The Telegraph recently put together a list of the 'coolest' places to live in the UK, with one neighbourhood in Wales making the cut. The places that made the list, all nominated by people who live in these areas, included the likes of Walthamstow in London, the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham and Finnieston in Glasgow.
Cardiff neighbourhood Pontcanna made the list of 15 places, coming in twelfth place. But it got the WalesOnline team thinking about some of Wales' other 'cool' neighbourhoods. What makes a place 'cool', exactly, is highly subjective and opinions will inevitably differ.
But, with plenty of neighbourhoods across the country that are well worth a visit, we've rounded up a list of the places in Wales that we think would be good contenders for the title of the 'coolest' place to live in the country.
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Mumbles
It's already been labelled one of the 'coolest postcodes in the UK' by The Times earlier this year, and it's not hard to see why. This little village is a gateway to the Gower Peninsula and is just a short walk or drive away from some of the most scenic spots Wales' beaches have to offer.
With seafront cafes and restaurants offering gorgeous views over Swansea Bay, there's plenty to choose from if you're looking to eat out, or even just to grab a quick coffee. Verdi's, a Mumbles institution, has been going for nearly 30 years and serves up delicious pizza, pasta, ice cream and more, while offering views over the Bay.
Joe's Ice Cream opened its Mumbles parlour in the 1980s and it still attracts swarms of people of hot summer days - for good reason. Joe Cascarini's recipe was developed back in 1922 and remains a crowd-pleaser. The Dark Horse is a popular destination for brunch and dinner, also serving unique cocktails.
Mumbles Promenade makes for a pleasant walk, with plenty of attractive stop-offs for a coffee, ice cream, or drink along the way. But, just around the corner, you can make your way along the coastal path to Rotherslade, Langland, and Caswell, some of Swansea's most popular beaches, particularly with the surfing community.
According to Rightmove, properties in Mumbles had an overall average price of £417,792 over the last year.
Canton, Cardiff
Pontcanna in Cardiff made it onto the Telegraph's list of the coolest neighbourhoods - but the neighbouring area of Canton has just as much to offer. Running through the heart of the suburb, Cowbridge Road is where you'll find most of the spots to visit.
Opposite the pretty Victoria Park, you'll find three superb eating places, all next door to each other. The "small plates" restaurant Nook, which has been included in the Michelin guide, while Ansh serves a wide range of burgers, which take their names from famous Welsh figures. Next to Ansh is the Dough Thrower, offering wood-fired pizzas made with their own fresh dough.
Tucked away over a railway bridge on Paper Mill Road, you'll find the bustling Bone Yard, where shipping containers have been given a new lease of life. The site has a range of stores, including Peggy's Pots, where you can paint your own ceramics.
If you head further down the road towards the city centre, there's even more on offer. Hard Lines' top-notch coffee - which they select, roast, and sustainably source - has made them a winner with locals. Further down the road, you'll find the Corp Market, packed with a wide selection of independent traders, including a zero-waste shop, bookshop, plant shop, barbers, and much more.
Calabrisella has become a slice of Italy in the heart of Cardiff, serving classic Italian dishes and a huge range of pizzas at a very reasonable price. You can find out more about where to eat and drink in Canton through our guide here.
Uplands and Brynmill, Swansea
These neighbouring areas of Swansea are packed with trendy independent bars and restaurants, serving anything from granola to pad Thai. Popular with students, the increase in the number of places to eat and drink in these areas in recent years has seen the area cultivate a buzzing nightlife.
Once home to Dylan Thomas - whose birthplace you can visit - Uplands now has a busy farmers market every month, selling a range of local produce. Meanwhile Uplands Crescent is lined with plenty of places to grab a drink and a bite to eat. Brewstone has been a popular destination in the area for a number of years, selling brunch and freshly-made pizzas as well as a creative list of cocktails in its neighbouring bar.
Just across the road is Bar Saint James, a beautifully decorated bar selling coffee, cocktails, and fine wines. Down the road in Brynmill, you'll find even more on offer. Brynymor Road is home to Hooggah, selling coffee and brunch in the day and cocktails and sourdough pizzas in the evening. A few doors along is Thai Bach, a family-run Thai restaurant offering classic Thai dishes.
