Quick info
About City Arms
City Arms is a Cardiff pub on Quay St., decorated with pump clips from around the world. A central bar pours local beers and real cask ales, with guest beers that change and come from Wales and the rest of the UK, plus a bottled selection. Upstairs, the kitchen serves traditional Welsh food, including lamb stew and Glamorganshire sausages. The menu also lists a steak and mushroom pie in ale gravy, a steak and kidney pie, and faggots with mash, peas and gravy, with bara brith cake to finish. Sports TVs carry domestic and international rugby, and the pub works as an after-work stop as well as a match venue. It also hosts a backgammon event.
Good to know
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: restroom, seating
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention welsh lamb stew, real ales on tap, faggots and mash and steak and kidney pie.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention welsh lamb stew, real ales on tap, faggots and mash and steak and kidney pie.
Customer Review Summary
Lunch upstairs is the main draw, with reviewers singling out traditional Welsh dishes: the faggots and mash with peas and gravy, a lamb stew, and a steak and kidney pie. One diner followed the stew with a second bowl, and another had a slice of bara brith that tasted like Christmas. Close behind is the beer, where several praise a good choice of real ales and cask ales, and one says the barman explained each of the local beers. Staff come across as friendly and welcoming, and the landlord is called helpful by a tour-group visitor. Reviewers also mention the relaxed atmosphere and the central location. The lower scores raise a few complaints. One found the pub quiet, blaming loud music for putting people off, and wished it felt more welcoming. Another wanted more seating and more local brews, though they called two pints for a tenner good value. One visitor stopped in after the Cardiff half marathon and called the food affordable, and another caught a backgammon event.
Customer Review Summary
Lunch upstairs is the main draw, with reviewers singling out traditional Welsh dishes: the faggots and mash with peas and gravy, a lamb stew, and a steak and kidney pie. One diner followed the stew with a second bowl, and another had a slice of bara brith that tasted like Christmas. Close behind is the beer, where several praise a good choice of real ales and cask ales, and one says the barman explained each of the local beers. Staff come across as friendly and welcoming, and the landlord is called helpful by a tour-group visitor. Reviewers also mention the relaxed atmosphere and the central location. The lower scores raise a few complaints. One found the pub quiet, blaming loud music for putting people off, and wished it felt more welcoming. Another wanted more seating and more local brews, though they called two pints for a tenner good value. One visitor stopped in after the Cardiff half marathon and called the food affordable, and another caught a backgammon event.
Featured reviews
- Eva Ströberg
“Had lunch at the city arms after I finished Cardiff half. Excellent food, friendly service and affordable fare. Loved it!”
- Peter Anthony
“Beautiful friendly pub, backgammon event when I visited. Good Rev ale on tap. One of best pub in Cardiff”
- Jon Dalton
“Used to be a classic Cardiff pub when have been in before. But this time quiet in terms of customers, possibly due to loud music being played and scaring people off. Good beers but needs to make the place feel more welcoming.”
- Megatext
“Very friendly pub! Came in to try some local beers, and the barman, Mark, was very accommodating and gave me information about each of the local beers. Would highly recommend, and it’s a bonus that it’s centrally located as well!”
- Krystal Erickson
“It's a solid historical pub with sports TV! However, I do wish there was more seating. That was the main issue. I also wish they had more local brews. The price was good, though - £10 for two pints of beer.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“BEER LOVERS WITH OUR GREAT LOCATION IN THE CENTRE OF CARDIFF AND A FANTASTIC GUEST SELECTION. A beer lover’s paradise for years the City Arms is quirkily decorated with pump clips from around the world and through the ages. We have continually changing guest beers from around Wales and the rest of the UK along with an impressive bottled selection. Pop in for an after-work drink, or make us your venue of choice for either domestic or international rugby.”
- Great beer selection
- Karaoke
- Sports
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Paid parking lot
- Alcohol
- Cozy
- Beer
Show more amenities
- Free water refills
- Seating
- Karaoke
- Sports
- Restroom
- Crowd· 4
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
- Offerings· 3
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Parking· 1
- Parking
- Highlights· 1
- Great beer selection
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Bars near City Arms
- Tiny Rebel Cardiff4.53,7170 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
craft beer selection, burgers and onion rings, tinselmisu stout
- Bar 44 Cardiff4.61,0090 mi
potato tortilla, roast chicken, jamon iberico croquetas
- Barkers Tavern4.7800 mi£10–20
fresh oysters, Guinness pint, live music
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City ArmsWheelchair accessible · Wi-Fi | 4.41,406 | — | £1–20 | welsh lamb stew, real ales on tap, faggots and mash |
| Tiny Rebel CardiffReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.53,717 | 0 mi | £10–20 | craft beer selection, burgers and onion rings, tinselmisu stout |
| Bar 44 Cardiff | 4.61,009 | 0 mi | — | potato tortilla, roast chicken, jamon iberico croquetas |
| Barkers Tavern | 4.780 | 0 mi | £10–20 | fresh oysters, Guinness pint, live music |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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