10 Best Local Restaurants in Cardiff

Cardiff Market is a historic market in the heart of the city centre. There used to be a market of some kind on the site since the 18th century, with the present market building dating back to 1891. Beneath its glass roof are 2 floors of food stalls.

Visit Cardiff Market for a global food crawl. The Bull Terrier Café is great for a traditional Welsh breakfast, while Tokyo Nights can satisfy your cravings for authentic Japanese street food like homemade gyozas. You can enjoy freshly made Polish dumplings at Pierogi and Neapolitan-style pizza at Ffwrnes Pizza.

The Heathcock is a local watering hole that serves great local food in Cardiff. Seasonal ingredients are at the heart of every dish, sourced from producers across the Vale of Glamorgan and the Cardiff area, as well as The Heathcock’s own kitchen garden.

Begin with a traditional Welsh rarebit and move on to pan-fried hake, braised rabbit leg pappardelle, or crispy pig’s cheek. Many of the items on the menu are great for sharing, such as the whole baked sea bass or a slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone shoulder of lamb. 

Kindle is a stylish but casual outdoor-only eatery on the edge of Bute Park in Cardiff where you can dine under cosy pergolas. They’ll even supply blankets and hot water bottles if you’re chilly. The cafe has an emphasis on sustainability. For instance, reclaimed materials such as old scaffolding boards are used in the garden of this former warden’s house.

The menu reveals the close links that its owners have fostered with nearby growers and gamekeepers. Much of what’s served is foraged, organically grown or ethically reared. Treat yourself to must-tries like deep-fried bone marrow terrine with scorched scallops, grilled Wye Valley asparagus and smoked egg, or banoffee cannoli.

Zerodegrees Cardiff combines a pizzeria with a microbrewery. It's located close to the Principality Stadium, the national sporting venue of Wales. Two terraces and mezzanines overlook an open kitchen and a working brewery that offers tours. You can watch sports matches on its many big screens.

Alongside classics like margherita and capriciosa, you’ll find a variety of innovative pizzas on the menu. Lahmacun is heavy on the lamb mince and garam masala, carne asada has wood-smoked steak and chilli peppers that’ll transport you to Latin America. The Jamaican chicken pizza is made with a sweet and spicy sauce that evokes the flavours of the Caribbean.

Culley’s Kitchen and Bar is a restaurant in Cardiff named after 19th-century entrepreneur and philanthropist Richard Palethorpe Culley. It is located within Cardiff’s Coal Exchange building and retains many of its historic features. The overall vibe is contemporary and stylish. Glittering chandeliers play off vintage wood panelling, exposed brick and timber beams.

Culley’s versatile menu lends itself to a lazy Sunday brunch or a pre-theatre dinner. From the grill, meat eaters can enjoy steaks, lamb rump and chicken. Meanwhile, the vegetable bhaji burger or goat's cheese and beetroot ravioli will delight hungry vegetarians.

The Clink Restaurant is a stylish venue that serves modern European cuisine in Cardiff. On the menu are dishes such as pan-fried sea bream with brown shrimp butter, steamed samphire and sautéed purple potatoes, and za’atar-spiced poussin with lemon purée, pomegranate molasses and couscous.

Besides offering tasty European dishes, The Clink Restaurant is also a charitable endeavour helping with the rehabilitation of offenders at HMP Cardiff. This worthy initiative aims to reduce the chance of reoffending by offering inmates training that leads to City & Guilds National Vocational Qualifications.

The Smoke Haus specialises in American ribs and burgers in Cardiff. Meat is given a dry rub of blended herbs and spices, before being smoked on-site inside Cookshack smokers. The kitchen team skillfully mixes brisket and chuck steak and just the right amount of seasoning, pressing it into patties ready for the griddle.

Standouts at The Smoke Haus include slow-cooked St Louis ribs smothered in a rich bourbon glaze, tender pulled pork, and succulent beef brisket. Round off your meal with gooey chocolate brownies or the house special: key lime pie.

Pitch Bar and Eatery is a funky Welsh restaurant in Cardiff with eclectic décor and bags of personality. Order one of its popular cocktails while you take in the funky wall art and browse the extensive menu.

This is a good place to come if you’re keen to try cawl, which is a tasty Welsh stew made with lamb and root vegetables. You’ll find plenty of locally inspired dishes on the menu, such as Glamorgan sausages with sautéed leek mash and chicken enveloped in strips of streaky bacon and smothered in Gorwydd cheese sauce.

Bangkok Café serves up delicious Thai food in a contemporary setting. Like the capital of Thailand, this restaurant has a fun and colourful vibe. Expect lots of bright pink, blue and green plates, plus banquet-style seating.

Everything at Bangkok Café is prepared from scratch, from the tasty dipping sauces to the flavourful marinades. Order a classic pad Thai or one of its punchy red or green curries. Specials to try include soft shell crab stir-fry with green papaya salad and pla manow (steamed sea bass with lime and chilli sauce).

The Balti Cuisine serves up Bangladeshi and Indian food in a relaxed atmosphere. The kitchen team dries and grinds spices on-site, expertly combining them to create flavoursome dishes such as masalas, biryanis and tandoori chicken. Specials include green fish curry, methi lamb and citrusy shatkora (spiced beef).

This family-run restaurant has hosted a local and student clientele since it opened in 1957. With 24 hours' notice, it happily caters for vegans as well. The chefs are also happy to create bespoke meals on request if you’d like to tweak the menu.