As a coastal city, fresh seafood abounds in Cardiff. You can also sample a variety of traditional Welsh specialties, including fruity Welsh cakes, roasted lamb, and hearty stews.
City Centre
The Potted Pig is renowned in Cardiff as one of the best places to find modern British cuisine cooked with fresh Welsh produce. You can expect to find ingredients like locally caught mullet, and crispy Welsh lamb belly on its menu. If you would like something a little more international, then the Italian restaurant Casanova is another gastronomic treat. Offering adventurous and authentic Italian dishes, you might be able to savour a pork platter of slow roast belly, pan fried fillet, and homemade sausage with potato fondant and warm pickles, as well oozing risottos.
• The Potted Pig, 27 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PU; • Casanova, 13 Quay Street, Cardiff CF10 1EA;
Pontcanna
Chic Pontcanna is close to the city centre next to expansive green fields and the ebbing River Taff. Fish at 85 is a must-do for all seafood enthusiasts, and doubles as both a fishmonger and an elegant eatery. The menu depends on what's been caught locally that day, with the catch laid out on an ice-covered display. You can also head down the road to Bully's, which specialises in classic French and modern British cooking. On the menu you might find the likes of wild sea bass with saffron potatoes and beurre blanc, and pan-fried foie gras with quince jelly.
• Fish at 85, 85 Pontcanna Street, Cardiff CF11 9HS; • Bully's Restaurant, Romilly Crescent, Cardiff CF11 9NP;
Canton
Canton is home to a variety of international restaurants including the Purple Poppadom, famous for elevating Indian cuisine to fine-dining levels. From conceptual dishes such as the signature Tiffin sea bass, to a lamb platter with sweetbreads and spiced shepherd’s pie, the food is exciting, exotic, and delicious. If Chinese is more to your taste, then head to Happy Gathering a 2 minute walk down the road, where can you can feast on a range of Chinese favourites - from hot and spicy soups, to crispy chilli beef, to sticky melt in the mouth pork buns.
• The Purple Poppadom, 185a Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AJ; • Happy Gathering, 233 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AL;
Cardiff Bay
With an ideal setting overlooking the calming blue waters of the bay, the Bayside Brasserie offers contemporary European cuisine and an extensive wine list. The menu is crammed with brasserie classics including sea trout fillet with French peas and new potatoes, as well as beef bourguignon with mustard mash. In summer, the terrace opens, meaning you can enjoy your meal al fresco style with panoramic views of the bay. Then there's stylish hangout Mimosa Kitchen & Bar, which offers a menu based on local, seasonal produce. Expect to find artisan burgers, Welsh beer battered fish and chips, and braised lamb shank.
• The Bayside Brasserie, Unit Upper 14, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff CF10 5BZ; • Mimosa Kitchen & Bar, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff CF10 5BZ; Tel: +44 (0) 292 049 1900
