Coffee and Welsh Cake Ice Cream. Cardiff, Wales

June 2021

Cardiff holds a special place in my heart, it being the city of my student years.  So when I was invited to a wedding there, I decided this was a great opportunity for a reminiscent trip.

Back when I was a student, I didn't even like coffee (I do wonder how I survived being a student without!) but I had a feeling that in this day and age, Cardiff would have some pretty great roasters.  I started off at Brodies.  They have a cafe, Bricks and Mortar, on North Road but since it was a lovely sunny morning I headed to their cabin in Gorsedd Gardens to enjoy my flat white in the dappled light of the cooling trees.  There's a surprisingly large selection of sweet treats for such a dinky hut, and they also sell boxes of plant-based Patissiere Thibault Courtoisier's macarons.


Next I delved in to the arcades.  I love how arcades always feel like a bit of a secret, and how you never know what exciting shop or interesting boutique you'll find around the next corner.  Royal Arcade is home to Uncommon Ground Roasting Company, so one can expect all the usual espresso based options as well as a rotating batch brew.  Their Kenyan coffee was up the day I went, fruity and refreshing.  Enjoy your beverage of choice whilst people watching from the window stools or sink in to one of the comfy sofas if you prefer.

Buzzing from all this caffeine, I walked over to Roath to a gorgeous little deli, Green and Jenks, and was intrigued by Cardiff roasters Hard Lines East Timor beans - not a country I often come across in the coffee beans line up.  So I bought a bag and am looking forward to trying it.


Green and Jenks have all sorts of local produce from cider to cheese, and they make their own small batch gelato.  Despite it being only 10am, there was no way I could resist sampling Welsh cake ice cream... when in Wales 'n' all!  They also have a coffee hatch with cakes and even prosecco - the perfect place to stock up before wandering across the road for a gourmet picnic in Roath Park.

Find Green and Jenks on Wellfield Road.

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