There’s something for every taste and every occasion
Lots of new scrumptious food venues have opened this year(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
In a year which saw Oasis reunite in Cardiff, the country unite around faithfuls and traitors, and the UK bask in heatwave after heatwave Cardiff was treated to a sea of new restaurants gracing its bustling food scene.
New life has been breathed into old empty buildings, local produce has taken centre stage, and it’s safe to say Welsh brands are thriving. In 2025, Cardiff saw new spots to enjoy a cheese board, hundreds queued to get a taste of the latest burgers and pancakes, and a fish and chip shop finally opened in the bay after 12 long years.
These are just some of the new brilliant new food options available in Cardiff after another year of brilliant mouth-watering openings. For the latest restaurant news and reviews sign up to our food and drink newsletter here.
Here at WalesOnline we’ve covered a lot of the latest openings which have arrived in the city this year but if you’ve missed any of that or require a reminder so you don’t miss out next year we’ve taken a trip back through the year to remember what has changed for Cardiff’s foodie lovers over the past 12 months.
As 2025 draws to an end we explored the standout newcomers to Cardiff’s food scene this year.
Sonder
Sonder is in Llandaff Road(Image: Steph Colderick)
Situated on the edge of Pontcanna the latest high-end restaurant on Cardiff’s food scene opened its doors in April. Sonder, set up by a former executive chef from Pasture, offers a diverse bistro menu featuring pizza fritta with carbonara sauce, wild mushroom French toast, a toma-pork chop with caramel rhubarb (for two), and his aubergine ‘parm’ with smoked mozzarella and tomato jam.
Chef Jake Lewis is committed to providing customers with local high-quality produce, run by their team who boast heaps of dining experience them. Their impressive menu boasts a range of mouth-watering meals and their cocktail list is equally as impressive.
The “friendly neighbourhood bar and bistro” has received rave reviews since it opened with a 4.9-star TripAdvisor rating firmly cementing itself on the list of must-try restaurants in the Welsh capital. Their menu is neatly split into oceans, mountains, birds and pigs, and veggie options, and they have several brunch options if you wish to visit earlier in the day.
The Welsh Cheese Company
The Welsh Cheese Company is in Cowbridge Road East(Image: The Welsh Cheese Company)
Hot off the success of their Taffs Well warehouse The Welsh Cheese Company launched their first shop in Cardiff earlier this year. Located with a picturesque view of Victoria Park the intimate spot is the perfect place for cheese lovers.
Their Taffs Wells branch became the very first 100% Welsh cheesemonger in the UK,and their latest location is firmly following in their footsteps. With more than 70 Welsh cheeses, a range of accompaniments, and a great choice of wines I can think of worse places to spend a Friday night.
International cheese judge Tom Pinder has perfected that cosy, leafy place to relax and dive into some of the very best fromagerie Wales has to offer.
Nomad
You’ll find Nomad in High Street(Image: Indigo Jones)
In July small plates restaurant Nomad opened in Cardiff’s High Street in place of Terra Mare after the company opened a new restaurant in Silures at Holm House in Penarth.
The restaurant’s menu changes monthly and it offers a “dynamic, personable, and flavour-first dining and drinking experience set in the heart of Cardiff”. Their sample menus offer focaccia, salads, homemade pasta dishes, unique flatbreads combinations, and truffle-infused plates.
Nomad came from the minds behind Matsudai Ramen, Penny, Thomas, Poca, and Nook.
Banana Tree
Inside Banana Tree in Mill Lane(Image: John Myers)
In June Cardiff was treated to a brand new southeast Asian street food spot. Located in The Hayes Banana Tree’s first Welsh location boasts a menu with an array of fiery flavours taking inspiration from Thai, Malaysian, and Japanese cuisine.
The jungle-inspired interior offers something different for city centre shoppers while their menu includes an array of regional curries, wok-tossed noodles, ramen, laksa, and grilled meats.
Ludo
Ludo can be found in St Mary Street(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Next up is Ludo Sports and Live Lounge right in the heart of the city centre. The huge venue, which can host more than 700 guests, is the perfect place for sports lovers to enjoy some food while making sure they don’t miss any sporting action.
Although primarily a sports bar their impressive food menu boasts gourmet burgers, wood‑fired pizzas, sticky wings with signature sauces, sharing platters, and scrumptious Sunday roasts.
After delving into a meal visitors can enjoy live music, interactive darts and basketball, or simply sit back and watch their favourite teams. Although it might not be as enjoyable at this time of year in the summer guests can enjoy their large outdoor beer garden fitted with an outside bar and more big screens.
Haystack
Haystack café is in Cowbridge Road East(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The hugely popular Welsh company opened its first Cardiff branch complementing venues in Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil. Located at the site of the former Barclays bank in Canton the spot is known for its glorious pancake stacks and breakfasts.
The award-winning establishment has developed a large fanbase in south Wales which saw hoards of punters queue out the door when its biggest ever branch first opened in September. Their other branches have received national praise as the Welsh winner at the Uber Eats UK & Ireland Restaurant of the Year Awards two years running.
