Cardiff is gaining a great reputation for its food scene and has a diverse range of restaurants. With so many great Cardiff restaurants, the only problem is deciding where to eat!
As a local, Iβll share with you the best restaurants in Cardiff for different budgets, tastes and experiences. Iβll mostly focus on restaurants that are unique to South Wales and also let you in on some eateries favoured by locals!
After youβve worked up an appetite exploring the best things to do in Cardiff, youβll have a great time eating your way around the city!
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19 Best Restaurants in Cardiff
The Potted Pig
π½οΈ Modern British | (£££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2022 4817
The Potted Pig is a Michelin award-winning restaurant serving British cuisine with a modern twist and Welsh, French, and New York twang. The Potted Pig is in an atmospheric former bank vault in central Cardiff and has been running for twelve years.Β
You have to try the mouthwatering signature starter of βPotted Pig, pickles, toasted Sourdoughβ!Β
As the name suggests, The Potted Pig menu is pretty meat-heavy, but there are some vegetarian options.Β
The Welsh House
π½οΈ Welsh | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2280 6067
The Welsh House is one of the best restaurants to experience Welsh cuisine, wine, and hospitality. The independent regional restaurant celebrates everything from Wales. Expect high-quality local ingredients, Welsh playlists, Welsh wine, and a warm, Welsh welcome!Β
I recommend the Welsh cakes dessert! Itβs a take on the traditional sweet treat, served with compote and Chantilly cream made with Merlyn Liqueur from a local distillery.Β
Tir a MΓ΄r
π½οΈ Welsh | (£££) | Website | π Google Maps | π +44 (0) 29 2045 4045
Tir a MΓ΄r, meaning βland and seaβ, celebrates Welsh cuisine and produce. The menu tastefully includes quality ingredients found across Wales, including unique cocktails!Β
I tried the Bara Brith Sur cocktail, based on the traditional Welsh dessert βBara Brithβ, a spiced and fruity tea bread. You should eat the namesake dessert as well as one of the dishes with local meat, like roasted Brecon lamb.Β
Tir a MΓ΄r has incredible views across Cardiff Bay. It is located at the luxury 5-star Voco St. Davidβs Hotel, one of my top recommendations for where to stay in Cardiff.
Purple Poppadom
π½οΈ Indian | £££ | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2022 0026
The Purple Poppadom has won many awards including Best in Wales at the Asian Restaurant Awards 2023 and has been featured in the Michelin Guide. The award-winning Tiffin Seabass dish packs loads of flavour and tastes divine.Β
The Purple Poppadom offers fine Indian cuisine on an A La Carte menu with a small but mighty selection of dishes. For something truly special, treat yourself to the chefβs tasting menu.Β
Youβll be taken aback as you enter from the busy street below, up the stairs and into this beautifully decorated foodie heaven!
Thomas by Tom Simmons
π½οΈ British and French | (£££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 02921 167 800
Welsh chef Tom Simmons ran a successful restaurant in London for three years before moving back to his home country. Thomas serves food inspired by British and French cuisine made with the very best seasonal produce from Wales. The restaurant is in Pontcanna, one of the best neighbourhoods in Cardiff.
You can sample a tasting menu at Thomas or head downstairs to where the bar serves top-notch snacks and seasonal cocktails. If you book a meal from the A la Carte menu, donβt forgo the famous fish and chips. Expect a sophisticated take on the Great British classic!Β
Bar 44
π½οΈ Spanish | ££ | Website | π Google Maps | π 0333 344 4049
When you step foot in Bar 44 in Cardiff, you enter a corner of Spain! The decor in the former canal warehouse is very atmospheric.
The small plates of tapas are delicious and portions are generous. The menu changes seasonally and has a good selection of dishes. It can be hard to choose but you canβt go wrong!
I loved the melt-in-your-mouth confit duck burger! Head to Bar 44 earlier in the day and make the most of their lunchtime offer.
For a higher-end meal, check out Asador 44 which is part of the same family of restaurants and features in the Michelin Guide.
