Two restaurants within the walls offer different ways to explore local produce and contemporary Welsh cooking.

Where can you try Welsh food in Conwy after visiting the castle?

After climbing the towers at Conwy Castle, appetite usually asks for more than a quick stop. The walled town is walkable, but the battlements and narrow staircases make sitting down to eat part of the itinerary. Conwy is one of Edward I’s castles in Gwynedd recognised as a World Heritage Site; the castle and medieval defences were built in just four years, from 1283 to 1287, and still dominate the harbour and streets. To understand local food, consider both the menu and the format: a planned tasting experience or a pub with a broader menu and defined kitchen hours.

The Jackdaw builds a contemporary regional menu around Welsh ingredients. It is not the place to leave until the last minute: advance booking and a set menu shape the meal, and the restaurant says its access is unsuitable for wheelchair users. Diners’ comments often value the creativity and attention to produce; some reviews find the pace or price demanding. It is a choice for committing time and budget, rather than simply solving lunch on the way down from the castle.

The Erskine Arms, in the historic centre, keeps the inn-and-pub format with rooms, a bar and a restaurant. Its kitchen serves pub dishes with local-produce references, but food service does not run for every hour the venue is open; distinguish bar hours from kitchen hours. Reviews praise the location and food, although comments about service vary when the dining room is busy. The historic building also has accessibility limitations and no private car park, making the walk from the station simpler.

The route helps settle the choice. From the castle entrance, the streets descend towards the centre and harbour; The Jackdaw suits a reserved dinner to close the visit, while Erskine offers a pub-style stop at a more flexible pace, provided you arrive during kitchen hours. Cadw warns that reaching the castle involves a steep path and steps, and part of the town walls is currently closed during safety work; check the official notice before planning the day. In a compact town, that check can prevent a slower visit from colliding with a booking.

If the priority is a creative reading of Welsh ingredients, The Jackdaw is a destination meal, although it requires a reservation and acceptance of its conditions. For a less formal meal, with an inn atmosphere and a more familiar menu, The Erskine Arms is practical, but arrive during kitchen service. Neither replaces the castle visit: the meal extends the day and opens another way into the region, from local produce to the hospitality of a town whose walls still surround everyday life.

Bottom line

The Jackdaw offers a tasting-menu experience that needs planning; The Erskine Arms is more flexible for pub dining, with set kitchen hours.

Editorial selection

Options to compare

These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.

Modern British restaurant with a Welsh tasting menu

The Jackdaw

High Street, Conwy LL32 8DB, Reino Unido

4.7 /5 168 reviews

Within Conwy’s walls, The Jackdaw occupies the upper floor of a historic High Street building, in a town shaped by its castle battlements and medieval defences. Its name refers to someone born inside the walls, and the cooking also aims to tell a local story: owner-chef Nick Rudge builds modern tast

Why it made the selection

Seasonal menus by chef Nick Rudge, featuring Welsh produce and wines arranged by distance

Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday. Open Tuesday to Thursday evenings and Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner; confirm sittings when booking. Verified: October 11, 2026

View Maskay profile → Official website ↗

Historic inn and pub restaurant inside Conwy’s walls

The Erskine Arms

Rose Hill Street, Conwy LL32 8LD, Reino Unido

4.5 /5 2,354 reviews

A short walk from the castle and opposite a town-centre parking area, The Erskine Arms keeps the feel of an inn within Conwy’s walls. The venue says it retains its role of feeding and sheltering travellers, and today combines a pub, dining room and guest accommodation. Its sheltered courtyard and ba

Why it made the selection

Homemade cooking, seasonal specials, courtyard and guest rooms

Hours: Bar daily from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm; food until 9:00 pm Monday to Saturday and 8:00 pm on Sundays. Verified: October 11, 2026

View Maskay profile → Official website ↗

Verification

Sources & references

Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.

Official website of The Jackdaw ↗ Primary source The Jackdaw · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website of The Jackdaw ↗ Primary source The Jackdaw · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website of The Jackdaw ↗ Primary source Cadw · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website of The Jackdaw ↗ Primary source Visit Conwy · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website of The Erskine Arms ↗ Primary source The Erskine Arms · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website of The Erskine Arms ↗ Primary source The Erskine Arms · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website of The Erskine Arms ↗ Primary source The Erskine Arms · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website ↗ Primary source Cadw · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website ↗ Primary source Cadw · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website ↗ Primary source The Jackdaw · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website ↗ Primary source The Erskine Arms · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Official website ↗ Primary source Visit Conwy · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
Valoración Google de The Jackdaw, High Street ↗ Secondary source Restaurant Guru, ficha que identifica Google como plataforma · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4,7/5 en 168 opiniones; consultado el 11/10/2026.
Síntesis de comensales y selección Michelin ↗ Secondary source Michelin Guide y opiniones de visitantes · Accessed October 11, 2026
Opiniones sobre cocina, producto galés, servicio y ambiente; Michelin lo selecciona sin otorgar estrella.
Valoración de The Erskine Arms, Rose Hill Street ↗ Secondary source Wanderlog, con Google y Tripadvisor separados · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4,5/5 en 2.354 opiniones; consulta del 11/10/2026.
Comentarios recientes de comensales ↗ Secondary source Sluurpy, reseñas identificadas como Google · Accessed October 11, 2026
Opiniones sobre asado, pescado, servicio, ambiente y variación de cocina.