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Dining in Europe > Cardiff City centre pubs are noisy and fun, packed with people and almost always with music playing. This atmosphere is carried over into the restaurants and new style cafe bars which combine the best elements of pub and restaurant. There are still many restaurants which offer a quiet meal in elegant surroundings, but many more make dining a fun experience with quirky surroundings, live music and young and friendly staff. Las Iguanas and Henrys Cafe Bar for cocktails, Portos for Portuguese food, Bella Pasta for cheap and quick Italian are all good examples. As far as food goes, they say the new tradition is a red hot curry after a night in a club, and there are plenty of Indian restaurants around if thats what you want. But you'll find a bit of everything - traditional Welsh cooking, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Spanish... the list goes on, and new restaurants are opening all the time. King Balti serves great Indian food, Blas Ar Gymru is pure Welsh. For Japanese food go to Chikakos, and for Chinese The Happy Gathering. The high student population means that there is an abundance of cheap eateries and takeaways where you can get a quick meal for a couple of pounds. And late night opening is definitely the 'in' thing - great news if you want to stop off somewhere after a concert or club. But if you're looking for somewhere quiet you can find that too. Benedictos in the city centre offers dinner by candlelight, St Davids Hall has its own restaurant, The Angel is pure elegance. A little further afield, Cardiff Bay is the trendiest place to eat, and its easy to get there by car or bus. Again, the emphasis is on fun, with bars and restaurants combined, live music and cabaret and theme nights. You'll find Scotts Brasserie, Buffs and The Baltimore Arms all within a few minutes of each other. Theres also the famous Norwegian Church Arts Centre which has a cafe serving a range of teas, coffees and tasty pastries. The Victorian resort of Penarth prides itself on modern elegance with a number of first-class restaurants overlooking the channel. Expect to pay a little more in these places, but its well worth it. Caprice is the place to go for seafood. Finally, as a general principle, the further you go from the city centre, the quieter the pubs become, so its worth taking a short drive if you fancy a peaceful drink. The Allensbank, the Hollybush, and the Three Elms all have separate bars and restaurants and welcome children. Entertainment in CardiffMusic Theatre and Dance Cinema Comedy Art Museums C.Fayers Recommended ToursA Historical Walk in Cardiff Wales' capital is steeped in history but much of its earlier history of druids and Celtic warriors has left little trace. Start: Castle Street, Cardiff Castle Cardiff Castle - dates back almost 2,000 years. The Romans camped here, then the Norman conquerors built a fortress and the Marquises of Bute lived amid its spectacular gilt ceilings, murals, gothic carvings and stained-glass windows during the 18th and 19th centuries. Wales' past is depicted colourfully on the walls of the Banqueting Hall. See the ornate Clock Tower and the peacocks on the Castle Green. You can view the River Taff in Bute Park. St Johns Church is in St John Street (pedestrian area). Built in 1473, the church is an integral part of Cardiffs history. Carry on down Working Street and see the Old Library, which has been transformed into a visual arts centre, exhibiting Welsh crafts, sculpture and fine arts. First opened in 1882, it is now a very modern hands-on, interactive gallery enabling all age groups to make new discoveries. Carry on down Working Street and stop off for lunch at one of the great cafés. Then turn around and take a right down Bridge Street. Turn left up Charles Street and you will pass St Davids Roman Catholic Cathedral on your left, which dates back to 1887. You will cross Duke Street, then walk up Park Place and cut through Gorsedd Gardens - City Hall will be on your left and the National Museum and Gallery on your right. The path joins onto Museum Avenue, which surrounds a square. Cathays Park is in the middle, surrounded by Cardiff University, the Law Courts, Welsh Office and the War Memorial bang in the centre. City Hall magnificently houses the council. Step inside to see the sculptures of past Princes and Welsh heroes. The European Council Summit took place here in 1998. It is next to the National Museum and Gallery. The Gallery has the largest Impressionist art collection outside France. Inside, watch how Wales evolved geographically on film and with the aid of 3-D models. The Museum has both science exhibits from archaeology to zoology. Evening Spend the evening at the Sherman Theatre - an arts theatre which hosts national and international premieres. Arts Around The Bay The art scene has flourished around the redeveloped docklands. The Bay is a vibrant strip with an interesting history to boot. Start: Coal Exchange - Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay. Coal Exchange - built in 1886 to trade coal, in what was once the largest exporter of coal in the world. Times have changed, and it is now an arts and entertainment venue. Mount Stuart Square has some of Cardiffs most beautiful listed buildings. Walk around The Point (formerly St Stephens Church) on the Squares corner, which is now a performing arts centre and stroll down West Bute Street. Turn left along James Street and on your left you will come across... Craft in the Bay - on the corner of Bute Street and Bute Place. Here you will find first-rate Welsh craftsmen, members of the Makers Guild, showing their work. Delicate jewellery, creative crafts, interesting wooden pieces and rustic woven baskets are in the gallery. Artwork is for sale here, so bring your chequebook. Refuel with a coffee in the main gallery shop. At the bottom of Bute Crescent is the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum, which tells of Cardiffs former and not-so-distant past of coal and steam. If you enter on a Steam Day you'll see real locomotives puff away and engines start moving. Then walk around the Inner Harbour for lunch - Harry Ramsdens is a fish and chip shop with a difference. This one has a chandelier and opera or jazz evenings. Otherwise have a bite along the waterfront. Or sit in a deck chair with your takeaway. Proceed around the Millennium Waterfront to the beautiful red brick edifice, Pierhead Building, which dominates the waterfront. Built in 1896, it remains a favourite Cardiff landmark. Walk down Harbour Drive and try to catch the sun setting! During the summer, there is plenty of outdoor entertainment for all the family to enjoy for free - concerts, comedy, mime etc. Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre is at the end of Harbour Drive. This futuristic award-winning Tube building tells the history of the Bay with photos and audio-visual material. View the plans to regenerate the 2,700 acres of waterfront. To your left you will see the red Lightship 2000 - the Helwick Light Vessel LV14. It used to guide ships off the rocks in South Wales. You can step on board and have a drink in the cafe. It is now being run by a group of Christian churches. A performance at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, where you can also eat. This timber construction was built as a place of worship for Norwegian sailors in 1867. It was rebuilt in 1987 and opened by Princess Martha Louise of Norway in 1992. Alternatively, head back into town on the bus to St Davids Hall for a choral treat. Dining in Europe > Cardiff
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