Wow Bar is a fairly recent addition to the gay scene in Cardiff. On researching the bar, I found…read morethat Wow Bar has been in Cardiff before, but has 'taken a break' for 10 years. A fairly substantial break, I would say! But it's done well for it. Every day there's a 'Cheeky Hour', even better than the humourously named 'Happy Hours' that only last 2hours because it lasts for 3! I have to be honest, we went inside without realising that it was a gay bar. But, we were all (my housemates and myself) glad that we did because the mood in the whole bar is one of outrageous fun. We didn't stay particularly late because we'd only wanted a quiet drink. That went out of the window when the transvestites came in - but it was brilliant! If you go before 11pm it is free entry. After that it begins to turn more into a nightclub. The music is quite Flares-esque - disco, camp, wonderful.

Wow along with it's tagline of 'Wow is stimulation... Wow is exhilaration... Wow is liberation...'…read moreSounds like a crap perfume advert. but enough semantics, I also went in with a group not realising it was a gay bar untill...(I'll save that story for the end of the review) So yea, we went in for Cheeky hour where pretty much all the drinks £1.50, thought it would be a good stop off before we do the running man in a club somewhere. It's pretty brightly coloured inside and was like a tin of sardines in this seemly very popular bar. Main point though, drinks were £1.50 so it could of had wild legged sharks attacking everyone (They'd have water scuba tank to breath) and I wouldn't care. Yes, back to the story, we were leaving and this guy I was talking to earlier who thought he knew me from Uni was asking where I was going next. I replied it was a rock night somewhere and he went ' oh....OH." To which I repeated the sentiment and walked away with the experience of being hit on by another dude. These looks are my gift and curse...

Although located in the heart of Cardiff's gay scene, Icon is one of the more tame bars catering to…read moreCardiff's vibrant LGB community. Not tame in a bad way (maybe understated is the right word?), but its laid-back atmosphere makes Icon the perfect option for anyone looking to enjoy a few drinks before heading on to more lively bars like Pulse or Wow. Icon was arguably more popular before the likes of the above opened a few years ago, but that works to its advantage, I think - now you can bring a mate here and actually hear what they're saying, as opposed to the rest of Cardiff's gay bars which are pretty packed come the weekend. Plus points: the guys behind the bar are always up for a bit of banter - especially when your hair nearly catches on fire after swigging from a martini glass that's been set alight. Good times.

I popped into Icon the other day and there was only me and the barman there. That was on a Friday…read moreso it didn't look good. In the unseemly rush to spend their Pink Pounds in Pulse and Wow the gay community has well and truly deserted Icon. Which is a real pity as I had some very good nights in this bar. It tended to be more women than men which was refreshing. It also had a proper cocktail bar feel about it and was a great place to celebrate anything. The only downside were the perilous steps into and out of the place which are difficult to negotiate after a couple of Moscow Mules too many. The location was also ideal as it was on Charles Street but right at the end of the street so it felt quite relaxed and private. It was also a stone's throw from Exit which was handy for those ill-advised trips to a club that happen once in a blue moon nowadays. The other important thing was that they had lots of toilets all in working order with locks on. Heaven.

A great bar if you doing the gay scene.. Called the sister of Pulse, nice atmosphere and great…read moreprices

Great nights can be had in abundance at this place. Whatever your orientation, you'll feel welcomed…read moreand comfortable here. It's very relaxed and friendly, without lowering itself to sleazy standards. I know lots of gay clubs where straight girls have a ball in, but straight guys wouldn't be seen dead in. But this one is different, many of my male friends have been on night here and only left when the bouncers kicked them out at dawn. But maybe that's just my friends... The most memorable thing about Pulse has to be the shows they put on. If you go on a busy night (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and many in between) then you'll almost certainly be graced with the luxury of one of these shows. Imagine drag queens, nudity and audience participation, and you'll be pretty much there on the mark. Go to Pulse and YMCA your night away!

I escorted a gay friend of mine to Pulse once, and both of us ended up spending the entire night…read moresat outside in the smoking area. This was not because the music was awful (it wasn't great but it's a club so I didn't expect it to be), and it wasn't because I felt uncomfortable being in a gay bar. Well, actually I did feel uncomfortable, but that was because of the ridiculous amount of straight men that seemed to be everywhere trying to get lucky. Whether they had gone to Pulse out of a desperate need to watch girls kissing girls, or whether they were there hunting down the straight girls who had tagged along with their gay friends or who'd let their guard down because they thought they'd be left alone in a club full of gay men, I don't know, but either way it was not cool. For some reason it was worse than being chatted up by a guy in another club. I felt targeted and they were a much lower class of bloke than the usual prats that chase girls around clubs. But aside from that, this isn't a bad club. In fact, when I've been there with more people since that awful first time, I've had a lot of fun. It's a bit hard to navigate your way around, especially when you've been drinking, but it's nice to have a separate seated area away from the dance floor where you can catch your breath and chat to your mates with out having to go outside. A pretty good night so long as you're not a straight girl going there under the false assumption that it's a night away from the attentions of desperate lads.

The cottage used to have quite a bad reputation but has been turned around recently and has changed…read moreall for the better. Likened to the light beachwood of say a harvester, The Cottage has that great local feel to it without ever trying to hard to be anything it's not. They have all the important stuff for man of my simples needs. A dartboard, huge plasma screen for live sporting events, a jukebox and a pool table. Drinks are so cheap here also. If you fancy a quick drink after work you'll will only use two of your shiny pound coins in exchange for golden nectar. The Cottage has also just started to do roast dinners on a sunday for the very reasonable sum of £5.95. I can vouch for it's quality too, the taste far exceeding it's price. The thing with local pubs such as these is that they need local support. The building has been standing for over a hundred years now and needs that continuing support to stand for another 100 years.

