Breakfast IS the most important part of the day. And if you want that meal to be absolutely delicious, you won't go far wrong in Cardiff.
There's been a tidal wave of hipster breakfasts in Cardiff of late, with all the smashed avocado you can eat and full English breakfasts served in a mason jar. There are still a few traditional cafes to be found in the city if you prefer your morning meal on an actual plate rather than a mini skateboard.
Here we look are some of the brilliant places in the Welsh capital where you can enjoy breakfast - whatever your taste. They're listed right here in no particular order.
Read more: The B&B with the best breakfast in Wales
1. Neighbourhood
The Riverside diner with rooms has a steady stream of rotating street food vendors but their breakfast is always on. There's a choice of three, meaty - with Bratwurst and bacon - a veggie one - with bubble & squeak and egg - and an oozing brekkie bap with double sausage, egg, bacon and cheese.
80 Tudor Street CF11 6AL
2. KIN+ILK Pontcanna
KIN+ILK Pontcanna site is a stark and stripped-back bit of Scandi cool, smack bang in the tree-lined 'burbs of Pontcanna. There's plenty of outdoor seating here too, giving this uber-hip café a real 'European neighbourhood' feel.
Try the delicious Turkish eggs slathered in creamy, garlic yoghurt or the cinnamon fruit toast, featuring bread from Welsh artisan baker, Alex Gooch.
31 Cathedral Road, CF11 9HB
3. Milkwood
Milkwood's brunches are smashing. From bacon, cockles and laverbread on toast and kippers to Oriel Jones-laden fry-ups and their banging breakfast bun.
83 Pontcanna Street, CF11 9HS
4. Penylan Pantry
If you're in the market for hipster eats and ethical plates, head to Penylan Pantry in Roath. They whip up healthy breakfasts packed with sustainably sourced ingredients and local produce in cutesy café surroundings.
72 Kimberley Rd, CF23 5DN
5. Wildflower Kitchen
Independent café, Wildflower Kitchen is the latest offering on foodie corridor Whitchurch Rd. Feast on lush, all-day brunch dishes that are packed with local produce and home-grown ingredients.
Wildflower is a spacious cafe and co-working space with a strong community and art focus. Local artists have space to sell their work here so you can pick up artworks alongside your breakfast order. Make sure to order a freshly-brewed coffee and have a peaceful moment in their gorgeous garden.
72-74 Whitchurch Road, CF14 3LX
6. Calabrisella Canton
Yes, Italian haunt Calabrisella do breakfast and, yes, this one is massive. The hugely popular Italian may be better known for its pizza, but this so-called Welsh-Italian breakfast will sort you right out on match day.
154 Cowbridge Road East, CF11 9ND
7. Coopers Cafe
The moment you enter Coopers Café in Whitchurch Village you suspect that it’s not going to be a ‘double shot, half whip soy latte’ kind of joint. In the current time of trendy coffee shops, Coopers takes you back to the era of the traditional café.
As soon as you walk through the door there's an atmosphere of a proper café, the aroma of sizzling bacon, friendly staff chatting to customers and the chimes of spoons hitting teacups. Definitely order the full English to set you up for the whole day.
43 Merthyr Rd, CF14 1DB
8. Forest Tea Rooms
You'll find no-nonsense breakfast food at the rather secluded Forest Tea Rooms in Tongwynlais. Look, this isn't a hipster cafe, don't come here expecting deconstructed avocado on toast yeah?
Adjust your expectations and you will have a lush breakfast experience in a rustic and leafy cafe in the woods. It's a family-run business in a gorgeous forest setting that even has the odd peacock roaming around.
Heol Y Fforest, CF15 7JR
9. Brød
Looking for pastries and coffee in Pontcanna? Try Danish bakery Brod for a little slice of Denmark in the 'diff. They serve traditional Danish pastries and freshly brewed, aromatic coffees, supplied by Clifton Coffee Roasters.
126 Wyndham Crescent, CF11 9EG
10. Parador 44
The Spanish take on a classic fry-up is sure to become a fast favourite in Cardiff. You get Welsh Black pig pork sausage, chorizo sausage and check out that olive oil hash brown. Read our review of it here.
Other menu items at the Bar 44 group's first hotel, which is open to the public for brekkie, include Flamenco eggs and you can choose a Spanish breakfast buffet, too.
14 Quay St., Cardiff CF10 1EA
11. Canna Deli
A cosy little cafe/deli tucked in the middle of Pontcanna and serving good coffee and tasty breakfasts, like the Brixton Brunch. Halloumi, avo and poached egg with Sriracha.
