13 best restaurants in Cardiff

Asador 44 is where you go when you want to treat yourself. Chef-owner brothers Owen and Tom Morgan know exactly how to look after you. The space feels like a warm cocoon, all dark wood, copper accents, and hulking cuts of meat dry-ageing in a fridge that doubles as a centrepiece. The menu draws from the Spanish asador tradition, where meat takes the spotlight. Steaks are grilled over charcoal, gently smoked and perfectly rested. The prawn croqueta with charcoal mayo is a standout starter – crisp, creamy, with a subtle smoky depth. The confit duck leg, served on a bed of aged rice, is rich, comforting and the kind of dish you think about days later. This isn’t an everyday kind of place. It’s a take-your-time, wear-something-nice, order-the-wine-list kind of place. Whether you’re marking a special occasion or just in the mood for a top-tier meal, Asador 44 delivers. Too full to move? Parador 44, the beautifully airy boutique hotel, is right upstairs.

Address: 14-15 Quay St., Cardiff CF10 1EA
Website: grupo44.co.uk/asador44

Heaneys

Best for: spectacular set menu
Dish to order: Menu changes often, but if it’s on the BBQ, Welsh lamb

Heaneys in Pontcanna nails that sweet spot between casual and refined. Think: concrete walls, leather banquettes and soft, low lighting that makes it just as suited to a casual midweek dinner as it is for a special occasion. Chef-owner Tommy Heaney’s seasonal set menu is always a revolving door of twists and clever surprises. Highlights include the decadent buttermilk-fried chicken with caviar and brown butter, and the blushing, barbecued Welsh lamb, which is tender and deeply satisfying. The drinks are solid, but the real treat is the European-leaning wine list. Heaney’s is the place you go when you want food that feels comforting and considered, without the performance. Before or after dinner, head next door to sister bar Uisce for a sharp aperitif or a nightcap. Knock back a couple of oysters and work through that extensive wine list.

Address: 6-10 Romilly Cres, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9NR
Website: www.heaneyscardiff.co.uk

Best for: special occasion dining
Dish to order: Seasonal set-menu changes, but the celeriac is a knockout

Mesen

Since opening in 2023, Mesen has quietly put the leafy Rhiwbina suburb on the map as one of Cardiff’s most exciting food destinations. The name, which means ‘acorn’ in Welsh, is a nod to the local area and its location on Oak Road. Owner Rhys Williams left a career in London as a chartered surveyor, moved to Cardiff during the pandemic, and never looked back. Alongside head chef Sam Griffiths, the team craft a weekly changing blackboard menu centred around cooking over fire, using charcoal made from local wood that would otherwise go to waste. Expect thoughtful, seasonal Welsh ingredients such as PGI lamb and day-boat seafood. Highlights include prawn dumplings in a deeply savoury seaweed broth, whole roasted pig’s head with pineapple salsa and pickled red onion, and smoked mussels in gochujang butter. There’s no gas in the kitchen – just open flames, quality produce, and a minimal-fuss approach. The low-lit space hums with mariachi tunes and cocktails by bartender Matthew ‘Welly’ Jones, whose grape gimlet and raspberry daiquiri are already favourites.