Cardiff is bursting with wonderful independent cafes in which to sit down, have a coffee, a slice of cake, and enjoy some much-needed R&R after a long weekend walk. But for dog owners who want to rest their weary feet and sip on a hot cup of joe after taking their pooch for a run around, entering such an establishment, in the past, hasn't always been the easiest of tasks.
Thankfully, in recent years, the market of dog-friendly cafes - and even specifically dog and cat cafes which sees these animals roaming around freely - has expanded to welcome four-legged friends (of which there are 13 million living in homes in the UK, according to Statista ) inside with open arms and a puppacino - a small cup of whipped cream - at the ready.
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And in Cardiff, a city that's bustling with restaurants, bars and coffee shops, we're proud to say that there is a vast number of places that will do exactly that - some of which take things that one step further and offer a specially-designed dog-friendly menu that ensures dog and diner are satisfied.
So with that in mind, we've listed a bunch of just some of our favourite pit stops in the city you'd be barking mad to miss out on visiting with your furry friend...
Scruffy Pups
With a name like that, you can only imagine what delicious treats this cafe serves up. Scruffy Pups opened in a converted boxing gym in Llanrumney in August 2020. Its menu features puppuccinos and doggy doughnuts and also has facilities for four-legged customers include dog grooming, washing and an agility area.
While dogs are celebrated at this cafe, they also serve delicious food for customers with two legs, including reuben sandwiches, birria tacos, buttermilk fried chicken sandwiches, smashed burgers, and burritos. They even won the title of Britain’s best dog-friendly business last year.
Where : Ball Lane, Llanrumney, Cardiff CF3 4JS
For more information, visit the website
The Secret Garden Cafe
With seats both inside and outside this walled cafe, dogs are welcome come what may. Stop off for some delicious homemade grub made with seasonal and sustainable produce and a treat for your dog- who the staff will always say a hearty hello to.
Writing on their social media, it said: "We love it when you visit with your four legged friends. We’ve got biscuits and water and lots of warm welcomes for them. Dog are 100% welcome."
Where : Bute Park. North Road, Cardiff CF10 3ER
For more information, visit its social media
Neighbourhood Kitchen
This gorgeous street food restaurant, whose rotating trader-menus means no two visits are the same, offer up some amazing nosh from its rotating street food chefs as well as their own staple menu - which includes a reuben sarnie, neighbourhood cold cut sandwiches and drool-worthy breakfasts. For your pooches, they keep treats behind the bar so they don't miss out on the occasion.
Where : 80 Tudor Street, Cardiff CF11 6AL
For more information, visit the website
The Lounge Group
Whether you're visiting Juno, Fino or Ocho Lounge during your trip to the big city (and its surrounding), you'll have peace in knowing that whether it be breakfast, lunch and dinner, your dog will be welcome as you munch through some of the Lounge Group's delicious plates - which offers vegan and gluten-free specific menus too.
Where : Whitchurch / Penarth / Roath
For more information, visit the website
Coffi Co
With five different locations in and around Cardiff, this cafe - which has been dubbed a "dog-friendly heaven" - offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view. If you're fancying just a quick thirst-quencher, their menu has a vast range of coffees, smoothies, frappes and alcoholic beverages.
For more information, visit the website
Bloc Coffee
This delightful bi-lingual coffee shop's aim is to "make people smile through great events, food and coffee." It was nominated at the UK Coffee Awards 2022 in the most notable new cafe category and there are whole host of reasons. Alongside gorgeous coffee, it also serves up some great food such as freshly baked Alex Gooch croissants, cakes and even hosts pop-up trader events. Past traders have included Queen of Saucery and Cosmos Mexicana. And it's not just us they feed well. Pups are treated to adorable branded Bloc biscuits, puppacinos and even doggie ice cream.
Where: Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF5 1JN
For more information, visit the website
Hardlines Coffee
"Bring your fluffy friends, catch some pals or hop on your bike & hit the taff trail; we got you covered!", Hardlines Coffee has previously said on its Instagram. With "really really really good coffee" being poured across three sites - in Cardiff Market, their own cafe in Canton and a roastery bar just outside Cardiff - it's a truly delicious place to come and sit for a moment with a plate of good food. Spice up your brunch with a dish from their new menu: ricotta and roasted peach number on sourdough - mm!
