Our new microguides assortment is impressed by the gradual journey movement, encouraging travellers to calm down their tempo and take a deep dive into one express neighbourhood in a well-loved metropolis. Comparatively than a whirlwind itinerary which targets to hit up every must-see attraction, these compact, close-up guides encourage you to zone in, take your time and really uncover like a neighborhood.
I’m pretty optimistic I dwell in Roath. Unsure, on account of Roath’s boundaries are significantly imprecise, having shifted over centuries and almost vanished on account of 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. Affluent nonetheless edgy, it’s dwelling to an ever-increasing number of unbiased retailers and cafés, a inventive, eco-conscious group and one amongst many metropolis’s loveliest parks.
The realm is worth a wander for its Victorian and Edwardian improvement alone – nonetheless the movement centres alongside its three eclectic extreme 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 Extreme Freeway – a heady mixture of shisha lounges, barbershops and Coronary coronary heart Japanese consuming locations.
Listed beneath are merely simply a few of Roath’s most attention-grabbing bits.
Do
Wander all by the Victorian-era park
Roath Park is the neighbourhood’s inexperienced coronary coronary coronary coronary heart. Peruse distinctive vegetation all by the manicured gardens (the monkey puzzle tree is my favourite), stroll all by 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 taking part fairy-light-strewn studio is an enthralling spot for stretching elements out at a yoga class. Beautiful Icelandic coach Osk teaches hatha flows which can very properly be acceptable for all ranges and class sizes are refreshingly small. Drop-ins worth £12 – e e e-book by the MindBody app.
Catch a gift in an outdated church
Pull up a pew – actually – to watch a gig at The Gate, a grade II-listed Presbyterian church which has been lovingly transformed into an arts and group centre. The intimate venue recurrently hosts work exhibitions, comedy and a plethora of pop, folks and Welsh-language bands.
Get suave
In 2021 Lark, Design, Make moved up the freeway to the Cathays dwelling (Roath’s student-filled neighbour), nonetheless it deserves an honourable diploma out. Their healthful workshops, from crochet and macramé to cleansing cleaning cleansing cleaning soap making and lino printing, replicate Roath’s inventive, can-do spirit.
Pizza at Scaramantica, Cardiff
(Scaramantica)
Eat
Anna Loka
Consuming plant-based isn’t any draw again in Roath. Vegan favourite 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 some extent out seitan Sunday roast.
Scaramantica
There’s no shortage of first value pizzerias in Cardiff, nonetheless Scaramantica is up there with one of the best – churning out skinny, chewy-crusted classics from its Stefano Ferrara pizza oven along with swish cocktails. It’s my little slice of la dolce vita all by the ’Diff.
Associates in Knead
The queue down the freeway says all of it: gluttons for gluten adore Associates in Knead. The sourdough and Biscoff “dirty buns” are divine, nonetheless the true showstoppers are the brioche doughnuts, which may very well be found an ever-changing line-up of flavours resembling 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 preserve them coming as quickly 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 actually really actually really feel, housed in a former brothel. Brother-and-sister group Will and Georgie take their espresso considerably, 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 consider 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 you want an enormous free leaf or a builder’s brew, there’s a rarefied cuppa for you at Waterloo Tea. There are two retailers to choose 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 am obsessed. Along with kitchen cupboard requirements and snacks, they stock eco-friendly toiletries, sustainable vogue, green-themed books and plastic-free presents and greeting taking part in participating in enjoying playing cards. Fantastic for lining the cupboards 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 frequent gallery exhibitions along with the eternal retailer, stuffed to the brim with vibrant prints and handcrafted textiles, jewellery and ceramics.
Penny Lane Elementary
I’ll merely whereas away a day in Penny Lane Elementary, current in barely little little bit of arcade off Wellfield Freeway. It’s a treasure trove for sustainable, one-off vogue finds to positioned on down on the town. Who doesn’t love fabulous faux-fur coats, retro radiograms and chunky-knit sweaters from the Nineteen Seventies?
Defend
Sandringham Rental
This charming Edwardian dwelling, accessible for lease on Airbnb, overlooks Roath Mill Gardens, the place I spend an inordinate time interval smiling at fully fully completely different of us’s canine. The balcony is a elementary spot for people (or pet) watching.
The Crofts Lodge
All through the occasion you’re searching for a spotless room, good-value pub grub and an ample beer yard, arrange camp at The Crofts Lodge. Light sleeper? Ship earplugs – affable locals can preserve the bar energetic on the weekends.
