Cafe Chameleon in Powys

Outstanding! Fabulous food, relaxing environment with courteous staff. Very chilled sort of place that I’ll visit regularly. Great for fiends, couples, family or by yourself.

When the visited here a few years ago it was a real gem, which made this recent visit even more disappointing. The range of vegan and gluten free was minimal, the menu has become very cheesy. The quality of the food had dropped significantly. Our tapas and platter ingredients were not freshly prepared and quality was no longer there. For example coriander mushrooms were thinly sliced mushrooms with a sprinkle of dried coriander. Salsa tasted processed and very tangy. Can’t see us returning unfortunately.

I was really dispointed with the service at Cafe Chameleon. The waitress that served us was very rude and unattentive. She took our drinks order very quickly but then didn't come back for our food order. The Cafe was very quiet, but she decided to take a big group order before ours, who arrived after us, leaving us waiting for around half an hour after we'd arrived. In the end I had to go to the counter to order. The waitress didn't apologise for not coming back, just smirked at me and told me there was no lasagne. In total we waited well over an hour to eat, and we'ren't asked if we wanted extra drinks. The meal was mediocre, there was far too much garlic on the bread and it wasn't cooked properly. The portion was also on the small side. I was disappointed and felt very unwelcome here.

Didn't realise this was a fully vegetarian restaurant, but we really enjoyed the food. We ordered the cheese charcuterie board and had some great cakes after.

We attended a 60th birthday party for close family and without a doubt the Cafe Chameleon made the whole day special. Everyone congregated outside in evening sunshine initially and headed inside later. Most of the guests had a plate of the delicious food,all the meat free options were delicious looked appetising. Myself and my wife opted for the vegan burger and the chilli. Both were absolutely delicious. Happy faces and tummies all round. Bar service was quick, friendly and efficient . The whole evening was full of great conversation in a great atmosphere, coupled with an excellent age appropriate background music playlist. The birthday boy had a great time and all agreed the venue was fantastic.

We live locally and have come here for years and we've enjoyed and felt we've had value for money, until recently. The meals have become unimaginative and poor value for money. We've just been for a valentine meal which was overpriced and not that nice at all. This is such a shame as it's a lovely place to visit. I understand that you can't please all of the people all of the time, but really, I'm not that hard to please and this wasn't good.

Nice lunch with friend. Had actually lit the wood burner as we walked in . Cosy and busy . Food was well presented and tasty . Would go again

Met my friend for an early lunch . Busy when we got there ,took an hour and a half for the soup and ciabatta ! Have been there many times over the years , very disappointed this time. Very cold ,the majority of customers were wearing their coats , I don’t think this is acceptable ,especially when spending quite a bit on a small lunch and considering the place was well attended . The female toilet was covered in black dust ,window sill too . No soap in the dispenser which I don’t think is acceptable.The nice wood burner could be very useful and make this little cafe much more welcoming and cosy ,instead of being just ornamental

Amazing! Friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. I was really hankering for a specific meal and they accommodated us even though it wasn't on the menu, and the portions were massive! Tasted great, so will definitely be coming back. Diolch yn fawr!

We love this quirky place. Beautiful food, fab place! Can't recommend it enough. Keep doing what you're doing!

Meet up with friends. In a nut shell, almost 90 quid for 7 cheese panini and coffee and we waited an hour for food. Staff rushed off their feet no doubt the owner sitting in a bathtub of champagne somewhere nice. Visited here many times before the pandemic and always good. Boy how things change. So many great reviews here, gobsmacked at what welsh people think is good. Will never return and that's a real shame. I have to say the girl behind the counter was very efficient indeed and worked her socks off.

We have been many times and just love the quirkiness of this place. Staff very friendly and accommodating. Food; although I'm not vegetarian/vegan is absolutely beautiful. Reasonably priced. Highly recommended 👌

Overall it was an okay experience. The actual food was lovely, I ordered the burger which was really tasty. The vibe of the place was really cool and I felt quite unique for the location being in a Welsh village. The only down side was the service shockingly bad, the waitress was very slow & wasn’t in a hurry at all to take our order and when it came to dessert we had to go to the bar to ask if she would take our order. Not one point during our meal did she come up and ask us if we needed anything. If you wanted any condiments or anything you had to get up and get them yourself of this table on the side.

