The Best Hotels in Cardiff to Book for Every Traveller

If you’re looking for Cardiff hotels with a touch of Welsh heritage, Hotel Indigo is for you. Spotlighting both regional materials and local art by talented Welsh creators, this is a stylish place to kick off your boots. When you’re not deep in the revelry of a rugby match at Principality Stadium – a 10-minute walk from the hotel – you’ll be slicing into prime cuts at the Marco Pierre White rooftop steakhouse (don’t worry, they’re much more tender than the chef’s infamous temper.)

Fabulous for foodies, this five-star hotel has an enviable position on the waterfront in Cardiff Bay, with an impressive full-glass front. Slide onto a window table at the Admiral restaurant to enjoy a flat iron steak, aged for 21 days, or a Thai fried chicken burger from the electric bold flavour-filled menu, composed of Wales’ best-in-season. The Marine Spa is included on the list of the best spas in the UK by Condé Nast Traveller, with its use of Ishga organic products, made from the purest Scottish Hebridean seaweed and healing spring water, it’s no surprise.

Love food but yearn for a quieter side to the buzz of Cardiff? Head over to this Grade II-listed country retreat in nearby Thornhill. Built in the 1730s, New House is just 5mi (8km) from the city centre but in an idyll of its own, with sublime views across the sea to North Devon. Indulge in exquisite, locally-sourced produce at Sequoias Restaurant – don’t miss the braised feather blade of Welsh beef or the mushroom and chestnut wellington.

Die-hard romantics will fall in love with this Grade II-listed building, once the coal exchange when Cardiff was the world’s biggest coal exporter. Recently refurbished, its Grand Hall pays tribute to its past prestige with glowing candelabras and dark wood facades. Meanwhile, Culley’s Kitchen and Bar harks back to its industrial roots; tuck into a bowl of braised lamb shoulder pappardelle followed by the Merlyn cheesecake. A five-minute walk brings you to Cardiff Bay landmarks like the Millennium Centre arts hub and the buzzy eateries of Mermaid Quay.

If you’re after romance, the seven personalised rooms at Jolyons are certain to fuel your mood. Choose an indulgent Moroccan-style stay, surrounded by vibrant tile-inspired wallpaper, or bed down amid Regency-style furnishings and a whirlpool bath. The retro sweets in each room are the perfect touch. Once the house of the captain when it was built in 1840, this boutique hotel remains an elegant Georgian townhouse on the oldest terrace in vibrant Cardiff Bay.

Guaranteed to satisfy cultural vultures, the National Museum Wales is just five minutes’ walk away from Hilton Cardiff. Once you’re done drooling over the largest Impressionist art collection in Wales, check out the first pub theatre in Cardiff, the Other Room, a hub for modern plays from Welsh artists, just 12 minutes from the hotel. Right across the road, Cardiff Castle boasts an eye-widening, 2,000-year history. Head there to marvel at Victorian architect William Burges’ lavish interior transformation with extravagant murals, stained glass and rich gold gilding.

Holland House is near the city centre with modern rooms, a trendy bar, and an 18m (59ft) swimming pool. It’s also pet-friendly, so you don’t have to leave your dog at home. Catch a contemporary art exhibition at nearby g39 or book tickets for a comedy show in the 100-year-old New Theatre. Those looking to dance should head to the Moon for folk, reggae and hip-hop tunes.

This excellent hostel invites backpackers and budget travellers to stay in its wooden bunk beds. It’s right in the city centre – close to the Principality Stadium – and the charming Victorian shopping arcades. You can even hire a bike and cycle the coastal path to Penarth for ice cream. Downstairs, you’ll find a kitchen, laundry room and common room to hang with friends or meet fellow travellers.

Spa lovers can immerse themselves in opulence at this luxury residence on Marine Parade in Penarth, a 15-minute drive from Cardiff. Peel yourself away from postcard-pretty views across the Bristol Channel for luxurious pampering with Elemis products at Holm House Spa. The hotel has 12 rooms which feature a mix of four-poster beds, sloping ceilings, kitchenettes and private sun terraces – take your pick.