Ever since a millennial wand was waved on the Bay, turning it from stinky wasteland to the shiny modern face of the capital of Wales, Cardiff has steadily been upping its game hotel-wise.
A quick Google search reveals a disproportionate number of cookie-cutter chains, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find lush boutique B&Bs and charismatic hotels fusing style and history increasingly muscling in on the scene. And, this being Wales, they don’t cost the earth either.
Nowadays, you can snuggle up in a cool converted coal exchange, a slickly designed spa hotel by the waterfront, a Victorian arcade or a luxuriously revamped post office. There’s really something for everyone when it comes to places to stay.
Stay central if you want to shop and party, head to the Bay for expansive views and attention-grabbing architecture, or stray off-piste into corners such as Pontcanna and Canton for indie cafes, bars and restaurants, and a mellow neighbourly vibe.
Neighbourhood: Cardiff Bay
This hotel comes with dreamy views across the water
(Booking.com)
Cardiff Bay’s most eye-catching hotel is this sail-topped, glass-walled, five-star number, with dreamy views across the water all the way to Penarth. The rooms play up clean, modern aesthetics, with a breezy palette of coastal blues, floor-to-ceiling windows and artworks singing of the sea. They are terrific for exploring the regenerated Bay and its architecturally striking landmarks it’s just a 10-minute stroll to the Senedd and Millennium Centre.
The hotel has impeccable eco credentials, recently awarded the Green Key for sustainable measures that include EV charging points, OVO e-bikes to rent (£2 for a 30-minute spin), waste reduction and an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. They’re family-friendly, too, with staff going out of their way to make kids feel welcome.
The spa is the clincher, however, with a jetted hydrotherapy pool, waterbeds, sauna and an enticing array of seaweed-based ishga treatments, from hot-stone massage to salt-and-oil scrubs. Nice and relaxed, you can head to the bar terrace for sunset views and cocktails (try a Bara Brith sour with Devil’s Bridge spiced rum). Tir a Mor is a cut above most hotel restaurants, with big Bay views and an inspired menu riffing creatively on Welsh ingredients in dishes such as Pembrokeshire crab cakes with lime mayo, and…
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