Cardiff reccomendations

[142094]

I'll be in south Wales in the next few weeks and looking for:

1) A good place for breakfast near to Queen Street station (Spoons as a last resort)

2) Decent real ale pubs in Cardiff itself, or on some of the Valley lines

3) Decent pubs for food.

TIA

 

[Zamracene749]

Visited Cardiff and the valleys about 2 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

For excellent beers i'd recommend The Cricketers on Cathedral road-it's a longish walk but you can get a bus almost to the door and the Evan Evans ale is certainly worth the trip- the food looked nice too.
Out of the handful of real ale bars within the city centre I'd recommend The Goat Major on the High street (friendly but got very busy on the weekend) with as good a pint of Brains as I've tasted.

I didn't get time to try it but the beers at the Chapter Arts centre are supposedly pretty good too.

Most memorable pub in the valleys was The Prince of Wales in Aberdare, full range of Rhymney ales on well kept taps, friendly if boisterous locals and its a proper pub, perhaps not for the faint hearted but I spent a full afternoon there

Best dining I tried was at the Thai House near Queen Street, everything was a cut above the usual Thai meals i've eaten, fresh, well prepared and delicious! Try it if you like spicy scran, but i'd ring ahead to book because I only just managed to get a table and that on a quiet wednesday evening in february.

HTH

 

[142094]

I'll have a look at Aberdare, few breweries I want to try when I'm down - had Rhymney Iron Brew before which was great.

 

[Greenback]

I can't recommend anywhere for breakfast in Cardiff as I'm never there early enough for that!

When it comes to real ale pubs, I was very impressed with The City Arms, just off St Mary's Street. The last time me and Mrs Greenback ventured in they had several guest beers and one being dispensed straight from the barrel.CAMRA pub of the year 2012 apparently!

http://www.thecityarmscardiff.com/index

Just down from there, on Westgate Street, you will find The Queens Vaults, which is renowned locally for its cheap but good food. They now do a carvery too.

http://www.jwbassettpubs.com/vaults.html

There are a couple of other pubs that I regularly use on my Cardiff crawls, including the Old Arcade and The Rummer Tavern. I should also point out that I love the chairs in the Goat Major!

 

[PHILIPE]

Apart from places where there are a Wetherspoons and the occasional "real ale specialist" pub and a small number of others., the Valleys are awash with "fizz" When "fizz" flooded the Valleys back in the 50s, the locals were reared on it and don't know anything else. I have seen unused handpumps and been told there is no demand for it anymore, again through being "reared" on "fizzz" and not knowing or even trying anythingelse. I think Wetherspoons beer feastivals (twixe yearly" are a good thing as people are likely to try a cheap offer and realise what they have been missing.

 

[Trelluest]

Brains Brewery have recently launched a series of craft beers, generally brewed on a small scale basis, and can be found in some city centre pubs.

The City Arms has been mentioned, but I would also try the Cottage Pub on St Mary Street - just a stones throw from the City Arms, or the Old Arcade, just off St Mary Street. Both have decently priced pub grub to boot.

 

[Greenback]

Apart from places where there are a Wetherspoons and the occasional "real ale specialist" pub and a small number of others., the Valleys are awash with "fizz" When "fizz" flooded the Valleys back in the 50s, the locals were reared on it and don't know anything else. I have seen unused handpumps and been told there is no demand for it anymore, again through being "reared" on "fizzz" and not knowing or even trying anythingelse.

It is exactly the same in Llanelli. Apart from JDW, the town tends to be a real ale desert, such a shame considering its brewing history.