Another firm favourite of ours is the mighty Blas at Fronlas, which is a delightful cafe that you will find perched below the castle at the top of Market Street.
There is a website here but it is a bit dated and you are probably better off keeping an eye on their Facebook Page or Instagram to keep up to date with what is going on at the cafe.They are not super active on social media, but I am not complaining as I think that it is testament to the fact that they are working so hard to create a lovely environment in which to enjoy some excellent food or a drink. Accommodation is also available at Blas at Fronlas, but we have no experience of staying there so cannot share any experience of staying there.
Opening hours vary a little over the course of the year but 9am to 2:30pm seems to be the norm for holiday periods, with breakfast being served between 9am and 11:15am and then lunch from 12pm to 2:30pm. Please note that Blas at Fronlas is closed on Sundays.
There are a few tables outside the front door, which is one of my personal favourite places to sit back and watch Newport life whilst enjoying a coffee, but also a really nice sheltered garden at the back of the property:
The rear garden is a good option if you want a bit of peace and quiet as it can get a bit noisy at the front if there is a Spar delivery lorry. There is also plenty of space inside if the weather is not co-operating:
Typical to Newport, it is a really friendly space and, in our experience, you will not be frowned upon if you want to perch at the end of a table that is already occupied, but we would suggest asking politely first!
The photos above show an unusually quiet time. It can get pretty busy but there is a great vibe – laid back and unpretentious, which is how we love it. Your furry friends are welcome, so you will normally find several dogs enjoying their time there too.
Blas at Fronlas is a great option for coffee and an excellent selection of delicious cakes, but also worthy of a visit if you want a healthy lunch. The menu is not massive but I am always tempted by pretty much everything on offer, which is always a good sign. As well as a great selection of panini / baquette / roll options, there is usually a delicious cawl, which is a traditional Welsh stew, on the menu along with a range of quiches, salads and the showpiece ‘Blas Boards’.
I really enjoy both the ploughman’s and fisherman’s Blas Boards, but was craving some fish last week so opted for the latter:
Fisherman’s Blas Board (£15.75): smoked salmon, prawns, mackerel pate, salad and sourdough bread
This always hits the spot and leaves you feeling full up without being bloated. The photos don’t really do the quality of the ingredients justice – the mackerel pate is incredibly tasty and the salad is staggeringly good:
The various bread options are all really good and won’t break the bank in the way that too many Blas Boards will. This is the cheddar cheese sourdough roll last week:
Cheddar Sourdough Roll (£8.75): cheddar cheese, chutney, mixed leaf salad, crisps and coleslaw
All the ingredients are super fresh and everything always tastes great. We have eaten here many times over the years and have never been disappointed.
Although I tend to think of a Blas at Fronlas lunch as a lighter / healthier option after too many dirty fries, there is plenty of temptation away from sanctimony as I washed down my fisherman’s board with a delicious beer from the local Bluestone Brewing Co:
I think that San Miguel was the only beer on tap, but there are plenty of local bottled beers to choose from as well as a good wine selection if you are in the holiday mood and want to give the liver a workout.
As you can probably tell, we are big fans of Blas at Fronlas and we can wholeheartedly recommend a visit. You really are spoiled for choice in Newport, but this should definitely be on the ‘to-do’ list.