Looking for somewhere to take a date to dinner in Cardiff, Wales? Whether it is someone new, you want to impress on a first date or a partner or spouse you want to treat. Making an impression and bagging brownie points without breaking the bank is easily done in the city. The good news is that so many fantastic independent cafes, bars and restaurants are producing quality, affordable food. Here are the best places for a dinner date in Cardiff.
This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up for anything from this website, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Romantic restaurants in Cardiff
You’ll find no chain restaurants on this list. There’s a time and a place for a cheeky Nandos or quick drink in ‘Spoons. Cardiff is a foodie’s delight. You can dine on an array of amazing cuisines, tastes and flavours. All serve vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options, so all diets are catered for. Cardiff is an exciting place to eat. Here are some of the best places for dinner for 2 Cardiff.
Date Night Restaurants in Cardiff
Want to be sure you’ve made the right decision? You can read other diners’ reviews on Trip Advisor.
Sticky Fingers
The perfect venue if you are looking for cheap eats but with exceptional quality. Sticky Fingers Cardiff is also ideal if you want variety. Found on Richmond Road in Cathays, it is open 7 days a week for great cocktails and drinks, but the food is only served Thursday – Sunday. Each week there are various street food vendors with everything from pizza, fried chicken, Thai, burgers, and so much more. It’s one of the top places for street food in Cardiff.
Irie Shack
Cardiff Cardiff, let me tell you about Irie Shack in Cathays. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Serving traditional Caribbean cuisine using a traditional jerk pit and cooking methods. The bright colours of the restaurant will set the tempo for your date, and the food will feed your soul. It’s the top Caribbean restaurant in Cardiff.
Unfortunately, Irie Shack has now closed
Maria’s Greek Taverna
Want to have a romantic meal and feel the passion of being abroad? You and your date will feel like you are on your favourite Greek island at Maria’s Greek Taverna. It truly is an authentic taste of the Mediterranean, with grilled platters, lamb chops, flatbreads, hummus and Greek salad. My go-to is the moussaka. As it’s a family restaurant, you get brilliant service and a personal touch. The restaurant is found on Crwys Road in Roath.
Hotpot Spot
Hotpot Spot is a restaurant in Cardiff where you make your own meal. Dining is an interactive experience. You come together around a simmering pot with various raw ingredients, sliced thinly for quick cooking. What could be more romantic than that? The eatery is found just off Albany Road and Wellfield Road – depending on which way you approach it – in The Globe Centre.
Svago
The authentic Italian restaurant is on Cwrys Road (Cathays Cemetery end). I always drove past it and picked it as one of our dinner date nights. So glad I did. The food is incredible. Good size portions, fantastic service and affordable. My usual order is the Pollo Svago; chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce. There is also pizza, pasta, risotto and burgers to choose from. Finish with ice cream, a traditional Tiramisu or pannacotta.
Mowgli’s
Mowgli’s multi-award-winning fine-dining Indian restaurant has two locations: Crwys Road (next door to Svago) and Penlline Road in Whitchurch. (You can also check out restaurants in Whitchurch) You can eat traditional dishes such as tikka, jalfrezi and vindaloo, but I’d recommend the specialities. The ducksheri special is one of my favourites. The duck is grilled with caramelized onion and garlic in a tandoori sauce. On Wednesdays and Sundays, you can have any starter, main, rice and side for £16 per person.
Vivo Amigo
Vivo Amigo are known for their bold flavours and quality ingredients. With its bright colours and Insta-worthy decorations, it’s a taste of Latin America. For those who want to try a bit of everything or like to share starters, the tapas bites encompass many of the popular starters. Starters also include quesadillas, empanadas and tacos. Mains include enchiladas, burritos, roti tacos and fajitas.
Society Standard
With brick walls and rustic walls, Society Standard has a relaxed vibe. Deciding what to choose from the enticing menu is hard work. The phrase “food envy” was invented here, as you’ll want what everyone else has. My favourite is the Mega Mac Dirty Fries. Chips topped with mac and cheese and BBQ beef brisket.
The Butchers Arms
Home-cooked food at its finest. Expect large portions that are full of flavour. There are always four real ales on draft and a craft beer selection in bottles too. The traditional British pub, sometimes called The Ye Olde Butchers Arms, is in Rhiwbina. You can expect good service and old-fashioned Welsh hospitality.