A little gem of a cafe. Great food and coffee, good value and a wonderful atmosphere. Do support this independent business. They deserve success.

Stumbled upon this quirky cafe on a drive through the Swansea valley. Super friendly staff and an interesting vegetarian menu. I had the Welsh rarebit and my other half had the lentil and coconut curry. Both were delicious, reasonably priced and good portions. We are not vegetarians but we will definitely be returning.

Lovely menu always so difficult to choose as plenty of choice. Quirky little restaurant and never disappointed.

Stopped in here for a few drinks with the children after a walk. Lovely coffee, wine, and hot chocolates. Friendly service and atmosphere. It’s different to many other places in Ystradgynlais, but in a nice way. Would highly recommend.

This is a gem of a cafe, great atmosphere, great food and welcoming to a group of 5 families with children between 8 & 14. Super accommodating, and the atmosphere rubbed off on all.

What a fabulous place with good outdoor seating. The food arrived within 15mins and our drinks within 5mins. Staff very polite and came to table to see what milk I wanted in my hot chocolate 10/10. The food was delicious and plentiful. What a place all vegetarian and vegan would highly recommend. X

Had a meal here the other night - pleased to see it open as it was under threat not long ago. Decided on 4 Tapas dishes for £10. Lovely choice and each one cooked perfectly. Lovely fresh vegetarian options. Nice coffee also.

Vegetarian - I'm not, but that didn't worry me. Extremely friendly hosts, good selection on menu. But portions were rather slight and the surrounding scenery rather average.

Food is extremley tasty, always a lovley welcome. Had Carbonara there and it was Amazing. Looking forward to going there again.

We enjoyed a lovely, post-dog walk (in the Diamond Park) lunch in Cafe Chameleon, Ystrad, yesterday. Happy, friendly, warm atmosphere with a young and enthusiastic staff confident and professional in their roles. Our springer spaniel, Lottie, loved people-watching from under the table. Our food was top notch - 'cooked to order' fare may take a little longer to prepare than a 'plastic burger' from certain other establishments, but it tastes a million times better! Loved the local real ales and the coffee. Like Arnie: "We'll be back!" :) Thanks guys!

Food took forever, so I was really hoping for something special. Ordered a local burger with extra salad, they didn't even bother putting olive oil on the salad. No care or love put into the dish. Average, won't bother going back.

Great atmosphere. Food and menu always good. Service friendly and well worth a visit. Time stops still here.

We very much enjoyed coming here. The food and local beers were fantastic, nice relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff,a cross between a public and a cafe and a short walk from where we were staying

This place gets everything right. It’s difficult to excel at more than a few things and if a business tries to do it then usually falls flat. The chameleon seems to have decided to concentrate on offering the right food, cook it perfectly and offer fantastic service. And on those 3 it really delivers. We had the soup, a salad and the the frittata and it was absolutely great. If you’re visiting the Swansea valley or theirs part of the Brecon Beacons you really need to make the trip here on the banks of the tawe for snacks, meals or drinks.If you fancy a game of chess instead of a walk there’s games and books you can use free of charge.Honestly it’s so good to see a business being run well. They’ve got this place to be a credit to the community as well as offering visitors a great experience. And they let hounds in.

Visited with my husband and two small children for an early tea (5pm). Its hard to find anywhere that can cater for all our dietry needs especially at that time of day.It was a lovely spot and had a lovely atmosphere. Kids loved their meals, although the portions were too big, but we didn’t mind helping them with the delicious chocolate brownies! Husband made the most of the local ales on offer and I was well catered for with a vegan main course and a decent decaf coffee.Gorgeous building, friendly helpful staff ( and lovely clean loos!) Just wish it was down the road as we’d be regulars.

