10 Best Restaurants In Cathays Cardiff (2023)

Cathays is an area of Cardiff that is a student area which mostly comes alive during term time. Although takeaways abound, scattered in between them you’ll find some great restaurants. The cuisine is varying and copious, and the majority of these restaurants are reasonable priced. Here’s our guide to the ten best restaurants in the area.

The Irie Shack, located on popular Woodville Road, is a Caribbean Bar and Grill. Aesthetically, the restaurant looks like a shack which has been transported from Jamaica and placed in Cathays. Food wise you can choose from a meal cooked in the fire pit, or the one pot option. If neither of those seem appealing, try a burger or roti – an authentic flat bread wrap filled with goodness. A list of 241 cocktails is served all day.

Mowgli’s has won various awards and its owner, Mr Zaman, and his team have created a reputation second to none in the area. Their twist on Indian cuisine has earned them many loyal customers who repeatedly return, either to sit down and eat in the restaurant or to enjoy a takeaway. On Sunday nights, Mowgli’s offers a very reasonable five course tasting menu.

Falafel Kitchen is a small cafe with a help-yourself salad bar with excellent value for money. The menu differs slightly in the evenings, with a few more options added to the lunch menu.

Not strictly a restaurant, Wiwo does however have a sit down area where you can enjoy your food. Based on Woodville Road, this noodle bar is reasonably priced. Apart from noodles, Wiwo also offers a katsu curry and a range of sides, and with the service being so quick, it’s an easy on-the-move option. They also sell a reasonably priced lunch box, so pop in during the day if you fancy some Japanese food.

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The Hellenic Eatery is a family-run restaurant in the heart of Cathays. The eatery’s aim is to bring a piece of Greece to the capital of Wales. Live music can often be heard from within on a weekend, and with prices that are hard to beat, this is a popular venue. The eatery has won many an award, so book a table and enjoy your food with glass of authentic retsina.

Mina restaurant serves Lebanese cuisine and it does so particularly well. Enjoy a mezza to start, and follow with a sweet Lebanese favourite. They serve excellent cocktails too.

Face 11 is a cosy cocktail bar and restaurant tucked away on Cathays Terrace. It’s home to a secret garden which only adds to the charm and character of the place. The menu is paleo inspired, and the stone baked pizzas are delicious and filling. With an excellent cocktail menu, Face 11 is the perfect place to spend an evening and enjoy a tasty delight from their varied menu.