Hayes Island Snack Bar kind of does what it says on the tin…read more This pedestrianised 'square' has long been a popular central spot for meeting up, and the snack bar at its heart seems to do very well out of this. It has a great location, but it's not the classiest of joints - and certainly isn't a place to go for a healthy bite to eat (think breakfast baguettes and carvery sandwiches rather than light salads). The smell of cooking meat never fails to attract passers-by, though - and before you know it on a fine day the seating under the trees is packed out with people tucking into overloaded bacon sandwiches and cheap cups of tea. Its popularity endures despite its proximity to the old Victorian underground toilets, which waft up a vague scent of cleaning products, and the resident pigeons, notorious for their accurate aim, perched in the trees above - you have been warned!

The setting is lovely. With trees shading you in summer and protecting you from wind and rain for…read morethe rest of the year. With the bustling shops all around, and the new St David's hopping Centre breathing new life into this end of town, this really is a pleasant little square in the centre of it all. Why, oh why, then, do we have such a dingy little snack bar situated right slap bang in the middle of it? Serving hot drinks and burgers and such, this is less a snack bar than a roadside burger van. I always wander past wishing that there was some other food on offer there. Because the seats in The Hayes all belong to them, so going to get sushi and bringing it to enjoy out in the sun is a bit of a no-no. They also don't tend to keep their area all that clean and tidy, perhaps relying on the council to do their cleaning services for them. This means that quite often there can be a build up of rubbish and chips, attracting seagulls and pigeons galore. I just get the overriding impression that this corner of Cardiff has seen better days.

You would be forgiven for thinking that place would be a little bit worse for wear judging by who…read moretends to use the place.... (Llandow Industrial Estate has quite a few garages and car part specialists, as well as a race track, and so the place is awash with grease!) But the reality couldn't be more different! This is a really well kept cafe, and although pretty basic when compared to the cafes in Cowbridge, it certainly isn't a dive! It even has a ceiling fan! the best thing about this place is that they do all the usual greasy spoon faves. They serve their tea in mugs, and you will have change from a pound if you buy one. This place is as cheap as chips, but doesn't smell like them!

What a wonderful find! Just a short stroll from Cardiff Central train station, in an arcade. Great…read moretea, coffee and wonderful sandwiches and salads on excellent gluten-free bread. And very reasonable! Highly highly recommended!

Food: Tried the smoked Haddock rare-bit. It was delicious. The portion wasn't large but it was…read moremoderately priced at £6.50. Didn't manage to try any of their cakes this time around. Tea: Hot-water refills are complimentary. We tried some of the Japanese green teas - kukicha (£3.50) and matcha (£5). Both interesting choices, the matcha is probably a bit too adventurous for someone who is only used to their English breakfast! The kukicha was recommended as a milder introduction to Japanese green teas - it went down well with my companion who was new to these. Next time I plan to try the matcha latte. Atmosphere: Noise level is moderate, can be a little louder when it's busy but still quiet enough to hold a comfortable conversation at your table. On this occasion we were sat at a sofa and coffee table on the ground floor. There are a few locations near power outlets for those who want to bring a laptop. Service: Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Our waitress gave good menu explanations and recommendations - definitely developed our tea-taste buds. Don't come here if you're in a rush - food arrives slowly. Lasting impression: Good food with moderate pricing and an interesting range of teas. Casual place for a light meal and a long afternoon chat over a cuppa. If you want afternoon tea it is wise to book - they can get quite busy.

Small, noisy (and on a cold day, very cold) coffee shop from the big chain. Good range of coffees…read moreand the usual highly priced food. Alot of customers seem to choose to drink here and buy their food cheaper from the Greggs next door. Also has outdoor seating area for smokers

This is a great cafe for lunch in the centre of town. The food is bog standard jackets, omlettes,…read moresarnies, greasy spoon and salads but it is great and really cheap! The service is really friendly and they give you extra if they know you! Fantastic place!

