When it comes to places to eat, Cardiff has a delicious collection of flavourful foodie haunts to get stuck into breakfast, lunch and tea. From pizzarias and burger joints to Indian fine dining and street food, you will be spoilt for choice when comes to your dinner plans.
And while over the last few months we've seen the closure of far too many independent businesses, read more on that here, we've got a whole host of fresh new independent and chain restaurants coming to the city between October and the end of the year to introduce your tastebuds to some new flavours.
While some have a firm opening date and others are still to be confirmed, we've rounded up a list showcasing some of what's to come in the coming months for Cardiff's foodie scene and what you can expect from each of them.
If you are a restaurant that's opening in Cardiff between now and Christmas that's not been mentioned, please email eve.rowlands@walesonline.co.uk so we can add you in.
Flight Club
This 'social darts' bar is making its way to Wales' capital city in early October. The bar sees the classic pub game of darts take on a new "supercharged" look and will be serving delicious food - small plates, pizzas and sharing platters, for example - and free-flowing cocktails alongside the game. It promises its new customers a "spectacular bar, electric atmosphere and mind-blowing experience" from its first location in Wales. With 15 social darts playing areas, four bar areas and a gorgeous roof terrace, it's the perfect place for a friendly get-together with mates.
They will also be offering prosecco and bottomless pizza at their brunch social every Thursday to Sunday. The place is set to open on Friday, October 7.
Where : 3-4 St Mary Street
Maison Grill Chez Barker
We can't wait to welcome this French-style cafe/bistro to the city. Opening in the location of the former Madame Fromage, this new establishment comes from the team behind popular coffee house Coffee Barker as well as gin bar Gin & Juice, Rum & Fizz and Barker Tearooms. Maison Grill Chez Barker is planning on opening its doors wide open in November, just in time for the festive season, and hopes to embody the romance and charm of Paris - and what better location than the Castle Arcade which dates back to 1887.
Its menu will offer an all-day dining experience with a hearty focus on the French speciality Steak-Frites (steak and fries), complete with French cocktails, beers and wine, which will be served from a zinc-topped Parisian bar and, of course, a selection of desserts and cheeses - you simply can't have a French cafe without fromage.
Where : Castle Arcade
Tukka Tuk Canteen
Brought to you by the team behind Tukka Tuk at Goodsheds, Founders & Co and Cardiff Indoor Market, Rupali Wagh and chef Anand George, Tukka Tuk Canteen is the duo's fourth culinary venture and permanent restaurant. It was first showcased at Merthyr Mawr's Fforest Festival during September, where punters got a sneak peak at the brand new menu for the restaurant - and it was met with great success. While the details around the opening of Tukka Tuk Canteen aren't widely known, it is believed that the new restaurant will open on Whitchurch Road this December. You can read our review from Forest Feastival here.
Where : Whitchurch Road
Franco Manca
Cardiff, prepare yourself as it seems the "sourdough pizza pioneers" are coming - and what a wonderous addition to the city's growing pizza market it is. Promising it doesn't "overcomplicate. We don’t overprice. We don’t stuff crusts. We do sourdough pizza, as it should be", the pizzeria, which first opened in Brixton Market in 1986 under a different name before becoming Franco Manca in 2008, creates Neopolitan-inspired pizza and, staying true to its Italian roots, uses small local suppliers and makes its dough fresh.
Its website says: "When you eat at Franco Manca, you support people working close to the land. Small farms = Big taste."
No opening date has been confirmed yet but with building works taking place already on the site, it shouldn't be too long before we're enjoing the taste or Franco Manca's sourdough pizzas.
Where : Church Street
Dusty's Castle Arcade
Phill and Debs Lewis own and run three of Cardiff's most delicious and much-loved food businesses - Kindle, Nook and, of course, Dusty's. And with so much love for the pizzeria since it began in 2014 - a love that was highlighted after it honestly revealed it was struggling with staffing issues, forcing it to close temporarily - it's no wonder they are bringing another location to the Welsh capital. Creating delectable wood-fired pizza with tasty toppings, Dusty's third location - after Canton's Paper Mill Road and Founder & Co in Swansea - is sure to be a hit with city dwellers.
The duo are aiming to open in November.
Where : Castle Arcade
Courts
Courts has taken over the site of the old Toby Carvery and former Baron's Court and will open this October as a luxury restaurant. Alongside private dining, it will have a VIP area, main bar and restaurant area as well as a champagne terrace that will open in the summer of 2023. The new establishment - "where history meets luxury" - will play host to "show-stopping parties" as well as an unforgettable dining experience.
Long before it was a restaurant, this building was a Tudor period mansion belonging to the Herbert family that went by the name of Cogan Pill House and is thought to date back to the late 15th or early 16th century. According to the booking form, the place is set to open at the end of October.
