Cathays Terrace, Cardiff. www.theflora.co.uk
Food: **** Atmosphere: ****
Dead in the centre of student heart of Cathays lies the Flora, a Victorian pub that has undergone a transformation that some may bemoan as gentrification, but most will praise for its new provision of high calibre food and cocktails. Gone is the watered down Fosters and in come inventive cocktails on a par with some of the city’s best, due in part to its collaboration with 10 Mill Lane. However, unlike many other cocktail bars you won’t need to remortgage your house for a second round. While the prices and area are studenty, the quality of the food and drink isn’t, and upon entering the refurbished restaurant and bar, its success with the non-student market was also apparent.
First up, a selection of cocktails. With a well-stocked bar (including some rather nice whiskies and gins), one of the Flora’s main attractions is their cocktails. While their names are a little too “how are you doing, fellow kids?” (culprits include a cocktails called ‘;P’, Major Lazer, King In The North and Swipe Right, which were actually very nice), they’re of an extremely high calibre and a lot of effort has clearly gone into enhancing the experience.
In terms of food, we were treated to a smorgasbord of renovated pub grub: delightfully crispy beer battered fish goujons, mac’n’cheese, lamb meatballs (which were absolutely perfectly done), bubble and squeak croquettes, and a delicious lamb burger. It’s a promising restaurant and bar that is a great venue for a wide variety of occasions, with exceptional cocktails and good quality food at extremely good prices.
words LUKE OWAIN BOULT