The Goat Major

Dropped into the City Arms to get out of the rain. The last time I was in this pub was on…read moreinternational day. Just one drink no food --- no one else in the pub. Not a good experience.

The City Arms is perfectly located for a drink before a night at Clwb Ifor Bach (also known as the…read moreWelsh Club) - and, also being near the stadium, is handy (but rammed) when there's a match or concert on. It gets pretty packed out on any weekend nights, in fact - so there's lots of standing up rather than sitting down for most people. The place has a really sociable atmosphere, though - and you often find strangers striking up conversation with one another, which can make for a fairly random but interesting evening! It's a bit grubby, with fairly grim toilets and a rather sticky floor - but at least that probably helps stop drunk people from slipping over on the dancefloor! If your eyes are still able to focus, the walls on the lounge side of the bar are full of interesting photos of Cardiff's history.

Official picture

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Kings Arms

5.0(3 reviews)

5.8 mi

A proper pub with a fantastic atmosphere. Historic building with loads of character. Good range at…read morethe bar, friendly staff and excellent food.

This is a top notch little boozer! I say little but with the restaurant and in the summer, the…read morebeer garden, this 14th century welsh long house is surprisingly big. The lounge has a lovely calm feel about it and the bar is proper cozy. Winter is the best time to visit when the log fires are burning. A good range of beer, wines and spirit and bar snacks. The food is really good. The menu and daily specials board has a good choice and at the time of writing, the current chef puts a lot of effort into turning out quality food with a touch of flair. The staff are all very friendly and professional. All in, this is a good place.

Our brilliant beer garden

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Restaurant open

Cardiff Cottage

4.1(14 reviews)

0.2 mi

Lively bar located on Queen Street. Its has changed a lot over the year's , but is still a favorite…read more place to visit, no food was being served on the days we were there but the service was as good as it always was. Great 80's music being played over the speakers.

Great atmosphere and a good place to have a pint or five after work. Totally old school and comfy…read moreplace. Love it there

Official picture

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The Albany

3.9(16 reviews)

1.1 mi

Oh The Albany! Right, I'm going to go right out on a limb here (yet again) and say that this is the…read morebest backstreet boozer in the whole of Cardiff. I'll pop off in a minute to buy a gigantic beery rosette to slap on the side of the building but first I'll explain my decision. Firstly, it's in a proper back street location, to this day I still get lost when ambling up to it and wobbling away from it. It also scores points for its slightly misleading name (see The Gower, The Roath Park etc.). It's kind of near Albany Road, but not quite near enough. It has cracking, and I mean cracking, cask beers. The marvellously moustachioed chap behind the bar knows his beer and he knows how to keep it and serve it. The lounge is a beautiful setting to get nicely sozzled in, all stained glass windows and low lighting. There's the beer garden that is, again, a beautiful setting to get nicely sozzled in. It has also has the bar where the lager drinkers are safely contained, content with multiple screens and two sky boxes. It even has a skittle alley. It has everything. The Albany is, quite frankly, a brilliant pub.

The Albany Hotel is a pub in Roath, just off Albany Road. The main problem I have with the…read moreestablishment is finding it! I can always vaguely remember where it is, but end up turning down a few red herring streets before I eventually stumble across it. It needs a homing beacon. The best thing about this pub is its beer garden, and it's worth pottering down there just to try it out for a sunny afternoon. There is an undercover area and heaters for those people who forgot to bring warm jumpers for the evening. Due to its location, this is a pub mainly populated with locals, rather than your standard student-filled pubs elsewhere in the neighbourhood. This means that it can be a little quieter, but is also more friendly, in my opinion.

Naser

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Pen & Wig

3.9(35 reviews)

0.4 mi

The Pen and Wig is a favourite hangover haunt for myself and friends and is where I can be found…read morealmost every Sunday lunchtime, more often than not with Ham, Egg and Chips, a can of Red Bull and a palpable sense of regret. A great menu, with curry nights and steak nights and the like. There's a cheap section where you can get fish and chips, ham, egg and chips etc for just £3.99 but there are more substantial offerings aswell. Plenty of drinks too, and they will offer a varying specialist selection of beers and ales throughout the year. An example of this is when Neil Morrisey was in Cardiff for "Rain Man" in the New Theatre, they brought in Morrisey Fox Ale on tap. They always have different ones to sample though. On the whole, you don't begrudge the prices at the Pen and Wig, but nor do they strike you as being especially cheap. There is a great deal for Rose though and for £5 you can get a decent enough bottle. If low on cash, or just intent on getting hammered, a great deal all round. The decor inside is inside pretty standard fare, and, as mentioned previously it does tend to feel like you've been in this type of pub a hundred times before. Even though I must have been inside the Pen and Wig at least 50 times I cannot recall much of the interior decoration at all. I think of this as a compliment. If there is ever a traditional pub where I can remember specific features of decoration, it's usually been because I've been so bored that I've had to resort to staring at pictures on the walls. It tends to have gotten a little too busy for me these days, and, although it's got a great, large outdoor seating area, it's a rare occurence that one is available for long enough to be snapped up. For that reason, nowadays I mainly tend to visit the Pen and Wig for a mid-week drink and it is truly one of the best bars in Cardiff to enjoy a pint outside on a sunny day.