Giovanniβs Restaurant
π½οΈ Italian | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2022 0077
Giovanniβs has become a true Cardiff institution and is the longest-serving Italian restaurant in Wales! Giovanniβs serves authentic dishes inspired by Southern Italy, including pizza and pasta. The menu is full of delicious food!Β
The award-winning Giovanniβs has graced Cardiff for 40 years and now has three venues across the city. The original restaurant on The Hayes in the city centre is a cosy place. The walls are decorated with photos of restauranteur Giovanni Malacrino and famous customers. Maybe youβll be on there next!Β
Heaneys
π½οΈ Modern British | (£££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 02920 341 264
Heaneys was once crowned the best restaurant in Wales and was awarded a Michelin Plate in 2021. Heaneys is a modern restaurant in the trendy Pontcanna neighbourhood.
Head Chef Tommy Heaney cooks up a feast in the seasonal tasting menus. You can also dine from the A la Carte menu which features high-quality ingredients.
Heaneys has a reputation for being one of the best places to eat a Sunday Roast.
The small and modern venue next door called Uisce is run by the same team. Uisce is a wine and oyster bar that serves wine and cocktails.
Culleyβs Kitchen and Bar
π½οΈ Modern | (£££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 02921 991 904
Culleyβs Kitchen and Bar is housed inside The Coal Exchange, along with a boutique hotel.
The Coal Exchange is a historic and spectacular building in Cardiff Bay which was at the centre of Welsh coal trading for centuries.
Iβve had some great meals at Culleyβs! The menu features seasonal and local ingredients in a range of dishes. You should try the Welsh lamb rump with harissa potatoes and roasted cauliflower.
Culleyβs Kitchen and Bar is open from Breakfast to Dinner and there is live music from Fridays to Sundays. It has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.Β
Mina Restaurant
π½οΈ Lebanese | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 02920 2023 5212
Mina Lebanese Restaurant feels like a hidden gem despite being rated one of the best restaurants in Cardiff on TripAdvisor. This well-established restaurant has a menu full of fresh dishes and a selection of drinks from Arabic coffee to coffee cocktails.
Mina Restaurant naturally caters for vegans, carnivores, and everyone in between! I recommend getting a platter of mezza, small plates with dishes like Baba Ghanoush and Falafel. Everything is served in a cosy restaurant with friendly and helpful service.
Vegetarian Food Studio
π½οΈ Indian and Oriental | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2023 8222
The Vegetarian Food Studio is an award-winning family-run business. Youβll find delicious Indian and Oriental food at competitive prices in a charming restaurant. It is one of the best restaurants for vegetarian food!Β
I love the Thalis here β itβs a great way to sample some of the many flavourful dishes on offer.Β
The Vegetarian Food Studio is in the Grangetown neighbourhood. Itβs worth the short walk from the city centre to experience the food, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly service.Β
Home
π½οΈ Fine Dining | (£££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2071 0686
Home by James Sommerin is an intimate and cosy Michelin-starred restaurant. You can try a surprise menu based on the seasons and featuring local produce. Home is a family-run affair with Michelin star chef James Sommerin and his family behind its success.
Home is in Penarth, a seaside town in South Wales only a short distance and 10-minute train ride from Cardiff city centre.Step behind the curtains and discrete exterior into a unique culinary experience!
Shaam Nights
π½οΈ Syrian | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 02920 482824
Shaam Nights brings authentic Syrian cuisine to Cardiff in an exquisitely decorated restaurant. Their halal menu features vegetarian, vegan, and meat dishes, with a selection of specials and sharing plates. The meat dishes cooked over the charcoal grill are particularly flavoursome!