Have now visited a few times and just love the menu. Food is hot, well presented and service good too.

Arrived just 10 minutes after last orders for food, and the person serving was very rude in telling us she wouldn’t serve us food. Shame it’s good food and excellent beer and atmosphere, spoilt by off hand bar staff on this occasion.

Met up with a friend for coffee, lunch and a catch up. Cafe Chameleon was the perfect spot. Sat in a comfy chair by the back window nice and cosy. The choice was diverse and very difficult to choose as it all looked so scrumpy. In the end I opted for the Plowmans Ciabatta, which came with a lovely fresh mixed salad which was really tasty and my friend went for the smaller portion of the carbonara, which was a good portion for a ‘small’ portion. Not to little but not too much either. It was one of the nicest carbonara that we had tasted. Plenty of time to chat over coffee and tea with no time limited imposed. We were there for 3 hours! Will definitely be going back with friends and it will be added to our ‘great places to meet’ list.Highly recommended

Dogs and food discussing thought it was not permitted.Love dogs but not while I'm eating.!!!!!!!!!!!!¿!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Came across this lovely little place whilst visiting the town for the first time. I was delighted to see they serve Welsh ciders and are really dog friendly. Lovely young server's and a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you.

Visited on a Friday night, we called in the afternoon to see if we needed to book & were advised we didn't need to, we definitely should have! We arrived at about 7.15 & for virtually the last table. My advise is to book or arrive early

Fabulous place, love the atmosphere, great food and coffee. Lovely balance! Great for all ages. Continue the homely atmosphere you have created.

My husband and I went to Cafe Chameleon for Valentine's Day pretty soon after it opened, and let me tell you, I have been looking forward to this restaurant opening and the food was incredible! I am a big foodie and honestly, this food was comparable to anything I've had in NYC, it's amazing to think I can get this in my own backyard now! My husband ordered the lamb chops and crab cake, I ordered the buratta as an appetizer, and filet mignon with lobster as my entree. My husband I loved it. I'm still dreaming of the filet mignon and burrata! The filet mignon was perfectly tender on a bed of crisp, thinly slices potatoes and was to die for. I had the bananas foster for dessert and it was sublime! I can't wait to go back, and I found out its farm to table too so that makes me love it even more. I highly recommend this place and will go again!

Excellent food and fendly staff it's my local nice beer .in Ystradgynlais 15 miles from Swansea on A 4067

Visited the chameleon many times. I really enjoy the food choices here. Nice varied menu with both veggie and vegan options. The coffee and wine are both scrummy! Can always park. Staff are professional and try to accommodate as much as possible.

Great food, excellent service with a laid-back ambience in a nice location. What’s not to love about Chameleon?

Had super food salad, which I have had here before. Was not as good has it has been as quite disappointed

On holiday and was looking for somewhere to have dinner. This gorgeous place popped up on google and i am so glad it did. The food is superb, service friendly and helpful and the whole atmosphere is chilled and relaxed. Thankyou

This place is definitely worth a visit. Four members of the family called last week and had the evening menu. We all opted for the salmon and were not disappointed. The potion sizes were large and cooked to perfection! Excellent value for money! Helpful and very friendly staff! Fantastic ambience ! Will definitely be going back!

Love this place! The food is amazing! Would defo recommend! Lovely little place to visit with family or friends!

Cafe Chameleon was recommended to us by our holiday cottage hosts. The food here was excellent and served by friendly and welcoming staff. We ate outside with the dog close by; inside looked clean and accommodating with a good atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Our monthly get together found us at this lovely village café / bar. Although the atmosphere was very casual the food was not - we had a lovely 3 course meal which was freshly made. Some standard dishes but also some quirky veggie dishes - something for everyone. Staff were very friendly and efficient. Gave this venue a 'thumbs up' and will definitely be back. Thank you.

We asked if food could be served and us be away in 45 minyputes and were told this was possible...it wasn’t and we missed the film we had driven 20 Miles to see. We could have gone elsewhere had we been told. Food was goood....but not that good.

