Fun Father’s Day ideas in Wales

We’ve got suggestions for exploring our great outdoors, indulging in delicious home grown food and drink, adventurous days out, relaxing pamper options and stylish ideas for treating your dad to new clothes. We hope you have a fantastic day – don’t forget to get in touch with us on Twitter or Instagram to tell us where in Wales you chose to celebrate with your dad!

Does your dad love a cuppa? How about a buffet? Combine the two and elevate them to the super sophisticated heights of a ‘Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea’, in Cardiff’s Park Plaza Hotel. A twist on the traditional afternoon tea to appeal to savoury taste buds, your dad can feast on the likes of a mini venison burger and sirloin on ciabatta, along with chocolate mousse and champagne or beer. 

Lovers of meat dishes are totally spoiled for choice in Cardiff, with restaurants including The Potted Pig and Pastures.

Vegetarian and vegan dads can be treated at the Vegetarian Food Studio in Cardiff, which has dishes to eat in or takeaway, Plum Vanilla Café in Narberth, with local produce, organic and Fair Trade food, and Voltaire vegan restaurant in Bangor, with dishes including vegan 'fish' and chips.

In West Wales, Dads can sit back and let restaurants Y Polyn in Capel Dewi, Wrights Food Emporium in Carmarthen and the Stackpole Inn in Pembrokeshire rustle up a superb Father’s Day treat. 

Visiting or living in North Wales? Treat your father to a distillery tour of Aber Falls. Enjoy lunch in the distillery's bistro and visit the gift shop. Treat your Dad to an afternoon tea at Bodysgallen Hall or The Castle Hotel in Conwy.

Is your dad a bit of an action man? Is he happiest when on an adventure? Create great memories by enjoying an active Father’s Day together. Feel fresh and get your heart racing with a bracing day out white water rafting or paddle boarding at the Cardiff International White Water centre. For a wet and wild day jumping off cliffs into the ocean, coasteering will also give you a buzz plus great views. 

Dads who like to move on wheels, can take to one of the many race circuits across Wales - choose from go-karts, BMX or super car adventures. Book tickets for FIM Speedway in Principality Stadium in Cardiff, which takes place in September. There are also some exciting off-road motorbike and quad experiences to try out, from beginner level to expert masterclasses. 

Talking of views, how about seeing sights from the sky? Wales has a few options, including gliding and helicopter flights for a Father’s Day that’s extremely Insta-worthy! For slower paced adventure, we’ve no shortage of amazing fishing trips and wonderful walking trails. 

If your dad’s idea of bliss is a good book, favourite armchair and cup of tea, Wales has many literary spots where he can indulge his love and pick out a book gift or three. Hay-on-Wye is Wales’ book town. Situated in Powys, it is packed with tons of bookshops perfect for afternoons of browsing. There are plenty of cafes and pubs for sustenance, plus lovely walks along the river Wye.

Troutmark Books in Cardiff is an institution. Browsers in Porthmadog is vintage, The Hours in Brecon is a café and bookshop all in one, while Palas Print is a bright, contemporary bookshop in Caernarfon’s medieval town walls.

Is he a lover of libraries? Wales has some great ones – visit the stunning converted chapel that still has a congregation in Bargoed, stay in Gladstone's Library, or for a literary outing in Aberystwyth head to the magnificent National Library  A day out in Llandaff, Cardiff, or Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, will take you to past homes of Welsh writers Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas.

For the gentleman who loves boutiques and classic tailoring, take your dad on a tour of some of Cardiff’s hot spots for high quality items – classic brogues at Brogue Trader, waistcoats, cravats and hats at Hatts Vintage Emporium in Cardiff Market.

Other notable independent menswear shops include Vaughan Davies in Mold, Aidan Sweeney in Brecon, Ragazzi in Wrexham and Chess Menswear in Llandeilo. Whether bearded or clean shaven, help your dad feel his best with South Wales brand Old Faithful’s shave, beard and skincare range.

We all like to be taken care of sometimes. Whether your dad has a busy job, or busy retired life, you could treat him to some pampering relaxation time. Wales has no shortage of places for him to be spoiled rotten, so why not book you both in for a spa day and spend some quality time together over a swim and treatments? It’d be rude not to join him! 

The Celtic Manor, The Vale Resort, and Voco® St David’s Cardiff are all super chilled South Wales options. Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa and Quay Hotel & Spa will treat North Wales dads, while Lake Country House Hotel & Spa is in Mid Wales and St Brides Spa Hotel is in West Wales.

Is your dad into the plethora of craft ales that have burst onto the beer market? Welsh breweries are proudly playing a big part in this upsurge, and there are plenty of spirits distilled on home soil too. Take your dad on a tasty tour at the Tiny Rebel Brewery Bar in Newport, Grey Trees in Aberdare, Penderyn Distillery near Brecon or Llangollen Brewery in the north east. You could visit a brewery bar to sample new brews, and as it’s Father’s Day you should probably gift him a takeaway or two – perhaps with a few for yourself! Try Pipes or Crafty Devil in Cardiff, Gower Brewery or Beer Riff in Swansea.

So there you have it, lots of interesting and memorable ways to spend Father’s Day in Wales. If you’re looking for accommodation to make the most of your celebrations, take a look at our places to stay pages for inspiration.

We hope we’ve helped make dads in Wales happy, as well as those visiting us from across the border. Happy Father’s Day, dads!