Whether you’re after an epic weekend of adventures or a music scene like no other, the Welsh capital is a quirky, creative haven brimming with energy and appeal. A vibrant, cosmopolitan hub with a warm Welsh welcome, weekends see a special buzz reverberate through the streets of Cardiff, as waves of people descend on the city’s thriving venues.
Cardiff is also an excellent base for a historical excursion, offering an insight into 2000 years of history in a medieval castle, as well as for day trips to surrounding valleys and coastal areas.
Nowhere is this vitality reflected more than in Cardiff’s eclectic range of hotels, which range from budget-friendly boutiques to newly acquired architectural masterpieces. Here are the best cool and unusual hotels in Cardiff, Wales (in no particular order)…
1. Holm House Hotel – a chic, fashionable and Insta-worthy boutique hotel set in a peaceful and affluent area
Perched atop a cliff in Penarth, a town characterized by its collection of industrialist 19th -century architecture, Holm House invites you to feel the genuine warmth of a chic 1926 property.
This former private residence evokes a coastal charm through its individually styled rooms which boast quirky shades and nautically inspired prints.
As you walk through the gorgeous façade, you step into a classy scene which befits its sophisticated heritage, an essence which radiates into the boutique spa and cool restaurant bar.
The last decade has seen a full refurbishment, with contemporary design elements in the form of low-slung lounge chairs and a pretty, manicured lawn facing the sea.
- To book, check prices or availability for Holm House Hotel
2. Hotel Indigo – a cool, hip and contemporary boutique hotel perfect for partying Millenials and Gen Zs
A classic Welsh heritage meets bespoke design at Hotel Indigo, where the boutique bedrooms reflect Cardiff’s effervescence.
Many offer scintillating views of the skyline and are embellished with a vibrant, modern colour palette. Locally influenced décor complemented by natural light enhances the sense of style at this eclectic hotel.
As soon as you exit the property’s grounds, you can join in with the chants of passionate Welsh rugby fans, on your way to exploring the fairy tale towers of the historic castle which lies within an arm’s reach.
The rooftop Marco Pierre White steakhouse offers the ultimate dining experience, with a mouth-watering British menu.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Indigo – Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
3. Village Hotel Cardiff – a cool and trendy hotel that features stylish rooms
Village Hotel greets guests to a stylish, laid-back hospitality experience, where great food & drink, a trendsetting gym & pool, and lavish coworking spaces coexist under one glamorous roof!
Not to mention the 130 elegantly appointed guestrooms, which has adopted tech-forward initiatives such as keyless entry and food service via the hotel App, along with a Sky TV and an Alexa in each room.
Whether you’re embracing a work-out regime or just steaming away the tensions of life, you will be lured into a sense of serenity at the Village Health & Wellness Club.
A Starbucks Coffee Shop also features on-site, where you can grab a coffee to take with you on your memorable day of adventures.
- To book, check prices or availability for Village Hotel Cardiff
4. voco St. David’s Cardiff, an IHG Hotel – a trendy upscale contemporary hotel that boasts an award-winning spa
An enviable waterfront location provides you with stunning views at voco St. David’s, where the tides seep into rooms through bespoke colours and motifs.
The central glass front down the white façade makes a bold statement on arrival, before guests are greeted with Welsh cakes as they enter this cutting-edge piece of architecture. Abstract art can be found throughout this iconic property, offering a creative flare to your stay.
Water-inspired shades are speckled across the 142 rooms, through seaside prints and deep blue cushions and throws. The award-winning spa provides guests with the ultimate spot to unwind, and uses products by Ishga with a collection of bespoke treatments and therapies, topped with blissful hydro and swimming pools.
- To book, check prices or availability for voco St. David’s Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
5. The Coal Exchange Hotel – a cool, unique and colourful place to stay in Cardiff that was once the city’s Coal Exchange
Situated a mere 450 yards from Cardiff Bay, this Grade II* listed heritage building stands proud as an integral piece of Cardiff’s history.
Treasured by locals who have helped shape the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis, The Coal’s mission is to make Cardiff’s past part of your present, an ethos which is echoed in the guestrooms through a stylish blend of elegance and tradition.
