The Red Lion

Very responsive staff all very good food.

Charming bucolic setting. However, the staff are stand offish and the one woman on the pizza counter down right rude.

A gaggle of disinterested grumpy teenagers meet you on entry to the main pub , no greeting other than a churlish demand to know whether you're eating or not. Basic questions are met with a perplexed vacant gaze and a shrug. What could be a lovely public house is let down by the staff who think they're above providing basic hospitality

If you don't mind paying money to staff who resent your presence this place might work for you.

In fairness, the pizza was above average

Disappointing vegetarian experience - we checked the menus online before we booked and could see several very nice vegetarian options. But on the night there were only two, and when we ordered we were told one of those was off. So we only had one choice - feta orzo with potatoes and garlic flatbread. It was basically a tiny bowl of pasta with a huge pile of bread and potatoes. I understand that this is not a vegetarian restaurant, but in this day and age it seems reasonable to have 2-3 quality veggie or vegan options on the menu and available.

Brilliant night as usual great welcome ,great food,great staff, great atmosphere in a friendly environment. Best pub in Wales so lucky to have it as our local
Dale and Sorrel Reardon

Amazing spot, great pizza and beer.

We travelled all the way from Cardiff on a Sunday to try this restaurant for Sunday lunch, and it was a complete waste of our time.

The restaurant is extremely small, and as soon as we arrived, we were told we couldn't bring our baby's pram inside. Nowhere during the booking process did it mention that prams are not allowed. We booked online, paid by card in advance, and there was no warning about this policy. There wasn't even an option to add a baby or child when making the reservation only adults. Obviously, our baby doesn't count as an adult.

If families with babies are not welcome or prams cannot be accommodated, this should be made crystal clear before customers book and travel. We made a long journey only to be turned away at the door.

Very disappointing experience. We won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend this place to families with young children.

Absolutely fantastic place for food. Lovely clean place. Excellent service

Really good food, a nice range of food in the menu and thankfully not an exhaustive menu that overwhelms, a perfect size. Really good quality fresh food, highly recommended mend. The cocktails were just perfect for the crazy heatwave we've had today, so fresh and refreshing. The staff that served us was lovely, very welcoming, approachable and friendly.

We shall be back!

Sadly couldn’t attend our booking for genuine reasons. Made cancellation 20 hours before booking and got charged 40 pounds for four of us. I know times are tough in hospitality but this is beyond the pale. I’ve visited this pub for 40 years but will not go again. Poor poor customer service.

Freindly helpful staff. Food was fresh, cooked perfectly and presented nicely and quickly. Recommended.

Great gem of a pub tucked away in a quiet corner of Penderyn. Great food, friendly staff, great atmosphere!

Excellent service during lunchtime. Genuinely the tastiest food I have eaten in a long time. Dog friendly in the bar area. Can't recommend enough!

Could not fault the Sunday roast here. Main and dessert were fantastic. Staff quickly found us a table as walk-in with no drama. Will definitely be next next time I do the waterfalls!

Great restaurant. We were a large group and the staff couldn’t have been better, very attentive and helpful. The lamb dish was delicious the meat was cooked per. Food is rather pricey but worth it as a treat.
There is some inconsistencies with the desserts though, the sticky toffee pudding portion was huge, enough to share between two whereas the lemon curd was tiny and finished in two mouthfuls. Both were tasty but a shame the portions were so different

Just had the first of what will be many meals here. Food was 5 star plus, best I've eaten in a long time. So much so we had 3 courses all of which tasted amazing and was beautifully presented. Cocktails were delicious, service was spot on with Connor being attentive but no too much so. The lovely owners Richard and Natalie, as well as a friendly chat also gave us an anniversary card.
Glad we visited, will be bringing our friends here soon. Highly recommended.

Incredible atmosphere, old stone-made pub with great food.

Food here is delicious staff very accommodating and attentive. Bar service is quick even when busy. Went here for a funeral and the buffet was outstanding. I have had food here and it has always been good. They do have a pizza van serving fresh pizzas sometimes worth a try lovely place to stop if you go for a nice walk around Penderyn. Highly recommend this pub.

A beautiful authentic Welsh pub with exquisite food

Nice pub with friendly staff let down by poor food. Ordered a sirloin but served over cooked rump.. reheated chips and peas £35

Great atmosphere of old coaching inn and very pleasant service.
Small plates were delicious.

A really lovely pub. Off the beaten track but worth the detour. Beer was good. Toilets were spotless - probably the cleanest pub toilets I’ve seen! I didn’t eat here but the food looked good. Recommended

Perfect pub to stop off at after a long wet walk!

Great beer and multiple fires make it super cosy 😁👍

Extremely disappointed. We drove from Merthyr to the Red Lion for Sunday lunch today. We called and booked on Saturday 7th (today is 15th). We got there at 13:20, our booking was for 13:30. They had no record of our booking, and then told us they had no record of us ever calling. We were turned away or told we could wait at the bar until 16:00. We did call, we did book but where turned away. Customer service was poor. Wouldn't return.

