Lovely Cardiff Mumsnetters recommendations please?

[NotExactlyHappyToHelp]

I’m looking at booking tickets to see Wales play one of the autumn internationals at the Principality as a treat for DP. He’s an England rugby fan but I’m trying to convert him .

The game is on a Sunday afternoon and we’d like to stay over and spend Monday seeing Cardiff.

Would any of you lovely folks point me in the right direction for city centre hotels (cheap and cheerful will do), good places for a pre drink before the game, somewhere for dinner and anything we absolutely must see while visiting? Any general tips and tricks are most welcome too as I’ve never been to a big game like this.

Diolch 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

Hopeful bump?

Hi. Friendly Cardiff mumsnetter here 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

To fully absorb the game day atmosphere you would want to stay local to city centre. If you book early you’ll have some availability but they get very booked up. Hilton someone’s has some good deals (& castle views), Radisson Blu is one of a few near the train station. There are plenty of premier inns, travelodge and easy hotel types centrally.

If you want to be a little bit out of the craziness but still a few minutes walk from town then Holland House hotel on Newport Road is fancy enough to avoid the game night vomit-fest of the main streets. Avoid the areas of Riverside, Splott and Grangetown.

What kind of thing do you fancy for food? Pasture is a new steak house that is always booked up in advance. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks amazing. There are lots of independent local places to eat in town.
Cafe cita- Italian
Mowgli - cute Indian with swings instead of chairs
I’ve forgotten a lot of names but if you tell. More about what kind of place you like then I’ll reminisce.

To see: Cardiff Castle, perhaps a little boat from there to Cardiff Bay for a wander. If it’s raining (Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿) then the museum and art gallery is free and has lots to explore.

@EightToSixer Thank you!!! That is brilliantly helpful. I’m so grateful.

I’ll absolutely look at Holland House that sounds perfect. We’re rugby fans that definitely want some of the atmosphere but we’re not at all big drinkers and aren’t interested in being out late late.

The Italian and the Indian both sound lovely. I’ll check them out. We’re up for anything food wise but something more casual than fancy as we’ll probably go out to eat not long after the game so we’ll be in our rugby shirts (I’m making sure DP doesn’t wear his England one ).

I’d never have thought of getting a boat, that sounds right up our alley. I’m fully prepared for and thrive in Wales’ best weather so rain won’t stop me.

Thank you again .

If you do get to Cardiff Bay there is a local chain of coffee places called Coffi Co and they have branches down there for breakfast or cake etc.
If you’re at the museum or city hall are then there’s a little hut in the park there with amazing coffee and brownies called Brodie’s.

I realise I didn’t mention drinking places. For pre-match beer the Tiny Rebel Brewery is right opposite the stadium. There are lots of pre match places on that road (Westgate Street and St Mary’s Street) all will be buzzing with pre-game atmosphere.
England rugby shirt is tolerated most places if he doesn’t mind being ridiculed relentlessly 😉

There’s a premier inn and a travelodge down Cardiff bay, just a short walk from the city centre. They get booked up quite quickly though.
There are lovely cafes in Cardiff arcades, The castle is in Bute park which is gorgeous in the autumn. Hope you have a great visit

Hello, just a word of warning on the Mercure Holland House hotel, we had a less than ideal stay there last month for the Argentina match. No air con and it was like a sauna on the hottest weekend of the year. Of course probably not an issue for the autumn games! I’d keep an eye on trip advisor for recent reviews. However we did notice that the Argentina team were staying there with us and I shared a lift with one of the players! We have booked the Novotel between Cardiff Central and the Bay for the NZ match in October. It’s always been nice there before. England shirts are fine on match days in Cardiff, I always see a few around. It’s generally a really friendly atmosphere. If you like barbecue type restaurants the Smoke Haus was nice last time we went. We’ve also eaten at Revolucion de Cuba off the main shopping street and the food there is really great. Hope that helps!

Madame Fromage is lovely for lunch but you’ll have to book.

@BonnyandPoppy

Madame Fromage is lovely for lunch but you’ll have to book.

Madame Fromage in town has now closed permanently ☹️

@sally2808 has it?? Not been into town for a while. That’s a shame as it was lovely there.

@EightToSixer Thank you this is all brilliant. You can’t beat a recommendation from a local I’ve always found. Both cake and brownies are a winner to me. I might well book an extra night as I’d like to cram as much in as possible I’m so excited to visit. DP is used to never ending ridiculing as he gets it off me .

@IamaBluebird Thank you so much. I’m so looking forward to visiting.

@Bearsbearsbears40 Cheers for the heads up. No air con must’ve been bloody awful when it was hot. Mind you if DP had the chance to potentially bump in to actual international players he’d cheerfully sleep in the lift . I’m jealous you’re off to see NZ. We’re cutting our teeth on the Fiji game although I’m debating convincing him to change to Australia. Thank you for your advice I really appreciate it.

@BonnyandPoppy Great thank you. I’ll look at there for maybe lunch on the Monday when it’s hopefully a little quieter. I’ll still book though.

I always stay at Sleeperz hotel, right by the train station and few minutes walk from stadium.
Nothing fancy but modern, clean, nice breakfast, manned reception desk. I didn't find it noisy at all.

We had a lovely stay in St David's hotel but not cheap. Also have to get in to city centre.
Premier inn on Churchill way - have had very cheap stays and it's reliable.
Would not recommend holiday inn - we were kept awake in a tiny room by the bar below and it was boiling.
Love the museum and art gallery as per pp
Had a fun hour at the escape rooms Cardiff recently.
Would like to go back to Cardiff castle - not been since student days.....

Also enjoyed Cosy Club - think there's one in city centre and in the bay.

Museum is closed on a Monday just in case you were thinking of going.

I've stayed at the Hilton before we moved here and would recommend!