Lowri's Guidebook
Food scene
Amazing Spanish tapas restaurant with outstanding food, a 5 minute walk from the house. Our absolute favourite! There’s also a Bar 44 in Cardiff city centre which is just as excellent.
42 locals recommend
Bar 44 Penarth
14 Windsor RdAmazing Spanish tapas restaurant with outstanding food, a 5 minute walk from the house. Our absolute favourite! There’s also a Bar 44 in Cardiff city centre which is just as excellent.
Busy and bustling Ocho Lounge is a great place for breakfast and very child-friendly. There’s a small courtyard outside for al fresco dining. Only 5 mins from the house. Try the avocado toast. Delicious!
27 locals recommend
Ocho Lounge
16 Windsor RdBusy and bustling Ocho Lounge is a great place for breakfast and very child-friendly. There’s a small courtyard outside for al fresco dining. Only 5 mins from the house. Try the avocado toast. Delicious!
A sophisticated restaurant serving delicious Indian food with a modern twist at a reasonable price. 5 minute walk from the house.
30 locals recommend
Mint and Mustard
33-34 Windsor TerraceA sophisticated restaurant serving delicious Indian food with a modern twist at a reasonable price. 5 minute walk from the house.
A fun, American diner-inspired Italian restaurant. Around 5 minutes from the house.
Tony's Taste of Italy
Unit 3 Herbert TerraceA fun, American diner-inspired Italian restaurant. Around 5 minutes from the house.
Whether you fancy plaice and chips or lobster and chips, this local takeaway is the place for you!
The Posh Fish and Chip Company
108 Glebe StreetWhether you fancy plaice and chips or lobster and chips, this local takeaway is the place for you!
A lovely restaurant in Penarth marina less than a 15 minute walk from the house. Pick your own fish or meat fresh from the counter before it heads to the kitchen. For a large party of people, try out the suckling pig.
8 locals recommend
La Marina Restaurant
A lovely restaurant in Penarth marina less than a 15 minute walk from the house. Pick your own fish or meat fresh from the counter before it heads to the kitchen. For a large party of people, try out the suckling pig.
Stylish restaurant overlooking the boats moored at Penarth marina. Less than a 15 minute walk from the house.
7 locals recommend
The Galley
Penarth PortwayStylish restaurant overlooking the boats moored at Penarth marina. Less than a 15 minute walk from the house.
Fantastic cakes and a large variety of teas about a 5 minute walk from the house. Also does breakfast.
11 locals recommend
Waterloo Tea (Penarth Town)
Stanwell RoadFantastic cakes and a large variety of teas about a 5 minute walk from the house. Also does breakfast.
Quirky off-licence with great beer and wine and indoor bar next to Penarth station.
The Bottle Shop - Penarth
Quirky off-licence with great beer and wine and indoor bar next to Penarth station.
Gin 64
Victoria RoadA lovely gin bar with indoor and outdoor seating right next to Penarth station.
Restaurant and spa within a boutique hotel about a 15 minute walk from the house. Great spot for afternoon tea in the gardens overlooking the sea.
8 locals recommend
Holm House
Marine ParadeRestaurant and spa within a boutique hotel about a 15 minute walk from the house. Great spot for afternoon tea in the gardens overlooking the sea.
Lots of little stalls selling sit down and takeaway lunch. Try Ffwrnais pizza upstairs.
51 locals recommend
Cardiff Market
5-7 St Mary StLots of little stalls selling sit down and takeaway lunch. Try Ffwrnais pizza upstairs.
Barkers Tea Rooms
8-12 High Street ArcadeGreat place to grab lunch or coffee in Cardiff city centre.
Great deli within one of the many Victorian arcades in Cardiff with a cute little Austrian style Kaffeehaus upstairs.
18 locals recommend
Wally's Delicatessen
38-42 Royal ArcadeGreat deli within one of the many Victorian arcades in Cardiff with a cute little Austrian style Kaffeehaus upstairs.
A chic speakeasy bar in the heart of Cardiff. Great for cocktails.
34 locals recommend
The Dead Canary
Barrack LaneA chic speakeasy bar in the heart of Cardiff. Great for cocktails.