Quaint and traditional - that's how I'd sum up Refectory Coffee Shop. Tucked away in the City…read moreUnited Reformed Church off Windsor Place, this charming little diner is the perfect hideaway for enjoying a coffee or quick bite to eat before work. With its muted colour schemes, low lighting and austere furnishings, Refectory Coffee Shop reminds me of what Thatcher-era Britain would have been like, and I mean that in the most complimentary way - I tire of glossy, contemporary chain coffee shops (that means you, Costa, Starbucks, and Cafe Nero), and often search for good ol' home-style food at modest prices. The ladies who man the shop are absolutely lovely. Not sure how busy it gets in the early hours and around lunchtime, but around 10 am, it was a quiet haven from the surrounding bustle of Queen Street, as a few patrons flipped through their daily newspaper and enjoyed cups of tea with their meals.

Inside the lovely City Church on Windsor Place this coffee shop is always bustling and warm. The…read morestaff are fantastically friendly and are one of the main things I love about going for lunch in here. The menu is standard cafe fare with jacket potatoes, sandwiches, toasties and then hot meals as well. It's nothing cordon bleu but its hot and tasty and best of all really easy on the pocket! Get a tray and queue up to order and have a natter with the lovely ladies on the till, they make me smile everytime I go in! It's full of all sorts in here: local office workers, lots of older folk having a cuppa and groups of tradesmen sat outside usually! Also do breakfast fodder.

My absolute favourite thing about this place is that they will serve you any of their food to take…read moreaway. Want some fish cakes, but you're in a rush? Well, that's fine, because they serve them to go. Now, fishcakes to go seem to me to be an amazing thing. The main problem with The Coffi House (apart from the slightly irritating spelling of coffee... what's with the fashion for this at the moment?) is how busy it gets. It is right next to a Starbucks and has completely stolen all of their customers, really. However, this just proves how lovely it is. Unfortunately there is no outside seating either, which I was a little disappointed by on this lovely day. But it is a minor gripe because the inside is decorated in such a comfortable way. Get in early if you want a seat and be prepared for a little bit of a wait. However, you'll find the staff friendly and unharrassed despite the busyness.

The Coffi House, goes by, what is presumably, a Welsh name, but serves Segafedo coffee, which is…read moreItalian as far as I'm aware! This is not their only idiosyncrasy... check out the picture of the homemade cakes! Here you will find a silver coloured statuette of The King, Mr. Presley himself, alongside a white rose in a half pint ladies glass. It's pure kitsch that warms the cockles of my heart, and adds a real quirky flavour to this otherwise unremarkable café. Having said that, it's a café that makes homemade food with care and attention, but with so many other establishments doing the same in this area, this alone does not make it outstanding. They have a sweet little garden out the back, which catches the sun when it's out. The food is not very adventurous, but it's well made, and the prices are reasonable. The couple that own and run it are quirky and pleasant enough. They are not likely to be bestowed with the attentions of Egon Ronay or those very nice men from the Michelin Guide, but they serve well priced food in pleasant surroundings, and that's good enough for me!

City Bakery is a great shop, and is steeped in the time honoured tradition of the multi-cultural…read moreconvenience store, that of trying to cram as many products within its four walls as is feasibly possible, and blow the need for order! I love it! This shop is chock-a-block with goodies. Being a bakery it has a great selection of eastern sweet pastries and breads, but it also stocks a huge amount of exotic dry foods, tins and fresh veg. It's got everything, including household cleaning products, toiletries and perfumes, and even an attempt at proving the kitchen sink... they sell a small number of sundry stainless steel storage items! And, of course, they have the obligatory hookah pipes and associated paraphernalia. Basically, if you can't get what you want from this shop, you would be hard pushed to find it anywhere else. There's always a queue at the counter, which is heart-warmingly comprised of people of all cultures and ethnic origins. The people who work behind the counter could be accused of being a little sombre, but who wouldn't be when working such long hours every day of the week? These guys work hard with little reprieve, and there's no crime in being subdued... they are never rude, which would be a different matter entirely! This is definitely one of the better stores of this type on the City Road.

Not a bakery at all, as far as I could work out. More of a corner shop, really, which - as it…read moreshould - provides all of those things that you forgot to pick up at Tesco. And, not that you should really admit this, but I think I would normally go back to Tesco rather than to here. I don't know why this is because the prices are pretty good and there's all the basics that you need. I guess I was just put off because I was in a bad mood at the time and the service that I received wasn't great. Looking back on it, I'm unsure if this was my own foulness colouring all I did, or if the service actually was sub-par. In any case, as it provides all you need at pretty low prices it's become lodged in my head as one of those 'Oh, yes, I need to get some rice... oh, here's a shop'-type places.