Our new microguides assortment is impressed by the sluggish journey motion, encouraging travellers to loosen up their tempo and take a deep dive into one particular neighbourhood in a well-loved metropolis. Fairly than a whirlwind itinerary which targets to hit up each must-see attraction, these compact, close-up guides encourage you to zone in, take your time and really uncover like an house.
I’m fairly optimistic I reside in Roath. Not sure, on account of Roath’s boundaries are considerably obscure, having shifted over centuries and just about vanished due to the council’s map tinkering. Nonetheless this place – (very) roughly contained between metropolis’s Roath Park and Newport Freeway – isn’t any wishy-washy no man’s land. Prosperous nonetheless edgy, it’s residence to an ever-increasing variety of impartial retailers and cafés, a ingenious, eco-conscious neighborhood and one amongst many metropolis’s loveliest parks.
The realm is price a wander for its Victorian and Edwardian enchancment alone – nonetheless the motion centres alongside its three eclectic excessive streets. There’s Wellfield Freeway, with its well-to-do village vibe; Albany Freeway, acknowledged for its hen joints and charity retailers; and multicultural Metropolis Freeway, the Welsh capital’s reply to London’s Kilburn Excessive Freeway – a heady combination of shisha lounges, barbershops and Coronary coronary coronary heart Japanese consuming areas.
Listed beneath are merely merely just a few of Roath’s finest bits.
Do
Wander all by means of the Victorian-era park
Roath Park is the neighbourhood’s inexperienced coronary coronary coronary coronary coronary coronary coronary heart. Peruse distinctive vegetation all by means of the manicured gardens (the monkey puzzle tree is my favorite), stroll all by means of the lake with a espresso in hand – dodging geese as you go – or lease a rowing boat for a swan’s eye view of the white clock tower, a Cardiff icon.
Practise your downward canine
Physiospace’s gorgeous fairy-light-strewn studio is a fascinating spot for stretching parts out at a yoga class. Pretty Icelandic coach Osk teaches hatha flows which is perhaps acceptable for all ranges and sophistication sizes are refreshingly small. Drop-ins price £12 – e e e e e guide by the MindBody app.
Catch a present in an earlier church
Pull up a pew – really – to take a look at a gig at The Gate, a grade II-listed Presbyterian church which has been lovingly reworked into an arts and neighborhood centre. The intimate venue repeatedly hosts work exhibitions, comedy and a plethora of pop, of us and Welsh-language bands.
Get intelligent
In 2021 Lark, Design, Make moved up the freeway to the Cathays dwelling (Roath’s student-filled neighbour), nonetheless it deserves an honourable stage out. Their healthful workshops, from crochet and macramé to cleaning cleansing cleaning cleansing cleaning cleansing cleaning soap making and lino printing, mirror Roath’s ingenious, can-do spirit.
Pizza at Scaramantica, Cardiff
(Scaramantica)
Eat
Anna Loka
Consuming plant-based isn’t any draw as shortly as additional in Roath. Vegan favorite Anna Loka serves up comforting plates of goodness in its boho restaurant and yard nook: spectacular full breakfasts, pimped-out burgers, nourishing Buddha bowls and a counsel seitan Sunday roast.
Scaramantica
There’s no scarcity of respectable pizzerias in Cardiff, nonetheless Scaramantica is up there with the one – churning out skinny, chewy-crusted classics from its Stefano Ferrara pizza oven together with swish cocktails. It’s my little slice of la dolce vita all by means of the ’Diff.
Buddies in Knead
The queue down the freeway says all of it: gluttons for gluten adore Buddies in Knead. The sourdough and Biscoff “soiled buns” are divine, nonetheless the exact showstoppers are the brioche doughnuts, which can very nicely be discovered an ever-changing line-up of flavours akin to cinnamon crunch, strawberry milkshake and pistachio.
Shaam Nights
For a Syrian feast, head to Shaam Nights on Metropolis Freeway. The in-your-face interiors – all gilded tiling and glitzy hanging lanterns – delight newcomers, nonetheless it’s the mouthwatering shawarma, falafel and stuffed vine leaves that defend them coming as shortly as additional.
Espresso at Sibling cafe, Roath
(Sibling/Piotr Skocylas)
Drink
Sibling
Get your caffeine restore at Sibling, a minimalist café and wine bar with an Antipodean really really really really really actually really feel, housed in a former brothel. Brother-and-sister employees Will and Georgie take their espresso severely, sharing tasting notes as they pour your batch brew and baking moreish cookies to match the beans’ flavour profiles.
Glory Retailers
Half deli, half upmarket cafe – suppose cheeseboards, oysters and caviar crisps – Glory Retailers is the brainchild of Shaun Houcke, the oenophile behind Cardiff’s LGBT-friendly pop-up Gays Who Wine. I can take into accounts no cosier place to get tiddly on Bolly and Beaujolais.
Waterloo Tea
Know your rooibos out of your Yunnan black? Whether or not or not or not or not or not or not or not you want an stunning free leaf or a builder’s brew, there’s a rarefied cuppa for you at Waterloo Tea. There are two retailers to select from in Roath – one on Wellfield Freeway and the distinctive, overlooking leafy Waterloo Gardens.
(MADE/Zoë Gingell)
Retailer
Ripple
A female-owned, crowdfunding success story, Ripple is Cardiff’s first not-for-profit, zero-waste retailer. And I’m obsessed. Together with kitchen cabinet necessities and snacks, they inventory eco-friendly toiletries, sustainable mannequin, green-themed books and plastic-free presents and greeting collaborating in having gratifying with having satisfying with having enjoyable with collaborating in taking part in playing cards. Nice for lining the cabinets of your Airbnb.
Cardiff Made
A souvenir- or gift-shopping paradise, indie arts hub Cardiff Made celebrates and helps native makers and artists. It hosts widespread gallery exhibitions together with the everlasting retailer, stuffed to the brim with vibrant prints and handcrafted textiles, jewelry and ceramics.
Penny Lane Foremost
I might merely whereas away a day in Penny Lane Foremost, present in solely arcade off Wellfield Freeway. It’s a treasure trove for sustainable, one-off mannequin finds to positioned on down in town. Who doesn’t love fabulous faux-fur coats, retro radiograms and chunky-knit sweaters from the Nineteen Seventies?
Keep
Sandringham Condominium
This charming Edwardian residence, accessible for lease on Airbnb, overlooks Roath Mill Gardens, the place I spend an inordinate time interval smiling at utterly utterly absolutely utterly utterly completely different of us’s canines. The balcony is a chief spot for folks (or pet) watching.
The Crofts Resort
All by the event you’re throughout the hunt for a spotless room, good-value pub grub and an ample beer yard, arrange camp at The Crofts Resort. Delicate sleeper? Convey earplugs – affable locals can defend the bar vigorous on the weekends.
