Top 5 Romantic Fancy Restaurants in Cardiff
Cardiff is extremely up and coming, with new developments, bars and restaurants popping up over the city all the time. However, with all this option comes the problem of finding a fancy restaurant Cardiff to take your other half. You don’t want to be the one that lets the other down by messing up the booking!
With Henry living in Cardiff and Robyn coming to visit frequently, we’ve been lucky enough to try some of the best romantic fancy restaurants that Cardiff has to offer.
So you don’t make the mistakes we’ve made, and to save you time, we’ve researched the 900+ restaurants in Cardiff and brought together this list of the 5 restaurants you should check out when planning a date night.
Why go on a date night in Cardiff?
Many couples are not spending enough time together - whether it be work, social lives or just things that get in the way. They are too busy with their lives and forget to take time off for themselves. This is why a date night is so important. It can help you reconnect with your partner and feel closer to them.
If you’re close to Cardiff, we believe you must travel there to go on a date night for the following reasons:
It’s incredibly safe
You can get great value for money
It’s close to Bristol, Swansea and not far away from London
There’s lots of history here
There are loads of sports and things going on
Still need convincing? Check out our complete guide to fun things to do in Cardiff for couples, where we share things you can do outside going for dinner with your partner.
What’s more, there are amazing hotels in Cardiff, which you can check out using the below:
What Makes a Restaurant Romantic?
A romantic restaurant is different from a fancy restaurant. A fancy restaurant offers a high-end dining experience. In contrast, a romantic restaurant provides an intimate, cosy, and private space.
Many factors can contribute to the romantic atmosphere of a restaurant. The ambience, the type of music played, the lighting and even the temperature can all make any place feel romantic. Of course, the same principles apply to what makes any restaurant - it has to be high quality, the food must be packed with flavour, there should be a great wine list and there must by modern twists.
Because of this, we’ve looked at Cardiff’s fancy restaurants and assessed them based on how romantic they are. Sometimes we go on feel, other times we will speak to friends who have also been there to get their opinion.
Given we have a knack for finding Michelin Star restaurants in South Wales (notably Swansea) and other areas such as Ludlow, we know what makes a top romantic restaurant in Cardiff.
The Best Romantic Fancy Restaurants in Cardiff for Date Night
There are many restaurants in Cardiff, but there’s nothing like a romantic fancy restaurant to make your date night special. We haven't specifically gone for fine dining restaurants, or specifically cuisines such as Indian restaurants or Italian restaurants - we have just gone for the most romantic ones you must check out.
Here are the top five romantic fancy restaurants in Cardiff for date night:
#1 TY MADEIRA
If you walked past this restaurant in the centre of Cardiff, on Castle Street, you might not think it is anything special at first sight. However, if you take a closer look, this restaurant has a lot to offer.
Henry stands and looks at what’s on offer every time 🙄
Henry concluded that this is the best restaurant in Cardiff after experiencing its fantastic service and food. He also loved how authentic Portuguese it felt inside. Couples may want to visit for a fun evening out, too.
What we love here is that the atmosphere is fantastic and the food is even better. As you can see from the images, the interior dining room of TY Maderia has open brick walls and wooden beams that line the inside - this gives a dim romantic feeling backed up by the cooking.
At this fancy restaurant Cardiff, you can get fresh fish, tasty bread and even huge ribeye steaks (like the one Henry had below) - we can’t recommend it more.
@acouplethingstodo 📍Check out our blog in bio to find some more hidden gems in Cardiff 📍#cardiff #traveltok #traveltiktok #tymaderia #couplethingstodo #travelbucketlist #uk #wales #PrimarkSummerUp ♬ Music For a Sushi Restaurant - Harry Styles
Drinks at Pasture
#2 Fancy Romantic Restaurant in Cardiff City Centre: PASTURE
As you’ll already know from our couples things to do in Cardiff blog, we went on our first ever Cardiff date to Pasture - it was an instant hit. It had to make the number two spot for the best romantic restaurant in Cardiff.