The sweep of Swansea Bay is just a short walk away, and the areas aren't short of green space either. Cwmdonkin Park, the park where Dylan Thomas once played, has beautiful gardens as well as tennis courts and a play area, while Brynmill Park has a picturesque duck pond.
According to Rightmove, properties in Uplands had an overall average price of £233,819 over the last year, while properties in Brynmill had an average of £202,448.
Newport, Pembrokeshire
The charming town of Newport in Pembrokeshire offers pretty beaches, spectacular views, and great grub. Its breath-taking scenery attracts both artists and tourists and offers up independent shops, galleries, cafés, and fine-dining restaurants.
Pwnc café promises 'fuel for brave living', serving bacon butties and strong coffee, and even has a climbing wall inside. Blas at Fronlas on Market Street is a licensed café, serving a great selection of wine, and homemade bread and food. The town is also home to the award-winning restaurant with rooms Llys Meddyg with its cellar bar selling cocktail specials in front of a roaring fire.
The town has a range of galleries where you can support the local art scene, including the Newport Collective Gallery and Gallery Yr Oriel. The Carningli Centre is also a dream for antique-hunters, boasting over 10,000 second-hand books as well as a gallery for local artists.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs through Newport Parrog, offering walks from Fishguard to Poppit sands - and some gorgeous views along the way. According to Rightmove, properties in Newport had an overall average price of £486,500 over the last year.
Hay-on-Wye
Famous for the Hay Festival which attracts thousands ever year, the famous book town is loved by locals and outsiders alike. And there's plenty to do in Hay-on-Wye other than the festival. The town is, of course, famed for its many bookshops, where you can spend hours browsing the shelves.
But there's much more to explore around the town. The Old Electric Shop has plenty toon offer, including a vegetarian café during the day and cocktails in the evening. The town is not short of places to eat or drink. The Old Black Lion is an award-winning inn, offering fine dining, while The Granary is an established family café serving cakes, coffees, and seasonal food.
There's also plenty to explore outside of the town. You can take a tailored excursion along the River Wye with Want to Canoe? and there are a number of beautiful walks in the area, including the Hay Forest at Felindre. Over the last year, properties in Hay-On-Wye had an overall average price of £371,768, according to Rightmove.
Crickhowell
Nestled in the Usk Valley, Crickhowell is home to a high street where there is just one chain shop. The much-loved high street houses Book.Ish, which currently holds the title of best book shop in Britain.
The bustling town centre is overlooked by rolling hills, as the town lies south of the Black Mountains and the eastern range of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Just off the high street is the atmospheric Bear Hotel, which has been a hostelry since 1432.
It offers a wide-ranging menu and tries to use quality, local produce as much as possible. Then, further down the high street, is the Dragon Inn, a family-run inn with a wide selection of beers and wines and traditional Welsh hospitality.
According to Rightmove, properties in the area had an overall average price of £411,500 over the last year.
Abersoch
This colourful village on Gwynedd's coastline is now a popular seaside resort. Its beach is renowned for sailing and watersports and is lined with pretty beach huts which can be rented by the day or week. Just around the corner, you can access the popular surf spots of Porth Ceiriad and Porth Neigwl - also known as Hell’s Mouth.
The village has a wide range of shops, from independents to popular high street brands. It is also home to the most expensive street in Wales - Benar Headland - which had an average price of £1,730,000.
It isn't short on good places to eat either, with two entries in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. The Porth Tocyn Hotel and The Dining Room - which is currently closed for the winter - have both been included in the guide. The former has been included in the Good Hotel Guide since 1957, and offers glorious views and dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.
Cowbridge
Around 11 miles from Cardiff is the market town of Cowbridge - another former winner of The Sunday Times' 'Best Place to Live in Wales' guide. The posh postcode also comes with a hefty average house price of £471,871 over the last year, according to Rightmove.
The independent shops in Cowbridge outnumber the big chains, from clothes shops selling Barbour jackets to artisan bakeries offering sourdough bread. On the outskirts of the town is Forage, a thriving farm shop and café with a changing menu based on seasonal produce, which you can find in the shop itself.
