Grangetown is home to a large number of exciting and innovative independent businesses, from charming coffee shops and bakeries to classic pubs.
While there are, of course, plenty of chains dominating the main shopping streets, independent spots are integral to the city's identity.
This is no different in Grangetown, where independent retailers young and old play a prominent role in the local community.
Read more: 23 fascinating photos of Grangetown from war-time bombing through to the 1990s
Some of the suburb's most well-known institutions have been there for decades - and some for more than 100 years - but the area has undergone great change in recent years, with a number of new businesses setting up shop in Grangetown.
These retailers not only offer a wide range of products - from speciality coffee to bespoke picture frames - but also represent the diversity of the area, with Yemeni, Indian and Polish stores and restaurants among those dotted along Clare Road and beyond.
Here is our list of some of the best independent businesses that Grangetown has to offer:
Honeycomb Toys & Books
This family-run store on Clare Road is focused on making toys more accessible and affordable to those in Grangetown and beyond.
Opened in 2019 by mum-of-two Maia Banks, The Honeycomb stocks a wide range of sustainable, inclusive and locally made toys, nursery items, and books. It also hosts a number of fun events, including arts and crafts sessions and a weekly storytime.
You can also sign up to the store's "toy library", which allows customers to borrow toys for just £1 each per month and reduce the number of items that end up in landfill.
The Hideout Coffee House
This coffee shop prides itself not only on serving some of the best hot drinks and sweet treats in Cardiff, but also providing a safe and inclusive community space.
Situated in the pavilion building in Grange Gardens, The Hideout plays host to community-based events, including its Culture Cafe on the last Saturday of each month, where participants share their experiences of living in Grangetown.
There's plenty on offer for those who want a drink and a bite to eat too, of course, with cookies, brownies, toasties, ice cream and fresh salad boxes all on the menu.
The coffee house had some famous visitors last year, when Doctor Who stars Bradley Walsh, John Bishop and Jodie Whittaker popped in during a break in filming. You can read more about that here.
Vegetarian Food Studio
Established in 2003, this Indian restaurant on Penarth Road is very much a family run business, with head chef, Neil Patel developing his passion and knowledge from his grandmother, who still helps out at the restaurant.
An impressive menu boasts mouthwatering vegetarian dishes, including chilli paneer, Idli Sambar and Masala Dosa, with the chefs specialising in Gujarati cooking.
VFS's stunning food has earned plenty of plaudits from industry experts, with the restaurant being named the best vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Wales for the third year in a row at last year's Asian Curry Awards.
Delikatesy Mis
Regarded by many as the best Polish shop in Cardiff, Delikatesy Mis on Clare Road stocks a huge range of products from Poland and other Eastern European countries.
The supermarket, which also has a small coffee shop and a play area, offers everything from cheeses and fresh fruit and vegetables to traditional foods like smoked sausage and Pierogi dumplings.
Delicious pastries, sweet treats and bread rolls baked on-site are also immensely popular with the store's loyal customers.
The Grange Pub
A community pub through and through, the award-winning Grange Pub on Penarth Road has a warm, homely feel, which is aided by its welcoming, chatty staff and a cosy interior, with beer mats and hops surrounding the bar.
As well as serving a wide range of real ale, craft beer and fine wine, the pub is also a great place to go for a quality meal out (including a roast on Sundays), watch the rugby or even work your grey matter at their Wednesday quiz nights.
There's even a darts team that you can join - and you can read more about them here.
Clare Foods
A community favourite in Grangetown for 35 years, Clare Foods stocks a wide range of grocery items and Asian, Arabic and European food products.
First setting up shop on Clare Road in 1984, the business opened a second shop on City Road in 2011 before unveiling its new flagship store on the junction of Penarth Road and Clare Road in 2019.
The new store, which also includes a Halal butcher and café area, has proved popular with customers since its opening thanks largely to its attractive layout and reputation for reasonable prices.
Clark’s Pies
Established more than a hundred years ago in 1913 by Mary Clark, this family company is known across the capital for their iconic oval-shaped minced beef pies.
From their last remaining shop on the corner of Bromsgrove Street, pies are distributed to fish and chip shops around Cardiff, where they’re a regular fixture in heater cabinets alongside saveloys and rissoles.
The shop's retro, traditional feel is complimented by bargain prices - with a large pie costing just £1.65 - while the products speak for themselves. You can read what we made of the iconic pies here.
