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    Royal Arcade

    4.3 (10 reviews)
    PriceyShopping Centers
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Justin W.

    A friend of mine not from Cardiff who went to University in Cardiff said the one thing that stood out in his head about the city was the arcades - and called it the city of arcades. I never really paid that much attention to them until he said this. it took an outsider to make me appreciate them. I only saw them as quirky arteries that linked one shopping area in Cardiff to another. But know I pay more attention to them and they definitely are areas of period beauty. I am not someone who will slam new shopping malls at the cost of the old arcade style shopping as I like both. I believe The Royal Arcade will not only survive alongside St David's 2 but will thrive due to the increased traffic. It's elegant architecture is almost like a designed set you would see in a Harry Potter film. All of the outlets are run independently and they cater to your personally - ok they may charge a bit more for this service but you don;t have to pay it - a walk through the Royal Arcade is enough - it almost transposes you to a glamourous yesteryear that only exists in your head. Be careful though you may get told off by some power hungry security if you try to take a picture because apparently its not allowed!

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    Review Highlights - Royal Arcade

    This is by virtue of the fact that it is the most convenient link between St Mary Street and The Hayes.

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    St David's Shopping Centre

    St David's Shopping Centre

    (27 reviews)

    ££

    St David's is a very large shopping mall in the Cardiff city centre. It is easy to go in and…read morebecome disoriented while searching for a specific shop, or just wandering about. Everything one is searching for can be found here. If you're hungry, no problem! There are plenty of places to eat and drink, the toilets are clean, and there are shops available for every price range.

    St David's is a large mall in the centre of Cardiff, I was quite a regular here, coming here…read moreevery-day on my weekend in Cardiff, mainly because of the large selection of shops to browse, and even places to grab something for eat to drink and it being just minutes away on foot from the Hilton hotel, which I stayed at throughout my trip to the welsh capital. This mall is huge, it is split into two parts including a bridge to a large John Lewis store, which is over 4 floors in this mall, with two having direct enterences into both floors of the mall, although just being attached by a bridge in some aspects, it is its' own place, so it is able to have more floors than the mall itself and is one of the anchor stores for the mall. The mall did open in 1991, but does feel more modern than that, apart from a few aspects, such as the lifts which are well hidden down a passageway which doesn't seem very nice, and does feel one of the older parts of the mall, which is very different, in a negative way compared to what other malls do, such as Manchester Arndale and The Trafford Centre which both have nice, glass lifts in the middle of the wall, making it seem welcoming and not the opposite. There are 203 stores here, with a whopping 5 anchor tenants, which include a large Primark store, which is also over 4 floors as I recall, John Lewis as previously mentioned, a large Debenhams store, at the other side to John Lewis as well as Marks and Spencer, and Boots. An interesting fact is that the John Lewis located here, is the largest branch the company have outside of London and was the first ever branch to open in Wales, back in 2009. Its' also worth noting, that both floors are quite big, with the upper floor being a little smaller, however the upper floor seems to be filled with larger stores such as H&M, Apple and Paperchase, to name just a few. These stores just seen huge stores, you wouldn't normally expect to find in a mall. This mall is really nice, and is huge and is really nice to go with the Cardiff high street, I can't help but notice a supermarket of some kind would fit into to this store such as a Waitrose store, which is owned by John Lewis to join the anchors of this mall however I sadly feel I can't go over 2 stars, with two big issues stopping me, such as the mall being split into two parts making it confusing, and hard to navigate around even after multiple visits, another big issue is the problem with the lifts, not seeming nice and seeming one of the old things about this mall, there is a small food-court on both floors called "East-side" with many cuisine types, but this doesn't really stand out and is just average its-self.

    High Street Arcade

    High Street Arcade

    (4 reviews)

    High Street Arcade is another one of those little side arcades in Cardiff centre where you might…read morefind yourself stumbling into. If Brighton has the Lanes, then Cardiff has its arcades. You feel as tough you are travelling down alleys of a time long past in some, and even though the shops might well be modern, you're sure to find others which take you back too. Back to an era of joke shops, button shops and beautiful second hand bookshops you might expect to find a copy of The Never-Ending Story in. This arcade offers up a lovely array of boutique clothes shops, gift shops, jewellery, men's clothing, and even an ultra-hip record store. These shops are run by real people with real local lives, and it's here you'll find the cute European-style shops that take you away, once and for all, from the dull and monotonous high street. Go and take a look down one of these warrens, I'm sure you'll find something to your taste.

    Lovely High Street Arcade opened in1886 and today is a Grade II Listed building which houses lots…read moreof interesting independent shops and a couple of decent cafés. Located near the Castle end of town, it has entrances on High Street (next to Atlantic Coffee at number 13) and St John Street, just near the church. When the weather's bad, it provides covered refuge from the rain, and when the weather's good sunlight pours through the roof windows giving it a warm and sunny atmosphere. Huge numbers of people venture down this arcade to enjoy the gastro delights of New York Deli, where you can get enormous sandwiches and bagels overflowing with authentic NY-style fillings. And nearly every other establishment in the arcade is quite different from the next, ranging from The Wardrobe for men's clothing to unique clothing boutiques such as Pussy Galore - and gift and jewellery shops such as Bejewelled. This is one of Cardiff's must-see arcades!

