From classic breakfasts to award-winning, fresh South Indian, the Welsh city’s food scene rewards visitors

With an emphasis on local, seasonal – and delicious – ingredients, Cardiff's food scene is positively booming, making the Welsh capital an ideal destination for food lovers. What’s more, the city’s restaurants cover a wide range of tastes, whether you prefer silver service with a glass of fine wine or street food with a side of fries. Start your Cardiff food adventure in one of our Cardiff hotels with a tasty breakfast made from local ingredients.

Fine dining in Cardiff

There are so many fine dining choices in Cardiff, choosing one may be the toughest decision of your trip. Mint and Mustard specialises in light Keralan cuisine bursting with subtle flavours. Sample the soft-shell crab or sizzling Syrian beef curry and attend an in-house cookery course to bring the Mint and Mustard experience home with you. Taking in a show? The pre-show menu at Ffresh, at the Wales Millennium Centre, will get you to your seats in plenty of time for the curtain. Try a fresh filet of local fish or the marinated rump of lamb followed by a chocolate marquise for dessert. For a unique dining experience, visit The Clink in Cardiff prison. Staffed by local prisoners, The Clink champions prisoner rights while serving exceptional seasonal and local dishes like roast chicken breast with rosemary and pan-fried filet of cod.

Casual meals with gourmet appeal

Cardiff has plenty to offer in the way of casual gourmet experiences, too. Local carnivores love Got Beef, a laid-back bar and kitchen serving burgers made from award-winning Welsh blacks. Another favourite is the trendy Mexican fare and tasty cocktails at Cardiff newcomer Wahaca, which is also a hit with the veggies in town. Omnivores, meanwhile, also flock to Chai Street, where the Indian street-style food has been recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Street eats and pop-ups

For those who prefer cardboard containers to fine china, Cardiff's booming street-food scene is the place to be. At Cardiff's three street-food pop-up markets – Depot, Street Food Circus, and Street Food Warehouse – mobile gourmets offer everything from wood-fired pizza and smoked BBQ meats to tasty tapas and tacos. Pizza lovers should look no further than Ffwernes, who create some of Cardiff's favourite wood-fired slices from the confines of their truck. At Hangfire Smokehouse it’s all about the Southern-style smoked ribs, while the crunchy buttermilk fried chicken at Dirty Bird has been getting rave reviews too.

Sweet sustenance

Be sure to save room for a sampling of Cardiff's sweet treats. For a hearty breakfast or mid-morning coffee and cakes, visit The Deck, a true gem in Cardiff Bay. Take a late afternoon break for tea and handmade French pastries at Cocorico Patisserie or get cooler than cool at Cardiff's only liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour, Science Cream. Be sure to sample a selection of their ever-changing flavours topped with signature sauces.