We really enjoyed, the food was fresh and tasted delicious. Great atmosphere and the staff were very polite and friendly. We will definitely be calling again.

We visited this quirky little pub for a family get together.booked our food before hand..the welcome was very warm and welcoming,however the room we were put in lacked comfort.

Tucked just off the main street, this was a lovely find - an old pub turned into a cafe/restaurant but without spoiling it. Coffee was very good, and the menu was pretty standard but the meal I chose, tuna melt ciabatta, was excellent. The ciabatta tasted home made and was incredibly light and crunchy, served with plenty of filling and side salad/coleslaw. Staff were very friendly, including explaining that the ladies loo was through the door marked 'Le Bain'! Helpful old map of the town as it was took up one wall, which was fascinating to research whilst enjoying good food and coffee. Lovely find in a bit of a run down town.

Was lush! We had a hummus and salad platter for 2 which was about £10 and it was WAY better than had we expected! Olives, caramelised onions, avocado, ciabatta bread, other lush stuff, was so good. Coffee was a bit weak for my taste but my mum loved it (think I'm just keen on strong coffee so I'll ask for double shot next time). Staff were really nice, decor was really nice. LOADS of vegan, GF and veggie options which all looked really yummy. Deffo will go again and bring loads of people next time!

It's a nice cafe/restaurant in a good location. There is also a good choice of food. But it wasn't anything special. The food was good enough not to complain but not something I'd ever talk about again.

Popped in by chance on friday with my wife and daughter lovely place to eat and drink great choice of beers and ciders i recommend the Black dragon cider (if only i wasn't driving i would have loved a few of them) food fresh and tasty i had the beef chilli my wife carbonara and the little one had a beefburger great choice of veggie food and meaty stuff wish we had found this place before the last day of our holiday im sure we will be back next time im getting a taxi

This place was such a great find! Visited for lunch after going to the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary which...

I've been going to this place a couple of years now and really like it. My daughter tells me the...

Adecuada, hamburguesas y tortillas crema carbonara - ¿qué más quieres?

Excelente opción en el menú, el personal es muy amable, la comida era precioso, no puedo encontrar un fallo con café. camaleones

I love cafe chameleon. great friendly atmosphere, delicious meals, great selection of drinks and even live music some nights. lovely in the summer to sit outside.

We stopped here for lunch and both had the Welsh rarebit which was lovely. Food was served in good time and was good value for size of portion.After deciding we were too full for cake we paid and left, only deciding to return for cake to go about half an hour later both slices were delicious - and massive! We went to Craig-y-nos park to eat outdoors and then had some left for dessert that night too!Definitely recommend stopping here if you're nearby.

We had a great evening at the Chameleon last night. There was a warm welcome, good food and a great atmosphere including music by Callum and the rest of the band. Many thanks to Howie, Amanda, Pasqual and all the staff, it was fabulous. Diolch.

This is a lovely café with very nice food and is handy for popping in for snacks and meals. I have eaten here several times and often pop in for a catch up with friends over coffee. The staff are friendly and it's great to have a dog friendly café in Ystradgynlais. Just one small complaint, it does come across as pretentious and trying too hard to be uber cool and boutique chic which does not work well with the regulars who use the café. I agree with others who have mentioned the strange vibe and think this is because the rather pretentious feel jars with the clientele who use the café. Not a big deal though and I would recommend a visit.

8/10 When the food is such high quality, obviously home-made, and ideally placed for re-fueling after a walking the dogs in neighbouring Diamond Park, it's hard not to become a regular! I've had the Welsh Rarebit on my first visit and a jacket potato on another visit, and both were just ideal. Generous portions, homemade coleslaw and fresh salad too. Every type of coffee and tea you need and great service.