Pizzeria Villaggio
I know the Italian food at Villaggio so well; I don’t need to see the menu. Having the king prawn gamberoni to start with some bread to mop up the creamy tomato and garlic sauce. Then either a gallese pizza (cheese, tomato, laverbread, leeks and bacon) or penne al pollo (chicken and mushrooms in a rich, creamy white wine sauce). As it is in the heart of Whitchurch Village, there are plenty of pubs to choose from if you want to continue the date.
Gwaelod y Garth Inn
Everything about this pub is exceptional. (It just happens to be my local!) The log fire and the décor scream romantic dinner. The homemade pub grub is packed full of flavour, and there is an excellent range of ales and cider. The Gwaelod is found in the heart of the village, on the edge of Cardiff. Reservations are highly recommended as it is a popular hot spot. It is located in the heart of the village and has a small free car park at the back. The venue is also a hotel if you wanted to stay over and make a night of it.
Why Sunday Lunch at Gwaelod y Garth Makes a Perfect Weekend
Thomas by Tom Simmons
Refined brasserie food is the focus of Pembrokeshire-born Tom Simmons. He was a MasterChef contestant and talent behind the desirable Tower Bridge restaurant. Thomas, found in the suburb of Pontcanna, is influenced by British and French cuisine. The Michelin Star Restaurant has dishes that are delicately plated and often look unassuming but pack a punch when you take a bite.
De Courceys Manor
De Courceys doesn’t serve food daily but is known for its 5-star Sunday Lunch. Usually, a wedding venue, but it opens its restaurant doors every few weeks. If you’re looking to impress, you’ll certainly do that here. It’s one of the top-rated places to eat in Cardiff. Getting a reservation can be tricky, so make sure you book in advance.
Best Restaurants Cardiff City Centre
Asador 44
Another Michelin Star Restaurant, Asador 44, has an open kitchen showcasing charcoal grills. The restaurant is located in a beautiful red-bricked building opposite the Principality Stadium. It is one of the top independent restaurants in Cardiff City Centre, serving fresh fish and seafood, dry-aged steaks, suckling pig, whole legs of lamb and vegetables cooked over charcoal.
Maison de Boeuf
Labelled as the most romantic restaurant in Cardiff is the brand-new Maison de Boeuf. It’s the perfect time to make dinner plans. Leave the Welsh capital for the French capital for a few hours and enjoy mouth-watering French dishes. The dining experience offers a prix fixe menu where you can choose two or three courses.
Lezzet Turkish Restaurant
If you are searching for authentic Turkish cuisine and Mediterranean flavours, check out Lezzet restaurant. Starters include falafel and hummus, sucuk (grilled spicy beef sausage) and muska boregi (filo pastry parcels filled with feta cheese, spinach and fennel). Popular main courses are the grills, which are served with bulgur and salad. Such as marinated lamb or chicken. There’s also moussaka, seafood casserole and stuffed aubergines. The Sultan’s Feast is a 4-course menu for £27.95 per person. It’s really nice!
Pitch Bar & Eatery
If eating local is your thing, Pitch is definitely the one to visit. They are fiercely independent and serve modern Welsh food packed with flavour and mouth-watering ingredients. There is a great homely feel to the place. Topped with excellent service and a friendly atmosphere. Pitch on Mill Lane will impress the one you’re with. It’s also one of the dog friendly restaurants in Cardiff.
Get 2 meals for the price of 1 in Pitch
With a Tastecard, you get 50% off the food bill or two meals for the price of one. At Pitch, you can get 2 for 1 on meals, excluding Friday and Saturday nights and during December.
However, there are over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. Plus, with a Tastecard Plus membership, there’s also 30% off cinema tickets and 50% off days out, such as Alton Towers, Sea Life and Drayton Manor. Get a 60-day free trial with instant access; it is £5.99 per month or £34.99 per year. Get a 2-month free trial here:
The Ivy Cardiff
Very quickly after opening, The Ivy became one of Cardiff’s most Instagrammable locations – especially the ladies’ loo. It is the first Welsh restaurant in the Ivy’s collection. Located on The Hayes, the restaurant offers sophisticated dining. Menus are seasonal and use fresh ingredients for classic British dishes. Pre-booking is a must, but if you are just popping in for drinks, they may be able to seat you at the bar.
See my afternoon tea at The Ivy Cardiff review.
Ty Madeira
The Madeira may have a new home on St Mary Street in the city centre, but the food is still incredible. The hanging skewers are always show stoppers, along with giant king prawns. The mains come with family-style potatoes and vegetables, including a battered cauliflower – which I always ask for an extra portion of. (It’s incredible!) Service is always friendly, and it is great to hear them chatting in Portuguese.
