9 Best Cardiff Neighbourhoods (A Local’s Pick)

Cardiff has some awesome neighbourhoods. The best Cardiff neighbourhoods add something different to this vibrant city. From the popular Victoria Park in Canton to the international food stores in Grangetown. 

As a Cardiff local, I’ll highlight some of the key things about the best neighbourhoods in the city to help you decide what suits you. While reading, be aware there is a cross-over between neighbourhoods and variation within neighbourhoods in Cardiff. Cardiffians sometimes love debating the boundaries of neighbourhoods! 

Wherever you are, you’ll always be close to the many amazing things to do in Cardiff. Let’s take a look at the best neighbourhoods in the Welsh capital city!

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9 Best Neighbourhoods in Cardiff

Pontcanna

Expect independent shops, award-winning eateries and tree-lined streets in this trendy neighbourhood.

📍 Google Maps |👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Lincoln House Hotel

Pontcanna is a trendy and upmarket neighbourhood in the west of Cardiff and is regularly voted as the single top place to live in Cardiff. 

Pontcanna is home to independent shops, cafes and weekly farmers markets. You’ll also find award-winning eateries like Thomas, one of the best restaurants in Cardiff. There are pleasant green spaces nearby, such as Pontcanna Fields which is along the River Taff.

Pontcanna has a strong sense of community and is popular with people of all age groups. There are good schools in the catchment area.

You can easily travel from Pontcanna to Cardiff City Centre and other neighbourhoods by foot, bike or car. Pontcanna is on some main bus routes, although it is not as well connected by public transport as other neighbourhoods. 

Pontcanna is one of the more expensive neighbourhoods both to rent and buy due to its popularity.

Pros of Pontcanna

• Excellent range of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops 
• Short walking distance to Cardiff City Centre
• Near green spaces and parks

Cons of Pontcanna

• Limited public transport options
• More expensive and competitive to rent and buy than in other neighbourhoods
• Limited on-street parking options 

Roath

From bustling streets to the calm of Roath Park Lake, Roath has a bit of everything.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Crofts Hotel

Roath is home to the beautiful Roath Park, a popular destination with landscaped gardens, a lake, and leisure activities. Streets near Roath Park typically have larger period houses with larger price tags.

Not far from the park, you’ll find bustling streets like City Road, which are full of shops and popular restaurants. These parts of Roath tend to be cheaper and are popular among students. 

Roath is also a family-friendly neighbouthood and has excellent schools nearby, notably Cardiff High School. 

Roath is about fifteen minutes to one hour away from the city centre, depending on transport. There are some good bus connections to the city centre and other neighbourhoods. But to travel flexibly or at night, you might need a car or taxi.

Roath is a neighbourhood in northeast Cardiff but has somewhat ambiguous boundaries. I recommend getting a second opinion if you’re unsure whether a property is in Roath or not!

Pros of Roath

• Close to the popular Roath Park
• Great selection of restaurants, shops and cafes
• Close to good schools

Cons of Roath

• Further away from the city centre and attractions
• Limited on-street parking

Cardiff Bay

The waterfront area of the city offers lots of culture, a great food scene and sea air!

📍 Google Maps | Cardiff Bay Website | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Voco St David’s Cardiff

Cardiff Bay is a regenerated waterfront area and popular cultural and leisure destination in the Welsh capital. You’ll find iconic landmarks such as the Wales Millennium Centre. Head to Mermaid Quay to eat in one of the waterfront restaurants, have a drink in a bar, or be entertained in The Glee Club!

Cardiff Bay is a liveable neighbourhood, and residential areas tend to be in modern apartment developments. 

There are some scenic trails to explore from Cardiff Bay, including the circular Cardiff Bay Trail. You can also get from Cardiff Bay to the city centre on the Taff Trail, along the River Taff. Frequent buses and trains connect Cardiff Bay with the rest of the city and further afield.

Cardiff Bay is likely to change in the coming years due to the planned redevelopment of the Atlantic Wharf area.

Pros of Cardiff Bay

• Excellent location for the city and seaside
• Culture on your doorstep, such as the Wales Millennium Centre 
• Good food scene 
• Well connected by public transport 

Cons of Cardiff Bay

• Limited residential options, mostly apartments 
• Prices can be high, especially for seaview homes!

Canton

There are plenty of places to soak up the arts and eat well in this up-and-coming central neighbourhood.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: No 73 by CoffiCo

Canton is a diverse up-and-coming area with trendy places to go and award-winning restaurants, like The Purple Poppadom. You’ll find Corp Market, a hip market with independent traders and street food, and Chapter Arts Centre, a cultural haven. 

You’ll be a short distance from Victoria Park, a much-loved outdoor destination with a splash-pad, landscaped gardens, and leisure facilities.

Canton is one of the most popular neighbourhoods with young professionals, which has contributed to its gentrification. Property prices have been on the rise as Canton has become more popular.

Canton is a very central neighbourhood and has good pedestrian access and cycle lanes into the city centre. There are multiple bus routes, and a taxi journey from the centre at night doesn’t cost much. 

Pros of Canton 

• Close to central areas with good transport links, including cycle lanes
• Loads of restaurants, shops and cafes on your doorstep 
• Popular cultural destinations and parks

Cons of Canton

• Increasingly expensive 
• Main roads are busy 
• Traffic builds up during events in the nearby Cardiff City Stadium

City Centre

Experience the buzz of the Welsh capital in the heart of the city. 

