Against The Grain Coffee House in Cardiff

A genuinely brilliant little find in the heart of Whitchurch on Merthyr road. Everything is gluten free and tasted fantastic (my partner is Coeliac, I'm not). Great service too

Wow! Delicious 100% coeliac food. Couldn’t recommend enough. Mainly focused on the savoury buys this visit and I wasn’t disappointed! Sweets looks amazing as well. One major positive too was the reasonable price points, can see why this is a popular spot.

Hot chocolate on a cold rainy day 😋

Friendly cafe with great coffee, loose leaf tea, delicious pastries/cakes. Quiet, relaxed vibe. No loud music.

We loved the decor and cleanliness of this cafe. We had a toasted panini and a soft roll, with fillings, and everything was nicely presented. We had our 3 year old grandson with us, and he requested avocado on toast ( I wonder whether a couple of small options for a child might be helpful?)

Relaxed and chilled out cafe. All gluten free! Came here on the way home from Brecon, after reading reviews. Highly recommend, food was delicious, staff are lovely. Definitely coming again if in the area.

Coeliac safe haven!! Me and my partner come here most weekends, it's so amazing to feel "normal" and to be able to order anything you want, without the awkward conversations us coeliacs have to go through everywhere else. There's always a variety of tasty food, cakes & drinks and the best customer service!

It's so good. The people are lovely, it's so exciting everything being gluten free and the savoury muffin and the chocolate cheesecake are insanely delicious.

Lovely waitress when I visited yesterday! So welcoming and I felt so safe eating here. The food was phenomenal! My non-gf boyfriend said he couldn’t tell one thing was gf! Took loads to take away too! And they were amazing with the dogs! Could not recommend enough! Amazing food, amazing service and amazing atmosphere!!!

Stumbled across this place by accident and it was perfect for my partner who is gluten free. Fantastic coffee and excellent gluten free cakes!

Can’t really recommend this place. Whilst the staff were nice, the food was inedible. We ordered avocado on toast, and unfortunately we were unable to stomach the food. The bread was stale, avocado tasted sour and the poached egg looked like it had been microwaved. We felt awful leaving the food uneaten but it was genuinely disgusting. Unsure if the other reviews here are genuine but I can’t recommend eating here on a Sunday.

Lovely selection of GF bakery. Would love to see more cake selection but generally so good . Great service too. Thank you

Wonderful, love this place, coffee and cakes are super

Highly recommended. Great choice for a lunch out (which is very hard for my coeliac daughter unless you go to a restaurant). My daughter had a build your own panini & brownie milkshake, I had the poached egg & bacon on toast. I don’t need to be gf but can honestly say you wouldn’t know the difference. Regarding the price, I would say it compares to any other coffee shop. My daughter enjoyed it so much she took her brother for a visit the day after too! Will definitely be back.

Avocado on toast with bacon. Perfection. ! Friendly and quick service

Had an absolutely superb gluten free Mother’s Day afternoon tea today, with a really well thought out variety of sweet and savoury delights, all bursting with flavour. I loved that there was also a vegetarian option. These guys have really cracked the art of making cakes that you would be hard pushed to tell are gluten free. It’s so brilliant to have a place to go where you can relax knowing the whole menu is gluten free. Lovely food, friendly welcoming helpful service and nice clean and ambient premises. Definitely well worth a visit.

Had an absolutely delicious piece of Toblerone cheesecake and a hit chocolate! As a coeliac I love being able to go into a cafe and order anything I fancy! The staff were polite and friendly and the atmosphere was lovely. I will definitely be back soon!

Lovely if small coffee shop with decent selection of gluten free options. Had to drop 1 star for small menu and i thought the cappuccino was horrible but maybe just my unsophisticated palette 😉

All I can say is this is a hidden gem. I was told about this coffee shop and wow there isn’t enough around. Service excellence food amazing and the cakes wow on another level. We had Welsh cakes probably the best we’ve tasted. Toblerone cheese heaven. Definitely be returning even if it’s just to buy the cakes. Never think it’s gluten free. Fantastic

Excellent gluten free cafe, very friendly.

Lovely place but the coffee was very small compared with all the other coffee shops in Whitchurch.

We have recently moved to Whitchurch and a favourite Sunday thing for us is to walk the dog and call in somewhere for a coffee and cake. We absolutely love this place which somebody else called a hidden gem and I would have to agree. It’s not like the usual chain type coffee house….it’s small and quirky, we love the decor and the relaxed vibe and we have had delicious hot chocolate and cappuccino…..plus delicious cakes, cheesecake etc which I notice another review said are all home made by the owners who I assume are the two gents who work there…..if you haven’t tried this place, please call in…..you won’t be disappointed

Whilst this establishment isn’t the lightest on your wallet, it’s certainly run with love. Staff are friendly and welcoming, not making a fuss if it isn’t needed. The entire business is marketed as gluten free which is the main draw for my partner. Cakes, sandwiches and toast with trimmings all on offer with zero gluten. Could have fooled me! The cafe is rather small and up a step so accessibility may be an issue for some but the range of bites on offer are second to none when it comes to choice for coeliac. Vegetarian and vegan options also present themselves well, and there is a weekly special option to try which went down a treat for me and my partner. Will be making a habit of visiting together.

