Cardiff’s 50 undiscovered gems

Shops

1 Shared Earth (Royal Arcade)

This is a beautiful shop that sells fairtrade gifts such as photo frames, candles and funky boxes.

2 D’Vinyl (Albany Road)

“D’Vinyl at the top of City Road is a great shop if you’vr inclined to retro music in its more antiquated form. You might need a beard to truly feel at home in there, but it’s a place that no serious music connoisseur should miss out on.”

- Josh Gardner, 3rd Year History student

3 Spillers (The Hayes)

The oldest music shop in the world. With news that it might be closing this could be your last chance to check out the world famous shop.

4 Troutmark Books (Castle Arcade) “There’s a really good bookshop in the arcade opposite the castle. It’s excellent for cheap second-hand books and a lot of hard to find things – helpful for English Lit students!”

- Tom Kapella, 3rd year English Literature student.

5 Drop Dead Budgie (Royal Arcade) Upstairs in the Royal Antiques Centre this shop sells vintage and retro clothing and accessories.

6 Nice (Royal Arcade)

7 The Bear Shop (Wyndhem Arcade) Every cigar you could dream of under one roof.

8 Rojo (Albany Road)

“Rojo is a really reasoably priced little gift shop on Albany Road,

opposite Savers. It’s absolutely brilliant for last minute presents, theyalways have something cool and individual.”

- Ceri Morgan, gair rhydd Science Editor

9 Lovespoon Studio (Castle Arcade)

10 Wally’s Delicatessen (Royal Arcade) An Aladdin’s cave of unusual ingredients and foods from around the world, such as preserves and pickles, cheeses, curry pastes and sauces, gingerbread and sweets.

Cafes

11 International Cafe (Every Friday @ HighFields Church) A chance to learn about different cultures and meet students from other backgrounds.

12 Cafe Aroma (Crwys Road)

“Cafe aroma on Crwys Road is a must-visit. It has a fab selection of sandwich fillings as well as smoothies, teas and coffees, all within the student budget.” – Clare Forsey, 3rd Year English student.

13 Madamme Fromage (Castle Arcade) “Madamme Fromage is a deli. It sells all sorts of meats and cheeses. They will also put anything you want from their range into baguettes. They recently opened a sit-down cafe.”

- Ken Franklin, Masters Theology student.

14 Gorge with George (West Bute Street, Cardiff Bay)

“Down in the bay there’s a sandwich shop called Gorge with George. I discovered it just before leaving my job down there. It’s well popular for workers but students that head down probably don’t know it. It’s only 5five minutes walk from the Millennium Centre and their filled rolls are great value.”

- Ken Franklin, Theology Masters student.

15 Lunch (Salisbury Road)

A good place to pick up a lunchtime baguette. They have meal deals where you can get a baguette, crisps and a drink for a bargain price.

16 The Plan (Morgan Arcade)

This is a lovely spacious cafe with high ceilings and a modern tearoom atmosphere. All the food is local, seasonal or fairtrade.

17 The Gate (Keppoch Street)

“We like The Gate – it’s a convertedchurch off City Road – the building has been really well renovated,

there’s a lovely cafe which serves amazing food and they have regularopen-mic nights that give local artists, writers and musicians thechance to perform. It’s a little hidden treasure we think.”

- Kim and Becca, Quench Art Editors.

18 Milgis Kitchen Lounge & Gallery (City Road) Amazingly hip Welsh cafe with unusual decor.

19 Terra Nova (Roath Lake)

“The Terra Nova is a small cafe which plays Ella Fitzgerald while you eat your Panini. There is always space there on a weekday,and wherever you sit, you have a view of the lake.”

- Ceri Morgan, gair rhydd Science Editor.

20 Cathays Community Cafe (Cathays Terrace)

“Great baguettes, especially “the nathan”, all fairtrade as well.”- Katie Kennedy, gair rhydd News Editor.

21 Love Coffi (Crwys Road)

Great smoothies and they hang artwork on the walls.

22 Hoffi Coffee (Woodville Road)

23 Kappucinos (Cathays Terrace)

Popular with Humanities students’ and muffins only 95p.

24 New York Deli (Royal Arcade)

25 Sherman Theatre Cafe (Senghennydd Road)

Very cheap lunchtime meals and you could even go and see a show afterwards.

Restaurants

26 Pica Pica Mediterranean Tapas Bar (Westgate Street)

“It’s a small atmospheric restaurant and bar that has a big cocktail list. The food is it’s selling point, the tapas is cheap, authentic and delicious. I would recommend the dough balls with salsa any day.”

- Clare Forsey, 3rd Year English student.

27 Kismet (City Road)

“Kismet Indian restaurant will probably be familiar to many in the City Road area, but for those who aren’t, it’s a gem of a place, serving good food, and with a bargain deal of three courses for £5! It’s a great starting place if you’re off for a night out with your mates and it’s conveniently next to the Ernest Willow’s Wetherspoons, from which you can head off for a night of living it up.”

- Josh Gardner, 3rd year History student.

28 Cardamom (Canton)

“Seriously THE best Indian in Cardiff and pretty reasonable too.”

- Amy, gair rhydd Features Editor.

29 Noble House takeaway (Albany Road)

Tasty Chinese and Thai food at reasonable prices.

30 The Mezzaluna (City Road)

31 Pepe’s El Paso (City Road)

32 The Hawaiian (City Road)

33 Daiquiris (Salisbury Road)

Great priced Mexican food and yummy piña coladas.

34 Coal (The Brewery Quarter)

35 China China (St Mary Street)

Very cheap all-you-can-eat Chinese

Clubs and

Bars

36 Minsky’s (St David’s Centre)

“Minsky’s do a great lunch menu, and the place is quite fun to be in. I’ve never been there to see Miss Kitty and friends, but apparently it’s a good girls’ night out when the cabaret is on.” – Ken Franklin, Theology Masters student.

37 Barfly (Kingsway)

38 Henry Africa’s cocktail bar (St Marys Street)

39 Clwb Ifor Bach (Womanby Street)

40 Bar 33 (Windsor Place)

41 Glo Bar (Churchill Way)

“On Wednesday nights they do a live music night and have a soloist and a band play starting from 9pm. It has a really good atmosphere and the people are really friendly. Drinks are a little more expensive than the Union but not excessive. Its really worth a look. It was relaxed and I had a really chilled evening.”

- Becca, Quench Arts Editor.

42 The Point (Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay)

43 Funky Buddha Lounge (Woodville Road)

44 The Glee Club (Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay)

45 Club X (Charles Street)

Pubs

46 The Three Arches (Cyncoed)

“The Three Arches in Cyncoed is a really nice pub, great “old man” atmosphere and the food is magnificent, be a good place to go if you were a med student due to its proximity to the Heath.”

- Josh Gardner. 3rd year History Student.

47 The Albany (Albany Road)

48 Dempseys (Castle Street)

Traditional Irish pub.

49 Pen & Wig (Park Grove)

You can rent board games!

50 Rummer Tavern (Castle Street)