Alice Fairbanks gives us her review of The Cosy Club, a mainstay of Cardiff’s city centre.

I had heard that The Cosy Club was a genuinely cosy place, and after a sufficient amount of time spent there, I can confirm this.

The d├®cor is┬árustic and thrifty, but with a grand entrance to the main restaurant. All of the details and little touches are what charmed me about The Cosy Club. They had old lampshades and mix-and-match furniture┬áthat gave the restaurant a rugged-cool charm, personified by the casually dressed waitstaff. The Cosy Club’s attention to detail in its interior┬ápays off, as it successfully conveys┬áa relaxed and cosy vibe. The charming look and feel of the restaurant was matched only by its great food; I didnÔÇÖt really expect it to be anything too special, just good, honest food. However, I was mistaken.

My boyfriend Tom and main courses along with a couple of cocktails each. For food,┬áI had the slow-roasted pork belly (┬ú12.50), whilst Tom had the ÔÇÿHeroÔÇÖ burger (┬ú10.75). Both certainly exceeded expectations. My pork came with kale – a nice change of veg – and a ham hock and pea fritter, which was a nice addition to the already┬ágorgeous┬áslab of pork. And it’s these┬álovely details that set the Cosy Club apart from your average restaurant. Another example: Tom ordered an extra mushroom for his burger, and it wasnÔÇÖt just a plain old mushroom, it was fried in herbs and garlic┬á-┬áa pleasant surprise. That’s what sets elevates The Cosy Club’s food┬áand gives it that┬áextra┬ásomething special.

Now, for our┬ámost anticipated part – the cocktails. Even though I still stand by my favourite (or once favourite) choice in cocktail bar being Browns, The Cosy Club still gave us gorgeous cocktails. I had a Mojito (┬ú7.75)┬áfirst, followed by┬áa Cherry Bakewell (┬ú7.95), while Tom had a Sloegroni and a Daiquiri (┬ú7.50). All were lovely and, characteristic of the restaurant, each had a little twist, apart from┬áthe Mojito (though there was an option to make it a raspberry one).

All things considered, The Cosy Club is definitely somewhere I would visit again. The only downside to this place is that it is a little pricey on a student budget, but it is worth it as a treat. I would most likely revisit for a few drinks rather than for food, just because of the price. However, for an occasion it is great, and you could easily be spoilt here.

– Alice Fairbanks