The Hive, Aberaeron bar & kitchen has within it the award winning ice cream parlour plus luxurious accommodation in The Hive Townhouse on the opposite side of a quiet harbour side road.
The Hive is situated in a historic converted wharf between the inner and outer harbours of Aberaeron now occupied by leisure craft. With a dog friendly courtyard that overlooks the inner harbour and the new flood gates it’s the most wonderful place to while away a summers’ day whilst sipping a drink or enjoying some delicious food.
One could describe the food as American style food with an European influence but this description really doesn’t do it justice.
The menus do change with the seasons so the dishes mentioned below can only be treated as samples. As ever the best place to start is with breakfast, served from 9.30 till 11.30, a treat much relished by those staying at the Hive Townhouse but is open to all.
What one could call “the full breakfast” consists of:
- Welsh bacon, pork sausage, eggs your style, hash brown, black pudding, fried mushroom, beans, slow roasted tomato, together with toasted sourdough.
But if you fancied a Veggie Breakfast of which a Vegan version is available then:
- Eggs your style, hash brown, fried mushroom, beans, slow roasted tomato, haloumi, guacamole, toasted sourdough
The Hive Aberaeron offering you “Eggs your style” is just the tip of the iceberg with other egg offerings such as:
- Turkish Eggs: Garlic & dill yogurt, poached eggs, spiced Aleppo chilli butter, sourdough
- Eggs Benny: Welsh bacon, poached eggs & hollandaise sauce on a toasted English muffin
- Eggs Royale: Scottish smoked salmon, poached eggs & hollandaise sauce on a toasted English muffin
- Eggs Florentine: Spinach, poached eggs & hollandaise sauce on a toasted English muffin
- El Bandito: Poached eggs, toasted sourdough, crispy chorizo, guacamole, chorizo oil
In addition Buck Rarebit & bacon, Butty Bach & Welsh mature cheddar rarebit, Pesto Mushrooms and of course Baguettes and pastries a plenty.
Run by two brothers Rhys & Rhodri they talk about their food offering:
“At The Hive Bar & Kitchen, our menus celebrate the best of the seasons and the finest local produce.
“We work closely with trusted Welsh suppliers to bring fresh seafood, quality meats and locally grown ingredients to your table, creating dishes that reflect the coast and countryside around us.
“From relaxed brunches and leisurely lunches to hearty Sunday roasts and evening dining — and of course our famous honey ice cream — every plate is thoughtfully crafted to showcase flavour, freshness and a true taste of Wales.”
The Hive is open from morning through to late evening, serving breakfast, 9.30 – 11.30 lunch 12.00 till 3.00 and dinner 5.30 – 8.30 with simple food offerings and refreshments to fill the gaps in between.
We look at some of the delicious offering that can be savoured in the informal settings of the Hive Bar & Kitchen.
Being next to a harbour, one has to start with seafood but often not landed at Aberaeron as there is no longer any significant commercial fishing.
- Fish & chips, crushed minted peas, tartare sauce.
- Panfried seabream fillet, lemon & pea velouté, roasted new potatoes, tender stem broccoli, garlic panko crumb
- Moules Frites
But also meats:
- Welsh lamb rump, celeriac purée, miso braised leeks & peas, lamb jus
- 8oz Welsh sirloin, peppercorn sauce, onion rings, salted chips
But the Hive bar & kitchen also offers dishes that are rarer on the menu:
- Beetroot tart, beetroot glaze, rainbow carrots, melted goats cheese, salsa verde, rocket
- Roasted celeriac steak, tender stem broccoli, garlic whipped tahini, chilli crisp
The main dishes can be served with various sides: seasoned chips, paprika dusted sweet potato fries, parmesan, truffle & rosemary salted chips, garlic oil roasted new potatoes, onion rings, hot honey roasted rainbow carrots, whipped tahini, herbs, rocket & parmesan, aged balsamic dressing, Aleppo butter tender stem broccoli, cashews.
As ever it is great food with an added ‘The Hive, Aberaeron’ twist.
There is a kids menu as well to keep all the family happy.
If a full blown meal is not for you on any particular day then there is a salivatious range of nibbles and bites.
- Crusty baguette, olive oil & aged balsamic
- Warm flatbread, hummus, pomegranate & chermoula
- Warm flatbread, roasted red pepper whipped feta
- Garlic & chilli olives
- Padron peppers
- Soup of the day, sourdough
- Smoked salmon, horseradish crème fraiche, crostinis, micro herbs
- Cod goujons, aioli, salsa verde
- Spiced duck bon bons, hoisin sauce
- Breaded whitebait, spiced marie rose sauce
- Moules marinière, crusty bread
- Sweetcorn fritters, sriracha mayonnaise
- Harissa spiced aubergine on toasted sourdough, garlic & dill yogurt, pomegranate, hot honey, herb oil
- HFC – Hive Fried Chicken with pick a sauce:
- Korean BBQ sauce, chilli crisp, chives
- Honey mango sauce, chives
- Korean buffalo, chives
With a range of burgers, open flatbreads and salads there is a tasty food selection for those that are hungry wanting a light bite or wanting somethings that you are unlikely to make at home.
Please though do remember that you should always leave room for a sweet or desert or even better one of the Hive’s own Honey Ice Creams.
Sundays mean Sunday Lunch and The Hive, Aberaeron make that very special.
Remembering that menus later seasonally the following just gives you a guide.
- Roasted parsnip and honey soup, sourdough
- Hive Fried Chicken Honey mango sauce
- Spiced duck bon bons, hoisin sauce
- Smoked salmon, horseradish crème fraiche, crostinis, watercress
- Cod goujons, aioli, salsa verde
For mains:
- Slow cooked Welsh beef brisket, Yorkshire pudding, red wine gravy
- Welsh belly pork, sage & onion stuffing, cider gravy
- Beetroot and butternut squash wellington, caramelised onion gravy
All of the above served with roasted carrots, parsnips & potatoes, mash, greens
- Tandoori spiced panfried seabream fillet, saag aloo, coconut curry sauce, smashed poppadum
Extras:
- Cauliflower cheese
- Buttered tenderstem broccoli
- Yorkshire pudding
Here at The Hive we are open from morning through to late evening, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with simple food offerings and refreshments to fill the gaps in between.
Breakfast: 9.30am -11.30am
Lunch: 12pm -3pm
Dinner: 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Watch out for celebrations throughout the year but especially around Christmas & the New Year keeping up to date via their Facebook Page
One can eulogise about The Hive, Aberaeron but factual experience as shown in this Trip Advisor post says it all.
“Can’t fault the hive for food or staff. A little cold but it is winter, we moved ourselves to the fire place and soon warned up, Food Wednesday night was beautiful. Garlic and chilli king prawns were devine, Pork belly with lush crackling and a mushroom wellington was superbly cooked. We had the delight of also staying in The Hive Townhouse so were also spoiled with breakfast included which again was cooked to perfection. How do they cook those poached eggs, perfect!! Eggs benedict and eggs florentine with salmon added.”