Pontcanna Mews, CF11 9DF
12. Ground
This small and sleek venue serves a range of brunch dishes and baked goods including overnight bacon, mushrooms and eggs, Llys Meddyg smoked salmon and eggs and House beans & eggs.
15 Pontcanna Street, CF11 9HQ
13. Chapter Arts Centre
Creative powerhouse Chapter Arts Centre is famed for its arthouse cinema, welcoming Cafe Bar, seasonal menu and locally produced art adorning the building inside and out.
Check out their extensive breakfast menu featuring local produce and exciting dishes. Typical offerings include Vegan breakfast, Californian toast and Spanish Beans.
Market Road, CF5 1QE
14. Servini's at the Summerhouse
Servini's have taken over the summer house in Bute Park and they are offering a fabulous selection of locally roasted coffee, breakfast and lunch baps.
Eat al fresco in beautiful Bute Park and enjoy a relaxed morning in the outdoors. Their outdoor seating area is also dog-friendly, so you can take a break from your dog walk to grab a hot brew and a bap.
Bute Park Summer House
15. Bentleys Cafe
Bentleys Café on Wellfield road is holding its own again against a street full of hipster cafe venues. It manages to perfectly blend old-school cafe vibes with modern decor and excellent service. Take a seat and have a proper cup of tea alongside toasties, omelettes, massive breakfasts and tasty avo on toast.
35 Wellfield Road, CF24 3PA
16. Wally's Kaffeehaus
Wally's Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus bring a little slice of Viennese coffee house culture to Cardiff. They have a great range of continental breakfasts, open sandwiches and strong coffee to kick start your morning.
After breakfast, make sure to check out their foodie emporium on the ground floor. It's a real treasure trove of local European food and local produce.
Royal Arcade
17. The Secret Garden , Bute Park
Right in the centre of Bute Park lies the Secret Garden Cafe. This hip park cafe is run by the awesome Penylan Pantry team and their herby eggs, granola and coffees are to die for, especially after a walk around the lush green surroundings.
Bute Park
18. Cafe Brava
Pontcanna's Brava knows how to cook a banging breakfast. The Brava Meaty is a hefty full breakfast but there are lighter breakfast and brunch options available too.
71 Pontcanna Street, CF11 9HS
19. Wyndham Tea
Healthy Sunday breakfast cravings? This smashed avocado on toast with crumbled feta, lemon and chilli oil with added poached eggs is the perfect answer.
Wyndham Arcade
20. The Ivy Cardiff
Have a swanky brunch at the Ivy Cardiff and spoil yourselves with a range of delectable dishes in utterly divine surroundings. Expect modern British and international Ivy-inspired classics from breakfast right the way through to dinner at this eclectic city restaurant.
Typical breakfast items include hot buttermilk pancakes, The Ivy full breakfast, smoked salmon crumpet and avocado Benedict.
St David's Centre on The Hayes
21. Fino Lounge
The breakfast muffin at Fino is something you'll want to order all day long. Gloucester Old Spot sausage, smoked back bacon and a fried egg on a toasted English muffin.
Can't go wrong.
49 Merthyr Rd, CF14 1DB
22. Longa
Enjoy top-class, homemade Turkish brunch in a relaxed setting at Longa. Their awesome brunch and breakfast options are so popular they are now serving it all day on weekends and it includes dishes such as menemen, consisting of two eggs fried in rich spiced tomato and pepper sauce and butter served with Turkish Bread.
Another brunch favourite at Longa is Shakshuka, fried aubergine and potato in spiced tomato and pepper sauce with paprika. Served with Turkish bread.
180 Whitchurch Rd, CF14 3NB
23. Hard Lines
Hard Lines are a small batch, Welsh Coffee Roastery that serves a mean espresso, as well as gorgeous silky smooth flat whites and pour-overs made to perfection.
Their cafe at St Canna Court serves a range of brunch and breakfast dishes alongside quality coffee, typical menu items include breakfast baps, pancakes, huevos rancheros and banana bread.
Cowbridge Rd East, CF5 1GX
24. The Botanist
Worth a mention because at the city centre cocktail bar you can build your own brunch board by selecting five small plates from a choice of 28 different options.
Split into five categories – from the bakery, protein punch, hearty, on the side and sweet treat – mouth-watering dishes include ham hock egg Benedict, Croque Monsieur, smoked trout and salmon pate, acai berry protein smoothie and Nutella and Biscoff French toast.
10 Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG
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