I wrote a review a year or so ago telling people not to bother going to cafe Chameleon and I'd like to say, it's now completely different. They seem to have stepped up their game food wise, the fish cakes a particular favourite of mine.They are now serving things on the side that I know a lot of people last year had been asking for, so it's good that they are listening to their crowd.I agree with what others are saying, it's a strange vibe as it's aimed for people outside the village rather than the loyal customers they currently hold. Very boho with new faces, which is good but it's not really the crowd that go there that I think they are aiming for. Wish they'd open at breakfast time on a Saturday as that's what we love about the place. They do a mean Veggie breakfast but it doesn't open until 12 so there's not much point going there for a breakfast. Super frustrating as it's a favourite of mine. Great coffee, amazing food and good cakes. Glad they've stepped it up a bit! Congrats to the owners who have just married too!

Love this place A jewel in the Swansea Valley Lovely - home cooked food - prepared with love Great staff - giving a great service Great music - love the music Great place for to eat , drink and relax

Second time being here but first time for lunch menu. Really lovely food. The staff were really helpful and friendly. Love the atmosphere and will definately return. Done breakfast, lunch next dinner. Yum ☺

I'm lucky enough to call The Chameleon my local. I have seen this place morph from grubby 'avoid at all costs' pub into a charming, imaginative Café bar. Howie, Amanda, Pascal have waved a magic wand and, through long, hard work- transformed it.A friend and I visited last night for a catch up. The place was full to the rafters of hungry, Friday night snafflers. The kitchen was a hub of activity but service with still delivered with a friendly smile.There was a wait for the food which we were warned of but that didn't matter. Our 2 meals - Carbonara and Veg Chilli were well worth the wait. As always the food was piping hot, delicious and, of course freshly made.Lloyd provided smiley, efficient service . As did everyone working hard there last night.Would not hesitate in recommending The Chameleon to anyone for an informal, relaxing outing.

Hard this one... there's nothing wrong with it at all. The food is fine, the coffee is good. I'd say that of the cafes I've visited in Ystradgynlais, this is probably the best. But... the vibe is odd. Dog and kiddie friendly, but decked out as if it is aimed at a boho crowd.When I was there it was nana's day, but the music was hipster smooth, unobtrusive but there.The menu ticked many boxes, so hmmmm, confusing.I may have to return to try and see it at another time with different customers. But as I say, it's the best in town.

This place can be immense but I've no idea (and don't think the owner does either) if the owner knows what he wants from the place.The set up is small scale but offers a busy opportunity - but then can't cope with a busy rush!We were a table of ten and waited way too long with pointless apologies. The staff try to be pretentious but in a tiny Welsh village - doesn't need it.Clean and eloquent and could be immense.Will try another time with smaller group of friends and see if it works

Wonderful gem of a place tucked away but lovely menu and a full bar for the evenings. Homemade cakes and crafts available in the day and lots of options to eat and drink - caters for everyone. Lovely spot

Lovely cafe really friendly people a nice welcome and a fabulous cup of coffee can't wait to come again

The manager was rude and pretentious, it was quite cringey. I've been to pretentious places before but I'm not sure what this guy is trying to achieve with his attitude... someone give this guy a lesson in customer service!! Made for a good laugh afterwards but my family and I won't be going back for lunch!

Took my partner here for the first time for her birthday. We are both vegan are there were a number of items on the standard menu and there was a mango cake on display that was suitable. We ordered just after 6 other people but the meal was delivered about 15 minutes later which was quick service considering it is freshly made and nicely hot. Staff were friendly and helpful and fully aware of veggie, vegan and gluten free requirements. My favorite was the Ciabatta with roast veg and hummous. It's a nice calm atmosphere there with lots of little areas for people to have chats and coffee with comfy chairs and provision for kids. Also if you need it there was high speed, hassle free internet. We will be returning again next time she is down.

Excellent service, Excellent food.The carbonara was Amazing! Such a homeley feel to the place.Definatley need another visit here!

Quite a relaxed atmosphere with varied seating and eclectic menu - dogs are welcome. Which is brilliant. Surprisingly nice place, where there was actually a queue outside waiting for it to open at 10.30 am, a comment perhaps on how much this place is liked.

