KIN+ILK top picks

We have asked our staff about their favourite places to go in Cardiff. We’ve made a small list of local places for different occasions, enjoy!

Hardlines:  

It’s no surprise that we’ve picked Hardlines for our coffee choice. We often supply their amazing coffee in our stores.  They have a couple of shops dotted around Cardiff, as well as their own roastery. Hardlines select, roast and serve the best coffee that has also been sourced sustainably. As well as having delicious flavour, their branding is always on-point. 

Brodies:  

Brodies is located by the museum on Gorsedd Gardens Rd. It’s a small cabin-style shack serving delicious treats, coffees and teas. If visiting Brodies, you must take a little walk around the green outside the museum, they also have a brick-and-mortar shop on North Road where you can sit down and enjoy amazing hoagies and breakfast baps. Brodies really is a Cardiff classic.  

Wine / Bar: 

Nighthawk Wine  

Located opposite the castle in Cardiff’s iconic Victorian arcades, Nighthawk is a great new independent wine bar that serves incredible wines, charcuterie, and cocktails. Their wine menu is carefully selected and accompanied with local cheese. Nighthawk was created by the team behind Dead Canary Speakeasy, along with the trendy taco bar, La Pantera.

Bacareto  

Bacareto is a relaxed and informal café, inspired by the small bàcari of Venice and located on Church street. It produces delicious, seasonal food and drink in a simple and stylish setting. During the morning they Hardlines coffee and cakes and after 1pm it is cichéti (small venetian snacks). They emphasise the importance of sustainability by using the best local producers. Their menu is innovative and constantly changing – you will never get bored coming here! Not only is the wine and food menu extensive and delicious, they also strive to support local creative projects, commissioning artists to fill the bar and running live music, film and DJ events.  

Food:  

Pughs Garden Centre: 

Pughs Garden centre is a bit further out of Cardiff but has been highly recommended from a variety of staff. The Garden Centre idea began in the 1940’s and their Garden centre village was born in early 2000’s. Now you may be thinking…garden centre? Yes Garden Centre, they are known for an incredible farm shop and deli with a huge variety of cheese, meats. Pickles and more. It’s the perfect place for a graze of present buying.  

 La Pantera 

La Pantera, the home of the unauthentic taco. La Pantera is on Quay Street, very close to the stadium. The owners have worked in Cardiff’s most popular bars and restaurants and identified a gap in the market – somewhere that specialises in Mexican spirits, primarily Mezcal. They bring a weekly changing taco menu with no ingredient restrictions; the ‘unauthentic taco’ was born. From mussels to Big Macs and crab cakes to onion bhajis - you name it, they have a taco for it.  

Kindle  

Kindle is just down the road from our Pontcanna branch. Kindle combines fire food and natural wines in a vibrant, informal and unique setting. They have a huge emphasis on sustainability and making sure they only use ethical, seasonal produce. Their restaurant is designed to be outdoor seated, providing a fire and woolly blankets. Incredible small plates are created from produce made by local farmers and only purchasing locally grown food products that support farmers and the local economy. They also operate by the principles of ‘nose to tail, fine to gill, root to shoot cooking’ which means they use the whole product and leave nothing to waste.