Where : Ground Floor Unit, St Cannas Court, Cowbridge Road East CF5 1GX
For more information, visit the website
Coffi La b
Describing itself as a dog-friendly coffee shop - its name was inspired by the beloved Labrador - it would be silly not to include this delightful coffee shop into the mix. The much-loved coffee shop, which is "the perfect place to stop off for a coffee and a treat for your best friend", has three stores in Cardiff alone (other locations include Abergavenny and Monmouthshire), and boasts an environment that is warm and welcoming.
It says: "Like the Labrador, our spirit animal, we love the simple things in life: good food and a friendly atmosphere".
Not only is it dog-friendly, but Coffi Lab also supports the charity Guide Dogs and has a sponsored guide dog puppy for each store. Of this, its website states: "Coffi Lab is not solely about providing you with exquisite coffee. Coffi Lab’s mission is broader. Coffi Lab is driven by a desire to do good."
Where : In Cardiff, there are locations in Llandaff, Whitchurch and Rhiwbina
For more information, visit the website
Cafe Castan
This lovely little cafe is nestled in Pontcanna Fields and serves some mean breakfasts and phenomenal pizzas. With a choice of mouthwatering cakes available too, this cafe is an ideal place to enjoy a walk and then a good feed - and it's outdoors so plenty of doggies frequent here after a lovely walk in Llandaff Fields.
Where : 5 Cathedral Road, Llandaff Fields, Pontcanna, CF11 9QJ
For more information, visit the website
The Summerhouse Cafe
The café provides Bute Park users with hot and cold refreshments, a beautiful seating area, and views of the herbaceous border.
Open all year round, you can visit for ice cream or BBQ food in the summer, or get cosy under one of the cafés blankets with a nice cup of hot chocolate in the winter.
Where : Bute Park, Cardiff CF10 3DX
Social Eats
If this TripAdvisor review of one of Cathays' newest cafe's Social Eats doesn't sell it for you, we don't know what will.
The happy customer said: "Food was beautifully presented, ridiculously tasty and came out faster than I expected and the coffee was amazing. The staff were also super helpful and friendly and even gave my puppy a homemade dog biscuit!"
For banging bagels, sumptuous sandwiches, colourful salad bowls, speciality coffee and homemade bakes - for both you and your dog - look no further.
Where: 20 Salisbury Road, Cardiff, CF244AD
For more information, visit the website
Blossom Cafe
As long as your pooch is well behaved, you can bring them along to one of Cardiff's most Instagrammable dining experiences, Blossom - "where friendships bloom". Decorated in flowers, this perfectly pink cafe is the perfect place for a birthday brunch or an afternoon tea with your nearest and dearest.
Where : 11 Wellfield Road, Cardiff, CF24 3NZ
For more information, visit the website
Ground Bakery
An artisan bakery - co-owned by one of Cardiff's best chef, Thomas Simmons - that serves up some of the finest coffee in the city, offers mind-blowingly good (and filling) brunches and lunches and you can bring your dog? Well, we can't think of a better place to spend a Saturday morning.
Where : 15 Pontcanna Street, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HQ
For more information, visit the website
The Potting Shed Cafe
You've had a wander around the beautiful grounds of Insole Court, the estate which once housed one of Cardiff's most renowned families of the Industrial age, the Insoles, soaked up its history and marvelled at its mansion and gardens. Now you're in need of some grub. Thankfully, The Potting Shed Cafe on site and can cater for your hunger needs with its "good, ethical and home-made food".
If you've got your dog with you, you will be still welcomed, although - as its website states - it requires them to remain in the walled courtyard garden and not inside.
Where : Insole Court, Cardiff CF5 2LN
For more information, visit the website
Waterloo Tea
This Cardiff-based teahouse, which offers so much more than tea - their brunch options are what food dreams are made of - welcomes dogs both inside and out, so you won't have to battle the elements whilst shielding your brew of Darjeeling.
Where: Wyndam Arcade / Wellfield Road / Waterloo Gardens
For more informatin, visit the website
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