The Welsh capital has a lot to shout about when it comes to nightlife.
It’s cheap, it’s great fun, and there are plenty of places to party.
Some of the very best bars in Cardiff happen to be rooftop bars, which is perfect if you love an outdoor tipple with a view.
If you’re looking to find the best rooftop bars in Cardiff, then you’ve come to the right place.
From Instagrammable rooftops to rooftops with bottomless brunch, here are the 13 best rooftop bars in Cardiff with amazing views!
1. Jacobs Roof Garden
Address: W Canal Wharf, Cardiff CF10 5DB
Jacobs Roof Garden is just about the coolest event space in Cardiff.
It’s hidden away above the antiques market at Jacobs, and it has truly spectacular views over the city centre.
It’s the perfect place for a private event, so if you have a birthday coming up and you want to celebrate in style, then be sure to check Jacobs out.
However, if you’re more into organised events, then make sure you check out their events calendar.
They have regular events popping up in this fab space, including a winter rooftop garden event which is a firm favourite among those who have been lucky enough to snag a ticket in the past.
Visit during the winter months for one of the most magical date ideas in Cardiff.
Jacobs is worth checking out for sure!
2. The Philharmonic Cardiff
Address: 76-77 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FA
Phone number: 029 2267 2216
The Philharmonic Cardiff is more than worthy of the second spot on this list of the best rooftop bars in Cardiff!
Fantastically fun and vibrant, it”s the perfect place to get the party started.
It’s set across three sprawling floors, one of which is a cracking rooftop terrace.
Head upstairs to catch some rays while sipping on a pint or two this summer.
Their bottomless brunch is a firm favourite among locals and tourists alike, so if you want to get boozy, it’s worth checking that out.
However, if it’s dinner you’re after, how about a chimichurri potato salad, or a yummy burger?
Perfect for lining the stomach for an afternoon of boozing!
3. The Botanist
Address: Unit 5, 10 Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG
Phone number: 029 2013 0053
The Botanist has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s leading chains, but it has done so without feeling like a chain, amazingly.
Each of their restaurants is beautifully designed in a botanical-inspired way, and Cardiff is no exception.
This is the perfect spot to take an Instagram photo or two, that’s for sure!
Sip on one of their watering can cocktails with your friends in the lush surroundings and you’ll feel like you’re on holiday.
They also serve some of the best brunch in Cardiff, with shakshuka being the star of the show for me.
Make sure to check out their wonderful roof terrace while you’re here, too.
No matter the time of day, The Botanist are the best hosts in town, so get yourself down there today!
4. Laguna Kitchen & Bar
Address: Park Plaza, Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff CF10 3AL
Phone number: 029 2011 1103
Laguna Kitchen & Bar is a sleek modern restaurant housed in the Park Plaza hotel – the height of luxury!
Their outdoor terrace offers a peaceful space away from the hustle and bustle of the city where you can enjoy your meal surrounded by greenery.
Their Welsh rarebit is said to be the stuff of dreams, so I’d say that was definitely worth a try!
Or how about a pearl barley and mushroom risotto, if you’re feeling something a bit more substantial?
There’s a dish to suit every taste on the menu, so you can rest assured that everyone will be catered for here.
Outdoor space and a varied menu?
Now that’s what we like to hear!
5. The Roof Terrace
Address: 2 Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff CF10 3AL
The name of The Roof Terrace kind of gives away its USP, doesn’t it?
Well, so it should, because it’s Cardiff’s hottest roof terrace, and it’s the place to be every Friday and Saturday.
In fact, it only opens on those two days, making it all the more exclusive if you ask me!
It’s tucked away on top of Story Nightclub, so it’s perfect for starting off pre-drinks before you head on down to the club.
Convenient, don’t you think?
They’ve thought that one out pretty well, that’s for sure!
Get yourself up here at the weekend and enjoy some delicious freshly made cocktails with your besties.
Who doesn’t love a cocktail with a view, after all?
6. Juno Lounge
Address: 14 Wellfield Rd, Cardiff CF24 3PB
Phone number: 029 2019 8990
You can’t go wrong with a lounge, and Juno Lounge is a particularly lovely one.
This funky café and bar is decorated in bright colours, giving it a warm vibe from the minute you step through the door.
The menu is simple, with tapas and burgers being the stand-outs alongside some cracking breakfast dishes.
The roof terrace here is the ideal place to go for a chilled afternoon with the girls.
Where else would you want to sip on cocktails in the sun than at the roof terrace of this hip spot?
Just make sure to order their tapas board deal to line your stomach with – the patatas bravas are a particular favourite of mine.
7. Zerodegrees
Address: 27 Westgate St, Cardiff CF10 1DD
Phone number: 029 2022 9494
Zerodegrees is a chic industrial space which oozes cool vibes.
