Restaurants in Cardiff

Chapel 1877 is a relatively new addition to Cardiff’s restaurant scene. As the name suggests, this is an eatery in a former Victorian chapel and the high, gothic interior retains most of the original features. It’s all red brick, turrets and arched windows, offset by antique chandeliers. Start the evening in the downstairs bar before choosing from the grill or the à la carte menu.

Located at Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay, Pearl of the Orient has a wide-ranging oriental menu taking in Cantonese, Peking, Malaysian and Szechwan dishes. The food is delicious, and the décor is modern and elegant with a spacious layout and artful lighting. The service is also excellent.UNite

Woods has a European and British menu that uses local and seasonal produce as far as it can. It may be housed in Cardiff Bay’s Pilotage Building, one of the last reminders of the old docks, but its sophisticated décor offers a completely modern dining experience. During the summer months the terrace on the first floor is opened up to diners who can enjoy the views over Cardiff Bay.

Located in the Castle Quarter, not far from the cathedral, this is a bright and airy Persian restaurant. The menu is extensive and the five, mixed starters offer a good option for diners have trouble choosing. Main course portions are generous with large portions of rice. Finish the meal off with a pot of Persian tea. Mowlana doesn’t serve alcohol but diners can bring their own wine.

There’s great food and a lively atmosphere in this ever-popular Middle Eastern eatery. Specialising in food of the Levant, the menu is large and varied. There is a good selection of hot and cold mezze dishes, plus vegetarian, meat and seafood plates as main course options. The interior is spacious, bright and arabesque with coloured tiles and lanterns. Shaam Nights doesn’t serve alcohol but has a good choice of juices.

This excellent Thai restaurant has been going strong since 1985 and offers delicious food and friendly, professional service by staff wearing traditional Thai dress. The restaurant does fish and meat dishes equally well, and the curries are fantastic. The house speciality, however, is fillet of salmon and broccoli marinated in a red curry paste and steamed in banana leaves.

In a change to usual restaurant proceedings, Canteen caters for vegetarians first, but provides a meat option for the committed carnivore too. With an understated, unpretentious interior, this friendly eatery offers a casual dining experience with a choice of tasty international dishes, most of which are available as a vegan option. Slightly off the beaten track, its location hasn’t deterred diners, so it’s advisable to book.

Ask any local and they will tell you that Dorothy’s is the 'best chippy in town'. Still going strong after 50 years, this Cardiff institution is well worth a try. It offers fish and chips (the cod is excellent) as well as chicken curry, fries and all the usual suspects, which make it the perfect spot following a night on the tiles.

My Place is a family-run restaurant that offers good value Polish dishes with a friendly and informal atmosphere. Meat features heavily on the menu, but the stuffed dumplings (pierogi) come with a range of fillings. As you’d expect from an Eastern European restaurant, there is good choice of vodkas on sale too. It may be a little out of the way, but the walk from the city centre offers the chance to work up an appetite for its hearty dishes.

Pettigrew Tea Room is housed in the newly renovated West Lodge at the main entrance to Bute Park. This is one of the best places in Cardiff for a spot of afternoon tea. Visitors can enjoy a traditional Welsh cream tea or select from one of the delicious home baked cakes. There are tables on the patio for the summer months.