Along with a brilliant menu Haystack has an array of quirky features including a wall of different mugs and a book swap wall.
Longa café, Park Place
Longa’s latest venue is in Park Place(Image: Mark Lewis)
After the huge success of their Whitchurch Road café, which saw people travelling from London just to try their unique Turkish breakfasts, Longa café opened their second location in Park Place opposite the New Theatre.
Known for their rich and diverse brunches those heading to their newest site can also enjoy dinner inspired by aspects of Turkish and Greek cuisine. Their dinner menu includes Turkish street food, small plates, big plates, and mezzes including okra tzatziki and sultan’s delight.
Run by sisters Simge Yalcin and Gizem Yorgun the Turkish cafés have been a hit with Cardiff foodies despite neither of them having any experience running a café before.
Burger Boyz
Burger Boyz is another new addition in Cowbridge Road East(Image: John Myers)
One of south Wales’ most-loved burger chains made its Cardiff debut this summer after becoming an instant hit in Port Talbot, Newport market, and Swansea’s Albert Hall. Positioned in the foodie hotspot of Cowbridge Road East Burger Boyz is next door to fellow 2025 opening The Welsh Cheese Company.
Set up by schoolmates Marcin Sadlos and Jack Phillips the venture has expanded significantly since they first started selling burgers out of a small burger van in 2021. Their Cardiff restaurant has a fun graffiti-theme inside and their delectable menu features seven burgers giant burgers which customers can pair with loaded fries or sides.
Fowl and Fury
You’ll find Fowl and Fury in Cowbridge Road East(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
After becoming a much-loved spot in Sticky Fingers, and then opening their first intimate venture in Cathays, popular Nashville hot chicken shop Fowl and Fury opened their second location in Canton in June. The business started in owner Jamie Rees’ back garden during lockdown.
Run by a married couple the Cardiff business is known for selling chicken in a range of heat levels from the easily palatable mild up to the extremely fiery Nashville fury. Their menu consists of chicken tenders or a ‘sando’ which can be paired with a selection of scrumptious sides.
Their new Canton branch will house more than their four tables in Cathays’ Wyeverne Road. More than 100 people queued up with hopes of getting their hands on one of their £2 sandwiches which were part of an opening day deal. If you opt for extra hot at Nando’s than Fowl and Fury would definitely be up your street.
Spitfire Barbecue
Spitfire can be found in St Mary Street(Image: Spitfire BBQ)
Located in St Mary Street the restaurant serves up coal-fired barbecue food in the heart of the city centre. Taking inspiration from American-style and South African barbecue all the food is cooked over charcoal with no gas used at all.
Offering high-quality meats prepared every day their menu is designed to celebrate “the bold, smoky traditions of global barbecue culture”. Spitfire brings something new to the sprawling array of food in the heart of the city and you can even book a whole brisket – but you must pre-order it at least 24 hours in advance.
Square + Fair sandwiches
Square + Fair is in the Royal Arcade(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Carefully located to attract all of Cardiff’s bustling lunchtime traffic Square + Fair, nestled opposite Fresh, offers an alternative take on that lunchtime sandwich we all know and love. Their unique gourmet sandwiches, made using chunky focaccia bread, come with a whole host of fillings.
If the sandwiches aren’t enough to sell this spot themselves maybe the self-service crisp machine could be what swings you. The machine lets you pour yourself out a portion of plain crisps before you then choose which flavour seasoning you’d like to accompany them.
Ogof
Ogof is in Kings Road(Image: Ogof)
Having opened in Kings Road in Pontcanna towards the end of 2025 Ogof is a neighbourhood restaurant and natural wine shop inspired by the cave à manger tradition in France. The restaurant promises to put “good food and real wines at the forefront”.
Diners can enjoy seasonal ingredient-driven menus influenced by strong partnerships with local producers, farmers, and vintners inspired by their strapline: “Eat seasonal, drink natural”.
Charley’s Fish and Chips
This year saw the return of a British classic to Cardiff Bay as up until 2025 Cardiff’s waterfront food scene had been lacking a place to sit back and enjoy fish and chips for an astonishing 12 long years.
The opportunity to enjoy the coastal classic by the calm shore of Cardiff Bay provides a spot for city-dwellers to momentarily escape from the buzz of the area and tuck into a hearty meal.
Bosco Pizzeria
Bosco is the latest pizzeria to open in High Street(Image: John Myers)
Known for its traditional Italian wood-fired pizzas Bosco Pizzeria is the latest addition to Cardiff’s High Street. The first Welsh branch follows success in Bath, Bristol, and Cheltenham and boasts a menu packed with Neapolitan-style pizzas, handmade pasta, Italian cured meats, and a range of salads and bruschetta.
A couple of doors down from hugely popular steakhouse Pasture the venue also features a carefully-curated selection of 100% Italian wines as well as classic Italian spritzes.
The “neighbourhood Italian restaurant” only uses produce sourced directly from the markets of Milan and Naples and makes their pizzas entirely in house.
