Eating Out

The variety of restaurants in Cardiff has steadily increased with the burgeoning local food culture. Featuring a wealth of independent eateries, diners can choose from an abundance of good quality international fare, fusion, fine-dining, and Welsh cuisine.

There are a number of good restaurants to visit in Cardiff and many celebrate classic Welsh dishes. Tourists should try the famous Welsh rarebit, a decadent bread and cheese sauce dish; Shepherd's Pie; or Welsh Glamorgan vegetarian sausage.

The city boasts some atmospheric old pubs, which are the highlight for many visitors. Visitors should be sure to try the Old Arcade, a world-famous rugby pub opened in 1844; and the Rummer Inn, opened in about 1813, which is rumoured to have a resident ghost in the cellar.

Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Harbour and the Brewery Quarter offer the biggest range of dining options, and tourists eating out in Cardiff will have no difficulty finding something they enjoy. Wales also has a number of wineries, distilleries, breweries and tea plantations.

Shopping

Shopping in Cardiff is a pleasant experience for visitors, who can stroll peacefully along the pretty Victorian arcades and pedestrianised shopping streets in the city centre, browsing through well-known shops, food and craft markets, and smaller boutiques.

The main shopping streets in Cardiff are Castle, Duke, St Mary, Queen, and High streets, and the best-known arcades are the Castle and Royal arcades. The Hayes offers more independent shops, including Spillers Records, which is reportedly the oldest record shop in the world and a delight for music enthusiasts.

There are a number of shopping malls in Cardiff as well, including St David's Shopping Centre and Capitol Shopping Centre. The city also boasts a few very good markets, the most popular being the Central Market, which offers everything from art and jewellery to antiques and food. There's an outdoor fruit and vegetable market on Mary Ann Street, and a Sunday morning open-air market in Bessemer Street.

For local arts and crafts and popular Cardiff souvenirs, visitors should look in the tourist areas. Castle Welsh Crafts is opposite the entrance to Cardiff Castle, and Craft in the Bay is in Lloyd George Avenue. The Cardiff Christmas Market runs annually from early November until the day before Christmas Eve and is a delight; it has an assortment of Christmas gift options, as well as festive food and drink.

Nightlife

Cardiff is considered one of the top nightlife cities in the United Kingdom, supposedly having more pubs per square metre than any other city in Britain. With a wide selection of bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants, Cardiff's nightlife is sure to please just about everyone.

Some of the most bustling areas for nightlife in Cardiff are located in the city centre. St Mary Street, Greyfriars Road, and Mill Lane are all busy and offer a number of options. Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Harbour is also a fun place to go for a night out.

A little ways out of town, the Red Dragon Centre is a lively shopping centre with entertainment options for the whole family. There are numerous live music venues in Cardiff; the hottest live music club is arguably the unpronounceable Clwb ifor Bach, which hosts live bands at least twice a week.

If visitors are after a cultural experience, Cardiff is the heart of the arts scene in Wales and offers plenty of theatre and performing arts venues. The architecturally beautiful Wales Millennium Centre is the base for the Welsh National Opera and the Dance Company of Wales, and also houses the Donald Gordon Theatre and the Weston Studio for all manner of performances.

St David's Hall also hosts orchestral concerts, ballets, film screenings, and international touring bands. Sherman Cymru and the Chapter Arts Centre are smaller venues that host a variety of arts and entertainment performances, exhibitions, and workshops.