Contemporary touches include large flat-screen TV’s, whirlpool baths, and high-velocity Wi-Fi. The on-site Culley’s Kitchen & Bar offers a menu focused on seasonal, local products, refreshed by a comprehensive wine menu, crafted cocktails, and a great selection of Welsh beers and ales.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Coal Exchange Hotel
6. No 73 by CoffiCo – a charming boutique with funky modern decor hotel the perfect setting for a relaxing break
Situated in the heart of leafy Pontcanna a stone’s throw from the Principality Stadium, No. 73 by CoffiCo offers the perfect backdrop to your bustling city break.
The accommodation options range from luxury rooms & suites to a gorgeous 2-bedroom Coach House, which is set at the end of the property’s gorgeous garden.
Each room features trendsetting espresso machines, alongside other tech-savvy amenities designed to enhance comfort and luxury.
This cool, opulent hotel invites you to revel in a unique Cardiff charm, be that over a coffee on the ground floor, or over an open-air cocktail at the eloquent restaurant & bar.
- To book, check prices or availability for No 73 by CoffiCo
7. Pontcanna Inn – a quirky-chic inn with boutique-style bedrooms where pets are also welcome
This grand Victorian style property blends a boutique ambiance with the iridescence of nature-inspired wall paintings to create a unique hospitality experience.
The 10 stunning en-suite rooms are all industrial in character, yet are individually designed with soothing tones and a variety of bespoke embellishments.
Downstairs, the bar area boasts natural wood elements and thoughtfully appointed seating areas, as well as a quirky outdoor beer garden which serves everything from real ales to hand-crafted cocktails.
This is the perfect spot to catch up with friends and watch live sports, with a barbeque in operation on most days. Further alluring touches include a weekend brunch, and a top-rated Sunday roast.
- To book, check prices or availability for Pontcanna Inn
8. Cfeleven – a charming, stylish and Instagrammable hotel with quirky-chic decor
Housed in a grand 1850 edifice, Cfeleven is the proud host to one of Cardiff’s most eclectic gin bars, which features alongside 14 minimalist guestrooms where functionality and comfort coexist in perfect harmony.
Draped in light tones around the walls and bed sheets which beautifully contrast the elegant grey carpet, the opulent atmosphere offers a blissful sleeping environment.
In the rooms, cable TV and high-velocity Wi-Fi contribute to the optimum sense of homely comfort. The bar specialises in over 300 different gins from around the world, alongside a comprehensive wine list.
An exquisite beer garden features at the property’s rear, with a 7m x 7m Jumbrella to keep you dry in the rain and cool in the summer.
- To book, check prices or availability for Cfeleven
9. The Angel Hotel- Part of the Cairn Collection – an iconic historic Victorian hotel that is within walking distance from Cardiff Castle
This classic Victorian building is an iconic landmark of Cardiff city centre, and is optimally located between the Castle and the Principality Stadium.
The perfect base for exploring the graceful countryside and beaches of South Wales, The Angel’s opulent purple lobby floors add an eclectic twist, with potted plants sprinkled across the communal areas.
Paying homage to its Victorian heritage, grand staircases lead to the lavish guestrooms, which boast a functional style topped with quirky pops of bright colour.
Large, lavish dining areas set the tone for a refined restaurant experience, which is emanated seamlessly into the extravagant bar area.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Angel Hotel- Part of the Cairn Collection
10. The Parkgate Hotel – one of the most Instagrammable upscale hotels in Cardiff
Located within touching distance of the Principality Stadium, The Parkgate Hotel is Cardiff’s finest new luxury hotel.
The elegance and sophistication of the historic setting is embodied throughout this chic hotel. Part of the exclusive Celtic Collection, a classic-meets-contemporary style permeates the guestrooms, which are designed in keeping with the hotel’s historic architecture, embellished with forward-thinking amenities.
Afternoon teas, leisurely lunches, and evenings of fine dining are moments to relish during a stay at the Parkgate.
