The Black Boy Inn

Rooms and decor

The Black Boy Inn is a 1522 Tudor building that has kept its structure and atmosphere intact — a fireplace in the dining room, old oak beams, solid stone walls and narrow heritage staircases. The 28 rooms split into the Old Wing (the original building) and the New Wing (a later addition). Old Wing rooms run smaller with lower ceilings but carry the real heritage feel — oak beds, good linens, en-suite bathrooms in a country-inn style. New Wing rooms are larger with newer fittings. One guest wrote that it felt like stepping back into Tudor times — but with clean sheets and a bathroom that works well. Some rooms look out over the old town walls and toward Anglesey.

Food and amenities

The ground-floor pub is the highlight — real ale from Brecon Brewery and Conwy Brewery, Welsh local beer, and a house-brewed "Black Boy Bitter". One guest described sitting with locals talking Welsh history for an hour, the kind of evening you don't get elsewhere. The restaurant serves Welsh plates in a historic setting — Welsh lamb pie, cawl (Welsh stew), cockle and laverbread, Bara Brith — with mains from about $18 to $33. Book ahead, as it is one of the most popular spots in town. A full Welsh cooked breakfast is included in the rate. The concierge can arrange Snowdonia tours, the Welsh Highland Railway and Caernarfon Castle tours. Wi-Fi is free; private parking is limited and first-come, first-served.

Location and getting there

The inn sits on Northgate Street inside the medieval town walls — the 1283 walls that Edward I built alongside the castle. Caernarfon Castle is a 2-minute walk, the closest in the list alongside the Anglesey Hotel. Castle Square in the centre is 3 minutes, the Welsh Highland Railway steam station 8 minutes, and Caernarfon Harbour 5 minutes. Segontium Roman Fort is a 15-minute walk. Snowdonia National Park lies about 15 km away, a 25-minute drive, and Bangor Station is 12 km out, a 15-minute drive.

Things to know before booking

Some rooms are small, in keeping with the 1522 building — the Old Wing especially has lower ceilings and tighter floor plans, so book the New Wing if you want more space. The pub gets loud on Saturdays when there is live music; ask for a room away from it if you sleep lightly. And there is no lift — it is stairs only up to the rooms via narrow heritage staircases, which is worth knowing if you have heavy bags or limited mobility.

Our take

This is the pick if you want to actually sleep inside 500 years of Welsh history rather than just visit it. The 8.8/10 score is the highest in this price band, and at roughly $100 a night you get a genuine Tudor inn, a real pub two minutes from the castle, and a kitchen the locals rate. Best for couples and anyone who values character over square footage.