I’m hoping to compile a collection here of fun spots I stumble across – probably a lot of food. Mostly food? Who am I kidding, there’lll only be a handful that aren’t food.
A very kind waitress offered to help me drag a 40-pound rolly suitcase up a small flight of stairs. Pictured: (remains of ) a light and fluffy yoghurt and granola bowl with fruit (don’t worry, Mom, I avoided the pomegranate seeds) and a juice that Emily claimed “smelled like healthy but tasted good.”
A tiny shop tucked away in the Castle Arcade that featured wine, pastries, and fresh cheeses, including the smoothest brie that I’ve ever tasted in my life. Pictured, top to bottom: a “mini mix” of cheeses, bread, fruit, chutney, and meats; classic Welsh rarebit (a cheese, butter, beer, and mustard bechamel on toast).
Rated some of the best welsh cakes in Cardiff, these soft, buttery, shortbread-like treats from Fabulous Welshcakes are cooked on a griddle and served warm for only 50 pence a pop. Pictured: lemon and white chocolate welsh cake (traditional flavors include cinnamon, nutmeg, and sultanas).
A cosy, wood-paneled, unassuming little restaurant with traditional Welsh dishes and classic favorites. Pictured: traditional Welsh cawl, a stew-y sort of dish with lamb, carrots, potatoes, and leeks, among other things. It was very flavorful but not my cup of tea. Not pictured: eggs Benedict featuring some of the most beautiful poached eggs on this earth and a smooth and subtle hollandaise (which was very much so my cup of tea).
A low-light photo does not do this majestic building justice. A swanky restaurant upstairs and a gastro bar downstairs, all wrapped up inside this restored chapel (which still has services each Sunday). Not pictured: fish and chips, because the menu called them something way hipstery-er than “fish and chips.”
Built inside of an old theater, Prince of Wales has bars and tables scattered in and around the theater’s original stage, box seats, and balcony.
Pictured: traditional Welsh cottage pie of beef, potatoes, and peas – modest but delicious.
On an already gorgeous street sits this breathtaking little gem. Halfway in between my uni buildings and downtown, it has become my landmark of when to turn down a side street to reach my flat (helpful, in a city with no street signs on intersections). I can’t wait to see it when it’s green in the springtime!
Just a slice of the beauty that is Cardiff City Hall, about two minutes down the road from my flat (I can hear the clock tower chime every hour on the hour in the distance). At golden hour, this is one of the buildings that absolutely glows, against blue and grey skies alike.
Slightly off the beaten track of the touristy city centre, this coffee shop is welcoming and cozy and plays good music. A seat by the window meant I could people-watch from my plump armchair. Thanks for the rec, Tori! Pictured: a latte on a precious china saucer and a slice of carrot cake with dreamy cream cheese icing.
There is no better word to describe this place than decadent. Over thirty flavors of gelato take the stage on waffles, crepes, sundaes, shakes, and everything a gelato-loving girl could dream of. Pictured, top to bottom: me gleefully photographing my hazelnut-and-oreo-gelato waffle with kitkats; a three-scoop signature sundae called the “Honey Monster.”
One part cafe and one part bicycle repair shop, this unsuspecting little shop currently holds the title of my favorite latte in Cardiff. It’s a nice place to grab a coffee and a cake, and settle in to half-listen to a Six Nations rugby game. Pictured: ambiance created by twinkle lights, hanging bikes, and a big window that looks out on the national museum across the street.
A proper speakeasy, complete with 1920s decor and a secret entrance. Amazing, amazing cocktails. Pictured: back alley entrance… a pair of doors marked “fire exit – keep clear,” a discreet doorbell, and a single yellow-painted canary feather (to my right).
A traditional tea room with quirky, modern twists: gallery walls covered in local art, avocado-chocolate cake, and individual hourglass timers for the perfect steep. Pictured: afternoon tea for two, complete with finger sandwiches, a slice of cake each, and scones with jam and clotted cream (which we ate the Cornwall way – sorry, Devon)!
This cheery cafe was the perfect spot for a reunion between me and two of my friends. With a massive cassette collection for E, cutesy proper touches reminiscent of G, and a color scheme that was entirely me, the scones and lattes were just the icing on the tea cake. Pictured: the happy exterior just a stone’s throw from the Water of Leith, bright against brown stone and gray sky.
At this charming, tiny tea room situated within the wall surrounding the Cardiff Castle, we sipped rose lychee tea and noshed on homemade sandwiches til we could nosh no more. Highly recommend taking the cake to go and eating among the daffodils in nearby Bute Park. Pictured: quaint mismatched china, fruit scones with jam and clotted cream, and three types of sandwiches on house-made bread.
This free museum boasts dinosaur skeletons, plenty of natural light, and statues of famous scientists along the walls of the main display floor. In an adjoining room is housed the Pitt Rivers Museum, where objects from throughout human history are grouped into collections by category, not time period or culture. Pictured: blue skies bathing T. Rex in sunlight, while a stern-faced Galileo looks on from between two pointed arches.
My endeavors to try as many Cardiff coffee shops as possible meant a detour to the city centre for a post-class caffeine fix. The atmosphere bordered on pretentious, but the latte was so good that I deemed it worthy of honorable mention. Pictured: moniker-baring cup and a blueberry croissant (which was filled with blueberry jam between flaky layers, yum).
Elmer’s is the closest thing I’ve found in the UK to a South Jersey diner, and the white-haired, suspenders-wearing owner greets most customers by name while his wife cooks good, simple food in the back and his daughter serves up better-than-it-should-be coffee in nondescript white mugs. Pictured: my first official “Full English” (bacon, sausage, egg, toast, tomatoes, butter beans, and a hash brown), a satisfying steal at only $5.
Nestled right on the edge of the water in Cardiff’s beautiful Roath Park, Terra Nova has become a favorite lunch spot for a beautiful day. There’s always a tempting selection of fresh cakes to go alongside my latte and chorizo panini, and groups of families and friends hustle and bustle through on weekends. Pictured: Terra Nova to the left, right on the water. An outdoor table gives an unbeatable view of ducks on the water and the iconic clock tower.
Jem and I stopped in once on a whim and were charmed by the art deco-meets-modern decor, the quirky half-aprons worn by all of the waitstaff, and the food selection that was classic with a twist. Pictured (front): “macaroni cheese” with kale and leeks, in a deliciously creamy sauce. We also split a mini chocolate fondue for dessert!
Hayes Island sits smack=dab in the middle of The Hayes, a popular shopping street in the City Center. It touts the title of Oldest Snack Bar in Wales, having just celebrated 70 years! Sitting at a picnic table enjoying a pulled pork sandwich and chips was a true taste of summertime. Pictured: two Slush Puppies, the British equivalent of a Slurpee or Icee. “Red, blue, or mixed?” asked the clerk… and I went for mixed, so that it would be purple.
Any place that serves all-day brunch has my attention immediately – add cheerful flower-patterned tables, second-story balcony seating in the sunshine, and a wicked cool food elevator to send meals from the kitchen to the first floor, and I’m hooked. I only wish I had found this gem sooner! Pictured: a lighter alternative to a full English, known as “veggie breakfast” – with spinach, peppers, mushrooms, and halloumi-and-corn fritters.
Met up with some new friends at an unassuming Japanese restaurant not too far down the road and was very quickly chowing down on delicious, fresh sushi and Bento boxes galore! There were out of matcha ice cream, but coconut mochi for dessert was no less of a treat. Pictured: rainbow roll topped with caviar, prawn, squid, salmon, and tuna (and missing one piece, because self-control was at an all-time low).
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