The capital city and culture centre of Wales, Cardiff is home to a vast selection of places to sit back, relax, and enjoy a beverage, from hipster hideaways to the best beer gardens.
To help you find your way around the many pubs and bars, we have hand-picked five of our favourite watering holes with a twist, bursting atmosphere, entertainment, unique food, and speciality drinks.
Voted Cardiff’s best pub in 2012, The City Arms has an almost historic status in Wales’ capital. The establishment is only a few minutes from the Millennium Stadium, and on match days their atmospheres could be one in the same!
Also a second home for Cardiff’s students and professionals as well as the die-hard sport fans, The City Arms takes pride in its unmatched selection of beers and craft ales that will cater to even the pickiest of drinkers. If you can’t quite decide on what to drink, you can always order The Pint of Thirds and sample three 1/3 pints of any cask ale you choose!
The Tiny Rebel made its name in 2013 (Urban Tap House) as Wales’ first pub fully dedicated to craft brews, offering a wide selection of beers and ciders on top of an impressive wine and spirit menu. Not just a place for drink enthusiasts, Urban Tap House is also reputable for its inventive burgers – if you want something completely unique, visit on New Burger Thursday, where every week they introduce a brand new creation.
When you aren’t eating or drinking you can soak in the fantastic atmosphere – the pub’s 5 rooms create a lively and chatty aura, and the resident arcade machine adds a unique and retro touch – pop by for Board Game Night every Monday!
Owned by former actor Dan Porter, Porter’s brings together everything you need for a memorable evening. Its selection of craft beers and ales are best enjoyed alongside the regular live music, stand-up comedy, and even locally produced entertainment held in The Other Room – Cardiff’s first pub theatre.
There’s always something to do in Porter’s, whether its absorbing the best and brightest of Cardiff’s culture, testing your old routines on Tuesday night’s Open Mic, or just kicking back with movies and board games on a relaxed Sunday afternoon.
You can take a break from the standard saloons and typical taverns when you come to Chapter. Despite being voted one of the best places to go for drink four times by Observer Food Monthly, the venue isn’t just another room to enjoy a beverage – it’s also a full on multi art form cultural space!
The open plan layout makes for a welcoming atmosphere, where you can add a little charm to your evening with an in-house cinema, theatre, and numerous exhibitions. If you come for the entertainment you’ll stay for the beer, with Chapter offering 20 different Bavarian beers amongst many other fine tipples.
Popular with families, friends, and co-workers all over Cardiff, The Pen and Wig offers something for all of its patrons. The selection of beers showcases all that is good about Wales’ breweries, while just reading the food menu will leave you salivating – keep an eye out for Spice Night for a delicious curry and drink after 5pm!
The venue knows its entertainment too, with live music every Saturday, open mic nights every Monday, and the best pub quiz in Cardiff every Tuesday, making The Pen and Wig an unmissable spot for a night of quality food, drink, and company.
Located in the city centre, our Cardiff hotel is only a short walk from a number of attractions, making it the ideal place to start when exploring the city. Take a look through our city guide for more fun things to do in Cardiff.
Learn more about booking a city break in Cardiff or discover Cardiff hotspot Chicama.
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