On each of my visits, the café was busy with a variety of small groups-families with small children, older couples and people using this lovely place to conduct business meetings. The atmosphere was friendly and the place has a real "buzz" about it.The varied menu appeals to all types of diners and is really innovative in ingredients.All meals are freshly prepared and worth the wait. Staff are efficient and friendly and made us feel welcome. Friends visiting from afar were very impressed with the whole experience

One of our staff (Pharmacy) was leaving to start University so we decided to have a leaving party for her.There were nine of us and we had a lovely time. We were all familiar with Cafe Chameleon as it is nearby. We each had a main course, which, although not elaborate, were all very tasty and well presented. Pasta, salmon, beef burgers etc. The service was quick and excellent .Cafe Chameleon has been tastefully revamped by the new owners and it has a very cosy atmosphere about it.It is well worth an informal evening out, or just calling in if you happen to be passing by.

I work here so this is not a review. But have some up to date photos!!! Thanks everyone for supporting our little family business in the heart of Wales land :) we try our very hardest to make sure you all have a lovely time here :)

I've been to Cafe Chameleon a couple of times now. Once on a very busy open mic night, which had a great atmosphere and we stayed for hours even though we had only planned to have a drink there after swimming at the local leisure centre. The food was so good and the talent on the open mic was great fun, some really good people performing too. We went again last week - fancied dinner out and thought it was time to visit Cafe Chameleon again. We weren't disappointed. Great menu with all diets catered for and some particularly tasty veggie and vegan food. My husband had the burger and I had the veggie carbonara with leeks and mushrooms. Can't rate it highly enough. If you want an evening meal it's best to book. Check out their FB page @cafecham, which lets you know about events, new beers and generally what they're up to. What a friendly and lovely place, tucked away in Ystradgynlais. We will be going back again soon.

Me and wife was recommend this place by a locally lady,We walked in and the welcome was really friendly,asked what was good to eat and was bar man give us a run down on what was good.We both had the beef burger,freshly made there out of locally meat,Service and food was really good.would recommend it to people who stay in the area

I have visited Chameleon on several occasions since it changed from pub to restaurant, with Inlaws and aunts and cousins to celebrate an 80th birthday. A group of about 10. We were informed that there could be a bit of a wait as the food was prepared to order! No problem! THe oldest member of the group remembered drinking in the then pub some 70 years ago. The food arrived in rEasonable time and was fully enjoyed by all! There was also a fair selection of drinks to choose from, including tesla and coffees.The young waiters were very helpful, lively, professional.I have returned on several occasions with my wife and the food has been excellent on each visit with my favourite being one of the pasta dishes.Very importantly, the prices of both food and drink are very reasonable while the quality is very high!

This used to be one of our great local pubs until a few years ago. It has changed hands & has been redecorated to resemble a cross between a pub, a cafe & a restaurant. You could go there for a quiet few drinks with friends, a coffee & a slice of lovely homemade cake! Or you could go there for a cafe meal, which then surprises you, because it is actually restaurant quality, at cafe prices! The menu is different, the atmosphere, background music & service will bring you back time & time again! Give it a go, you won't be disappointed!

Tucked away across the river in a quiet part of Ystradgynlais, this charming little café and bar is a nice spot for lunch or an early evening meal. With some seating outside for a summers day and cosy tables inside, the menu is quite short but interesting and sets out to appeal to vegetarians and vegans not just omnivores.The specials board and deserts menu add to the interest and there are sharing platters as starters or to accompany an glass of wine or two. The wine list is pretty standard but again there are some additional choices on a board at the bar which included a bright and fruity rioja joven which went well with our meal. Clearly popular with locals and some who like us who had travelled to have a very pleasant evening. There is some background music with a 1970s leaning, but not obtrusively so!

This is an excellent venue for lunch - wide variety of choice with plenty of snacks and cooked meals, also catering for vegetarians. The food is home-cooked and cannot speak too highly of the food quality. However have found the male owner to be deficient in customer care skills. I hope that this will not detract too much from the quality of the food and ambience but can see that other reviewers have noted this as well - needs to heed customer reviews......