Pasture has an open kitchen that highlights how they prepare their dishes and also houses dry ageing cabinets where rare meats are prepared to be served.
Don’t be put off, yes, they do excellent steaks and boast as a steak restaurant, but they also have fantastic chicken options - check out their menu here.
Pasture has excellent outdoor seating, perfect for people-watching. Henry even went back there recently to enjoy a bottle of wine with his friend Zac (as you can see). So this restaurant can be enjoyed by friends catching up, as much as it can by couples on a date night.
If we could work with any restaurant in Cardiff, Pasture would probably be the one…. so stay tuned.
#3 THE POTTED PIG
The best romantic fancy restaurants in Cardiff have a menu which delights, attentful service and a fantastic location. The Potted Pig ticks all of the boxes and provides a very intimate atmosphere that allows you to connect to your other halve.
This restaurant’s location is in a former bank vault below Cardiff’s business street and specializes in modern British food. Each of their menus is seasonal, and they have an excellent selection of gins.
The Potted Pig’s menu has a little bit of everything. The chefs only cook the food they want to eat, so you’ll see dishes that are modern and dishes with global influences. You can always expect fresh, top-quality ingredients every time at The Potted Pig.
If you visit, make sure you tag us. We’ve recently started our very own Couples Things To Do TikTok, so be sure to follow us using the above video.
#4 Thomas by Tom Simmons
Located in Pontcanna, you have to venture a bit out of the city to get to Thomas. But don’t let this put you off, as you’ll be delighted by what you find.
Having spent a long period of his career learning the trade in London, Thomas returned to Cardiff to set up this stunning bar and restaurant. Thomas offers a pavement terrace or a romantically lit indoor setting.
Only the best welsh ingredients make it onto Tom Simmons’ menu, which is one of the reasons it’s made it onto the Michelin Guide and won a Michelin Star.
# 5 De Courceys Manor
Ranked #14 of all Cardiff restaurants in Cardiff on Trip Advisor, it’s no surprise that this restaurant has made it on our list as the 5th best romantic fancy restaurant Cardiff. The restaurant is so good that it was even named The Food Venue by Wales Online.
Haven’t tempted you yet? Then, check out their 5-star dining menu, which covers Sunday lunches and romantic dinners for you and your other halve.
What we loved about this restaurant was its setting. Located in a stunning historical country manor, you won’t be let down by the food, the service or the surroundings.
Fancy Halal Restaurants Cardiff
This section will help you find the best halal restaurants in Cardiff that are fancy. Halal restaurants are a great way to explore a new culture and can be a great way to get closer to your Muslim friends.
As you know from our guide to fancy halal restaurants in Birmingham, you’ll see that we have an eye for picking our halal restaurants.
To save you time and highlight some of the best fancy restaurants Cardiff has to offer, we’ve added the three best fancy halal restaurants Cardiff below:
Mowlana Persian Restaurant: Mowlana is one of the top Persian restaurants in the UK. They source quality ingredients and prepare them daily on-site. If you haven’t tried Persian food before, make sure to check out Mowlana, as it’s easy to access and has a great atmosphere.
Shaam Nights: Believe it or not, this restaurant has been featured in the Sunday Times Magazine as one of the best Middle Eastern Grill Houses in the UK. You’ll get real authentic favour and atmosphere at this place, making it one of the best fancy halal restaurants Cardiff.
Saray Restaurant: Last but not least, we have Saray Restaurant, a Turkish cuisine restaurant that will show off everything that Cardiff has to offer in terms of Halal food.
Conclusion: Fancy Restaurants in Cardiff You Can’t-Miss
There you have it, your complete guide to the top 5 romantic restaurants in Cardiff. We’ve even thrown in 3 of the leading fancy Halal restaurants in the city so that you can easily plan your date night and have a fantastic time with your other halve.
If you think we have missed anything or would like to work with us, feel free to get in touch with the Couples Things To Do Team.
In the coming months, we’re planning on visiting some European cities and planning a larger trip at the beginning of 2023, so be sure to stay tuned!
