From Curry to Cocktails: Dining at The Coconut Tree in Cardiff

Embark on a delightful culinary journey at The Coconut Tree restaurant in Cardiff city centre. Offering a diverse menu ranging from curry to cocktails is a unique experience for your taste buds.

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Coconut Tree Sri Lankan Restaurant Cardiff

The Coconut Tree, one of the Cardiff Mill Lane restaurants, has a casual, fun air about it. Sri Lankan street food isn’t’ seen very often. As the name suggests, the menu predominantly focuses on coconut-based cuisine mixed with many other extravagant spicy flavours.

The small chain has branches in Cheltenham, The Coconut Tree Reading, Coconut Tree Oxford, Coconut Tree Bristol, Bournemouth, Bath and Birmingham.

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What can you Expect?

The dining room had a Mexican feel. With brightly coloured walls, retro-looking lamps hanging from the ceiling and wooden tables and chairs. The Coconut Tree menu is tapas style. So, it’s suggested to have 3-4 dishes per person. If you can’t decide, the team will choose their favourite dishes for £20 per person (vege and vegan) or £25 per person for meat and fish.

First-timers are encouraged to try the Egg Hopper. A coconut milk pancake with spices, caramelised onions and a fried egg. It’s light and packed with flavour. However, it is a little dry. It needed a spritz of oil or two runny yolks.

We ordered the gluten-free prawn curry, which was a mild spice. It came with three king prawns. As we were sharing, it meant we had one and a half each. We ate this with vegan fried rice. I was gutted this was such a small portion; it was probably the best thing I tasted. Alongside this, we had the vegan chickpeas with onions, garlic, mustard seeds, coconut shavings and curry leaves and chilli, vegan hot battered mushrooms, which were covered in a polenta batter and spicy caramelised onions and the vegan sri-tato; roasties in a lightly spiced sauce. (As a meat eater, I’ve just realised I didn’t have any!)

Coconut Tree Cardiff Fried Rice — *Vegan Fried Rice*

The Coconut Tree Cardiff Review

Although dishes on the menu are affordable, they can quickly rack up, especially if you have an appetite. I left satisfied but could have easily shared another couple of dishes. Whilst an enjoyable meal, there wasn’t a stand-out dish that I’m rushing back to taste. If a friend wants to eat here in the future, I’d be happy to go, but if you want similar cuisine, Chai Street or Salkaara are more likely to hit the spot.

My biggest bugbear of the evening – and it is petty! – was that we asked for the service charge to be removed. It is not a mandatory charge, and if I’ve had exceptional service, I will leave a tip in cash. Bring on the Spanish Inquisition! We were cross-examined on several aspects, including if the service was adequate – it was pleasant but did not stand out. I’m now glad it wasn’t paid! And I left with a sour taste in my mouth.

Coconut Tree Cardiff Cocktails — *The Beach Boy Cocktail*

The Coconut Tree Cocktails

The Cardiff restaurant is also known for its cocktails. The Beach Boy was our choice; coconut rum and pineapple flavours. It was also 2 for £12. If this doesn’t tick your box, there’s something for everyone, including low sugar and no alcohol.

What Are the Opening Times?

The restaurant is open every day at noon. It closes at 11pm Monday to Thursday, 1am on Friday and Saturday, and 10pm on Sunday.

Coconut Tree Offers

Lunch Deals Cardiff – If you’re in a hurry, the Express Lunch is for you. You’ll be in and out of the restaurant in 30 minutes. Get a hopper, curry, sambal or condiment, roti or rice and a soft drink for £15 per person.

Also, during the summer, you can enjoy a Bottomless Beach Brunch. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 12pm-5pm, you get two dishes and unlimited drinks for two hours. For £35 per person. Or upgrade to unlimited food for an additional £10 per person.

Coconut Tree Takeaway

You can order online and get delivery if you live within a few miles of the city centre. You can also order and pick up the food to take away.

Is Coconut Tree Dog Friendly?

Your dog will be made to feel welcome at Coconut Tree. It is one of the dog friendly restaurants in Cardiff.

Does Coconut Tree accept Blue Light Cards?

Blue Light cards are not accepted in Coconut Tree.

Coconut Tree Student Discount

Currently, there aren’t any student discount offers.

Food Hygiene Rating

Coconut Tree Cardiff is rated very good, with a 5-star food hygiene rating.

Make a Booking

Book a table online.

Follow them on Social Media

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How to Get to the City Centre

Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. Who doesn’t want to save money? With stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, Cardiff Bay, plus two in the city centre. Central Cardiff is a 5-minute walk to The Coconut Tree, and Queen Street is a 12-minute walk.

Pre-book your parking and save!

There are plenty of NCP car parks in the city centre, including on Westgate Street or Pellett Street. 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.

Restaurants Cardiff

Cardiff is a foodie’s delight. From the quality of the produce to the level of cooking, at both the casual and cheap eats, Cardiff is staking a serious claim to being one of the most exciting places to eat in the UK.

Maison de Beouf steak and frites — *Brother Thai*

Entertainment Bars in Cardiff

Whether looking for an after-work drink with colleagues, a boy’s or girls’ night out surrounded by cocktails, or a date night spot, you’re always close to the best bars in Cardiff.

The Best Bars in Cardiff. Cocktail bars in Cardiff - The Botanist — *The Botanist*

Tonight Josephine Cardiff. Best Bars in Cardiff — *The Botanist*

FREE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide

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Free Visit Cardiff Guide

Hotels to stay the night

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 is a 15-minute walk to the city centre restaurants. It has double rooms (with or without a window), accessible bedrooms and twin rooms. Found a short walk behind Cardiff Queen Street train station, 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.

Radisson Cardiff

The Radisson Blue Hotel Cardiff is in the city centre. A 7-10 minute walk to the city centre restaurants. The 4-star hotel has smart TVs in the bedrooms, private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, laptop-compatible safes, and limited onsite parking.

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? 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. This hotel is closest to the Vale of Glamorgan restaurants. Ideal for business travellers, couples or families, it is a perfect base. You can expect free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and modern in-room amenities. Book early and save up to 20% off:

The surrounding areas

Don’t be afraid of staying out of central Cardiff, either. 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. With all the amenities you could need, including parking, WiFi and many dog-friendly places, check out Sykes Holiday Cottages.

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