| Reviews and photos of Cardiff bars and nightclubs posted by real travelers and Cardiff locals. Cardiff Map |
 | Cardiff Nightlife | Tips 1 - 10 of 69 |  |
My tips for having a fun night out in Cardiff city centre...
Try Wharton Street, off St Mary Street, for example.
Bar Copa is the civilised option, selling expensive strong European beers by the glass. Minimal modern decor and a trendy clientelle make this a nice spot to start the evening. Check the price list before ordering a pint ;-)
Bar "Is it?", on the same street, gets its name from the local fashion in the South Wales Valleys to end every sentence with "...is it?"!!! It is a generous sized pub on two floors, and more lively. STOP PRESS: in 2009 "Is it?" changed ownership and is now a lively Brains pub
Back on St Mary Street, I have a soft spot for The Yard, new in 2003, owned by Brains Brewery. It used to be where Brains beer was made. It has three bars, one upstairs which serves food late into the evening. gets crowded at weekends. Good views from the upstairs non-smoking lounge. Novel (Cardiff's first) unisex toilet washrooms!
If the city is very crowded and you want a space for an intimate chat, try Floyds Bar, above Floyds Clothing Shop on the High Street. It tends to open about 8pm. Normally you will be expected to pay a small admission charge after 10pm. In return, you get a venue the size of a large living room, trendy clientele and.... wait for it (my favorite bit)... FREE snacks on the tables!
And then, if you don't want local character and prefer loud music and air conditioning blasting at you, there are plenty of national chain pubs - Wetherspoons, Walkabout etc - in the heart of the city ;-) Leave a Comment Theme: Eating and DrinkingAddress: See above - Wharton St, St Mary St, High St
|
 | |  |
Visiting Cardiff?
Read reviews about Cardiff Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
One of the nicest places these days on a warm sunny evening is Cardiff Bay. Especially at weekends the area becomes crowded in the evenings. There are a large collection of pubs, bars, cafe's, restaurants and some clubs.
And of course the Bay itself, with views to Penarth Head and the Cardiff Bay Barrage.
Nearby to the Norwegian Church is an extremely good pub, The Waterguard. This serves strong German beer and hot meals too. The building is partly a Victorian gatehouse.
Back at Mermaid's Quay you have a variety of pubs and restaurants. You can eat Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Turkish, Thai, 'Fish 'n' Chips'... but I can't remember seeing Welsh :-))
Also on Mermaids Quay is the Glee Club, a comedy club with visiting... erm... comedians. A bit expensive to get in but friends say it is a good night out!
There are buses till late and taxis always cruising around to take you back to Cardiff city centre.
Various, generally smart casual Leave a Comment Theme: OtherAddress: Mermaids QuayDirections: Approx 2km south of Cardiff city centre. Buses go regularly from St Mary Street and Wood Street. Or a train (not very regular) will take you to the station on Bute Street 200m north of the Bay.
|
| | |
The Goat Major seems to be one of the few traditional pubs in the city centre of Cardiff. It is named after the handler of the goat mascot of the Welsh guards. Among other beers, the Goat Major has the famous Brains beer on tap which is brewed in Cardiff. VT members M0B1US, aaaarrgh and me started our fabulous VT meeting here. Leave a Comment Theme: Eating and DrinkingAddress: The Goat Major, 33 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PUDirections: The Goat Major is located at the northen end of High Street, just opposite the entrance to Cardiff Castle.
|
Mill Lane joins the end of The Hayes to the end of St Marys Street. It is right opposite the Marriott Hotel. The street is a line of pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs. When Cardiff first improved the area, Mill Lane was nicknamed the 'Cafe Quarter'.
One of Cardiff's canals once ran along Mill Lane. But no longer. There are some very nice railings that run the whole length of the road. But your view during the day is of the vast cliff of brick, which is the Marriott Hotel!!
At night the area is pleasant. The bars and restaurants put chairs and tables out on the street. The area can become quite lively.
Watch out for Cardiff's drinking laws! It is illegal to drink in the street. So if you don't have a seat outside, you may be asked to go indoors.
My favorite restaurant is Las Iguanas which s very 'latin', with salsa music and a cocktail bar. Then later, the vodka club Moloko's is the place to be. Good dance music, dance floor, lots of vodka's and 'cyrillic' script on the walls.
Gay pub, the Kings Cross is always busy and welcomes anyone, gay or straight.
Cardiff Bay has upstaged Mill Lane these days. On a sunny evening go to Cardiff Bay instead.
Various, usually casual smart. Leave a Comment Theme: Eating and DrinkingAddress: You've guessed it... Mill Lane, CardiffDirections: South end of St Marys Street/The Hayes
|
| | |
Our VT meeting finally ended up in Cafe Floyd. It is a narrow first floor bar with an old dark wooden interior and cosy sofas. Among the usual sort of drinks of a bar, they have various international beers on offer. When we were there on a Friday night we had to pay an entrance fee of 2 Pounds. Leave a Comment Theme: Eating and DrinkingDirections: Cafe Floyd is located on a first floor of a building in High Street, which is one of the main shopping streets in the city centre.Website: Cafe Floyd, 23 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PU
|
Visiting Cardiff?
Read reviews about Cardiff Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
If you want a night out in the capital city of Wales, then Clwb Ifor Bach (aka The Welsh Club) will be an excellent choice. It has three floors of dance floors and bars, including a live band stage. The club attracts many Welsh speakers, but if you don't speak Welsh this will not be a problem at all. Entrance prices are very reasonable (usually around 3 GBP, more if there is a live band).