A great restaurant and pub with lots of room to eat outdoors in the summer and cosy log fires indoors for the winter. Wonderful sea views. Walk over to Sully Island, but make sure you check the tide times before you venture!
9 locals recommend
The Captains Wife
Beach RoadA great restaurant and pub with lots of room to eat outdoors in the summer and cosy log fires indoors for the winter. Wonderful sea views. Walk over to Sully Island, but make sure you check the tide times before you venture!
Forest Cafe
2 Castle RoadA great place to grab lunch or a coffee after visiting Castell Coch.
A small café about a 20 minute drive from the house, selling outstanding cakes, macaroons and patisseries.
14 locals recommend
Cocorico Patisserie
35A Whitchurch RdA small café about a 20 minute drive from the house, selling outstanding cakes, macaroons and patisseries.
Award-winning vineyard with restaurant which is well worth a visit. Or just taste some of the delicious wine in the garden overlooking the vineyard.
18 locals recommend
Llanerch Vineyard Hotel
Hensol RoadAward-winning vineyard with restaurant which is well worth a visit. Or just taste some of the delicious wine in the garden overlooking the vineyard.
Book a wine tasting day at Glyndŵr vineyard - a couple of miles outside Cowbridge - and meet the llamas!
Glyndwr Vineyard
Book a wine tasting day at Glyndŵr vineyard - a couple of miles outside Cowbridge - and meet the llamas!
Sightseeing
Head to the seafront in Penarth for great views of Flatholm and Steepholm islands as well as the Somerset coast. Grab a coffee at one of the cafes and take in the views. Walk through beautiful Alexandra Park to get there.
75 locals recommend
Penarth Pier Pavilion
The EsplanadeHead to the seafront in Penarth for great views of Flatholm and Steepholm islands as well as the Somerset coast. Grab a coffee at one of the cafes and take in the views. Walk through beautiful Alexandra Park to get there.
Take a boat trip to Flat Holm island off the coast of Penarth and visible from the top bedroom!
Flat Holm Island
Take a boat trip to Flat Holm island off the coast of Penarth and visible from the top bedroom!
A beautiful large country park, ideal for walks and picnics, just a 10 minute drive from the house and walkable in about 30 minutes. The medieval village is a must-see. There is a small cafe and play park too.
32 locals recommend
Cosmeston Lakes Country Park
A beautiful large country park, ideal for walks and picnics, just a 10 minute drive from the house and walkable in about 30 minutes. The medieval village is a must-see. There is a small cafe and play park too.
Castell Coch (meaning red castle in Welsh) is about a 30 minute drive from the house. Lots of parking spaces available. There are plenty of woodland walks around the castle too.
168 locals recommend
Castell Coch
Castell Coch (meaning red castle in Welsh) is about a 30 minute drive from the house. Lots of parking spaces available. There are plenty of woodland walks around the castle too.
A fabulous open-air museum, about a 20 minute drive from the house. Wander through acres of land and pop into 40 re-erected buildings from across Wales to get a taste of life in Wales over the ages. Pop into the nearby Plymouth Arms in the village of St Fagan’s right opposite the museum after your visit.
328 locals recommend
St Fagans National Museum of History
A fabulous open-air museum, about a 20 minute drive from the house. Wander through acres of land and pop into 40 re-erected buildings from across Wales to get a taste of life in Wales over the ages. Pop into the nearby Plymouth Arms in the village of St Fagan’s right opposite the museum after your visit.
Get away from the hustle and bustle of Cardiff and take a relaxing stroll around Bute Park just behind Cardiff Castle. Also reachable by waterbus from Penarth. Grab a coffee at Pettigrew tea rooms or the Secret Garden which are located in the park.
181 locals recommend
Bute Park
North RoadGet away from the hustle and bustle of Cardiff and take a relaxing stroll around Bute Park just behind Cardiff Castle. Also reachable by waterbus from Penarth. Grab a coffee at Pettigrew tea rooms or the Secret Garden which are located in the park.
Visit beautiful Roath Park in Cardiff and go rowing on the lake. Great fun!
