My Cardiff

In September 2012 I moved to Cardiff as I started my first year as a Textile Design undergraduate at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Moving to a new city let alone a new country (I forget I live in Wales) was quite daunting not only was I moving into a flat with 8 people I'd never met before but I was starting a new course. Anyone who has been to university knows how crazy the first few months are but no one gives you a guide book when you arrive. Instead they just let you get on the wrong bus that takes you round the not so lovely suburbs for an hour then you realise it doesn't even go past where you live. Or you walk around the shopping centre in circles for 10 minutes because you can't find the exit. St David's shopping centre is MASSIVE before you think i'm ridiculous for getting lost indoors. 

Finding the best places to go in Cardiff took some time so for anyone who's never been to our Welsh capital here are the best places to go....


Waterloo Gardens Teahouse

Situated on the outskirts of Cardiff in the Roath/Penylan area on a quiet street. Waterloo has taken over the retail tea world and had been on my list of places to visit before moving here for quite some time. There isn't much of a scene for good coffee in Cardiff but Waterloo has made it there deal to share the lovely beans of Square Mile and Has Bean amongst other rotating roasters, taking advantage of the seasonal variations in coffee. However its tea you need to get excited about here, which is great because tea is my first love and its so satisfying that the wonderful team at Waterloo are so passionate. They are right though why should we pay £3 for a pot of tea with a PG tip in, it always outrages me going out for a cup of tea and getting an undrinkable cup of dishwater (i know i'm a bit of coffee/tea snob, i'm a barista I cant help it). At Waterloo they have over 50 different varieties of tea from Black to Green to Oolong. The list is a bit mind boggling but you would be sinning if you just went for English Breakfast be adventurous tea drinkers. Some of my favourite are Yunnan Breakfast, Meghalaya Autumn LaKyrsiew - the awakening and Cranberry Fruits. I'm partial to drinking Waterloo Tea at home in my lovely orange stump teapot. Waterloo are also locally famous for there crazy flavoured vegan and gluten free cakes, my favourite is courgette & lime. One of my favourite things about Waterloo though is the mix of clientele from the students in the corner next to the old ladies with their blue rinses, there is something to offer here for everyone. 

Image source: Tripadvisor.com

Fire Island

We visited Fire Island on the hottest day of the year so far (its still March) and like most people when there is a tiny bit of sun creeping through the clouds we all come flooding out. Ive found good weather in Cardiff is almost none existent so I wasn’t going to let a warm night like this pass. Fire Island only opened its doors recently and is the first real bar to sell craft beer in Cardiff, finally. This was my first visit and I was not disappointed, a large space situated in an old grade II listed building in the centre of Cardiff , the tiled bar, padded booths and wall memorial were all as I had envisioned. There was a healthy selection of craft beer on offer, I had a bottle of Flying Dog ‘Raging Bitch’ at £4.10 to start  it was the best way to start the night full of hops, orange and grapefruit notes at 8.3%. I was however disappointed when I asked for a glass I was given a pint glass which for a place that’s specialising in craft was a bit shocking. But I will assume she was a new member of staff and forgive all.  The girls took advantage of the 241 cocktail  deal and sampled the cosmopolitan,  very tasty and strong.

Next I had ½ pint of Tiny Rebel Urban IPA which was being served on tap, its very nice to see them supporting welsh brewerys. Urban IPA wasn’t what I was expecting very easy drinking, citrus fruits again but malts also present . The girls had long island ice tea for their second cocktail which was wayyy rummy but also way tasty. While I was there I checked out the menu, look away veggies this is a meat fest full of ribs, burgers and pulled pork. Reasonably priced burgers starting at £8.65 I will be back to sample the goods.

Fire island is part of Beatbox Bars, involved with Ten Feet Tall, Buffalo and the other cool dives in the diff. I was surprised at how quiet it was even for a Tuesday as everyone knows you can go out in Cardiff any day of the week. I think this is down to it only recently opening and the locals and students are still a bit wary. One thing that did disappoint me on this occasion was the service, hopefully this will not be the case next time. 

My own images

Bunkhouse

I first stumbled across Bunkhouse when someone told me you sit on beds rather than sofas or table and chairs. I needed to check this out. I first assumed Bunkhouse was a cafe in the day time, bar at night but how wrong was I its a HOSTEL. Shocking as the decor is so fabulously done with pretty bunting and cushions galore you would never asume it, they are some lucky backpackers fo sho. My last visit was in search of tea but when I was browsing behind the bar I noticed they had some interesting craft beers I chose a Lindemans Pecheresse which I had tried before, I'm a fan of Belgium fruit lambics such a girly option but who doesn't want to drink something as sweet as a peach tart. It was a rare find so it instantly made me approve of the place. Sarah had tea served with a mini jammy dodger (a lovely touch) and Rhiannon had a hot chocolate which I think was made out of Nutella which cannot be healthy but it was way tasty. The upstairs is full of bunk beds as the eccentric furnishings carries on, a bed starts at £10 for a night. Again service here was a bit wish wash, I think their main concern was the hostel side of the business which is a shame.

 All my own images

 

Other places to visit:
Cosy Club
Ten Feet Tall
Buffalo
Coffee #1
Zerodegrees