best thing
Celeb spotting!
EATING OUT
If you’re strapped for cash or want to
splash out on a meal, you’re definitely
spoilt for choice at the Students’ Union.
This is the first stop for lunchtime
refuelling - whether you need the
infamous Hangover Sandwich from CF10,
a healthier option from Magic Wrap or
sit-down pub grub at The Taff (not to
mention the amazing hot lunch offers
from The Kitchen and The Pantry).
worst thing
And once you get into the heart of the
student area of Cathays, affordable pubs,
takeaways and independent restaurants
surround you. Noodlebox, Wok In Wok
Out and Zi’s Café are amazing take-out
Chinese restaurants within walking
distance of the heart of student housing.
However, if you prefer somewhere to sit
down but which doesn’t take too much
out of your piggy-bank, Kama Lounge,
The Woodville Pub (with its ‘Beer ‘N’
Burger for under a fiver) and The North
Star all offer intimate meal settings.
If you don’t like sports, it can get
horribly chaotic.
You can head into the heart of the city if
you prefer the twinkling of candles and
the absence of the ‘we’re all students
here’ vibe. The Old Brewery Quarter
is filled with independent and chain
restaurants, and around the Millennium
Stadium there are places like Zero
Degrees, which has its own micro
brewery ,and Bill’s, which promises the
homely vibe of your living-room - albeit
with strangers and much better food.
HIDDEN GEMS
Cardiff Bay is one of the most magical
places I’ve seen. Just out of town, it’s a
gorgeous piece of waterfront - Europe’s
largest waterfront development in
fact! Home to the Welsh Millennium
Centre, The Senedd (The National
44
Assembly building) and loads of bars
and restaurants – it’s perfect for a day
or night trip, or somewhere to take your
visiting parents.
BEST THING ABOUT
YOUR CITY
Cardiff was voted the UK’s best city for
young people this year and was National
Geographic’s sixth best place to visit in
the world in 2011. However, I think the
best thing about Cardiff is that you’re
bound to stumble onto the set of a BBC
Drama. Doctor Who, Torchwood and
Sherlock are all filmed around Cardiff,
including in some of the University
buildings. It was a shock seeing Benedict
Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman
filming a scene outside my seminar
room! You’ll soon get used to having huge
dressing-room trailers, camera crews
and staff meal vans dotted about Bute
Par