The Clwb has a great location, on one of Cardiff's oldest and most atmospheric streets, between Cardiff Castle and Quay Street (where Cardiff's original river port was located). Ifor Bach was a local welshman of the mid-12th century who climbed over the walls of Cardiff Castle and kidnapped the English Earl of Gloucester and his family!!
Drinks before hand recommended at one of the two local pubs at either end of Womanby Street - Dempseys (popular Irish pub) or The City Arms (Brains beer pub with dance floor).
I've just come back from the Welsh Club's New Year event, where for 8 GBP we were treated to two floors of top DJ's and two live, Welsh speaking bands ~ Ashokhan and Radio Luxembourg.
Generally very casual. Leave a Comment Theme: NightclubAddress: 11 Womanby street, Cardiff CF10 1BRPhone: (029) 2023 2199Directions: Womanby St is between Cardiff Castle and Westgate Street Multi-storey carpark.Website: http://www.clwb.net/
|
| | |
The Yard is another new kid on the block, opening in early 2004 and one of famous local brewery Brains' new style of modern pubs. The company has had a recent makeover and transformed its target audience from old men in flat caps drinking pints of dark to flashily dressed young people and bottles of alcopops.
The Yard is on the enlarged site of what was one of Brains' most traditional pubs, The Albert. They've stripped the pub of all character and gone for a minimalist metallic design, with silver piping everywhere and a futuristic concept - completely cold and soulless. The only thing that remains of the old pub is the portrait of King Albert that still hangs outside.
As you can tell I'm not really a huge fan - preferred it the way it was and it seems to signify Cardiff's desire to get rid of all its old character and replace it with bland modern clones of countless other cities.
Now that's enough ranting, where's my pipe and slippers!!! Leave a Comment Theme: Eating and Drinking
|
| | |
This is one of Cardiff's newest bars, opened earlier this year. It used to be the Glassworks and before that the Newt and Cucumber (it makes me feel old when I can remember all the different names!) and it used to specialise in traditional British real ales and all kinds of sport on the numerous TVs.
But one big expensive makeover later and this is now one of the growing number of fashionable European-style bars in Cardiff city centre. The fashion channel and the Milan catwalks have replaced rugby on the plasma screens, with comfy leather sofas, polished floors and (some!) beautiful people.
The menu is pretty good, lying somewhere in between pub food and a decent restaurant (with prices closer to the latter!). The main reason to come though is the beer - the best selection of European beers in Cardiff. Leffe, Nastro, Kronenbourg Blanc, Erdinger Weiss, Warsteiner, Leifmans and more all on draught. So if you're a European tourist and you're feeling homesick this is the place to head! Although it only serves them in fancy half pint glasses, and it's not cheap!
Weekend nights can get very busy but not in a crazy way, it's one of Cardiff's more mature, chilled out bars where the music is low and laid back (some might say dull!) and you don't have to push past 16 year olds to get to the bar.
There's no real code but it's best to dress to impress. Hats and baseball caps aren't allowed, even on women. Leave a Comment Theme: Eating and DrinkingAddress: Wharton Street, just off St Mary's Street
|
| | |
The Cardiff Bay area is not one of those new and "dead" regeneration projects, thanks to a number of good restaurants, cafes and bars situated in Restaurant Quarter and Mermaid Quay.
When Sean was organizing a VT meeting I suggested that we try the Bay area and all Sean had to do was to choose places. Being a real connoisseur, he chose the Waterguard bar for a start, a Chinese restaurant for dinner followed by some fancy new on the waterfront that served traditional "Brains" beer.
Although I'm not usually drinking beers, I had to try this local one. For research purposes only ;) Leave a Comment Theme: Other
|
These are 3 of the biggest nightclubs in cardiff , Evolution is the biggest nightclub and is situated in cardiff bay - expect to meet up with around 1000 people here all swinging thier heads and stamping thier feet! Cardiff is always busy and if you are travelling on your own then you'll meet someone as soon as you set out onto the main street , just listen to the music pumping from the clubs as you walk through the bustling street of St.marys , the smell of salt and vinegar and people shouting "ole , ole" (you know that you've arrived) Welcome to Cardiff , ENJoY ~*~*~*
Wednesday night - student night in cardiff : dress code:anything goes - Thursday nights : R&B night :Dress code:again anything goes :Friday & saturday nights : no hats , no trainers , smart! Leave a Comment Theme: Nightclub
|
|
- Novotel Cardiff Centre
Schooner Way Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff - Best Western St Marys Hotel
St. Mary's Hill (formerly Best Western), Cardiff - Marriott Cardiff
Mill Lane, Cardiff - Travelodge Cardiff Central (Imperial Gate St Marys Street.)
St Mary's Street, Imperial Gate, Cardiff - The St David's Hotel & Spa Cardiff
Havannah Street, Cardiff - International Youth Hostel
Two Wedal Road Roath Park, Cardiff - Campanile Hotel Cardiff
Caxton Place Pentwyn, Cardiff - Village
Wedal Road, Cardiff - Village Hotel & Leisure Club Cardiff
Wedal Road, Cardiff - Marriott - Cardiff
Mill Lane, Cardiff - Express By Holiday Inn Cardiff Airport
Port Road, Cardiff - Copthorne Cardiff Caerdydd
Copthorne Way Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff - Park Plaza Cardiff
Greyfriars Road, Cardiff - Cardiff Moat House
Circle Way East Llanedeyrn, Cardiff - Holiday Inn CARDIFF-NORTH
Pentwyn Road (formerly Holiday Inn), Cardiff
|
on June 3, 2009
on June 3, 2005
on September 6, 2004
on March 4, 2007
on June 8, 2003