One of the very few remaining traditional pubs in the centre of Cardiff. They Predominantly serve…read moreBrowns Beer. Usually quite quiet in the week, but tends to get incredibly busy at the weekend, especially on match days, when the atmosphere really is fantastic. What I particularly like about this place is that the cliental is so varied; on you're average weekend you're quite likely to see teenagers and even 90 year olds, and there are never any tensions. Good place to go after shopping, or if you're looking for a place to meet up for drinks with friends after work. They have a great quiz machine which I've had endless hours of fun with (and even made quite a bit of money on, due to my weird memory for useless trivia).

Just hiding below Park Street are a few little clubs and pubs including The Academy, Basement 45…read moreand the Hatchet. You'll also find an odd looking building, which is home to possibly the most cheesy gay club in town. The drinks aren't too expensive, the music's fun, it's definitely a popular spot for the city's gay crowd. Look out for their themed nights!

Looks like an old pub on the outside but inside is a different story, very fun, vibrant atmosphere,…read moregreat dance floor to the rear and chill seating at the front. Reasonable drink prices, clean toilets and friendly staff. Would definitely go back next time I'm in Bristol.

The Woods can be found just off of Park Street and is the sister bar to Elbow Street just slightly…read moredown the way. If the Elbow Room was going through puberty, drunk and passed out on the floor, The Woods has grown up, got a job and developed a taste for whisky and fine wines. This late night drinking venue is a victim of its own success and is often packed to the rafters will drunken revellers and city boys. It is a little on the pricey side, but I always find it worth the money considering what the other, unholy options are. Head upstairs if you're looking for a more relaxing atmosphere with your beer.

Set slightly away from Park Street, you'll spot this bar by its distinctive yellow front. This is…read moresomething of a specialist bar with a focus on whisky. This means behind the bar you'll find rows and rows of (pricey) whisky on display to tempt you. The focus on whisky is taken pretty seriously; they don't even serve beer by the pint, you have to buy it by the jug. Apart from the prices there isn't much too complain about here. It opens late, and this is a great place for late night drinking session. The big comfy sofas upstairs should help with this too. It's very popular, which is a blessing and curse as always. I recommend going on a week night, as you've got half a chance of getting one of those sofas then but it certainly won't be quiet. Also, it's worth knowing there's sometimes a queue to get it at the weekend.

Venus Bar is a difficult place to assess, and by this I mean that it's hard to know where it's…read morecoming from... With a name like Planet Venus you'd probably expect it to be all pink and frilly, frequented by nail technicians and hairdressers, serving overly dressed cocktails at ridiculously inflated prices. But the reality couldn't be further from the image that the name conjures up. True, in recent years the place has had a facelift. Gone is the peeling ultra pink and black paintjob and dilapidated signage. In its stead is a snazzy black sign with the words Venus Bar in silver. The rest is painted in black gloss; a look that suggests twenty something male, single, with a slick car, bachelor pad, and a firm footing on the career ladder. But, step inside, and you enter an entirely different world. As far as I can tell, not much has been done to the interior since the revamp. It's still dark with a Spartan, and slightly dingy appearance. Being an old building, I'm sure that it'd be difficult to make the inside look as modern as the front, unless an inordinate amount of money was spent. Judging by the estimated level of business the place has generated over the last few years, this would neither be warranted or feasible. I've never seen Venus looking particularly busy. Venus is frequented by a staunch bunch of regulars, who all know each other pretty well, and like to have a good laugh. They are friendly enough, and so don't make the place feel exclusive. They drink moderately priced large and watch sport on large screens... often quite noisily. Despite the dour appearance, this is a lively place that borrows most of its charm from the clientele. This is a perplexing review to write. Having drawn all of the key features quite accurately, I know I still don't have a 'fit'. Venus... blackness... boxing on tele... blokes in casual attire... not a woman in sight... could this be a gay bar? It's hard to tell. There's not the slightest suggestion of campness that usually gives a gay bar away within a nano second... Perhaps you'd like to go there and let me know what you think?

If you're looking for a taste of the Mediterranean, head over to Yia Mass on Park Street for a…read moretruly Greek experience. This split level restaurant has a bar on the bottom floor and seating on the upper level. It can get a little cramped, so it's not great if you're looking for an intimate romantic evening with a loved one. The atmosphere is fun, friendly and lively which makes it more than a meal, and more of an experience. Even though I hear their meat dishes are fantastic, so are their vegetable plates so it's bound to please the fussiest of eaters.

Yiamass is a bar that I have visited only at night time therefore I cannot comment/rate on the food…read moreor day time service. The interior is really interesting, with a bit of African jungle meets Grecian feel to it. There is a small dance floor and a couple of tables, so my best bet is to head upstairs to the low ceiling seating area. Here you can enjoy a drink with friends without the music deafening your ears. The prices are a tad expensive, however they do a mean Mojito (not for the faint hearted!!)

You could easily miss this place as it sits on a bizzare road split. This means the pub looks like…read morea really thin slice of cake. I've only ever come here during the day and it always seems pretty quiet, I think the food is pretty over priced and it's a bit to far away from the centre to be a good place to meet for a lunch time pint or meal. Not my favourite spot.

An interesting metal pub in that it serves real ale and high quality food!…read moreJust two ales on when I arrived, usually there are more. Enjoyed a Saltaire Winter Ale Tucked into a veal schnitzl with sweet potatoe wedges. Very good feed! I was impressed. Enjoyed the music too, but that's just me :)