Visited a week ago, whilst on holiday, and was impressed. Arrived early on Friday evening and parking was easy. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but, as soon as I walked in...well, I loved it! The premises were clean and there were a couple of tables occupied by smiley, friendly patrons. To me the atmosphere had a "chilled" feel, (in a nice, beach surf-shack kind of way) but the service was also excellent and just the right amount of attentive. We were a party of 5 and said at the outset that we didn't have a lot of time. The staff went out of their way to ensure as much as possible we weren't late (thank you by the way!). The menu had a good selection and all of us enjoyed our (freshly prepared) food. For a change whilst eating out, those of us wanting vege were spoilt for choice. Not a something and walnut tart in sight! :) They'd run out of a few of the desert options but, again, there was a lot of choice so a Plan B was no hardship. Only disappointment was not having more time to enjoy it, or any of our holiday left to re-visit. Hope to be back one day!

Always lovely to visit! Vegan and veggie options are great! Staff great. The decor is homely and quirky. Have spent many great times having food or s cup o tea with friends family here.

Had a lovley hot chocolate in the Chameleon.So reasonable compared to these chains you see all over the country.Good value for money!

What I like most about Chameleon is that it's not "just another cafe". Unlike...well...all of the cafes in the local area this serves interesting, well thought-out food options with plenty of Veggie and Vegan, in an atmospheric environment that lends itself well to shabby-chic. The decor is relaxed as the Staff and the music complements; typically blues/jazz with a good world-fusion mix.Don't come to Chameleon if you want a Bacon sandwich. Do come if you want homemade burgers, delicious breakfasts, fantastically interesting dishes such as the "Earth Bowl" and great all-rounders such as their Med-Veg tagliatelle.As well as an eclectic selection of indoor furniture their are several outdoor tables with a pretty view of the tree-lined river - all very helpful to a general mood of relaxation!I've seen other reviews saying the owner is rude? I have never found him so. He's not a 'valley boy' and doesn't do the Welsh valleys charm 'thing', but he's friendly and interesting and I've found him happy to chat (during the less busy periods!).In the last year where I've been a (weekly) regular, I've noticed the popularity increase - frequently this place is full lunchtimes. That seems to have hit the speed of service as the staff struggle to adapt but they are getting there, with more people being brought on.So. Quiet, interesting and delicious food in great surroundings. I've told the owner this and I completely believe it; Chameleon is the best cafe for 50 miles in any direction!

Went for lunch at this pub as it was recommended to us by friends , lovely deco with quaint features nice atmosphere and busy. We ordered at 1pm lunch time at a later time we noticed people getting served who came in after us,at 1.35 I went to the bar and asked waiter will the meal be long he went into kitchen and discussed this with the chef and they seem to check out the order slips .At this point it would have been nice to have an apology and check our order we were ignored I went back to the table and at 1.45 a young waiter said our order had gone missing and order could go in with free drink if we waited further 10 minutes we agreed , he said our meal would take 40 minutes normally as it was busy still no apology. We pointed out that other customers had their food within 20 minutes .food came at 1.55 and was cold no drinks ,at this point we asked for money back and left .nice touch was charged full 15 quid for bottle of wine and no conversation or apology from front of house

I've visited Cafe Chameleon many times and although most of the staff are utterly wonderful, it's a shame to say the male owner is not so nice. He seems to enjoy customers from outside the community rather than ones that could be regular customers. We arrived around five minutes after the opening time (looked dead inside) so we decided to ring the bell, the owner answered and said he wasn't ready (so go away basically)! He's not very accommodating and things seem to be a big hassle to him.Other than that, the food can be delicious and they serve a decent array of drinks for a small place. The cheese/meat platters are a particular favourite of mine and they do pretty good pasta dishes. Decor is okay- a little more shabby than chic in some places but it can work in others. The rest of the staff are very accommodating and the atmosphere is quite relaxed. Don't expect anything stand out but it's nice to relax.

