Restaurant in Penarth, United Kingdom
Arrive early or miss out.
Bryn Williams's walk-in-only small plates spot in Penarth has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand two years running — solid evidence of consistent quality at a ££ price point. No bookings are taken, so arrive early on weekends when the terrace and kitchen counter fill fast. For casual Modern British cooking that delivers more than its price suggests, it is a straightforward yes.
Touring Club does not take bookings, and on weekends that matters more than you might expect. Bryn Williams's Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognised spot on Stanwell Road fills quickly, and the no-reservation policy means the early bird genuinely does win here. If you are planning a weekend morning or a lazy afternoon with small plates and drinks, arrive before the rush or accept a wait. The reward is a relaxed room with a kitchen counter lined in blue tiles, a terrace for fair-weather visits, and a menu of unfussy, fresh-tasting Modern British cooking at a price point that is hard to argue with.
The Bib Gourmand, held in both 2024 and 2025, is the most useful single data point here. Michelin awards this designation to places offering good food at moderate prices, and at the ££ price range, Touring Club sits well within that bracket. The recognition is consistent, not a one-year fluke, which tells you the kitchen is reliable rather than occasionally brilliant. For a food enthusiast visiting Penarth, that consistency matters: you are not gambling on a one-off visit catching the kitchen on a good day.
The menu structure runs from snacks through to more substantial plates, which makes it genuinely flexible depending on what you want from the visit. Come for a couple of drinks and something light from the snack end, or sit longer and work through the fuller plates. The Welsh rarebit has been specifically cited in Michelin's own notes as a standout, and it is a useful lens for the kitchen's overall approach: a classic preparation, done with care, and not overthought. That restraint runs through what Touring Club is trying to do. The inspiration drawn from a restaurant in Patagonia surfaces not in any obvious way on the plate, but in a sense of informality and ease that more formal Welsh dining rooms do not always manage.
Atmosphere reads as the main reason to come at the weekend specifically. The room has multiple distinct areas, the terrace being the most atmospheric in decent weather, and the kitchen counter the most interesting position for anyone curious about what is coming out of the kitchen. The energy is sociable without being loud in the way that makes conversation difficult, which puts it in a different register from busier city-centre bars that function more as nightlife venues by mid-evening. For a weekend brunch or early afternoon visit, the mood is close to ideal: enough activity to feel like something is happening, but unhurried enough that you can take your time.
Friendly service is mentioned consistently in reviews, and the Google rating of 4.6 from 102 reviews reflects a place that earns its reputation through delivery rather than hype. That is a meaningful signal at a venue with no website and no phone number to call ahead, where the only way to experience it is to show up.
The no-bookings policy has a specific implication for weekend morning visits: this is a walk-in only experience, and popular spots without reservations in coastal towns fill fast on Saturday and Sunday. Getting here early is the most practical advice available, and it is advice that Michelin's own notes echo directly. If you are travelling from Cardiff or further afield specifically for Touring Club, plan around an earlier arrival rather than a leisurely mid-morning one. The terrace in particular will fill in good weather, and it is the leading seat in the house when the Welsh coast obliges.
For a food enthusiast building a wider Penarth visit around a meal here, it pairs well with time spent along the waterfront before or after. See our full Penarth experiences guide for what else the area offers, and our full Penarth bars guide if you are extending the afternoon into the evening.
Within Penarth itself, Home (Modern Cuisine) is the other recognised name worth knowing, and it operates in a somewhat different register. Touring Club's particular value is the combination of Michelin recognition at a ££ price point with a relaxed, no-booking format that suits casual visits. For anyone exploring the wider Modern British dining scene across Wales and England, the contrast with higher-commitment rooms is worth understanding: venues like Moor Hall in Aughton, L'Enclume in Cartmel, or Gidleigh Park in Chagford operate at a completely different level of formality and investment. Touring Club's appeal is precisely that it does not ask that of you. See our full Penarth restaurants guide for how it sits alongside other local options, and our full Penarth hotels guide if you are making a longer trip of it.
For context on where Bryn Williams's approach sits within the broader Modern British conversation, comparisons to Hand and Flowers in Marlow or 33 The Homend in Ledbury are instructive: all three work in the Bib Gourmand tier or thereabouts, prioritising accessible quality over ceremonial dining. If that is the register you are after, Touring Club belongs in the conversation. If you are after something more ambitious in scope, hide and fox in Saltwood or Midsummer House in Cambridge represent the step up in commitment and cost. Also worth bookmarking for future trips: The Fat Duck in Bray, Opheem in Birmingham, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton, and The Ritz Restaurant in London for when the occasion calls for the full formal experience. And if you are curious about wine options around Penarth, our guide covers what the area offers.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touring Club | Modern British | Inspired by a restaurant in Patagonia, this slick spot is a great place to while away the hours with a few drinks and accomplished small plates. The relaxed surroundings offer multiple areas to dine in, including on the terrace and at the kitchen counter bedecked with beautiful blue tiles. The menu ranges from snacks to the more substantial, with the unfussy approach resulting in simple, fresh-tasting dishes like a terrific take on Welsh rarebit. Add in the friendly service and you’ll leave with a smile on your face – just ensure you get here early as they don’t take bookings.; Michelin Bib Gourmand (2025); Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) | Easy | — |
| CORE by Clare Smyth | Modern British | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Restaurant Gordon Ramsay | Contemporary European, French | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library | Modern French | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| The Ledbury | Modern European, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Dinner by Heston Blumenthal | Modern British, Traditional British | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Penarth for this tier.
The menu runs from snacks to more substantial dishes, with an unfussy approach that suggests reasonable flexibility, but Touring Club holds no documented public policy on dietary restrictions. Given the small-plates format, options may vary day to day. Your safest move is to ask when you arrive, since they don't take bookings anyway and there's no advance point of contact on record.
It depends on what kind of occasion. Touring Club's Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition (2024 and 2025), relaxed setting, and kitchen counter seating make it a strong choice for a low-key celebratory meal at ££ pricing. If you need a guaranteed table or a private dining room, the no-bookings policy is a genuine obstacle, and you'd be better served by somewhere that can confirm your reservation in advance.
You can't book. Touring Club operates a walk-in only policy, so timing is everything. Arrive early, particularly on weekends, to avoid a wait or a turn-away. If the terrace or kitchen counter is your preference, earlier is more important still.
At ££, yes. The Michelin Bib Gourmand specifically flags places offering good food at reasonable prices, and Touring Club has held that designation two years running (2024 and 2025). For the Penarth area, it's a clear value proposition: Bryn Williams-backed cooking without the bill that usually comes with a Michelin-associated name.
Nothing in the venue record specifies a dress code. The Michelin guide describes the setting as relaxed, with terrace seating and kitchen counter dining, which points to a casual register. Come as you would to a neighbourhood restaurant you're pleased to be at, not a formal dining room.
Touring Club does not operate a tasting menu format. The offer runs from snacks through small plates to more substantial dishes, so you build your own meal. At ££, the small-plates approach is where the value sits, and the Bib Gourmand endorsement backs that up.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
