Kitsch, kooky, cool, friendly and full of quirks, our city's dining scene is awash with unique restaurants. From themed eateries to cute lunching spots and outlandish party bars, we've rounded up the quirkiest restaurants in Cardiff for when you want a dinner with a little something different.
On the pretty cobbles of Church Street, Mowgli is a feast for your eyes and your palate. Inside, it's all swing seats, hanging ropes, sprawling vines and glowing lanterns.
The dishes are just as delicious. Expect creamy curries, spicy chaats and showstopping house specials, from the lamb bunny chow to the chicken biriyani.
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Found within the S David's Shopping Centre, Giggling Squid is an Instagrammable Thai restaurant filled with stunning floral decor. Great for groups of all sizes, you can expect comfy booths and a warm atmosphere here.
They offer a wide range of modern and traditional dishes, ranging from slow-cooked beef green curry to chicken and prawn pad Thai or chilli and basil vegetable stir-fry. Plus, there are killer cocktails to be enjoyed too.
If you're after a dining experience that's totally out of the ordinary, The Piano Works Cardiff ticks every box. This quirky live music restaurant combines great food, handcrafted cocktails, and interactive entertainment.
Diners don't just eat here - they help shape the night's soundtrack by requesting their favourite songs, which are performed live on stage by talented musicians. Expect singing staff, surprise dance moments, and a buzzy vibe that transforms dinner into a show. It's part bar, part restaurant, part concert - and 100% unique.
Head over to Church Street where this unique addition to Cardiff's dining scene is sorting you for some of the quirkiest cocktails and yummiest comfort eats in town. Decked out in foliage, ferns and dark wood fittings, it's as easy on the eye as it is on the tastebuds.
We've all seen the movie, now it's time to try it for real. One of the most outlandish watering holes in town, this quirky restaurant will serve you up a range of grilled goods from steaks to burgers and delicious hot dogs, with all the sauce and sauciness you can handle.
Perched above St David's on Hills Street, Cosy Club Cardiff is a feast for the eyes - think mismatched chandeliers, velvet armchairs, vintage portraits and a dash of eccentric British charm. Start your day with hearty brunch plates like smashed avocado on sourdough, full breakfasts or sweet stacks of pancakes, then linger over lunch favourites, tapas-style sharers and indulgent mains from the all-day menu.
As evening falls, sip creative cocktails or explore a drinks list that pairs perfectly with comforting classics and vibrant vegan options, all served in a space that feels equal parts grand and gloriously offbeat. Check out the Cardiff Bay location too.
Dishing up high-quality tapas dishes and an eclectic range of tasty drinks, Bar 44 boasts cool interiors, a relaxed atmosphere, and some of the best G&Ts in the city. It also happens to serve one heck of a Spanish breakfast with crispy pancetta, chorizo, mushroom croqueta and fried eggs.
A chic little spot down on Whitchurch Road, The Brass Beetle is your go-to for tasty cocktails and steaming slices of homemade pizza. Offering a range of unique toppings, you could find yourself digging into cauliflower and blue cheese, ham and brie and a spicy piri-piri chicken option.
Hidden beneath the city in a former bank vault, this unique haunt serves up delicious British cuisine in an atmospheric dining area perfect for intimate dinners. If you're looking for a larger affair though, be sure to order their whole suckling pig for up to 12 guests.
Originally launched as a mobile catering truck, Got Beef is one of Cardiff's ultimate morning-after hangouts - they've even named one of their burgers The Hangover. With buns ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, this quirky restaurant promises a cure for whatever ails you.
Little sister to Tommy's Heaney's flagship eatery, Uisce can more than hold its own in the restaurant stakes. With an all-day offering of delicious plates, this cafe and wine bar serves up rustic comfort food including smoked sardine Caesar salads, lamb shoulder crumpets, and a selection of internationally-sourced charcuterie boards.
A dedicated board game cafe with a bar offering to boot, it's all too easy to while away an afternoon at Chance & Counters. Alongside their extensive selection of games, that run the gamut of old, new and obscure, they've also got a menu of sandwiches and small plates for if your dice rolling arm needs a pick-me-up.
Offering a stunning range of steaks from sirloins to Chateaubriand with mushrooms and smoked tomatoes, Steak Of The Art also boasts colourful interiors with an eye for contemporary design and a private Tardis-inspired dining area.
As the city's first 100% vegan restaurant, Anna Loka offers some of the best-looking plant-based grub in town. Itt also comes up trumps on the decor front, with amazing wall murals and stripped-wood furniture, it's a cool, low-key hangout for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Serving up simple but stylishly modern Welsh cuisine, this charming little eatery on the bustling Mill lane is actually the city's first all-Welsh restaurant. Serving up dishes such as traditional Lamb cawl alongside modern twists like the Rarebit pizza, it's an innovative take on authentic food.