Fantastic place, a little expensive but you get what you pay for. The food and service were superb.

A Sunday visit for mum's birthday. A few steps but not too many. A couple of log fires kept the wet cold weather at bay. Lovely place, food and service. Can' t wait to go back in the summer and build it into a long walk. Perfect.

Didn't eat, but the pub is great!

Stinks of toilet throughout the place, rude staff and the over 6 after 6pm rule is ridiculous! Avoid

We went here after seeing the 4 waterfalls. We aren't from around here but felt very welcome. The food was great quality. Great cozy pubby atmosphere. Highly recommend 👌

Went for Sunday lunch. Possibly the worse I've ever had. The 'slow cooked lamb' had absolutely no flavour or texture, it was literally the consistency of smooth paté. The fat hadn't been rendered down so it was not pleasant.
The vegetables were so al dente they were difficult to cut with a dinner knife, I think a cow would have had a problem chewing the tough, outer leaves of a Savoy cabbage and the Yorkshire puddings was so overcooked I genuinely couldn't put my knife through it, as was the cremated remains of a parsnip. The whole plate lacked any seasoning, flavour or finesse.
Very disappointed...
The wonderful sounding alcohol free, blackberry cocktail tasted like ribena with cheap, alcohol free fizz. I have to say, I was expecting slightly more than a small champagne flute with two raspberries floating on the surface especially as they cost more than a large glass of wine. Don't get me wrong, everyone has to make a profit and I don't mind paying...as long as I can enjoy what I'm paying for.
We won't be going back.

Amazing place staff were superb even though it was packed

Great for a pint at the end of a waterfall walk

What a find! Beautiful place in an amazing location. The food was stunning - a great place for a special night

Really nice Sunday lunch. Seated quickly as a walk in and the food was wonderfu! If only they could bottle their gravy, I would have taken it home with me 👍

Recommended by locals because it is somewhat secluded on a hill in a picturesque location next to an old church with a cemetery, the Red Lion, which its name and exterior would suggest is a pub, turns out to be a fancy restaurant with creative cuisine that could easily earn a Michelin star and even offers vegetarian options. The cosy atmosphere and extremely attentive staff justify the slightly higher prices.
Highly recommended!

Excellent meal, great vegetarian options, friendly service , great ambience

Me and my partner came for dinner after a long hike. Had a fantastic meal. top quality food and experience. We ended up with taxi issues and the landlords made a real effort to help and accommodate. Very grateful and we will be back! Thanks again.

Staff brilliant, food good, but a little bit expensive

Great pub situated in beautiful area. Roast dinners were very good. Service perfect.
Highly recommend!!!

Delicious pizza and staff are absolutely lovely. Would recommend sitting inside or out. Had a fab time!

Only tell your best friends. Wales' best pub.

Beautiful pub with a lovely community feel in stunning surroundings. Charming and efficient service, great outside area with family-friendly seating, and a great chilled vibe on a summer’s evening. Could spend hours whiling away an evening with friends of family.

A traditional country pub oozing atmosphere and character. Simply the best. The food was excellent and delivered by very attentive and friendly staff.

Great food in a lovely atmosphere

Food was good quality, but very pricy for such small portions. We popped in for lunch on a whim whilst on holiday. Starter sized food at London main prices. £23 for a small mushroom and tarragon pie. Some veg, no chips, and an unnecessary creamy sauce. Won't be returning I'm afraid 😕

Gorgeous pub and lovely food. But the lady behind the bar always seems disappointed to see customers.

One of the best bar meals I've had in years.

Beautiful food, great staff and truly stunning surroundings.

I will definitely be back.

Very rude behaviour from the staff. They're inconsiderate. Didn't provide any map for the way to the waterfall when we requested them. Will not recommend anyone to visit this pub.

Cracking food and the waitresses were super nice and friendly!
The kids fish dinner was massive and really well priced. It’s a change from other places that rip you off for 4 chicken nuggets or fish fingers.

Celebrating a birthday meal with family and was extremely disappointed to be turned away due to having a baby. It was not a child running around causing chaos, it was a very well behaved (and quiet) baby in a pushchair. Very upsetting to have birthday celebrations ruined. Would not recommend.

Lovely pub with great scenery, we book in advance to make sure we get a table , we walked in and was seen to our table straight away, service is great and the food was fab 👌

Adresse à ne pas louper. C'était parfait. Merci pour tout

Called in today after the 4 falls trail wasn’t made welcome, staff was very rude and abrupt, went for a pizza down in their pizza van the staff down there wasn’t happy either made to feel very unwelcome, not what you expect especially when it’s such a nice spot ruines the atmosphere!

My family and I went for a long walk to the waterfalls and were absolutely famished afterward. We decided to check out this spot since it was close by and on the way home. We arrived at 5:45 PM, but to our shock, they refused to seat us because our daughter is 5 years old. If you're a person of color, avoid this place—they're RACIST!