At this microbrewery, beers brew in gleaming tanks all around you while you enjoy a refreshing pint of one of their specials.
If you’re a beer lover, it doesn’t get much better than Zerodegrees.
Their two terraces and two mezzanine levels make this one of the best spots in town for a beer in the sun, too, you lucky things.
The caramelised pear and gorgonzola pizza would go down a treat, especially when washed down with their gorgeous mango beer.
It’s fruit and fruit, what could possibly go wrong?
It’s a dream food and drink combination if you ask me!
8. Lab 22
Address: 22 Caroline St, Cardiff CF 10 1FG
Phone number: 029 2039 9997
Lab 22 is a cool cocktail bar and speakeasy which is the hottest spot in town for a drink.
Their drinks menu has a molecular theme so you won’t find a more unique menu around.
They also have a heated roof terrace, so even on a chilly night, you can keep warm while breathing in the fresh air.
The Convergence sharing cocktail sounds like an absolute hoot to me, so I think I’d have to give that a try.
What would your choice be?
There’s plenty of choice at this fantastic bar, that’s for sure!
Why not give one of their cocktail masterclasses a go?
You’ll be learning from the experts, so you know you’ll be a pro by the end of the class!
9. The Admiral
Address: Havannah St, Cardiff CF10 5SD
Phone number: 029 2045 4045
The Admiral is an upscale hotel restaurant with sweeping bay views.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
Then you better keep reading to find out more!
Here at The Admiral, they serve a delightful Welsh fine dining menu which is sure to tantalise your tastebuds.
The menu draws inspiration from cuisines around the world, with a grounding in Welsh cooking.
Nibble away at their torched mackerel dish, then tuck into the vegetable pastilla.
Finish off the meal with a banana and walnut cake, and thank me later.
The outside terrace offers stunning views of the bay, so if it’s waterfront views that you’re after, then it doesn’t get much better than this.
10. Pontcanna Inn
Address: 36 Cathedral Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9LL
Phone number: 029 2023 2917
Pontcanna Inn is one of Cardiff’s best-loved pubs, and it’s not hard to see why.
It’s great for live sports or an outdoor beverage, so if that sounds like your kind of place, then get down here now.
They don’t have a rooftop bar per se, but they have such a fab outdoor space that I couldn’t leave it off the list!
Grab yourself a Bloody Mary and head out to the terrace to soak up some sunshine with your pals.
Why not also order some crunchy jackfruit wings and some chips with katsu curry sauce?
Now that’s pub grub done right!
11. The Dock
Address: Mermaid Quay, Stuart St, Cardiff CF10 5BZ
Phone number: 029 2045 0947
The Dock is a contemporary eatery that overlooks the docks, offering great views to its diners.
The unrivalled waterfront location is perfect for a relaxed meal with your nearest and dearest, enjoying food and good company while sipping on a glass of wine.
They also do a bottomless brunch in Cardiff that’s said to be to die for – just be careful you don’t end up in the water after one prosecco too many!
Their brunch burger is probably the perfect antidote to help avoid that happening, in my opinion.
However, if it’s the main menu you’re after, then make sure to try the chorizo mac and cheese.
It’s an absolute winner of a dish!
12. Brewhouse & Kitchen
Address: Sophia Cl, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HW
Phone number: 029 2037 1599
Brewhouse & Kitchen has not just one, but two, expansive outdoor areas for you to enjoy your bevs on this weekend.
The terraces are the perfect place for enjoying a cold one in the sunshine, which is exactly what I want to spend my summer doing!
They’re not really rooftop terraces, but they’re far too good to miss, so Brewhouse & Kitchen makes the list anyway.
The B&K-loaded dipping beer nachos sound like a bit of me – I bet you I could finish them all by myself!
The whole menu is a treat though; it’s packed with yummy dishes that are perfect for pairing with a beer or two.
Make sure not to miss this one this summer!
13. The Great Western
Address: 64 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FA
Phone number: 029 2035 3990
It may surprise you to hear that the wonderful Great Western is a Wetherspoons!
That means that not only is it a fab pub, but it’s also cheap and cheerful.
What more could you want?
There isn’t a rooftop here, technically, but their outdoor terrace is one of Cardiff’s favourites, so it’s getting an honorary mention anyway.
The pub is housed in a converted railway inn from the 1870s, and it gives off a sense of grandeur despite its incredibly reasonable prices.
If you’re after a casual drink in relaxed surroundings, then you can count on The Great Western to meet your needs.
After all, who doesn’t love a Wetherspoons every now and again?
So, there you have it: the round-up of the very best rooftop bars in Cardiff.
Admittedly, they’re not all necessarily rooftops, but they are all great, so they have all very much earned their spot on this list.
Give all these rooftop bars in Cardiff a go this summer – you know you want to!