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Parkgate Hotel

Central Cardiff is a largely commercial, cultural, and leisure area. It is home to iconic destinations like Cardiff Castle and Bute Park. You’d have popular restaurants like the Potted Pig, bars like Lab22, and nightclubs like Clwb Ifor Bach, on your doorstep. The attractions in the city centre are part of why Cardiff is one of  Wales’ top cities.

There are some residential pockets in the city centre, albeit at a slightly higher price to reflect the central location. However, you’d probably have to travel to other neighbourhoods for amenities such as schools. 

Cardiff City Centre is the transport hub of the city. There are ample bus routes and trains from the city centre to other Cardiff neighbourhoods and further afield. 

Bear in mind that the city centre is likely to change in the next few years thanks to the recent development of a new canal quarter. 

Pros of Cardiff City Centre 

• Heart of Cardiff, home to attractions, eateries, nightlife etc
• Great transport connections within the city, and beyond
• Easy commute to many offices 

Cons of Cardiff City Centre 

• Not primarily a residential area, lacks some amenities 
• Limited parking, driving in the centre can be a hassle
• Can get busy and loud, especially on weekends and during major works

Llandaff

A suburb with a village-like feel, historic buildings and plenty of green spaces.

📍 Google Maps | Llandaff Society |👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Heathcock Boutique Hotel

Llandaff is a suburban neighbourhood in North Cardiff with a lively high street, green spaces and a village-like feel. Llandaff is home to historic buildings and the impressive Llandaff Cathedral. You’ll find numerous pubs and eateries, including the popular Summer Palace. 

Llandaff is a family-friendly neighbourhood near several good schools, including Welsh medium schools. Llandaff is on some main bus routes and near Llandaf train station, but you’d probably want to get a taxi home after a night out in the city centre.

Property prices in Llandaff are higher than the city average. Nearby Llandaff North and Whitchurch tend to be a tad cheaper and are similarly pleasant neighbourhoods.

Pros of Llandaff

• Friendly village feel
• Green spaces in the neighbourhood and close to big parks and the Taff Trail
• Lively high street with nice places to eat and drink

Cons of Llandaff

• More suburban location means it is further away from the city centre 
• Fairly limited public transport links compared to more central areas
• Expensive and competitive location

Grangetown

This lively neighbourhood has a great community feel and is conveniently located between the City Centre and Cardiff Bay.

📍 Google Maps | Grangetown | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Coal Exchange Hotel

Grangetown is a lively, multicultural neighbourhood in an ideal location. Grangetown has a strong sense of community and is suitable for people of all ages. I lived in Grangetown for a while and loved the neighbourhood! 

There are some great shops, like Clare Foods, a fabulous local pub, The Grange, and Tramshed, a popular night-out destination. You’d only be a short distance from attractions like the International Sports Village and the Wales Millennium Centre!

Grangetown sometimes gets a negative reputation, which I don’t think it deserves. Grangetown has changed a lot in the last decade and is now an up-and-coming area. Although house prices are cheaper than average in Cardiff, they are on the rise.

Pros of Grangetown

• Well located between the city centre and Cardiff Bay 
• Good public transport links, active travel routes and easy access to the A4232
• Friendly neighbourhood with a strong sense of community
• Great local amenities, shops, restaurants and parks

Cons of Grangetown

• Litter and fly tipping can be an issue (although a lovely local organisation arranges regular litter picks!)
• Higher crime rates than some other neighbourhoods 
• Noise if near main roads

Heath

Head to this central neighbourhood to check out its great food scene and bustling streets, then relax in the ninety-one acre park!

📍 Google Maps |👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Park Plaza

Heath is a central neighbourhood by Whitchurch Road, a bustling area where you can find popular eateries and the best burger in Cardiff in Got Beef. 

The nearby Heath Park is referred to as a ‘green lung for Cardiff’s northern suburbs’ and covers ninety-one acres. Heath Park has everything from woodland to wetlands and children’s parks to a popular Miniature Railway and Tramway! The park is especially nice during the spring, one of the best times to visit Cardiff.

Heath is a largely residential area with easy access to some of Cardiff’s main roads, good bus links and access to two local train stations. 

Heath is popular among families due to its location, proximity to good schools, and the availability of bigger houses with gardens. Heath is also popular among medical students and people who work in the University Hospital of Wales (known locally as UHW or Heath Hospital).

Pros of Heath

• Good transport links and easy access to main roads, such as the A48
• Proximity to Heath Park
• Bustling street with popular eateries

Cons of Heath

• Areas nearer busy roads are noisy 
• Not many attractions or hotels in the vicinity

Cathays

A popular neighbourhood among students, Cathays has vibrant streets with lots of great places to eat, drink, and shop!

📍 Google Maps | Your Cathays | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hotel Indigo

Cathays is a central neighbourhood with shops, bars, pubs and eateries. Have a feast at Mina’s Lebanese restaurant and watch a memorable performance at the Sherman Theatre!

Cathays is the best for students. Many students from Cardiff’s four universities including Cardiff University choose to live here due to its location, amenities and lower price tag. Pubs such as ‘Flora’ are popular hangouts for locals.

Cathays is only a short walk or cycle to the city centre, and the cycle routes were recently drastically improved. There is also a train station and multiple bus routes.

Pros of Cathays 

• Central location close to the city centre
• Lively streets with pubs, bars, and restaurants 
• Good transport links, including cycle routes 

Cons of Cathays

• Can be loud near main roads and on weekends
• Crime rates are slightly higher than other neighbourhoods
• Relatively transient population (which could be a pro!)

FAQs About Cardiff Neighbourhoods

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Thanks for reading about Cardiff’s best neighbourhoods. For more, check out my guide to the best parts of Wales to live in.