The on-site spa experience provides the ultimate escape, and is acclaimed as one of Cardiff’s most exclusive wellness destinations, brimming with a relaxing boutique ambiance.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Parkgate Hotel
11. Staybridge Suites – Cardiff, an IHG Hotel – a casual, trendy and modern hotel that is pet-friendly
Offering optimum home comforts, Stalybridge Suites are decked out in softwoods, which complement the bright, spacious feel and bespoke artwork.
Perfect for both a short stay and an extended work project, all units boast a living space, a fully equipped kitchen, and plush linens.
Elegant bathrooms and nautically inspired touches add a true Cardiff vibe to the property, which offers guests an elevated workout space in the on-site fitness centre.
Located between Cardiff Bay and the city centre, an eclectic range of quirky boutiques and high-end shopping zones can be reached within a short walk down the waterfront.
- To book, check prices or availability for Staybridge Suites – Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
12. The Royal Hotel Cardiff – Cardiff’s oldest hotel with unique decor housed in a Grade II Victorian building on a lively street
Housed in a Grade II listed building brimming with grandeur, The Royal Hotel sits above the hustle and bustle of the city, and offers 60 gracefully appointed bedrooms, with a variety of unique spaces suited to diverse guest needs.
While this historic hotel was originally built in 1866, many re-modifications have introduced to it the fine art of contemporary living.
Examples of this are the lounge bar which serves a comprehensive selection of drinks and snack foods, and a modern, continental breakfast served in the Captain Scott room (where Captain Robert Falcon Scott held his farewell dinner prior to his fateful expedition to the Antarctic in 1910).
- To book, check prices or availability for The Royal Hotel Cardiff
13. Number One Hundred Bed And Breakfast – a cool budget-friendly B&B great for families
Echoing a mantra of ‘Authenticity and Affordability, this eclectic B&B boasts 7 stunning guestrooms, lined with quirky patterns and plush linens.
The interior has been individually designed to seamlessly retain the beautiful Victoria-era features, using bespoke furniture and soft, natural hues.
The spacious dining area is girdled by floor-to-ceiling windows peeking out onto the surrounding neighbourhood, emanating a residential feel.
You can head in style down a grand staircase towards the breakfast room where an exquisite blend of Welsh and continental cuisine is served each morning. Owing to the property’s supreme location, a 15-minute walk will lead you directly into the beating heart of Cardiff central.
- To book, check prices or availability for Number One Hundred Bed And Breakfast
14. The Riverhouse – an eco-friendly B&B set in the heart of Cardiff City Center
This city centre bed and breakfast holds numerous awards and rave reviews, courtesy of its eclectic selection of rooms designed to suit travellers of all budget profiles.
Situated in a terraced property on a leafy residential street, all of Cardiff’s main attractions are a stone’s throw away. The B&B is family operated, and the owners’ expert knowledge can truly help shape your city break and turn it into a multi-dimensional journey through Wales’s most illustrious city.
A fully equipped guest kitchen, an opulent dining room, and a lounge with Netflix & Amazon prime contribute to the homely atmosphere which permeates this cool hotel.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Riverhouse
15. New House Country Hotel – a charming and elegant hotel surrounded by beautiful gardens ideal for a romantic stay
This Grade II listed Georgian manor house enjoys an elevated, hilltop position, boasting unparalleled views of the city, and sweeping panoramas across the channel to the coast of Somerset on clear days.
Upon arrival, you are greeted with a wide gravel terrace with tables and chairs dotted around a three-tiered fountain.
Once you step inside, prepare for your breath to be taken away by the original period details which drape the interior, and the picture windows, which perfectly frame the isolated rural idyll.
Guestrooms blend traditional heritage (through touches of old-school artistry) with modern advancements of tech-savvy amenities, to offer the perfect compound of past meets present.
- To book, check prices or availability for New House Country Hotel
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My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since I’ve lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up visits to over 40 countries. I’m a lover of US Road Trips, deserted beaches bathed in warm glow of a sunset, Cuban mojitos, travel destinations far away from the tourist crowds and all things Scandinavian – from cloudberry liquors to Nordic noirs. When not wandering the world and running Global Grasshopper, you’ll find me walking my rescued Greek street dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Lanes on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about my favourite places; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Laos, California and the surreally beautiful landscapes of a wintry Iceland.