The menu is appealing and the food I have eaten has been prepared and served to a high standard, the place itself is off the main road so there is plenty of room for parking. I have been there more than a few times I would recommend its worth a visit.

This former pub by the River Tawe in Ystradgynlais is a great place for a coffee and a piece of locally made cake, tapas or larger meal. Eclectic decor and good food. Open some evenings too. Love it.

The coffee and food is good but some items are a little expensive for what you get. Presentation is good. I agree with some other reviews on here that the mood of the male owner is a little hit and miss. From personal experience he has been fine, however, I have heard him speak to fellow customers very rudely a number of times, not the way to keep customers in a small community.

I didn't know what to expect in the depths of Wales but it wasn't this place. Such friendly helpful staff, very accommodating with a good range of vegetarian options. Also amazingly helpful over deserts which involved no refined sugar (made especially for me but we did ask during a bit of a 'lull') - a huge hit with the party and somewhere I'd definitely return to.

We enjoyed lunch here on New Year's Eve and the food was lovely. We had the meat platter, a Welsh Rarebit and a delicious slice of lemon drizzle cake. The decor was great as was the atmosphere created by the 3 girls working the cafe.

I recently went to Cafe Chameleon for an afternoon tea and slice of cake with my Sister and my Niece. we all had a piece of coffee and walnut cake which was home made and really delicious. I have been to all the other cafe's in Ystradgynlais, and this place knocks spots off them all. A great welcome and a really chilled atmosphere! We'll all be back....... soon!!!

I have visited this place on numerous occasions and always leave feeling valued, well fed and relaxed. The food is all hand cooked and very delicious.

I visited today with three friends in view of grabbing lunch and then booking for an Xmas function as we experienced difficulties getting through on the phone. Food, I will say was food and the decor is lovely but the male manager really needs some educating in the hospitality trade.I live a stone throw away from the cafe and haven't visited for a while due to this males attitude in the past but was prepared to give it another shot today but once again I was left feeling appalled by the treatment dished out to us. We were told the reason why they offer table service was to keep the bar area clear yet there was no sign saying that table service was available. Once seated in the back room we were pretty much forgotten about except when the embarrassed young male worker came to take our order and tried to explain his bosses attitude.When asked what the specials were, we were told abruptly that they weren't available until 12pm and when I asked if was not that time yet was told he didn't know whilst he turned away and ignored me. I could go on listing the number of cringe worthy statements he made to us today but I'd only get annoyed wit myself for not speaking up whilst there and for giving even more of my time up for this vile mannered male.Needless to say we didn't book our Christmas function there, plan on not returning and left feeling utterly shocked and disappointed.

The venue is great. I have had many an enjoyable pint there when it was the Gough Arms ('spit & sawdust'). The revamp, intent and idea of Cafe Chameleon is a much needed breath of fresh air in the area. However, I think it needs an ethical improvement as well. Most of what we ate was out a packet. (Pasta was from Tesco, cook left packet out). Portions were small; vegetable 'curry' & a tablespoon of rice barely filled a soup bowl. For the same price or less, a full carvery could be had anywhere else in the vicinity. Service; needed more staff. Two youngsters only and the place was full.(Good for a Wednesday lunchtime) Much confusion between them; we were bought the wrong meals twice and the correct cutlery after the food. In the words of many a school report; Chameleon is trying, but, could do better.

Lovely family evening. Well catered for and food was all cooked fresh with great taste. Would thoroughly recommend.

Thought I'd pop in for a meal and a chat but it was crowded and busy - good for them certainly! Ordered a vegetarian tart from the Specials menu and half an 1879 (939.5) beer. Didn't really like the beer, but the meal was almost very nice - the salad was excellent, the coleslaw lovely, the fried potatoes fantastic. The tart was intriguing - I can't remember all its ingredients but it was almost very nice. One of the ingredients left a very funny taste in the mouth, but maybe that's just me. Altogether a great meal, if a bit of a lonely dining experience on my own

We have been here twice now and tried to review earlier but wasn't on the Trip Advisor site. If you're looking for something different,rustic and friendly then this is the place to go.