146 locals recommend
Roath Park
Lake Road WestVisit beautiful Roath Park in Cardiff and go rowing on the lake. Great fun!
Head here to see the impressive viaduct. Large open green spaces and access to a small pebbly beach. Ideal for picnics. Parking available. Costs around £2.
32 locals recommend
Porthkerry Country Park
Park RoadHead here to see the impressive viaduct. Large open green spaces and access to a small pebbly beach. Ideal for picnics. Parking available. Costs around £2.
Neighbourhoods
Wales’ capital city Cardiff is about 3 miles from the house. There are plenty of car parks in the city centre or you can get the train from Penarth. Get off either at Cardiff Central or Cardiff Queen St. Visit the Victorian shopping arcades, the Museum and the Castle.
218 locals recommend
Cardiff
Wales’ capital city Cardiff is about 3 miles from the house. There are plenty of car parks in the city centre or you can get the train from Penarth. Get off either at Cardiff Central or Cardiff Queen St. Visit the Victorian shopping arcades, the Museum and the Castle.
Catch a water bus from Penarth marina over to Cardiff bay, or head across the barrage (c. 30 minute walk) that links Penarth and the Bay. Visit the Norwegian Church, the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. There are lots of restaurants to suit all tastes, many of which have great views of the Bristol Channel and Penarth.
215 locals recommend
Cardiff Bay
Bute StreetCatch a water bus from Penarth marina over to Cardiff bay, or head across the barrage (c. 30 minute walk) that links Penarth and the Bay. Visit the Norwegian Church, the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. There are lots of restaurants to suit all tastes, many of which have great views of the Bristol Channel and Penarth.
Pontcanna is a lovely area of Cardiff and well worth a visit. Stroll along Pontcanna St and Cathedral Road and enjoy the cafe culture, boutiques, delis and farmers’ market.
21 locals recommend
Pontcanna
Pontcanna is a lovely area of Cardiff and well worth a visit. Stroll along Pontcanna St and Cathedral Road and enjoy the cafe culture, boutiques, delis and farmers’ market.
Shopping
Fauvette
8 Glebe StreetAn amazing cheese and wine shop a stone’s throw from the house. Just fantastic.
If you’re looking for a gift or simply want to take a small piece of Penarth back home with you, head to Apothecary 64 for delicious smelling candles, room sprays and atomisers.
APOTHECARY64
7b Cornerswell RdIf you’re looking for a gift or simply want to take a small piece of Penarth back home with you, head to Apothecary 64 for delicious smelling candles, room sprays and atomisers.
Shore
The EsplanadeA beautiful boutique on the seafront in Penarth selling gorgeous coastal-themed homeware.
Lovely shop round the corner from the house, selling a wide range of cards, gifts for all ages and children’s toys and clothing.
Barnums
28-30 Albert RoadLovely shop round the corner from the house, selling a wide range of cards, gifts for all ages and children’s toys and clothing.
Glass By Design
1 Station ApproachLocal Penarth business selling a variety of gifts made of glass.
Stylish women’s clothing store in Penarth selling good value casual clothing and accessories as well as higher end wedding attire.
The Queen B Boutique
Stanwell RoadStylish women’s clothing store in Penarth selling good value casual clothing and accessories as well as higher end wedding attire.
Spillers Records
Morgan Arcade“The oldest record shop in the world” located in Cardiff city centre.
As traditional a sweet shop as you’ll ever get, located just a stone’s throw from the house in the quaint little Windsor Arcade.
Umpa Lumpa Sweet Shop
10 Windsor ArcadeAs traditional a sweet shop as you’ll ever get, located just a stone’s throw from the house in the quaint little Windsor Arcade.
City advice
Getting around
Travel advice
Penarth has 2 train stations - Penarth and Dingle Rd. Both are about a 7 min walk from the house. The train into Cardiff Central is direct and takes around 10-12 mins. NB only minimal service on a Sunday. There is also a good bus service from Windsor Road to Cardiff city centre. Alternatively catch the water bus from Penarth Marina which goes either to Cardiff Bay or Cardiff Castle.