Quick info
About Castle Cafe
Castle Cafe is a cafe on Castle St in Cardiff, set within the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The menu centres on Welsh food, led by cawl, a lamb stew served with a roll and butter, with gluten free bread supplied alongside it. Welsh cakes appear among the Welsh specialties, and jacket potatoes with fillings cover the heartier end of the menu. A bar pours alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and the cafe also serves ice creams along with hot and cold drinks. Diners order first and are handed a buzzer afterward.
Good to know
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention welsh cawl, outdoor terrace seating, welsh cakes and ice cream.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention welsh cawl, outdoor terrace seating, welsh cakes and ice cream.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often return to the Welsh cawl, a lamb stew served with a roll and butter that one diner calls a bargain and another describes as delicious, with gluten free bread supplied when asked. Close behind is the setting inside the castle grounds, where the outdoor terrace is praised for sunny-day seating, drinks and ice creams, and the beer is called good. Staff draw mostly warm comments, with the ladies at the counter described as attentive with children and a clear, confident answer on what was gluten free. The caveats are specific. One reviewer found the tuna melt panini and chocolate caramel shortbread slightly dry and said the salads on display smelt slightly off. Another reports multiple coffee spills on clothes because the lids came off, and a third called the food and drink expensive and tasteless with unclear directions. Opinions on price split, with some calling it fair for the location. One reviewer notes a buzzer given after ordering so diners can wait outside.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often return to the Welsh cawl, a lamb stew served with a roll and butter that one diner calls a bargain and another describes as delicious, with gluten free bread supplied when asked. Close behind is the setting inside the castle grounds, where the outdoor terrace is praised for sunny-day seating, drinks and ice creams, and the beer is called good. Staff draw mostly warm comments, with the ladies at the counter described as attentive with children and a clear, confident answer on what was gluten free. The caveats are specific. One reviewer found the tuna melt panini and chocolate caramel shortbread slightly dry and said the salads on display smelt slightly off. Another reports multiple coffee spills on clothes because the lids came off, and a third called the food and drink expensive and tasteless with unclear directions. Opinions on price split, with some calling it fair for the location. One reviewer notes a buzzer given after ordering so diners can wait outside.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Well what a find .Had the most delicious (a first !) Welsh traditional lamb stew/soup dish called Welsh Cawl .Served with a roll and butter .Within the grounds of Cardiff castle and serves various dishes such as jacket potatoes with fillings ,chilli con carne & rice ,cakes ,including Welsh cakes ,hot and cold drinks .There is also a bar and museum shop with toilets within the same building .There is an outside terrace with seating on warm days .”
- Google user
“I stopped by Caffi'r Castell while visiting the castle and it was a mixed experience overall. The place itself is in a great location and it’s nice to have somewhere to sit down and grab food after walking around the grounds. I ordered the tuna melt panini and it wasn’t bad. The bread was nicely toasted and warm which made it enjoyable to eat, and the tuna filling had a decent flavour that worked well with the melted cheese. The downside is that it felt a bit basic and slightly dry in places, especially for the price, so it didn’t really stand out as something memorable. The salads on display were a bit concerning because they smelt slightly off when walking past the counter. It wasn’t strong enough to make a scene about it, but it definitely made me think twice about ordering one, which isn’t a great sign when you’re trying to attract customers to fresh food. I also tried the chocolate caramel shortbread which was alright. The chocolate layer on top was nice and sweet and gave it a good dessert feel, and it paired well with a drink after the meal. The negative is that the caramel and biscuit base felt a bit heavy and slightly dry, so it didn’t have that soft melt in the mouth texture you would expect. One thing I can’t fault is the staff. They were nice and friendly, spoke politely, and kept things moving smoothly even though it was busy with castle visitors. That kind of service always makes a place more comfortable to visit. Prices are a little extortionate in my opinion. You expect to pay more inside a tourist attraction, but some of the food and drink prices feel a bit steep for what you actually get, especially when the quality is just average. A cool touch is that they give you a buzzer after ordering so you can sit outside in the outdoor area and relax while waiting for your food. That makes the experience better because you are not stuck standing around inside, and sitting outside in the castle surroundings is actually quite nice. Overall it’s a decent spot if you need a quick bite while visiting Cardiff Castle, mainly because of the location and friendly staff, but the food quality and prices could definitely be improved.”
- Google user
“Nice little cafe within Cardiff castle. The ladies were amazing and attentive with their service. Ensured the kids were happy and we're happy to accommodate requests. Lovely little bar with a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Food includes Welsh specialties. Highly recommend a visit if visiting the castle”
- Google user
“Great and affordable food in town in castle grounds. Staff were clear and confident about what was gluten free and I had a delicious lamb cawl that was a bargain and they supplied gluten free bread with it too :-)”
- Google user
“A great restaurant with some excellent food that helps you immerse yourself into the ambiance of this historic monument.”
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Cafes near Castle Cafe
- The Bull Terrier Cafe3.61140.1 miOutdoor seating
welsh breakfast, large breakfast, vegetarian breakfast
- KIN+ILK St Davids4.32400.2 mi
carrot cake, matcha latte, pourover coffee
- Wyndham Cafeteria4.73310.3 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsDelivery
full english breakfast, fluffy pancakes, breakfast brioches
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Cafe | 3.928 | — | welsh cawl, outdoor terrace seating, welsh cakes |
| The Bull Terrier CafeOutdoor seating | 3.6114 | 0.1 mi | welsh breakfast, large breakfast, vegetarian breakfast |
| KIN+ILK St Davids | 4.3240 | 0.2 mi | carrot cake, matcha latte, pourover coffee |
| Wyndham CafeteriaOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Delivery | 4.7331 | 0.3 mi | full english breakfast, fluffy pancakes, breakfast brioches |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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