The Bear Hotel is a popular spot on the high street, hosting weddings, diners, and drinkers alike, with three bars to choose from. The pretty town is just a 15-minute drive from the Llanerch Vineyard in Hensol, and is just a short drive from the sandy beaches of Southerndown and Ogmore by Sea.
Newport
While it's not necessarily lauded for its 'trendy' neighbourhoods, Wales' third city has had a notable uptick in quirky independents, shops and bars in recent years. The reopening of Newport Market and the revamp of both the Market Arcade and Newport Arcade have breathed new life into High Street and bolstered the city's food and drink offering, adding to up and coming areas like Clytha Park Road with its string of already-established indies like Rogue Fox Coffee House and Holy Cheesus. Other areas are also starting to see more activity too, with new businesses and arts spaces popping up in the likes of Clarence Place and Baneswell.
Just outside the city, Caerleon is well-known for its historic Roman amphitheatre, but it's also home to a host of interesting little boutique stores such as Spirit of Awen and a mixture of old and new with the likes of Ye Olde Bull Inn and the always-busy Ffwrwm Arts and Crafts Centre which has several craft shops, a tea-room and a restaurant.
Llandeilo
Another pretty, colourful village, Llandeilo is packed with independent shops, cool bars, and a selection of great restaurants and cafes. The town hosts a weekly arts, crafts, and collectibles market at the Civic Hall, while galleries and antique shops can be found dotted along the high street and in the surrounding lanes.
The red Cawdor Hotel is one of the most recognisable buildings on the high street. The Grade II listed building is now a boutique hotel serving top-notch food from pub favourites to their a-la-carte menu. Bakery and deli Pitchfork and Provision, set up by two childhood friends, provides a café menu making use of local produce.
The colourful town was named the best place to live in Wales by The Sunday Times last year. According to Rightmove, properties in Llandeilo had an overall average price of £314,300 over the last year.
Tenby
With its colourful houses and sandy beaches, Tenby attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The town has coastal walks right on its doorstep where you can take in the beautiful views from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, the town has some fantastic places to eat, from classic fish and chips to fine dining. From the Japanese-influenced Umi, which uses fish and seafood from Tenby, Little Haven, and more, to Plantagenet House, hidden away on Quay Hill, there's a huge range of intendent eateries to visit.
There's also a variety of pubs and bars to frequent in the centre of the town, whether you're looking for a quiet drink or a rowdy pub crawl. According to Rightmove, properties in Tenby had an overall average price of £296,994 over the last year.
Barry
Best known for the famous Barry Island and attracting thousands to its beaches on the sunnier days of the year, Barry saw a huge growth in house prices back in 2019 - and they have continued to increase. Properties in Barry had an overall average price of £217,801 over the last year, according to Rightmove, while back in June 2019 the average property price tag for Barry stood at £191,050. Alongside the more well-known attractions of the arcades, Barry Island, and Whitmore Bay, the seaside town has become a popular spot for wild swimmers. Just around the corner and away from the hustle and bustle is the beautiful Jackson's Bay, another popular spot for swimmers all year around.
The town has also become a popular destination for eating and shopping, with a number of excellent restaurants to choose from. Goodsheds houses a mixture of independent shops, selling anything from clothes to ceramics, as well as street food vendors.
Narberth
With plenty of trendy independent shops and an award-winning luxury hotel, the pretty town of Narberth in Pembrokeshire presents a bounty of opportunities for shopping and eating. According to Rightmove, properties in the area had an overall average price of £253,879 over the last year. Located on the fringes of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and with views of rolling, green hills from the high street, it's easy to step away from the buzz and into the quiet of the Pembrokeshire countryside.
Foodies can flock to a range of delis, from Ultracomida Deli specialising in Spanish food and wine to Wise Buys, which stocks fresh fruit and veg, as well as Welsh-made goods. The town also boasts a wide range of independent eateries.
Plum Vanilla, which also has a deli attached, offers vegetarian dishes and cakes and tries to use as much organic, fairtrade and local produce as possible. Just around the corner is Madtom Seafood Restaurant, serving up fresh seafood from Pembrokeshire's coast. For cocktails, local beer, and Neapolitan-style pizza, Top Joe's is the place to head.
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