Lovely pub in a beautiful location, the food was amazing, staff friendly and attentive, will definitely recommend and will be returning 😊

Refreshment stop Post Pen y Fan walk

We went here for a family dinner. The food was excellent, the service really good. It was quiet but it is a Tuesday evening. Lovely place for a nice dinner and a drink.

Great pub. Stopped for a drink in the beer garden, absolutely beautiful 😍

Lovely pub, friendly staff, and the food was superb. Best sirloin steak I've had in a long time.

Beautiful place, lovely food, lovely atmosphere and excellent service. Highly recommended

Popped in for a drink, great atmosphere and nice open fire. Didn’t eat as they were fully booked but the food looked great

Awesome find, amazing food and great service will definitely be returning!

The service was shocking. I spoke to a lady behind the bar, and she had an attitude like she didn’t care. We couldn’t have the food as it was before dinner, so we decided to sit down with friends for a drink. Since we’ve not been able to see each other very often, we pulled a few tables together, only to be warned by another server that this was not acceptable. I was so shocked when she told me to put the tables back. Clearly, people have forgotten what these hospitality services are meant to be. It is us who you are serving, and it is us for whom you build an open restaurant and pubs. You make your effort to welcome every guest so they will come back over and over, but with this attitude, I don’t understand how you’ve been able to sustain such high score feedback.

Had the grilled aubergine with tahini paste and the halloumi burger..both delicious. Very narrow track to get there but def worth the visit, service was quick and waitresses were all really friendly and helpful.x

Very enjoyable experience and an amazing place to go will definitely go again fully recommend

My sister and brother-in-law took me here for lunch, and I have to say it's a hidden gem. The location is down a very tiny little country road, barely enough room for 1 car, but most definitely worth looking for if you're in the area. It's a fabulously cozy and comfy little spot, service and food are also excellent. I highly recommend it.

Great pub to pop in for a relaxing pint.

Outstanding- superb food all locally sourced and an excellent selection to cater for all tastes. Wine menu lacked variety however, more old world wine needed perhaps.

Absolutely brilliant food, on a par with some fine dining restaurants in London.

It however must be remembered that this is a public house and serves walkers etc and people popping in for a beer (or three).

There is also an outside area with pods and a pizza stove, all in all it’s heaven to me.

Excellent beer as well!😃

We love the red lion. Food unreal, views, good ales- right next to our favourite waterfall trail. Sunday roast was nice and by the roasting fire!

Excellent food and friendly service. A real gem

We had high expectations following our waterfall walk. Location was beautiful, the food smelt amazing HOWEVER we felt the pricing did not reflect what we thought would be gastro pub quality. It was not. My Welsh brie and cranberry ciabatta was very disappointing. Looked like shop bought ciabatta and far too much cranberry which over powered the meal. Small portions of chips and the salad had far too much red onion. Would have been better with a home made coleslaw. My husband had shepherd's pie. Very small portion.and we weren't too sure what the hard vegetable that it came with...whatever it was it added no value but merely filled space kn the plate. Two main meals 2 pints and a coffee over £50. Really? I wouldn't mind if it was wow, but it failed and quite frankly was the biggest disappointment of the day. I feel sorry for all the other tourists who will do what we did this coming Summer. The pizza outside I think would have been a better option.

Beautiful country pub. Roaring fires and the best food we've had on an evening out for as long as I can remember. The last mile or so getting there is a tight country lane and may be awkward if the lane is busy but it is so worth it. Natalie, the landlady was lovely, as was Meghan who waited on us perfectly and a huge thank you to the chefs who cooked our fabulous meal. It was my wife's 64th birthday and she had a card waiting for her signed by all the staff, such a lovely thought. The wine my wife had was lovely with what seemed like generous measures and the smooth bitter was a throwback to when beer was beer. It tasted of hops, was, clean, fresh and an absolute joy to drink. 100% we will be going back and I highly recommend a visit!

We had a lovely evening. Food is always top-notch, and the staff are so nice and friendly.

Consistency great food service and quality ! Good quality real ales. Highly recommend a visit. You may even see Mr Depp on his random visits. 🤭

Really lovely pub from the moment you drive up to it. I was there on my own and the staff were really attentive and helpful. Food was amazing - at the higher end price wise but worth it, wouldn’t say it was expensive at all for the quality.

Just a few beers for an hour or so. The warmest cosiest environment you could imagine and hope for in a pub. Excellent service and a pint of Bass that I'd give 10/10.

The mountain top area that it's located at is superb.

Give it a visit, you won't be disappointed.

Thoroughly enjoyed. Food was very nice, and we were sat by the fireplace

It is a lovely pub with good atmosphere inside. We didn't have food inside as it was full but we ordered chips from outside at the pizza place which were £5 for just a handful of small thin chips! Very disappointed.