Good child-friendly restaurants – the kind with accommodating staff, high chairs, lots of space and yummy food for kids and grownups alike – are hard to find. Even more so when you’re travelling and aren’t on your home turf. With that in mind, we’re helping parents who happen to be visiting Cardiff. We’ve put together a list of the city’s best restaurants for families.
It’s not hard to find child-friendly restaurants in Cardiff; you just have to know where to look. You can enjoy everything from great Syrian cuisine to classic burgers, all with your kids in tow.
If you’re travelling by train, we’ve included the best ways to get to each restaurant from Cardiff Central Station. (For great discounts on train tickets to Cardiff, book Advance tickets with CrossCountry.)
1. The Conway
This gastropub has it all. Excellent food? Check. Traditional pub feel? Check. Family-friendly atmosphere? Check. The Conway is a great place to have a pint or two, as well as a delicious meal with your family.
The lay-out resembles a homey living room, with lots of books and comfy seating. The menu varies but leans towards fresh takes on classic dishes – roasted fish with chorizo, pork and apricot sausage rolls, mushroom risotto and more.
The Conway is a 30-minute walk, 12-minute taxi ride, or 15-minute bus ride from Cardiff train station.
2. Shaam Nights
Your little ones will have more than the standard kid-friendly fare at this beloved Syrian restaurant. Dine on hearty portions of grilled and roasted meats, and veggie dishes like moussaka, falafel and fattoush.
Ornate tiled walls and ceilings, colourful seats and warm service make Shaam Nights a real experience. The no-alcohol policy keeps everything classy – wash your meal down with fresh fruit juices and milkshakes instead.
Shaam Nights is a 30-minute walk, 12-minute taxi ride or 15-minute bus ride from Cardiff train station.
3. The Smoke Haus
Take a trip to the American South at this BBQ restaurant with big flavour and big portions. Smoke is the essential ingredient here, and the laid-back atmosphere is perfect for a family meal.
Children can get smaller portions of classics like hot dogs, ribs and crispy chicken strips. Adults can get stuck into messy plates of BBQ, proper steaks or delicious burgers with all the extras.
The Smoke Haus is located in the St. David’s Shopping Centre, just an 8-minute walk from Cardiff train station.
4. The Arbennig
Run by a husband and wife team, Arbennig lives up to its name – meaning ‘special’ in Welsh. Their menu changes weekly, but always emphasises local and seasonal produce, cooked simply to bring out the flavours.
With a young family of their own, they believe that you shouldn’t have to choose between an excellent dinner out and spending time with your children. They make a point to welcome children, who can eat from a dedicated kids’ menu that uses the same fresh ingredients as the main menu.
Arbennig is a 25-minute walk, 12-minute taxi ride, or 15-minute bus ride from Cardiff train station.
5. Cosy Club
The Cardiff branch of this small chain is a treat for children and their parents. Expect simple, tasty dishes like pesto pasta and fish fingers for the kids and a selection of burgers, tapas and roast dinners for the grown-ups.
This Cosy Club doesn’t have a play area, but that just means a chance for the little ones to practice their restaurant behaviour in a low-key atmosphere.
Cosy Club is located right in the St. David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff’s city centre – only an 8-minute walk from Cardiff train station.
6. The Grazing Shed
Voted the Number 1 burger place in Wales, you can’t go wrong bringing the kids to The Grazing Shed. Hip, independent, and all about the flavour, this small Welsh chain makes scrummy burgers from local ingredients.
Try beef, chicken or veggie burgers topped with everything from Gorgonzola and smoky bacon to avocado mash and cider apple chutney. Fast service means no impatient or whining children.
The Grazing Shed has two great locations right by Cardiff train station – one 5 minutes’ walk away and the other 10 minutes’ walk away.