The Potted Pig
Further down St Mary Street, near Cardiff Castle, is The Potted Pig, one of the best restaurants in Cardiff city centre. The atmospheric dining room is a former bank vault with brick walls and barrel ceilings. Along with the date, you won’t want the dishes to end. On my last visit, I had Asian pork bites to start, which I still dream about. A side order of cheeky chips – beef cheek on top of golden, crispy chips is not to be missed.
Juniper Place
It is the home of Cynet Gin, so you can expect some imaginative drinks, and they even use it at times in the cooking. Juniper Place near Cardiff Castle was created for informal dining and serves British cuisine. The décor is quirky, with hanging plants adding a pop of colour against the copper exposed pipes and dark walls. At night the candles are lit, and you and your date can enjoy a cosy corner.
Juniper Place has now closed in Cardiff. There is still a restaurant in Neath.
Chapel Cardiff
Chapel 1877 on Churchill Way is one of the romantic restaurants in Cardiff city centre. The original chapel has been converted to a fine-dining restaurant. It even uses pews and vestibules as tables. The fantastic building has been laid out uniquely, with the restaurant upstairs and a bar area downstairs.
Chapel is closed. Currently, it is unsure if it will reopen when the canal has been exposed or if it will be sold to new owners.
Park House Cardiff
Park House definitely has the wow factor. It is seen as one of the posh restaurants in Cardiff city centre. Near the National Museum and overlooking the Gorsedd Gardens is the award-winning fine dining restaurant, Park House. The food style is French-inspired but also uses the best of Welsh produce. The restaurant is in a Gothic-style mansion house initially built by the Marquess of Bute – who made Cardiff what it is today. It has an exquisite five course tasting menu with matched wines. If you really want to push the boat out, there are private dining options. Perfect for impressing on a date night.
The restaurant closed in 2023, leaving a trail of angry customers and staff and suppliers unpaid.
Fancy Restaurants Cardiff Bay
Old Custom House
Ok, technically, Old Custom House is in Penarth. You could, however, take a romantic evening stroll across the Cardiff Bay Barrage and eat here. The stunning building was built in 1865 and is Grade II listed. The bar area is ideal for before or after-dinner drinks, and there are two restaurants to choose from. El Puerto is an open-plan restaurant overlooking the sea and a huge sun terrace and has a table d’hote menu. In Le Marina, you’ll find a superb fish counter and top-notch meat and game dishes.
Demiro’s
One of the romantic restaurants Cardiff Bay is Demiro’s. I have eaten here several times over the years, and the food has always been moreish. The owner loves to sing, especially when the weather is good; you’ll see him outside with his boom box. There are 3 menus in one, and you can choose from the Italian, Welsh or Spanish selections. Finish the evening off with a romantic stroll around the waterfront.
Hubbox
The brand-new restaurant had to delay its opening due to local lockdown, but I got there eventually. Hubbox Cardiff Bay is a little bit of Cornwall, matched with decent burgers, mac and cheese, and dirty fries alongside west country beers and ciders and an impressive cocktail menu. They even have different flavoured lemonades and coolers, which can be pimped with alcohol. Looking out onto the water, it is an idyllic date night location. Want to know a little more? Here’s my Hubbox Cardiff review.
Sensational Date Night Ideas in Cardiff Bay
Want to spend some time together and do some romantic things, then you’ll be spoilt for choice in Cardiff Bay. Yes, really! With a great mix of Cardiff attractions, entertainment, events, vibrant bars and shops, Cardiff Bay is a unique place to create romance. Check out these date night ideas in Cardiff Bay.
Special Occasion Restaurants Cardiff
As you can see, Cardiff has no shortage of unique places to eat. From glorious converted churches to traditional pubs, as well as underground haunts. Cardiff is staking a serious claim to being one of the most exciting places to eat in the UK. I hope you found this listing helpful and now have some date ideas for Cardiff restaurants.
- Afternoon tea in Cardiff
- Bottomless brunch in Cardiff
- Steak restaurants in Cardiff
- Vegan restaurants in Cardiff
- Thai restaurants in Cardiff
- Japanese restaurants in Cardiff
- Caribbean restaurants in Cardiff
- Chinese restaurants in Cardiff
- Burger restaurants in Cardiff
- Street food in Cardiff
- Welsh food in Cardiff
- Dog friendly restaurants in Cardiff
Other Date Night Ideas
Looking for some alternative things to do? Or somewhere to head after eating delicious food? Head to a wine bar, grab a cocktail or two or enjoy Cardiff’s nightlife.
