Somewhere between deadlines, jobs and endless scrolling, a perfect date is waiting in Cardiff. Whether it be platonic, romantic, or solo, Pontcanna is nothing short of date worthy. Just a light stroll from Cardiff’s city centre, Pontcanna is well worth exploring. Bustling with brunch spots, boutique shops, and gorgeous scenery, it has something for everyone.
There is truly no better way to spend a weekend than with the people you love and this date idea offers a good slice of wholesome. Saturdays in Pontcanna can be spent exploring the Farmers Market located on Kings Road, with plenty of stalls and food to try. Tom’s Pizza is a top spot. Open from Thursday to Sunday, it has both indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy a woodfired pizza after exploring the market. Additionally, every first Sunday of the month, it offers a vintage market with many cool and sustainable pieces, including clothing and homeware. What’s not to love?
Aside from the market, Pontcanna has many cafés to enjoy a date in. Top recommendations include Ground Bakery, Love Live Light Healing Club and Brød and Milkwood which all serve up great coffee and pastries to enjoy. Additionally, there are many cosy pubs to have a drink in, including The Pontcanna Inn and The Conway and Brewhouse, all welcoming you with open arms and a pint.
If you’re looking for a fun day or evening out, Pontcanna is definitely the place to explore and one to add to your date bucket list.
Words by Isabelle Mundy
There is no universal perfect date. People are unique and it can be difficult to gauge what would make an enjoyable one, especially if it’s the first. However, Cardiff is full of exciting, affordable activities which would be hard to find dull! If you would like a change from the usual dinner and drinks, read on. Whether it be romantic or platonic, I’m sure you’ll find something to fit you and your dates needs!
A personal favourite date spot of mine is NQ64, an arcade bar in the centre of Cardiff. By personal, I mean that literally, since it is where I had my first date with my boyfriend which he planned knowing that I love gaming. Here you can enjoy themed cocktails and plenty of retro games to play, ranging from Mortal Kombat to Mario Kart. NQ64 provides a perfect atmosphere to get to know your date and balance the time between chatting over drinks and gaming, at whatever pace you wish.
For a more relaxed date I would recommend Chance & Counters. This café is open in the daytime as well as evenings and makes for a perfect lunch date. It has a wide selection of board games, helpful staff to recommend where to start and free booking for students.
Another recommendation for those who share my competitive spirit is Golf Fang. Although it has a bar, I have never felt the need to drink here since the golf course and the sets are so fun. I have brought both romantic and platonic dates here to beat them at golf and wholeheartedly recommend it to all.
Whether you visit the places I have recommended is completely up to you, but if you take one thing away from reading this article, I hope you plan a date that suits you and your partner’s needs! A date can set the precedent for a crucial element of all relationships: feeling seen.
Words by Lara Goulding
Hot and sweaty in Wales’ wood-fired saunas:
Can you think of a better location for a steamy date than a wood-fired sauna? If you’re bored of the same old dates that tend to revolve around drinks in a pub or food in a restaurant, Wales’ many outdoor saunas offer a chance to get out of the city centre. So why not spend some time in nature and reset your body and mind?
Saunas have been popping up all over the UK over recent years (Vogue). The Finnish set the trend, bringing their contrast therapy to the rest of Europe. This is the act of heating your body in a sauna followed by a dip in shockingly cold water. Welsh people seem to be embracing this lifestyle choice.
My favourite location in Cardiff is the new Taffside Sauna, which boasts river views and a cold bath to dip in when you’re feeling too hot. It opened this summer in Llandaff, not too far from the city centre. To get there, you can walk or cycle along the Taff trail through Bute Park and enjoy the sounds of the moving water. This also gives you plenty of time to get to know your date. For just £15, you can spend an hour sweating and plunging. When you’re done, head to Coffi Lab for a coffee and a cake – post-sauna you will feel like you are floating on air.
If you’re more of a beach person, you can visit one of the beachfront saunas. There are two in Porthcawl, one in Barry and one on the Gower. These little wooden saunas are cropping up all over Wales. There’s even a waterfall sauna in Afan Forest Park complete with a plunge pool if you want to venture further out. Whichever sauna you choose, this is a unique experience and a perfect excuse to get sweaty with a hot date.
Words by Abby Neve
Featured image courtesy of Benjamin Ranger via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence found here.
Arcade image courtesy of Ben Neale via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence found here.
Sauna image courtesy of Clay Banks via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence found here.
