Y Sospan Café and Restaurant: A Delight in the Heart of Dolgellau
New dishes for July 2023
View of the bar upstairs in Y Sospan
Located in the heart of Dolgellau, Y Sospan has earned a stellar reputation as one of the must-visit café establishments in the area.
As you step inside Y Sospan, you'll be greeted by an inviting and cozy atmosphere. The rustic interior, with its exposed beams and traditional décor, creates a welcoming vibe. Upstairs there is a further spacious seating area that has fabulous insights into the folklore history of the area.
Daytime has a café style menu that includes breakfasts, and filling lunch options including jacket potatoes and many types of sandwiches. There are also options for bigger meals like lasagne or scampi. The lunches are similar to pub-style food. The menu includes some vegetarian options – like a three-bean chili. We find it to be very family-friendly and enjoy going here as the upstairs offers a very spacious seating area that’s quieter than pubs dining with small children – or you could say the quieter area enables less disruption from us to other guests!
Y Sospan is a bistro restaurant by night, it takes pride in showcasing the best of Welsh cuisine, with a menu that celebrates the local ingredients. The evening menu has steak, burgers, seafood and an impressive range of desserts.
Interior upstairs panels
The building is of historic interest – it was built in 1606 and served as an administrative center for the town before the completion in 1825 of the County Hall. If you venture upstairs, you will find that some of the original plasterwork is preserved. Above the fireplace is a coat of arms featuring a lion and dragon as its bearers, dated 1606. Above this, is a more sinister and interesting image reflecting local folklore around the Nannau Oak tree. The plaster shows images of witch hangings and other necromancy acts. A very detailed description of the background can be found here.
Plaster frieze of witchhanging fokelore and the Nannau Oak tree
On a lighter note Y Sospan offers meal deals in the evening including the Monday curry night. In the summer the milkshakes are a great indulgence not to be missed. We are regular customers and recommend checking it out when you stay at Glasfryn. Our favourite place to sit is upstairs by the window which gives a great view out over the square.
Key information for your visit:
Less than a 5 minute walk away from Glasfryn.
There is good choice so I would say it’s suitable for multiple visits - lunch and dinner. It’s family friendly and although it doesn’t offer a vast range of veggie options there are some.
For other local tips check out my other blog post on where to eat.
