Cafe Floyd

I’ve been there once or twice though and most recently, on a Saturday night where it was totally empty apart from us. It’s fairly plush inside and pretty small, being above Floyd Clothing on High Street.
The first thing that struck me was the impressively stocked bar. They’ve got over 250 spirits on show here and a pretty large selection of European beers too. They also do cocktails but the prices scared me off. It isn’t cheap to drink here that’s for sure.
What I like about Floyd’s mainly is the secrecy and exclusivity of the place. It does get busy but then it is only very small. 50 people would pack the place out to be honest. I’ve normally gone up the stairs, taken one look at how busy the place is and left. When there is a bit of room though it’s one of the best places in Cardiff. You get the impression that most people don’t even know it exists.
If you’re looking for cheap drinks, loud music and dancing, you should probably avoid Floyd’s. If you want to sit down, relax and chat or meet up before a night out, you definitely have to give it a try.

I generally like Café Floyd’s because its a nice little place to go and hang out with a group of friends when you just want to have a catch up in the evening or unwind. I do like their cocktails but I agree that it is quite an expensive place, and keeps it a bit more exclusive.
There is a tendency to find slightly older suited types who seem to think its ok to pitch you bum and be letchy but without them its pretty good. Good night out would consist of the pizza express just next to it followed by a drink here.

Café Floyd or Floyd’s bar as I know it is another hard to find sort of place. Its hidden above a clothes store on Cardiff’s main drinking street. I was slightly worried when my mate first led me towards an alley way and up to this place.
It’s a pretty small and crowded place and one of Cardiff’s few independent bars. The bar staff were really chatty and great at pouring up a cocktail to my taste, ah I mean pouring me a good pint! Really though there is quite an extensive selection of spirits they have behind that little bar. It’s full of old sofa’s and mismatched furniture and is a comfortable place to sit and catch up with a group of friends.
I like it because it’s an alternative from the all the bigger bars of St. Mary’s street, but its too expensive for me to make a night of it and the crowd was a little bit older than my tender years.
PS its only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday

When I was little, my mum used to bring me to Floyd’s, (I think she knew one of the owners once upon a time) so I would sleep on the sofas whilst she drank G&T and chatted into the wee hours.
As a grown up, this is one of my favourite spots in town, it’s like a quiet little sanctuary on one of the busiest/​worst streets in Cardiff.
There’s a really huge selection of booze but the drinks aren’t really that amazing. My friend who is a superstar bartender had little things to gripe about. They didn’t give him enough gin, his tonic was lukewarm and there were spelling mistakes on the boards above the bar. None of that really matters though because the environment is so wonderful and almost indescribably relaxed.
The best seat in the house is the one next to the window because you can look out on to St Mary Street at 1am and see the absolute horror show that is Cardiff on a Friday/​Saturday night. Mocking is always better when done from a safe distance.

Floyds has a really nice atmosphere, especially in the evening with its twinkly fairy lights in the window. It is a small place but with a nice cosy intimate atmosphere. The drinks are expensive but they have the widest range of spirits i’ve seen — guarenteed to find something you like to drink. The one thing that annoys me about it is you never know when it is going to be open — i have gone in the week and its been closed. Seems to be open every weekend though.

Floyd’s a bit like Marmite — you either love it or hate it. Hidden away above a clothing shop (that recently appeared on a popular TV business makeover show, so is enjoying a revamped look and a surge in popularity) it’s easy to walk right by Floyds without missing a beat, so keep your eyes peeled for the little billboard they place outside on the pavement. In fact, watch you don’t trip over it.
If you find the magical doorway to Narnia and climb the narrow wooden staircase, what can you expect to find?
Well, lots of posh people air-​kissing each other on the cheeks, judging by last Saturday night. But enough of that, on to the place itself. Narrow and long, the bar has lots of wood, swish and swanky leather couches and a café-​style area by the bay window full of tables and chairs. Twinkly little fairy lights curtain the window and elsewhere, low lamps and candles give off a mellow glow.
It’s cosy, no doubt about it. If there are more than three people stood at the bar, it can get a bit crushed as it’s very narrow. Plus, the drinks are Pri-​high-​see (expensive, innit but) — me and the other half had a vodka & coke and a bottle of Corona between us and it came to £6.50! SIX POUND FIFTY. That’s not cool even if you’ve got a million quid in the bank and can air-​kiss for Britain.
Having said that, Floyds remains popular. I guess it is like Marmite — you’ll just have to go along and see if it’s to your taste.

Café Floyd is an independently run café, it’s pretty small but this is what makes it intermit and cosy. It’s a great place to stop off for a chilled beer or tasty cocktail, or maybe something a bit sweeter, the puddings there are to die for! Places like café Floyd are rare in Cardiff these days so it’s best to make the most of these little gems while they last!