Shaam Nights is a popular restaurant on City Road, a pretty central location. I love the food, decor and fruity smoothies!Β
Pillars Restaurant
π½οΈ British | (Β£) | Website | π Google Maps | π 029 2039 5074
Pillars is one of the best restaurants in the city centre of Cardiff for affordable, homecooked food. The well-established eatery has a wide buffet selection including cold and hot meals, and meals can be easily customised. The food and decor arenβt super fancy and the prices reflect the unfussy nature.Β
Pillars is below street level so look out for the archway and lettering to head downstairs! There is no need to book which can prove very handy if you need a last-minute bite to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
TΕ· Madeira
π½οΈ Portuguese | ££ | Website |π Google Maps | π 029 2022 4477
TΕ· Madeira, meaning Madeira House and pronounced βTee Madeiraβ, brings Wales and Portugal together. TΕ· Madeira offers authentic Portuguese food and a warm ambience in the centre of Cardiff. TΕ· Madeira prides itself on high-quality, fresh ingredients, and authentic recipes.Β
You should try the Espetadas, long skewers of meat or fish which are dramatically hung from hooks above your table! The melon with Madeira starter is also a great choice. You can enjoy both of these dishes on the set lunch menu.Β
Corporation Yard
π½οΈ Street Food | (Β£) | Website | π Google Maps
Corporation Yard is a small street food market in Canton behind Corp Market. The selection of street food traders rotates each month, and there is always a great selection of delicious food. Check online to see which cuisines are on offer when you visit.Β
Iβve had some amazing Korean dishes and Jamaican jerk chicken here, and I love the lively atmosphere, especially on sunny evenings. Itβs a very laid-back place to eat and is great for meeting with friends.Β Β
Dorothyβs Cafe and Fish Bar
π½οΈ British | (Β£) | π Google Maps
This is a controversial recommendation but hear me out! Dorothyβs is on Caroline Street, otherwise known locally as βChippy Laneβ or βChippy Alleyβ. It is lined with eateries serving good food for after a night out like kebabs, pizza, burgers β and chips. Dorothyβs is regarded as one of the best late-night chippies!
Dorothyβs Cafe and Fish Bar has been a staple on the Cardiff streets since 1953. You can tuck into fish and chips, sausages and chips, and other classics until 4 am!
People flock here after a night out when other restaurants have closed. Trust me, Dorothyβs will feel like the best restaurant ever after experiencing Cardiff nightlife!Β
Zerodegrees Microbrewery Restaurant
π½οΈ European | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π +52 985 102 9047
Zerodegrees is a microbrewery, restaurant and bar. Zerodegrees is one of the best restaurants in the area for a pint of locally brewed beer. After all, youβre sat in the brewery!
Zerodegrees serves delicious stone-baked Neopolitan pizza, pasta, risotto and a variety of sides. I dare you to order the metre-long Neopolitan pizza to share with friends!
Zerodegrees is a popular eatery, especially on rugby match days, as it is opposite the Principality Stadium. So book in advance to avoid disappointment!Β
Signor Valentino
π½οΈ Italian | (££) | Website | π Google Maps | π 02920 482007
Signor Valentino serves tasty Italian food in an amazing location. You can sit on the terrace or head inside and look across Cardiff Bay whilst sampling Italian classics. Signor Valentino is one of the few independent restaurants in Mermaid Quay.
The A la Carte menu offers a great selection of pizza, pasta, risotto and main dishes. The highlight for me is their array of antipasti, including the delicious Bruschetta al Pomodoro.Β
Why not pair your meal with a glass of wine from their carefully curated wine list?
FAQs About Places to Eat in Cardiff
What are the most famous restaurants in Cardiff?
The most famous restaurants in Cardiff are The Potted Pig,Heaneys, and The Purple Poppadom. These restaurants are award-winning and have a great reputation. Cardiff also has some amazing restaurants which are lesser-known such as Culleyβs Kitchen and Bar and The Welsh House.
What are some good affordable restaurants in Cardiff?Β
Some good affordable restaurants in Cardiff are The Vegetarian Food Studio,Zerodegrees, and Mina Lebanese Restaurant. These restaurants serve high-quality food at affordable prices.
Does Cardiff have any Michelin star restaurants?
The restaurant β Homeβ in the nearby town of Penarth has one Michelin Star and is only a short distance from Cardiff. There are no Michelin-starred restaurants in Cardiff. But there are several restaurants with Michelin Plate awards, including Heaneys,The Potted Pig and The Purple Poppadom.
What is the national dish of Cardiff?
There is not a specific national dish of Cardiff, but Wales has many national dishes that you can try in the Welsh capital. Dishes such as Cawl, Bara Brith, Welsh Cakes and Glamorgan sausages are typical dishes in Wales.
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I hope youβre not feeling too hungry after reading about the best Cardiff restaurants! If youβre undecided on when to visit and eat your way around the city, check out my article on the best time to visit Cardiff.
