My Top 10 Cafés in Cardiff As a Student

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About the author: Hi! I’m Jess and I am a final year English Literature student at Cardiff University. I’m also the Cardiff Content Ambassador and a Social Media Brand Ambassador for UniHomes. I love travelling, cups of tea, fitness, writing and creating lifestyle content.

Cardiff has a thriving café scene – from iced lattes and matcha to flat whites and hot chocolates, you can find a drink to suit every student’s tastes (and every student’s budget) here in the Welsh capital.

So, here are my top recommendations for coffee shops in Cardiff, as picked out by me and my friends.

My 10 favourite cafés in Cardiff

1. Maple & Bean

Nestled in Cardiff’s beautiful Morgan Arcade, you’ll find Maple & Bean.

I’ve been to Maple & Bean often throughout my time at university (both with my housemates and to catch up with friends) and, although I’m definitely more of a hot chocolate girl, their coffees are so good. I also love that they regularly have seasonal baked goods and treats, and I’ve even spotted some really fun Halloween and Christmas options there before.

One little warning from me: bring a mini fan in summer. It can get pretty toasty inside the café, although that does make it a very cosy option when it’s cold outside!

🌟 Best for: seasonal baked goods and a cosy café stop while exploring Cardiff’s arcades.

📍 Address: 28 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AF

2. Milkwood

If you fancy venturing a little further out from Cardiff city centre, Pontcanna is definitely an area to put on your café radar; it’s full of independent coffee shops, restaurants and brunch spots, and Milkwood is one of my favourites to visit.

I’ve been for breakfast here, and it’s a really nice spot for a relaxed breakfast or brunch. They also have waffles, which my housemate tried and really recommends.

There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can sit outside when the weather is nice and, because it’s in Pontcanna, it’s a perfect excuse to walk through Bute Park on the way there (side note: if you’re already in Bute Park, Secret Garden Café and Servini’s at the Summerhouse are great café spots, too!

Whether you’re coming from the city centre, Cathays, Roath or one of the student accommodation areas around Cardiff, Milkwood is really accessible.

🌟 Best for: a relaxed brunch, outdoor seating and a walk through Bute Park afterwards.

📍 Address: 83 Pontcanna Street, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9HS

3. Metchy’s Café

If you live in Cathays, you’ll probably know exactly where I mean when I say Metchy’s. It’s right in the heart of Cathays, just by Lidl, making it a seriously convenient spot for us students. Whether you’re meeting a friend for a catch up or just fancy grabbing a drink before a lecture, the location (which I've written more about in my guide to Cathays) is hard to beat.

It’s also right by the Woody so there are plenty of options nearby if your coffee date turns into a “shall we just get a drink at the pub, too?” vibe.

🌟 Best for: a coffee before your lecture, and the location.

📍 Address: 1 Cathays Terrace, Cardiff, CF24 4HS

4. Rhostio

Rhostio is another student favourite, particularly if you’re looking for somewhere you can actually settle down with your laptop.

There’s also the rooftop terrace, which is probably my favourite thing about it since it turns into a bar in the evening and has DJs playing there, too. Intrigued about Cardiff nightlife? Read our blog post on the best places to go on a night out as a student in Cardiff here.

🌟 Best for: studying during the day, and drinks with a DJ playing on the rooftop in the evening.

📍 Address: 16C Crwys Road, Cardiff, CF24 4NJ

5. Pori

Although it's a little further away from Cardiff city centre, Pori is one of those places that I feel like not enough students know about. Well, I didn’t after three years of studying in Cardiff…

If you go for breakfast, I have to recommend their “Full Pori” breakfast. I’m going to put it out there: it might genuinely be the best full breakfast I’ve ever had! It’s a great option if you fancy venturing away from the usual city centre student spots and trying somewhere a little different.

🌟 Best for: proper breakfast and discovering somewhere outside the usual student hotspots.

📍 Address: 4 Trade Street, Cardiff, CF10 5DQ

6. Blŵm

Blŵm is such a cute little independent café in Cardiff, and it’s the kind of place where the little details make it feel so personal.

I’ve had a hot chocolate there with little dried flower petals added on top, which sounds like such a small thing but it’s so cute and I loved it! It just makes your drink feel a little more special and worth buying.

🌟 Best for: special drinks and thoughtful touches.

📍 Address: Fairoak House, Fairoak Road, Cardiff, CF24 4YA

7. Black Sheep Coffee

Usually, I’d recommend going for one of Cardiff’s independent cafés over a chain, but Black Sheep Coffee gets an exception from me – mainly because students can get a £2 regular drink deal on Mondays through UNiDAYS. It’s always worth checking your student discount apps before you go out to make sure you’re securing really cheap and good student deals!

🌟 Best for: great coffee that's budget friendly.

📍 Address 1: 7 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1AT
📍 Address 1: Unit 2, Southgate House, Wood Street, Cardiff, CF10 1EW

8. The Table

Okay, when I say I LOVE the Table I mean it. If you’re looking for a café experience that’s a little different, the Table is absolutely another one to add to your list.

Fun fact: The Table is actually inside Emmanuel Church and is open every Friday during term time! And before you think “Wait, a church café? Don’t I have to go to church for that?”, you absolutely don’t have to be a Christian or attend the church to visit. It’s a welcoming space to catch up with friends, study and have some really good food. They even have comfy sofas and it’s the kind of place where you can actually sit and have a proper chat rather than feeling like you need to rush off.

My friend Abbie, who goes to the Table regularly, says: “There’s such lovely staff, fabulous atmosphere, delicious food and coffee, and very reasonable pricing!”

🌟 Best for: a cosy Friday catch up, homemade cakes, a welcoming atmosphere, and cheap food and drinks.

📍 Address: Pentyrch Street, Cardiff, CF24 4JX

9. Brodies Coffee - On the Wall

If you’re looking for a café with a bit more of a scenic setting, Brodie’s is situated just inside Bute Park, near the side closest to the city centre. It’s a great place to stop off after a walk through the park or when you fancy escaping town for a little bit.

I’ve been here for food and had one of their tuna melt toasties, which was genuinely so good. I’m also a big fan of their smoothies, and their sausage rolls are definitely worth trying too. All homemade and all delicious!

There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, plus toilets on-site, which is actually a pretty useful perk when you’re spending the day in Bute Park. The staff are always lovely, too, which makes such a difference.

🌟 Best for: tuna melt toasties, smoothies, and homemade baked goods.

📍 Address: Castle West Lodge, Castle Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BJ

10. Full Fat Social

If you fancy heading to Cardiff Bay after exploring Bute Park, why not hop on the water taxi and make your way to Full Fat Social?

This café serves everything from coffee to brunch, and even cocktails, wine and small plates – making it a great social hub to check out while exploring the Bay.

It’s a great study spot, too, with plenty of plug sockets for your laptops so that you can make a full day of both studying and exploring Cardiff Bay.

🌟 Best for: a relaxed brunch or drinks with friends.

📍 Address: 22 Mermaid Quay, Cardiff, CF10 5BZ

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