- Golf Fang
- Flight Club
- NQ64
- Roxy Lanes
- Tonight Josephine Cardiff
- Rooftop Bars in Cardiff
- Cocktail bars in Cardiff
- Live music in Cardiff
- Wetherspoons in Cardiff
- Quiz Nights in Cardiff
- Dog friendly pubs in Cardiff
Free things to do in Cardiff
There are so many things to do in Cardiff for free. Sometimes we need some inspiration or reminders of what is on our doorstep. There are over 50 ideas on this list!
Museums you can visit in Cardiff for free
We’re so lucky that the museums in Cardiff are some of the best in the United Kingdom. You’ll be spoilt for choice whether you are looking for exhibitions, galleries or events.
Things to do in Cardiff when it’s raining
The Welsh weather is not often on our side, but don’t let the wet weather dampen your day. Luckily, there are plenty of different things to do in Cardiff on a rainy day.
Getting around Cardiff has never been easier
Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. With stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, two in the city centre – Queen Street and Cardiff Central – plus Cardiff Bay. And who doesn’t want to save money to spend on eating out?
Pre-book your parking and save
Prefer to drive? No problem! NCP Park Pass is an easy way to save money on parking. Not only do you access special parking deals, but you also don’t need to remember where you put the ticket collected at the barrier – mine always gets lost in the handbag. As payment is contact-free and cashless, you do it on your phone.
You can always pre-book your parking online and save money if that’s not your thing. Find a car park, choose your date and time, enter your details and make your payment. Once you’ve booked your parking online, you will receive a booking confirmation email detailing your booking and how to enter and exit the car park.
FREE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide
Get your FREE Visting Cardiff Checklist and Guide with over 25 pages full of travel tips, how to get around, places to visit, food and drink, shopping, parks and green spaces, some Welsh phrases and a travel itinerary.
Stay in Cardiff
Want to extend your date night and stay in Cardiff? If you know when you’d like to travel, try to book in advance and as soon as possible. Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the travel date. However, there is a vast array to accommodate all budgets.
easyHotel Cardiff
The easyHotel Cardiff has double rooms (with or without a window), accessible bedrooms and twin rooms. Found a short walk behind Cardiff Queen Street train station. Significantly, the budget hotel has en-suite bathrooms, heated rooms in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. WiFi is free; pay and display and multi-storey car parks are nearby.
Dog friendly hotels in Cardiff
Your perfect dog-friendly escape in Cardiff awaits! Before I had my rescue dog, Ivan, I didn’t think Cardiff was very dog friendly. How wrong was I? So, the dog friendly hotels in Cardiff include national chain hotels, budget brands, pubs and country houses.
The Copthorne
The Copthorne, part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, is a traditional 4-star hotel in Cardiff that is ideally located between the city centre and the coast of Barry Island. Specifically, it is ideal for business travellers, couples or families, it is a perfect base. Presently, you can expect free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and modern in-room amenities.
The Hilton Cardiff
For a luxurious stay, The Hilton Cardiff, in the heart of the city centre, has beautiful amenities, including a pool and health club. With Hilton Honors, you get exclusive perks when you stay at more than 6,700 hotels around the world. Members receive Points on every stay, which can be turned into free nights.
Plan a Trip with Expedia
Booking a hotel via Expedia is a seamless experience that offers convenience and choice at your fingertips. With just a few clicks, you can browse through a wide array of cosy boutique hotels to luxurious resorts, tailored to your preferences and budget. Compare prices, read reviews from fellow travellers, and explore amenities, ensuring you find the perfect place to stay for your trip.
Create your Itinerary
Using TripAdvisor when booking a hotel allows you to access a wealth of reviews and ratings from fellow travellers, helping you make an informed decision on where to stay, while also providing recommendations and insights on planning things to do during your trip.
The surrounding areas
Also, don’t be afraid of staying out of central Cardiff. Penarth, Barry, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, and Merthyr Tydfil are the surrounding areas connected by regular buses and trains. You can also plan with LastMinute.com. Stay at great hotels at a fraction of the price.
Cottages and Houses
The award-winning business, Sykes Cottages, has properties across the UK, and the ones near Cardiff are beautiful. From cosy lodges with traditional woodburning stoves to contemporary accommodation with a hot tub. Furthermore, with all the amenities you could need, including parking, WiFi and many dog-friendly places, check out Sykes Holiday Cottages.
Want to be the first to read my latest blog posts? If you have enjoyed my best places for a dinner date in Cardiff review, you can stay updated with my other food, drink and travel features by signing up:
Follow me on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
