I ♡ Cardiff shopping. I loved it back when Queen Street was where things were happening (and when the Capitol wasn’t a wasteland of empty shops and shutters – can’t someone do something about that? It’s looking so sad!) and I love it even more nowadays. Sure there are all the High Street names you’d expect to see – but it’s the huge variety of independent shops and the gorgeous Victorian Arcades that really set my heartpurse a-flutter… *ahem*
Before my reusable bags could be filled with shopping swag though, I met up with Sunny for lunch and we tried out Base + Barley which recently opened up at the bottom end of Queen Street (a couple of doors down from Office – *ahem* more on that later…) – home of glorious sourdough pizzas which I’ve been craving like crazy since leaving London and my BAE Franco Manca.We were not disappointed. Their lunch menu is seriously good, and reasonable too – a great spot for a shopping pit-stop. We both ordered one of their sourdough pizzas; I went for No.3 – Prosciutto Ham and Portobello Mushrooms, while my lovely, bearded lunch date went for No.6 – fiery ‘nduja sausage paste, salami + roquito peppers. Both were the perfect size for lunch and even came with a cute lil’ salad bowl. We polished off the whole thing and left with the sort of sloppy, satisfied smirk you only get after scoffing really good pizza.
Also on the lunch menu were sourdough sandwiches, which caught our eye when they were delivered to a couple sitting opposite us. They were thick, door-stopper style sandwiches with plenty of filling. But there’s more than just sandwiches and pizzas; they also do handmade gourmet burgers and have a great drinks menu full of cocktails and craft beer.
Stomach filled, I went for a wander through the Arcades… If the numerous Victorian Arcades dotted around the Hayes and St Mary’s Street aren’t part of your usual shopping strategy, then you’re missing out! Just look at Coffee Barker looking all beautiful and spring-like 🙂I dropped in on Miss Patisserie to pick up a little something to enjoy later, once my feet and legs were limp from wandering…
Yr Hen Lyfrgell(the old library) has had a bit of work done and reopened a couple of weeks ago. It’s so lovely inside now – and there’s plenty to do and see. Operating as a Cultural Centre you can learn about the history of Cardiff and take lessons in Welsh (ardderchog!), there’s even a Cafe upstairs, I’m told… but, you know me, I got snared by the shop on the ground floor didn’t I? Shelves full of Welsh-made products, from Welsh language cards, to paintings, to love spoons and kitchenware 🙂 In a separate room there’s even quirky women’s boutique, LAN LLOFFT.
Managed to track down a copy of this month’s CDF; my snap of Penarth Pier made the #CDFviews page!I only bought three things; a love spoon for an English family friend who loved the ones we gave out at our wedding and was curious to learn more, a calming bath bomb from Miss P and a new pair of flats that were on sale in Office. I have size 7 feet, finding shoes in my size on sale is the shopping alternative to finding Bigfoot (…which I get called by Sunny anyway, pfft!).
Where are your favourite places to shop in Cardiff?
Yes, and it’s sad to say but I think a hell of a lot of people stick around Queen Street and St Davids 2 and forget to walk a little further and explore the market and the Arcades.
I ♡ Cardiff shopping. I loved it back when Queen Street was where things were happening (and when the Capitol wasn’t a wasteland of empty shops and shutters – can’t someone do something about that? It’s looking so sad!) and I love it even more nowadays. Sure there are all the High Street names you’d expect to see – but it’s the huge variety of independent shops and the gorgeous Victorian Arcades that really set my 
The Cardiff Cwtch - Welsh Food, Fashion and Lifestyle 
2 replies on “Base + Barley (and shopping…)”
The sad thing is, although Cardiff has very distinctive arcades, the St Davids shopping centre is just like every other big city
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Yes, and it’s sad to say but I think a hell of a lot of people stick around Queen Street and St Davids 2 and forget to walk a little further and explore the market and the Arcades.
LikeLiked by 1 person