed ✅
Toilets cannot ❌
Price: ££ - £££
A very popular restaurant for an evening meal, Anatolian is the first of many places that have taken over the former Mighty Bite site and managed to establish themselves.
Sometimes referred to as an ‘expensive kebab’ but I don’t think that’s a fair assessment.
Large menu of Turkish meats and dishes on offer, hospitality is a big part of their ethos: front of house staff are attentive and friendly, you’ll be offered complimentary Turkish breads, dips, and olives as a snack, and given some Turkish tea to complete your meal.
Some dishes can be expensive, such as the lamb sarma beyti (£22.50) which is pictured below.
You can side step the cost by taking advantage of their midweek lunch deal, served Monday - Thursday from 12pm - 3pm. This allows you to dine on two courses for £15, and the lamb sarma beyti is included.
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42 Cross St, NP7 5ER.
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Sunday - Thursday: 12pm - 10pm.
Friday - Saturday: 12pm - 11pm.
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01873 855552
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Price: £ - ££
For those who prefer a liquid meal or a light bite to eat. As the name suggests, Chesters is a wine bar at the bottom end of town. Abergavenny is an affluent area and I recently asked myself, why are there not more places like this? It certainly fits with the towns reputation.
Lloyd Beedell started off his wine business with a pop up around Cardiff, appearing in cafes and bookshops. This resulted in him quitting his day job with a specialist wine retailer and setting up camp with Chesters - at first next door to Kahve on Lewis Lane, and now on Cross Street.
The inspiration behind the brand, German short haired pointer Chester, can often be seen prowling the store.
Unsurprisingly, wine tasting events are held here. Sometimes food is included in these events, when guest chefs will appear to cook in an outdoor kitchen with a fire pit and induction hobs.
In house menu options at the time of writing include anchovies, white asparagus, and Manchego cheese.
I no longer consume alcohol, but on a recent visit Lloyd made me feel extremely comfortable by pouring a sparkling elderflower soft drink into a wine glass.
Their garden out back can seat around 40+ and is used to host functions - there aren’t many better spots for a glass of wine.
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46 Cross St, NP7 5ER.
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Monday: closed.
Tuesday - Wednesday: 10am - 6pm.
Thursday - Saturday: 10am - 10pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 4pm.
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info@chesterswinemerchants.co.uk
01873 856565
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To the venue and garden ✅
To the toilets ❌
Sunday Roast
I often get asked for recommendations for a roast dinner in Abergavenny, below you will find my four top picks.
Price: ££
I’ve put The Crown under the category of Sunday lunch (because it’s so bloody good), but the team here are about so much more than just that.
Since taking over the 16th century pub/restaurant, Nick and Amy have done some phenomenal work, which includes being named in the Wales Online list of top 50 pubs in Wales 2023 and more recently completing work on an extension at the front of the building.
Their tight knit team are an example of how all restaurants should run, including Beth at the front of house. In a world where Miller and Carter shamelessly exploit their staff, yet still have the masses under their spell, it’s refreshing to see staff treated with so much respect.
You can get breakfast here on a Saturday and Sunday from 9am - 11am, which includes a miners breakfast with cockles, eggs royale, and Welsh rarebit.
The images below capture the quality of their Sunday roast, but you can read more about them in a piece I wrote here.
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Old Hereford Rd, Pantygelli, NP7 7HR.
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(These are kitchen hours)
Monday - Friday: 12:30pm - 8:30pm.
Saturday: 9am - 10:45am, 12pm - 8:30pm.
Sunday: 9am - 10:45am, 12pm - 6pm.
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hello@thecrownatpantygelli.com
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Some meals come as standard and can be adapted ✅
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Available and can be adapted ✅
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Price: ££
A 13th century inn which can be found in the tiny village of Llangattock Lingoed. The Hunters Moon is a slight drive outside of the town centre, towards Pandy.
As you might expect from a building steeped with so much history, the pub is warm and welcoming. You can take a seat in their informal bar area, pull up a pew in their restaurant, or perch on a bench outside. Accommodation is offered too, usually for those touring our countryside or walking the Offa’s Dyke Path.
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Llangattock Lingoed, NP7 8RR.
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(Kitchen may vary)
Monday - Friday: 5pm - 11pm.
Saturday: 12pm - 11pm.
Sunday: 12:30pm - 11pm.
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01873 821499
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Price: ££
Arguably the hottest spot in town for a warm weather drink, and one of the best for a roast dinner.
Their Sunday menu comes at a cost of 1 course for £17.95, 2 courses for £23.95, and 3 courses for £27.95.
Seating in their back room is rustic and a huge sky light allows plenty of natural light to flood into the space.
There is a gastropub feel to their food: wild mushroom and parmesan arancini with basil aioli and buttermilk onions, and mackerel pate with a spiced tomato chutney.
The roast beef is pink, the Yorkshire puddings are huge, and the portions are hearty. You can pile your plate with the sides of vegetables provided, which includes cheese and mustard leeks.
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29 Nevill St, NP7 5AA.
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(These are kitchen hours)
Monday - Tuesday: closed.
Wednesday - Saturday: 12pm - 2:45pm, 5pm - 8pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 4pm.
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kingsarmsabergavenny@gmail.com
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Price: ££
A much loved family run pub throughout the community, The Grofield stands beside the old library, opposite the Abergavenny cinema.
It’s a popular place for a drink and Tuesday through to Saturday you can come here for classic pub food: fish and chips, steak and ale pie, gammon steak.
On a Sunday their roast dinners are served 12pm - 4pm. I wouldn’t put them in the same bracket as The Crown, The Kings, or The Hunters Moon, but I wouldn’t have any qualms about recommending them. If available, you’ve got to try their brioche and butter pudding.
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Baker St, NP7 5BB.
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(These are kitchen hours)
Monday - closed.
Tuesday - Saturday: 12pm - 8pm.
Sunday: 12pm - 4pm.
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01873 858939
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Pop Ups
Pop ups and ‘street food’ are all the rage in bigger cities, but perhaps not something I ever envisaged appearing in Abergavenny when I was growing up. There are two that regularly appear in different locations that you can read about further on.
Price: £
Since meeting Ben Williams at his Mex Co street food pop, I have gotten to know him as a salt of the earth type of guy. His parents and partner often help out in the kitchen at his various pop ups where they rustle up Mexican inspired foods.
I’ve been to see him at multiple locations throughout Wales, including The Trading Post and St Marys Priory in Abergavenny, plus leading street food vendors Twenty Six and Sticky Fingers in Cardiff.
I strongly advise that you try the beef birrias and cauliflower bites if they are on the menu.
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Pop up.
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Check out their socials for updates!
@themexco
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ben@themexco.co.uk
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Price: ££
Leigh and Gareth launched their burgers in Abergavenny back in May of 2023. First appearing at Abergavenny Brake and Clutch, then the Crown and Sceptre, and most recently The Dugout Cafe Bar.
Leigh’s passion for cooking is clear and you can see regular updates at ‘hustlerburger HQ’ on Leigh’s Instagram alias (@the_smoking_peach).
There aren’t any permanent burger restaurants in Abergavennny (huge gap in the market), so keep an eye on their socials for pop up announcements. If the Yokozuna burger is on the menu, I recommend it.
The boys only use the finest quality meat in their burgers, sourced from Meat Matters.
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Pop up.
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Check out their socials for updates!
@hustlerburger
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youwantahustlerburger@gmail.com
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Vegan sides ✅