Right, let’s talk about the most flipping fabulous day of the year… pancake day in Cardiff. Whether you call it that or Shrove Tuesday, it’s basically the one day we all collectively decide that having dessert for breakfast, lunch and dinner is absolutely acceptable behaviour. And honestly? I’m here for it.
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Shrove Tuesday marks the day before Lent begins in the Christian calendar. Traditionally, it was all about using up rich ingredients like eggs and milk before the fasting started. Fast forward a few hundred years, and now it’s about stacking plates high with syrup, fruit, chocolate and zero guilt.
Why Do We Celebrate Pancake Day?
Because it’s fun. Because it’s nostalgic. And because sharing stacks piled high with syrup and ridiculous toppings is one of those simple joys. Cardiff is the kind of place where you can start your morning in Pontcanna, wander through the arcades, and end up in the Bay, greeting people along the way, and feel like you’ve made a full day of it. Add pancakes into the mix, and suddenly, everything feels better.
Are There Welsh Pancakes?
A traditional Welsh pancake is called a crempog. They are thick, similar to American-style pancakes, often made with buttermilk, and cooked on a bakestone or frying pan until golden brown. They are served stacked, spread with butter, or accompanied by lemon curd or honey.
If you’d like to know more about Welsh cuisine, like Welsh cakes, bara brith, cawl, or Welsh rarebit, check out Welsh Food in Cardiff.
Get 50% off food in Cardiff
If you love food and drink, do you have a Tastecard? It’s a membership card that offers 25% off the food bill or 2-for-1 meals for the price of one at over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. It’s a great way to save money and enjoy a variety of dining experiences. Get a 60-day free trial here:
Pancake Day Cardiff
But why celebrate it in Cardiff? Because this city knows how to do cosy cafés, big brunch energy and sweet treats that make you question all your previous choices in life (in the best way). So if you’re wondering where to get your pancake fix, without making them yourself, here’s your guide to the best spots in Cardiff – including what’s on the menu, where they are, and whether your dog can join the feast too.
Oat & Bean
Wholesome but still indulgent. Opposite the Cardiff Museum is Oat and Bean. Even if you’re not vegetarian or vegan, you’ll love the fluffy stacks here. The protein pancakes are topped with vegan bacon and maple syrup or fruit and cream. A great choice if you want something that feels slightly less “I need to lie down after this”.
📍 26 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3BA
///book.hush.fame
🐾 Dog-friendly
Bru Coffee & More
Coffee lovers, assemble. Bru offers American-style buttermilk pancake stacks (typically 4 per serving) with maple syrup and various toppings, including Nutella, pistachios, maple, and berries. These are available for brunch or dessert.
📍 105-107 Queen Street, Cardiff CF10 2BG
///engine.faded.played
🐾 Not dog-friendly
Fluffy Fluffy Cardiff
If you haven’t seen these cloud-like Japanese soufflé stacks on your Instagram feed yet, where have you been? Fluffy Fluffy is known for its ultra-light, jiggly pancakes. Expect flavours such as tiramisu, crème brûlée, Nutella, banana, Biscoff, and fresh fruit with whipped cream. They’re thick, airy and very dramatic.
📍 109 Queen Street, Cardiff CF10 2BH
///puff.bleat.flight
🐾 Not dog-friendly
Cosy Club Cardiff
Big interiors. Big menu. And big pancake energy. At Cosy Club, classic American-style pancakes are available as a stack of three or six, topped with Greek yoghurt, blueberries, berry compote and chai granola, or streaky bacon, blueberries and maple syrup. Expect generous portions and a menu full of brunch favourites.
📍 City Centre: St David’s Dewi Sant, 1 Hills Street, Cardiff, CF10 2LE
///leaned.fuels.pops
📍Cardiff Bay: Unit 24, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff CF10 5BZ
///ritual.tiger.retire
🐾 Dog-friendly in the bar and outdoor areas.
Get The Watertaxi
One of the most scenic ways to reach Cardiff Bay is by boat! Hop aboard the water taxi from Bute Park in the city centre and enjoy a relaxing 25-minute cruise along the River Taff, taking in landmarks like the Principality Stadium before arriving right outside the Wales Millennium Centre.
Maple & Bean
Maple and Bean is small but mighty. Beautifully presented three-tier stacks of buttermilk pancakes served plain, with maple and bacon, chocolate and banana, berries and crip or with streaky bacon, hash brown, a fried egg and maple syrup. Their coffee is strong, and their sweet options are dangerously good.
📍 28 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1AF
///healers.cloak.year
🐾 Dog-friendly
Bill’s Cardiff
A brunch classic in The Bay and the city centre. Think fluffy buttermilk stacks with berries and maple syrup, crispy bacon and syrup combos, or indulgent chocolate options.
Enjoy bottomless pancakes for £9.95 every day from 3–5pm (Saturday to Thursday), choosing from Berries & Whipped Cream, Biscoff® Crumb, Maple & Banana, Triple Choccy or Smoked Streaky Bacon. Plus, £5 pancakes every Friday when you buy any drink.
📍 City Centre: 27-39 Wyndham Arcade, Mill Lane, Cardiff CF10 1FH
///bucks.much.drops
📍 Cardiff Bay: Pilotage Building, Stuart St, Cardiff CF10 5BW
///organs.cheek.darker
🐾 Dog-friendly. There’s even a dog menu!
Haystack Cafe
A proper independent café vibe. They are renowned for fluffy American-style pancake stacks, including popular options such as Kinderella, Biscoff & White Chocolate, and Crème Brûlée, often available until midnight. They also do savoury brunch plates if someone in your group claims they “don’t have a sweet tooth”.