Where : Penarth Road, Cardiff
Tokyo Nights
If you're a regular to Cardiff Market, we know what you're thinking: Tokyo Nights is already there. Yes, it is. But what you may not know is that they are expanding their business and moving to a bigger unit upstairs! The popular Japanese-inspired street food trader will be taking over the former C.L.J Electrics and will see them have new seating along the counters outside the shop. Along with a bigger unit, the new Tokyo Nights plans to offer more food-to-go options as well as bento boxes.
Speaking of the new site, Oliver Bryant, the founder, said: "We want to showcase our products and how we make them so guests and passers by will be able to see us making the gyozas, prepping our chickens and cooking our Katsu curry sauce. We’ll also be bringing our awesome Tonkatsu Sando which I think the people of Cardiff will love!"
While no opening date has been confirmed, the founder is hopeful for November.
Where : Upstairs at Cardiff Indoor Market
Royal Donuts
The UK's first Royal Donuts shop and cafe is set to be opening "very soon" in Cardiff. The German brand already has stores in France, Switzerland, Germany and more, but they serve some pretty scrumptious sweet treats that rival some of Cardiff's popular doughnut shops.
Their drool-worthy doughnuts include cookie doughnuts that ooze cookie dough, Oreo doughnuts that come with strawberries and have an Oreo sandwiched in the middle of the sweet treat, and doughnuts topped with pretzels, fruit, sweets, chocolate and so much more. Once open they will also be selling milkshakes, coffees, and smoothies.
While no date has been confirmed, the sign is ready to go with the final few touches being put to the store, so it's only a matter of time.
Where : 34 Clare Road
Fido
While many residents across Cardiff will be mourning the loss of the much-loved eatery Kemi's after Kemi Nevins and her son Patrick decided it was time to move on, it may be comforting to know that it won't be an empty shell of a shop for long. In its place, a dog-friendly cafe called Fido, run by Jon and Vicky Griffin, will feed and hydrate the city.
Alongside coffee, cake, breakfast and lunch options, it will also offer dog treats on the menu and have dog accessories for sale. The heart of Kemi's will also remain as the new owners will be keeping the staff who helped run its day-to-day operation - and who know the recipes Kemi and Patrick presented the people of Pontcanna on a daily basis.
Announcing this news on social media, Kemi wrote: "New owners Vicky & John together with the same great team will continue to serve your favourites from the menu but with a new fresh look. Your four-legged friends will also be encouraged with lots of exciting dog treats and accessories."
The new cafe is set to open in mid-October.
Where : 186-188 Kings Road, Pontcanna
Tir a Môr
Tir A Môr, Cardiff Bay's newly refurbed Voco Hotel restaurant, is opening later this year, just in time for the Christmas season. With a new look and a brand new menu, it's going to be a gorgeous restaurant to add to the list.
Where : Voco St. David’s, Cardiff
Dirty Gnocchi
This popular Italian street food company, which is currently based in Newport, is making its welcome return to the Welsh capital, serving up deep fried gnocci, homemade pasta - in a giant cheese wheel - and more, and hopes to be open just in time for Christmas this December.
Run by husband and wife team Rhys and Laura Keogh, who are from Cardiff and previously owned the award-winning The Pot and La Pentola, which they sold following the pandemic, Dirty Gnocchi started off as a street food trader at Cardiff's DEPOT in 2021 and from there, the duo have gone on to grow a following with various food takeovers at Corporation Yard, Sticky Fingers and Neighbourhood Kitchen, among others. Now, they're looking to come to Cardiff Market to offer the people of the city a deliciously Dirty Gnocchi lunch option.
Where : 33-37 Cardiff Market
Giggling Squid
This gorgoeous Thai tapas chain restaurant was founded in 2002 by husband and wife team Pranee and Andy Laurillard and is set to open its first Welsh store in the St David's Centre on The Hayes in December 2022, according to the website. Dishes on the expansive menu, which is divided into tapas, starters, ‘from the water’, ‘from the land’, stir-fries, curries and noodles include turmeric grilled squid with garlic, mah kwan pepper pork belly, and betel leaf, ginger and lime salmon. A wide range of creative cocktails, including a mojito-style mango and chilli mosquito to a Thai-spresso martini with coconut coffee liqueur, will also be on offer. We can't wait!
Where: 29-33 The Hayes
To get the latest What's On email updates from WalesOnline, click here
READ MORE:
- Indian restaurant set on a golf course named best in Wales for third year in UK awards
- Lokky's review: The Asian restaurant in the 'wilds of Saundersfoot' just named best in Wales
- I made a cheap and healthy meal with an air fryer and now I'm a full convert
- Gem42 review: Edible QR-codes and 16-hour cooked cauliflower at the restaurant named the best in Wales
- The twin brothers from Italy who own the best and probably wackiest restaurant in Wales
