Always excellent service I take my 93 year old friend to…read morethe Cardiff store she often buys a box of 6 Malbec only the French of course The staff are always very helpful and carry the box to the car

This is one of my favourite wine outlets in the Cardiff area because they have a real understanding…read moreof what makes a good wine. They have an excellent range from all around the world, concentrating on the favourites from different countries rather than just the most expensive and pretentious they can gather. I was particularly pleased by their New Zealand wines, as I've done a number of tours around those vineyards and sold several of the same wines myself while working out there. The Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc is always a summer favourite with Kiwis, and is worth a try! New Zealand is also well known for its Pinot Noir, and this stockist has the best range I've seen. They are lovely people who are willing to teach about or discuss the wine with a fervent passion.

I never realised Nicolas was a chain until recently - and I also didn't realise that in some…read morelocations they even have wine bars, too. It makes sense, really, since they're wine experts. This is the only off licence I know of in the city centre, so it's handy if you're off to a BYO (bring your own) restaurant somewhere near the centre. With supermarkets seeming to take over on sales of wine (and just about every other product!), a lot of off licences seem to have been hit by the recent recession and have disappeared off the high street. Luckily, this one has survived - and still focuses on quality. They stock an excellent range of French wines including well-known regional wines such as Bordeaux and Bergundy, plus sparkling wines and Cremant, and bottles from less well known wine-producing areas of France. If wine's not your drink, they stock plenty of spirits and champagnes, too.

To celebrate 'Us' I wanted to get my lovely a bottle of wine we could both enjoy that wasn't from…read morethe supermarkets. Enter Nicolas, a French wine/champers/liquors etc. If your in anyway a wine etc connoisseur (I am but a mere student at the moment) then whatever your looking for you will probably find here. From just a few pounds to the pricely sum of £500 plus if your in real trouble with the lady. Back to my story, I went in with a vague idea of what McLovely is into and headed for the member of staff there. I explained what she liked and was escorted around the store a little bit, learning about the taste and region the wines were from. It was all very interesting truth be known. Anyway I settled on a beautiful bottle Château Bellegrave 2006, Red. It was exactly as the guy said it was and madam lovely really enjoyed. I got browny points and a decent wine for a reasonable price, I was happy.

I do like this shop, despite not being quite so enraptured as it as Rachel (sorry Rachel). Arti…read moremanages to offer a good range of products, pretty much everything that you'd ever want from a corner shop, from washing up liquid to onions. But, like so much in the area, it's seen better days, I'm loath to report. Of course, I think it's admirable for any small business in our struggling times to remain afloat when the wolf is constantly knocking at the door, But Arti is still not quite as nice a store as, say, Pontcanna Stores a five minute walk away. I think perhaps I get this impression because this is a shop which is full to bursting at the seams. So it can feel claustrophobic and a bit dark and narrow. Actually, I think this is really my main problem with the place; I can't stand clutter. And this shop is cluttered. But yet, it's cheap and friendly, so worth frequenting if you live down that way or happen to be passing by.

I really appreciate the convenience of Arti Off-licence and General Store, and I also really…read moreappreciate the fact that they have resisted the temptation to become part of the Lifestyle chain, choosing instead to remain an independent. I guess that Arti have managed to stave off offers on the basis that they can afford to carry on without the bulk buying discounts that they would enjoy if the sold out. The main reason for this is that they are pretty much covered in all areas, offering a comprehensive range of products that include; newspapers, groceries, frozen foods, a great range of spices, confection and ice creams, soft drinks and booze. Alcohol is heavily discounted, with all of the offers posted in large print in the window. These of course serve as loss leaders, and also help to keep the regulars happy. Business remains brisk, which I'm really pleased about. The shop is run by a lovely family, who I like a lot.

Tides is the bar/restaurant attached to the impressive St David's Hotel and Spa. I took a friend…read morefor afternoon tea (because I'm a lady) and opted for the champagne version (because I'm an alcoholic) which worked out at £21 a head. It was her birthday though so I 'm not going to grumble. The staff are nicely sycophantic, which is exactly what you want when you're forking out just under £50 for two people to have cakes. You get a few scones that come with jam and cream, nothing too extravagant and the champagne is restricted to one glass. Bitter, bitter, bitter! If the weather is nice, you can sit out on the terrace and it really is lovely, in general though for what you get it's overpriced and a bit silly.

Not the worst restaurant I've been, but not the best either. It just didn't blow my skirt up, to be…read morehonest. I came here with my partner for dinner one evening, and although the contemporary decor was austere but welcoming (lots of natural light and white table cloths), you still just feel like you're eating in a hotel restaurant. The views of the bay, however, are incomparable, and nothing alleviates a full, throbbing stomach like a short walk on the terrace. I will say the servers here are extremely attentive and friendly, and we were even allowed to open the side fire doors onto the terrace to enjoy a quick in-between-course cigarette (maybe that's because we were the only people there on a Friday night - I doubt that's something they'd normally do). Because you're dining in the restaurant of one of the best hotels in Cardiff, the cost of the menu items reflects it. So for my money, I'd make my way to nearby Mimosa or Woods Brasserie instead.

Wally's deli version 2 is the Arcades Wally's sweeter cousin. Bustling with Easter goodies at the…read moremoment it's hard to tell what is normally carried, but I for one do not give a damn when their is so much scrumptious chocolate on display. Being an upmarket deli, you'll get lots of beautifully decorated food. You pay for it, but your paying for quality that feels deserved. I love the shop as well, floor to ceiling glass and brightly lit, Wally's oozes with metropolitan class. You great great service, with lovely staff. Put all those ingredients in a blender and you've got your self tasty metaphorical pie.

I've been going to the Wallys Delicatessens in the Morgan arcade for years, so was very interested…read moreto see what I would make of their first ever new store in the St David's 2 center. On the whole I was quite satisfied and impressed. The store is not as big as the original, nor does it have as much stock. This is for the better though, as it is ascetically pleasing, and I have often felt that the other store packs far too much in. A further difference is that this new store focuses far more on the sweeter things in life. There is a mouthwatering selection of handmade chocolates, a wide variety of old fashioned sweets, and some simply breathtaking gingerbread houses, which are already on my Christmas list for next year. They do sell some of the more savory products (though if that's what your after I'd head for their other store), including a rather nice selection of oils, which are far superior to anything you get in a supermarket. Finally the great thing about this store, is that it really makes a nice change from all the big brand names that dominate St David's 2. It's so nice to see an independent retailer doing so well, and I would truly encourage anyone to check out Wallys.