    Wyndham Arcade

    Wyndham Arcade

    (5 reviews)

    Wyndham Arcade is another one of those little side arcades in Cardiff centre where you might find…read moreyourself stumbling into. If Brighton has the Lanes, then Cardiff has its arcades. You feel as tough you are travelling down alleys of a time long past in some, and even though the shops might well be modern, you're sure to find others which take you back too. Back to an era of joke shops, button shops and beautiful second hand bookshops you might expect to find a copy of The Never-Ending Story in. This arcade is sadly the least well maintained and aesthetically pleasing of all the arcades. But it still offers up an array including a Christian bookshop, a pub/bar, craft stores and an alternative store. These shops are run by real people with real local lives, and it's here you'll find the cute European-style shops that take you away, once and for all, from the dull and monotonous high street. Go and take a look down one of these warrens, I'm sure you'll find something to your taste.

    Ah, another one of Cardiff's lovely ol' fashioned nooks and crannies. I'm a big fan of the arcades…read morein this fair city - as an immigrant, I'd never seen anything like it! Although Wyndham Arcade is perhaps not as flashy as some of the other arcades nestled in the streets of Cardiff, it still possesses many charms and individual character all its own. The highlight for me is The Bear Shop, a tobacconist offering a range of gifts, smoking paraphernalia, as well as boasting a massive taxidermy grizzly bear. Go here. Even if you're not a smoker. Each shop here is independently owned and operated, and worth a long browse, even if you're not intent on buying anything. If you're not in the mood to shop, there's always Kiwis, a traditional pub where you can spend a lazy afternoon enjoying a pint and escaping the dreary Welsh weather.

    Morgan Arcade - Photo from http://www.royalarcadecardiff.com

    Morgan Arcade

    (8 reviews)

    £££

    Once upon a time, Cardiff was a great rolling hillside, ruled over by centaurs and talking badgers,…read moreand it was burrowed through with little arcades that sold nothing but sticky buns and barley sugar... Well, perhaps that's not entirely true, but the quaintness of Cardiff's remaining arcades is kind of like that. New shopping centres can take a hike, we like the old ones better. If Brighton has The Lanes, then we have Morgan Arcade. We are, after all, known as the City of Arcades. Right next to Royal Arcade is a narrow paved corridor, with a snake of sunlight through glass weaving above your head, as you travel through Victorian/Edwardian/nice architecture... This arcade is worth a visit even if you don't intend to do any shopping. Although, if you do, there are delicatessens, health, jewellers, shoes, fair-trade, art shops, stationers, sweet shops, chocolate shops, furniture shops and cafes...

    Morgan Arcade is a Grade II listed building and one of Cardiff's most beautiful arcades, opened in…read more1896. With entrances on St. Mary Street and the pedestrianised Hayes area, parallel to the slightly busier Royal Arcade. It's home to the Camera Centre, where you can buy new and second hand kit, and get your camera repaired; Crumbs vegetarian café; Capital Books; and AT Computers for Apple Mac customers. There's also Isabella's for Welsh gifts and Murano glass jewellery; Neal's Yard Remedies for organic natural health and beauty products; Route One for skateboards and inline skates, clothing and accessories; and a couple of ladies' fashion boutiques such as Rouge and Seren. And now that Spillers Records - the oldest record shop in the world - has moved from its original location on The Hayes into Morgan Arcade, there's even more reason to venture to the arcade when you're out shopping. While you're there, look out for the original wooden shop fronts, and the Venetian windows up on the first-floor.

    Jonathan David Jewellers

    Jonathan David Jewellers

    (6 reviews)

    £££

    Jonathan David is a top end jewellers that supply everything from diamond and platinum jewellery…read morethrough to designer watches. But that's not to say that they are entirely conventional, and don't carry the fun stuff too. They also sell an interesting and comprehensive range of affordable silver, gemstone and quality glass jewellery, sourcing their stock from some home-grown designers as well as from further afield. In fact, Jonathan David cover all of their bases by augmenting their products and services with a pre-owned range, but this is mainly confined to jewellery containing precious stones, such as diamond engagement rings, as well as watches... essentially things that are subject to standard evaluations, where market price can be estimated accurately. This is a family run business with outlets in Wellfield Road in Roath as well as St Mary Street in the centre of town. The St Mary Street outlet carries much of the pre-owned jewellery, so if you are looking for an engagement ring, then this is where you need to head to. In addition, somewhat logically, jewellery and watch repairs take place here as well... this is where the repair and valuation team are based. Again, if you are looking to trade something in, or simply need a valuation for insurance purposes then a visit to the St Mary Street outlet is advisable, although the Wellfield Road store will happily deal with all of your enquiries.

    Jonathan David is more of a traditional jewellery store, a place where your posh grandmother would…read morefeel right at home. I love its old-world style furnishings and decor, which complement the fine offering of sparkly jewels. Apparently, this store has been a site of a jewellers since 1896, making it the oldest store of its kind in the city. The selection is varied and there's something to suit all tastes and budgets, including new ranges from Pandora, Victorinox and Kit Heath, as well as a stunning selection of pre-owned jewellery. I'm not a massive jewellery fan - I have a few treasured pieces - but I think I know a fine jewellers when I see one, and it's apparent Jonathan David carries beautiful adornments for both men and women, in addition to offering services like engraving and watch repair.

    Royal Arcade - shoppingcenters - Updated May 2026

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