Every so often, we get an email asking us about what people should do, see, or eat when they visit Cardiff. Yesterday I was emailed by Dylan. His email (and my response) are below.
But I need your input! I’ve suggested music venues and events, pubs, and places to eat and go for a walk – but what would you suggest for Dylan to do? Please leave your suggestions in the comments!
Hey there!
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Hi Dylan,
Hello and thanks for your message. I’m very happy to suggest some things for you to do on your weekend in our fine city!
There really is a lot going on that weekend in Cardiff, and in some great venues too!
Music wise, I’d suggest on the Friday you pick one of these:
Clwb Ifor Bach, Young Promoters Network & Wales Online Present: A SOUND REACTION – STRAIGHT OUTTA MERTHYR.
Clwb Ifor Bach is one of Cardiff’s longest standing venues for independent promoters, bands, DJs and club nights, and this is a new night where the Young Promoters Network have teamed up with Clwb Ifor Bach & new music superhero A Sound Reaction (aka. Local music journo David Owens) to bring you a new monthly live night bringing his amazing weekly playlist to life. This month is a straight outta Merthyr special, where they are bringing you three of the best bands from Merthyr’s ever blossoming, diverse and richly deep music scene.
It’s only a fiver on the door: https://www.facebook.com/events/1628286074082635/
The other option is also in a great independent local venue, with a local band:
Gwdihw presents Johnny Cage & the Voodoogroove’s Rock n’ Roll Revue
Sept 18th | 9pm | £5/4adv. Johnny Cage & the Voodoogroove are a much loved local rock’n’roll outfit who always bring a brilliant party.
Again, just a fiver on the door https://www.facebook.com/events/1667912606772862/
On Saturday, If you fancy something a bit off the wall, there’s this in an antiques market! Babylon Cardiff Rooftop Party || The Last Dance.. Honest
https://www.facebook.com/events/121897868161002/
Personally, my favourite (other) venue in Cardiff is the Moon (https://www.facebook.com/TheMoonClub?fref=ts) – always have a right good knees up in there (it’s on Womanby Street, opposite Clwb Ifor Bach – known here are the Welsh Club, btw!).
Pubs
Wales has a couple of beer breweries, but the main one is called Brains (isn’t that a great name?), also there’s Pipes beers and Tiny Rebel. All local, all your should try.
I’m often found nursing a pint at:
– Urban Taphouse (local beers and ciders, nice old school place that sells Tiny Rebel)https://www.facebook.com/urbantaphousecardiff?fref=ts
– Porters (a co-operative bar with its own theatre and open mic nights, I really love this place)https://www.facebook.com/Porterscardiff?fref=ts
– Sunflower and I – If you have time, there’s this great little place in Cardiff Bay called Sunflower and I – which is a café/bar/florist (!) run by two amazing ex-opera singers. Definitely worth a peep if you make it down to the Bay https://www.facebook.com/pages/SunflowerI/349724635131752?fref=ts
Eating out – it totally depends on what you want!
One of my favourite places to have lunch in town is Wyndham Tea – a teahouse in the Wyndham Arcade (Cardiff is full of arcades, make sure you explore them all!) http://waterlootea.com/pages/tea-shops It does lovely wholesome type meals (quinoa, glass noodle salads, etc).
For a fried English breakfast, definitely head to the Cardiff Indoor Market and go upstairs – you can get an amazing cooked breakfast for very cheap, and get a lovely view of the market and the people who wander around in it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_Market
Getting out of the city
Depending on the weather, there are a few really nice places to get out and see/hike:
– Cardiff Bay 10k barrage walk. If it’s sunny, this is lovely http://www.cardiffharbour.com/objview.asp?Object_ID=69
– Castell Coch: lovely fairytale castle, not too far from Cardiff (and if you’re eager, you can walk up the Garth Mountain, opposite the castle) http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/castell-coch/?lang=en
– Brecon Beacons (if you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb Pen y Fan, the tallest mountain in the south of the UK) http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356405780951/
I’m going to post this on We Are Cardiff and invite our readers to suggest places for you to visit, eat and drink at. The power of the pack! I’ll send you the link so you can keep an eye on comments.
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OKAY READERS … DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR DYLAN? PLEASE COMMENT AND TELL HIM WHAT HE SHOULD DO ON HIS WEEKEND IN THE CITY!
Hi Dylan,
Looks like Helia has given you loads of things to do but I’m going to add a few. On Friday night there is a work in progress showing of Delta S at Nofit State Circus’ Four Elms building By Lee Scott Tinion. https://www.facebook.com/events/131360017210637/
Lee is a circus performer and used to tour with Nofit State Circus who are the biggest touring contemporary circus in the UK: http://www.nofitstate.org/
There is also the Open Air Cinema in Cardiff Castle which is showing classics all weekend: https://www.facebook.com/events/763146923782506/
For amazing grub you should go to The Penylan Pantry: https://www.facebook.com/PenylanPantry?fref=ts
If you fancy getting out of town you could head to the Abergavenny Food Festival on Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/Abergavenny-Food-Festival-373867777423/timeline/
fill up with food there and then climb sugarloaf mountain: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sugarloaf-and-usk-valley/
Have fun!
Ellie
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The rugby is on that weekend, so city centre will be jammed on the saturday, but there’s a great new pub The Hopbunker at the corner of Queens Street right opposite the castle- sell a great range of Craft beer.
Roath Park lake is wonderful on a nice weather day- and further down in Roath are some lovely little restaurants- my personal fave Trattoria Molisana, Globe Centre, Albany Road, Cardiff CF24 3PE near the Globe (live music place further up towards Wellfield Road) which is a family run, olde worde kind of a restaurant, but sell the tastiest home cooked pizzas you can find! The Globe btw have a couple of things going on the weekend you are here, and you can usually pay on the door- http://globe.gigantic.com/venue/cardiff/the-globe-cardiff
Outside of Cardiff is the gorgeous coastline around Southerndown and Ogmore as well as the places already mentioned. hope you have a great visit to this part of the world!
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Wow — you guys are incredible!
Had a crazy jet-lagged day in Cardiff yesterday, mostly wandering around the city haphazardly. Ended up stopping in the Cardiff market for a while (so many great records on the second floor), going to Cardiff Bay and popping into various arcades. Didn’t get to do as many of your guys’ recommendations as wanted, but we have today (after a stint in Swansea) and tomorrow still.
Again, thank you all so much! Have been loving our time here so far.
–Dylan
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