There is a distinct studenty / indie feel to this place but don't let that put you off as it has a…read moregood little beer garden, nice bar staff and the prices are reasonable. I've never eaten here but have seen other peoples food and frankly it didn't tempt me. Having said that a mate of mine says they do a good Sunday roast. There is a comedy on a Tuesday plus you can play board games supplied by the pub for a refundable deposit of £5. It's a little off the beaten track so if you haven't been here before it may take some finding its worth it and its a pub you would seriously consider being your local - if you lived local.

Lasagne

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Outside

The Three Horse Shoes

4.5(2 reviews)

2.1 mi

To find yourself as a pub opposite the Ballardian nightmare that is Gablafa Interchange could be…read moreconsidered a bit of a nightmare. But to find yourself as a pub opposite the Ballardian nightmare that is Gablafa Interchange with a recently opened Wetherspoon's smack bang in the middle of is without doubt a nightmare. The Three Horse Shoes has had this problem on its hands for almost a year now and is fighting it admirably. It has chosen the fronts of sports TV and community feel on which to wage its war. The former is signified by the large LCD TVs dotted around the bar and the large banners advertising both Sky Sports and ESPN. The latter is denoted by the friendly staff, the banter they have with the customers and the general cosiness feel of the place. It also keeps the impact on your wallet to a minimum with Brains' Famous Five for £3.85 meal promotion, Fosters at £2.30 and Brains IPA at £1.85. There's a darts board, a standard It-Box and occasional live music. They also have some bizarre high seats from which only basketball players couldn't dangle their legs and feel like a five-year-old. I was expecting the worst when I finally made it across Gabalfa Interchange, but what I found was a friendly, clean, and cosy community pub.

We have ate many of meals at this pub and I must say that Angie and Sharon always turn out…read morebeautiful meals to our table. If ever you call in for a drink at this pub and feel hungry then don't hesitate to order food when these two are cooking. Also, because it is a Brains pub take advantage of the menu offer they have Mon Fri.

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The Vulcan Lounge

4.0(10 reviews)

0.6 mi

I've not eaten at the Vulcan but I have had a few cheeky drinks and I have to say, the atmosphere…read moreis really great. Being smack bang in the middle of student central, the drinks are dirt cheap but the interior is not compromised and is actually really pretty. Somewhere between classic, dark and moody old pub and trendy bar it provides something aesthetic for people who like to drink in an attractive setting.

This place was classy even before it got classy... if you know what I mean? The fact that it's now…read morehad a reburb that shows it in its true colours is simply a case of a place fulfilling its promise! It'll come as no surprise to many that the people behind the Vulan Lounge are the same people that transformed the North Star into a shining beacon of contemporary style. Tim Rice, the illustrious Cardiff based designer responsible for the magnificent results out in Maindy / Gabalfa is now working his magic in Cathays. And that's not all... The winning formula that has made The North Star such a manifold success is being down-scaled and transposed onto this centrally located pub cum lounge. That means great food, live music and high levels of customer satisfaction! Rowan Liggett, one of the people behind MMP (Miniature Music Press), and responsible for the music nights at The North Star is also providing the entertainment here. So, for those of you without a car.. well... rest assured, they're bringing the good times to you, instead of making you hanker for something that is just a little too far out of reach... The Vulcan is still closed mid week until the work is complete. Here's what I wrote about The North Star: The North Star is a vast pub cum restaurant and music venue occupying a prominent position on North Road in the Maindy / Gabalfa area of Cardiff. It is an incredibly inspiring and important addition to the cultural wealth of the city. Opened in October last year, it is already the home to a cosmopolitan mix of locals, business people and students, as well as regular visitors from all over the city and beyond. When you walk into The North Star you can appreciate why it has such a draw. The old Victorian mansion-sized building has been lovingly refurbished with impressive style. The modern look, embellished with antique flourishes and an eclectic use of period furniture, has been created by Tim Rice, one of Cardiff's most successful designers, leading The North Star to be shortlisted for 'The Best Bar and Restaurant Design Awards' within months of its unveiling. It also scooped up another accolade when it was voted the fifth best 'cheap eat' in the UK by The Guardian. There's more to say about The North Star than I've got space here on Yelp. It's a multi-faceted business that offers a lot, to many. Managed by a brother and sister team, with Alex taking care of front of house, and her brother conjuring up epicurean delights in the kitchen. The food, organic and locally sourced wherever possible, is extensive in range and all homemade from scratch, including the relishes, dough's and even the Yorkshire puds! Dishes are predominantly Italian, but the menu frequently includes Welsh favourites like cockles and lava bread, Monmouthshire lamb and potted pig. With deals like '2 for 1' operating from Monday to Friday, customers are visibly increasing on a weekly basis. Specialty dishes are changed regularly, usually prompted by the advice of their local butcher, J T Morgan, who tips them the wink about all the best seasonal cuts on offer. Established in 1861, J T Morgan Butchers have occupied a position of importance at the indoor market, in central Cardiff, for more years than anyone can remember. A family butchers that have moved with the times, they are presently one of the most recognized purveyors of free range and organic meat and poultry in South Wales. Not surprisingly, The North Star makes the most of a good thing. As well as fantastic Sunday lunches, boasting the most succulent roasts in town, they're also hosting BBQ's on Friday and Sundays over the warmer months. Live music is on offer most days of the week, kicking off on Wednesdays with the Open Mic Night hosted by Rowan Liggett, who is also Co-Director of The Miniature Music Press, a really well produced A5 music magazine and 'What's On', that you can pick up for free at a whole host of places around the city. The North Star also has a sister pub worth mentioning; The Vulcan in Cathays on Wyvern Road, another haunt of the ubiquitous Rowan Liggett, who runs the Open Mic nights here as well. Frequented mainly by students, this is a cool live music pub, also designed by Tim Rice, that is equally well worth checking out.