City Shawarma
A real local favourite, City Shawarma on Corporation Road has a range of delicious kebabs that are staggeringly good value.
Shawarma sandwiches and wraps are available for just £2.99, while a portion of chips is less than a pound. If you really feel like treating yourself, however, you could splash out on a full roast chicken with salad and naan for £4.99.
Don't be fooled by these low prices however - you get a lot for your money, so much so you may struggle to finish your meal in one sitting.
Davies Framing Services
This family business - which this year celebrates its 40th birthday - supplies artists, businesses and private clients from around Cardiff and beyond with bespoke framings for photos, prints and paintings.
Run by Marilyn Jenkins - who took over the business from her father and is now of the UK's leading picture framers - the business also offers home visits for customers who are unable to reach the shop on Clare Road.
While they specialise in wood frames, Davies Framing Services also stock glass, mount boards and textiles, while you can even frame things like football shirts.
Black and White Cafe
Many thought this iconic café - which has served Grangetown for nearly 50 years - was shut for good after it closed in 2017, but it is now back in business after reopening two years later.
The beloved cafe, which opened as the Black and White in 1971, continues to serve customers from near and far cooked breakfasts and traditional café dishes for bargain prices.
As well as some really tasty slap-up meals, you'll also find a warm, friendly atmosphere and plenty of banter between staff and regulars.
Khyber Kebab
While Khyber Kebab may look very unassuming, the restaurant on Corporation Road is much loved by residents, and has even been nominated for best Welsh restaurant at the British Kebab Awards.
Favourite dishes on offer include a range of warming curries - including chicken, lamb and chickpea, as well as fresh naan, pakora and a delicious cardamon rice pudding.
Deliveries from Khyber Kebab are also available via Just Eat if you fancy getting a takeaway.
Man Fung
This authentic Chinese supermarket on Penarth Road has been in Grangetown for more than 25 years, and stocks a wide range of fresh produce and store cupboard essentials.
You'll find everything from Chinese vegetables, noodles and dim sum to fresh cakes and desserts on its shelves, while you can also buy traditional rice bowls and cookers. There are plenty of vegan snacks and treats as well.
With a great selection and very reasonable prices, Man Fung is a great local alternative to the bigger supermarkets in the area.
Sara
One of the newest additions to Clare Road, Sara offers quality Middle Eastern food that won't break the bank.
Among its wide selection of dishes are its chicken and lamb shawarma wraps - self-proclaimed to be the "best in town" - and dolma, a stuffed vegetable dish.
However, its claim to fame is that it sells four fresh naan for just £1 - which we can all agree is an insanely good deal.
Brutons the Baker
One of Cardiff’s most iconic bakeries, Bruton’s was established in Cardiff in 1898, and run by four generations of the Bruton family before they retired in 2002.
Now run by the Best family, the bakery has two branches in Grangetown - on Holmesdale Street and Clare Road - and four others across Splott, Canton and Fairwater.
Among its vast range of sweet treats, highlights include its black cherry Danish and coffee and walnut tart. You can read about the best bakeries in Cardiff here.
Bab Al-Yemen
Serving up traditional Yemeni food, this restaurant on Clare Road has won plenty of fans for its large portions and very reasonable prices.
Dishes on offer include Mandi lamb, Tandoor fish bar and Ogda chicken, while huge platters - comprising a whole chicken, vegetable curry, rice and chips and more - are available for two or more people to share.
Clarence Hardware
Established in 1959, Clarence Hardware is Cardiff’s oldest independent hardware centre and ironmonger and continues to supply both retail and trade sectors after more than 60 years in the business.
While the Corporation Road store may look more like a corner shop from the outside, it stocks a huge range of products, from DIY essentials such as paint, screws and bolts to far more complex tools required for specialist jobs.
Prices are competitive and service is incredibly friendly, with staff happy to answer any questions, no matter how big or small the job.
Merola’s
This popular Italian restaurant on Clare Road has been a Grangetown staple for over 35 years, and still attracts customers from far and wide with its friendly atmosphere and delicious food.
Open three nights a week, Merola's offers "the very best in Italian cooking" inspired from the Amalfi coast and the Campania region.
The expansive menu includes classic pizzas and pasta dishes, as well as steak, chicken, veal and fish and a range of moreish desserts
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