Harbourmaster Hotel

Upstaging all the rainbow-hued waterfront houses in a planned Georgian town overlooking Cardigan Bay, this unabashedly blue-fronted boutique hotel is an iconic landmark. After 20 years, Glyn and Menna Heulyn have bowed out, but new owners, local hoteliers Wells and Louise Jones, say there will be no change for change’s sake. You can still book the ‘nicely furnished, uncluttered bedrooms’, ranging from a quirky little single with a good shower room, to the Aeron Queen suite with panoramic views from a balcony, pale-blue walls, purple sofa and teal armchairs, a roll-top bath and walk-in shower. There are suites with private terraces in the adjacent warehouse. All have Frette linen, fine quality toiletries, jazzy Melin Tregwynt fabric headboards. In the restaurant, have a drink at the zinc bar, then dine on locally sourced fish and shellfish, Welsh beef and lamb and organic vegetables. Dishes might include sirloin steak with confit garlic and shallot, or cauliflower risotto with crispy capers and walnuts. ‘We love the ambience, the food, the rooms, the whole area!’ (Frances Thomas, and others)