Http://www.vulcanlounge.com/

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Tiny Rebel

4.6(12 reviews)

0.1 mi

Cool local pub near the stadium and train station. Good beers; better than most pub food. He had a…read morewest coast IPA; I had an Irish stout; both generous and delicious. We self seated which was nice; lots of window seats. For food, we ordered at the bar and provided our table #. Lots of menu options. He ordered a beef burger w cheese and bacon, side of onion rings. The onion ring sauce was a tasty dill sauce. I ordered a Welsh lamb burger which came w cheddar and goat cheese and skin on French fries. Both burgers were a tad smaller than normal, but we had plenty of delicious food. The spicy English mustard was great w ketchup and fries. Cool atmosphere but not too cool. Service was helpful and professional.

My line manager recommended this waterhole to me during our Cardiff work trip last week. They have…read moretheir own local brewery and a good range of beers/ciders on tap. I've always love dark beers, not quite a stout. It's hard to find good dark beers and funnily enough... when I asked if they had any dark beers on tap, the bartender recommended me Stay Puft. Stay Puft tasted like a mocha with toasted marshmallows. It's classified as stout but I personally won't put that in the same category. Stout to me is a Guinness and that's bitter! Came here two days in a row last week! I truly appreciate how unpretentious this place is and you could wear anything you're comfortable in. Music was decent and it wasn't too loud making it easy to hate a conversation while enjoying their local beers. Headed back to Cardiff next week again for work! Tiny Rebel, you're bound to find me back at your waterhole again soonest!

Lamb burger aka Welsh burger w skin on FFs

Tasty Irish stout and west coast IPA

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Onion Rings w killer dill sauce

The Roath Park

3.9(9 reviews)

0.8 mi

I do like a good pub; if you can go in after a long day, sit down in the warm and have a nice slow…read moredrink with some friends then it's a winner for me. This pub is great for all of those things. It has a really friendly atmosphere and the prices are reasonable. They do serve food (as you'd expect really...) but I've never eaten here. Instead, this is normally where we would go for a few drinks for heading on to elsewhere. It is a little too far from me for me to want to go there just for one drink and come home again but it really is a nice place to go to otherwise.

Te first thing you notice about The Roath Park (apart from it being no where near Roath park) is…read morethat its chunky hunk of a building somewhat attractive in a sturdy stone block kind of way. It has a quite a bit of history attached to it and saw army officers staying in the hotel rooms above during the war - which are no longer used. As with all pubs it has a full range of beers, wines and spirits plus a cracking pool area where friendly rivalry is the order of the day. I played here with a mate. It was winner stay on and we beat 11 other teams in a row. By no way of an excuse by the time we'd got to the 11th game our optical judgement had been a little hindered by our optical choices at the bar. It's mainly frequented by locals and students - and local students.

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Duke of Wellington

4.1(8 reviews)

0.3 mi

The Duke of Wellington is a great place to relax with friends and enjoy a drink and grab a quick…read morebite. I'm American so I ordered the Philly cheesesteak which is a bit different from what I'm used to but it was overall tasty.

Tip: If you are about to embark on a DIY ale trail of Cardiffs best real-ale pubs, don't start at…read morethe Duke Of Wellington Pub at The Hayes. And why not I hear you ask? Because it has some of the most comfortable seats, the nicest barmen, the cosiest ambience and the very best beers brewed by Cardiff's own Brains Brewery. If you're anything like us, then you'll not want to leave! Our ale trail began and ended with the Duke of Wellington, with no stops in-between, so was a bit of a non-starter as it were. On the plus side at least we still have that list of recommended Cardiff real ale pubs on hand for our next visit. A big thanks to the Duke of Wellington for a lovely afternoon well spent. They even have an interesting bar menu with extensive vegetarian options. I am a little bit in love!