📍 241 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9TB
///urban.chose.native
🐾 Dog-friendly
Cafe 37
A hidden gem in Cathays, the heart of the student district and a short walk from Cardiff University. Homestyle stacks are served with fruit, ice cream and maple syrup. There’s also bacon stacks and chocolate chips. It’s all about comfort at Cafe 37 – the kind that makes you slow down and appreciate simple things.
📍 37 Salisbury Road, Cardiff CF24 4AA
///canny.insect.useful
🐾 Not dog-friendly
Nefis Cardiff
If you want something a little different. Turkish-inspired brunch also includes sweet pancakes with maple syrup, Nutella, or fruit. You can even add ice cream. Nefis is a strong option if you want to step outside the classic stack. Wash it all down with a smoothie, milkshake, mocktail, matcha or Turkish tea.
📍 83 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NF
///dust.calls.friday
🐾 Not dog-friendly
Pink Kiwi
If you like your brunch aesthetic, this one’s for you. Stacks of fresh fruit, sauces, and indulgent extras. Think colourful plates, good coffee and sweet brunch vibes.
On Pancake Day, they often run offers such as £1 per pancake with fruit, whipped cream, chocolate, Biscoff, lemon and sugar, or Golden Syrup.
📍 138 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NR
///employ.tries.lawn
🐾 Not dog-friendly
Cafe Brava
A local favourite, Cafe Brava is a proper neighbourhood cafe. Classic brunch-style stacks served with sweet additions and comforting sides. It’s unfussy and reliable – sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
📍 71 Pontcanna Street, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HS
///slime.cooks.oasis
🐾 Dog-friendly
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?
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between English pancakes and American pancakes?
English pancakes are thin and crepe-like – think delicate, slightly crispy around the edges, and usually rolled up with lemon and sugar. They’re closer to French crêpes than the big brunch stacks you see on Instagram.
American pancakes, on the other hand, are thick, fluffy and risen with baking powder. They’re soft, airy and designed to be stacked high with syrup, fruit and all the extras.
Texture is the big difference: English = thin and foldable. American = thick and fluffy. Both elite. No need to pick sides.
What are the best restaurants to try when visiting Cardiff?
Cardiff is genuinely one of those places where you can eat very well without trying too hard. For brunch and pancakes, you’re spoilt for choice – from independent cafés in Pontcanna and Whitchurch to bigger brunch spots in the Bay and city centre.
You’ll find cosy coffee shops, Turkish-inspired kitchens, gelato spots, modern brunch chains and aesthetic Instagram cafés all within walking distance of each other. It’s one of the reasons I love this city – you can build a whole day around food and never get bored.
Whether you want something indulgent, wholesome or completely over-the-top, Cardiff delivers.
What makes a Welsh breakfast?
A traditional Welsh breakfast looks similar to a full English, but with a few key additions that make it distinctly Welsh.
You’ll usually find:
- Bacon
- Sausages
- Eggs
- Baked beans
- Mushrooms
- Grilled tomatoes
- Toast or fried bread
- Laverbread (made from seaweed)
- Cockles
Laverbread is the big standout – it’s salty, rich and packed with flavour. It reflects Wales’s coastal history and how local ingredients have shaped the cuisine. It’s hearty, filling and absolutely not the meal you order if you’re planning a light morning.
What are some of the most popular foods and beverages in the Welsh cuisine?
When people think of Welsh foods, a few classics immediately come to mind.
- Welsh cakes
- Bara brith (a spiced fruit and tea cake)
- Cawl (a traditional lamb stew)
- Laverbread
- Glamorgan sausages (cheese and leek)
In terms of drinks, Welsh ales, locally roasted coffee, and of course a strong cup of tea are staples. There’s also a growing craft beer and gin scene across Wales that’s well worth exploring.
The food culture here blends rural traditions, coastal produce and modern café creativity. It’s comfort food at its core – rooted in history but constantly evolving.
What’s the recipe for crempogau?
Crempogau are traditional Welsh pancakes – smaller and thicker than English pancakes, but not quite as fluffy as American ones. They’re often served stacked with butter and syrup or sugar.
Here’s a simple crempog recipe you can try at home:
Ingredients:
- 225g self-raising flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 egg
- 300ml milk
- A pinch of salt
- Butter for cooking
Method:
- In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar and salt.
- Add the egg and gradually whisk in the milk to create a smooth batter.
- Melt a little butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Spoon small rounds of batter into the pan.
- Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, then flip and cook the other side until golden.
Serve warm with butter and your favourite toppings.
Crempogau are often linked to national celebrations and traditional feast days in Wales, and they’ve been part of the country’s culinary history for generations.
Simple ingredients. Big comfort. Always a good idea.
REE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide
Get your FREE Visiting 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.
Eat Out in Cardiff
Cardiff is a foodie’s delight. From the quality of the produce to the level of cooking, from cheap eats to fine dining, there’s something for every palate. Cardiff is staking a serious claim to being one of the UK’s most exciting places to eat.
Entertainment Bars in Cardiff
Whether looking for an after-work drink with colleagues, a boys’ or girls’ night out surrounded by cocktails, or a date night spot, you’re always close to the best bars in Cardiff.
Stay the Night
If you know when you’d like to travel, try to book as soon as possible. Prices rise the closer you get to the travel date and are usually displayed per room rather than per person. However, there is a vast array to accommodate all budgets.
There are plenty of days out in Cardiff if you’d like to enjoy the best of the city. Wales is filled with natural beauty and fascinating history, and Cardiff is also a brilliant base for day trips within the country.
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