As independent coffee shops go, ‘Against the Grain’ does not disappoint. I have visited this establishment on several occasions and each time I have been overwhelmed by its charm, friendly service, great tasting coffee, and delicious appetising sandwiches. A unique selling point is that you can build your sandwich. Alternatively you can check out the daily specials board. My go to coffee shop in Whitchurch.

What a wonderful coffee shop. The staff are really friendly and the place looks cool. Food is good and the coffee is wonderful. Will certainly be visiting many more times in the future.

Love love this place. Music was top notch and the vibe was perfectly mixed between chill and not too awkward! Great unplanned stop for an emergency meeting for work.

We had an excellent coffee and bacon buttie today; the service was friendly and helpful. This is the second time we had been over this week and will do again when I’m back down in Cardiff. P.s. They made a lovely cake for my uncle to take to the dementia centre on Wednesday for my Uncle and Aunt’s wedding golden anniversary

Peaceful Thursday morning, lovely coffee and delicious cake!

Friendly café. Had freshly made wrap and cake - both gluten free. Well behaved dogs welcome. Updated menu allows you to choose your own combination of bread and fillings.

One of my favourite coffee shops to visit. Their coffee is so good and, oh my goodness, Their blueberry frangipani Tarts are sooo good. This is a celiac friendly cafe, but please don't let that put you off, Their food is so good. I highly recommend a visit.

A dream come true... To be in a position to choose items from a large menu, not have to conduct an investigation before placing an order and to enjoy your food without worry. My husband became concerned during his beans on toast, asking me if I'm sure the bread was gluten free. When I told him everything was gluten free he relaxed and was willing to share. Every item I had (which was many) was thoroughly enjoyed. Would definitely return to when next in Cardiff.

Gorgeous little place on Whitchurch high street with welcoming staff. Really nice build-your-own-sandwiches and cakes. Coffee a real plus. Gluten free but no pretences, you would hardly notice.

Staff were friendly. Good choice of cakes. Just a shame that the sandwich choice for vegetarians/vegans was limited (loads of chicken chicken ham ham...) and the one thing I DID order (goat's cheese and cranberry sandwich)- AND PAY FOR- was out of stock...Why put it on the menu, then? I was waiting for a while before being told they couldn't fulfill my order, too. It then took at least three attempts to refund my card. I try to support small businesses as much as possible, but service like this makes it difficult...

Best cortado in Cardiff at an excellent price. The staff are always friendly and courteous, the cafe is spotless and it has a tranquil atmosphere. 5 star coffee è per!

Lovely place, very reasonably priced. I had cheesecake and it was amazing! And the coffee is lovely too.

I’ve had a couple of decent coffees from here however, it’s quite difficult to get into the cafe to get a takeaway coffee with a pushchair because of small door opening and awkward steps, so I rarely go here anymore (previously baby was in a carrier). Coffee Lab and Coffee 1 are much easier to get into with a little one in a pushchair. Love the ethos of the place though!

Great to find a gluten free café! Lovely for gluten eaters too!

Excellent coffee. Ask for a double shot if you like a strong coffee. Don’t miss the frangipanni, amaretti biscuits. Avoid the carrot, maple and pecan muffin. All gluten free!

Perfect little stop in for a quiet lunch with decent ingredients and wind down atmosphere. Just what I needed. The daily special sandwich was delicious

Lovely little place where you can sit in the window and watch the world go by. Lovely service with a smile.

Finally found a good coffee in Whitchurch. Best coffee in the area by far.

Went with my daughter who is coeliac. Fab choices of food and coffee is excellent

Called in for the first time today as we found ourselves this side of Cardiff for the first time in ages. Such a strange feeling too be able to order whatever is available! Loved it. Had brunch (avocado, bacon and poached egg on toast) and then a slice of cheesecake with a couple of drinks. Caffinated coffee was amazing, though the decaf wasn't quite as tasty.

This lovely coffee shop is different, obviously because it’s gluten free, but also because the food is freshly prepared & the cakes freshly baked. The overall menu is varied with ‘the build your own ‘ roll wrap panini or sandwich option offering numerous choices to cater for various preferences such as vegetarian / vegan. The friendly service is excellent & the food very tasty ! The coffee is excellent too. I look forward to a further return visit.

Lovely staff and great coffee! Lovely and snug in the window looking out on Whitchurch Road.

First visit yesterday and very impressed. Lovely, friendly staff, spotlessly clean, quirky decor, good coffee and unusual food options made on the premises. Plenty for vegans too! I did find the interior a bit cramped and dark, so sat in the window, which was fine. A nice addition to the village 🙂

Good selection of sandwiches and cakes, all gluten free 😋 It's great to not be limited by my gluten intolerance. The service is very friendly and speedy.

Lovely coffee and friendly staff. Great family run coffee shop just in it's beginning but would definitely recommend and return

Excellent choice of gf cakes etc, a great understanding of allergies/ sensitivities.

Great coffee, lovely staff and amazing cakes. Can’t go wrong!

Lovely local coffee shop in the heart of whitchurch village. Definitely worth paying a visit if in the area. We will be back to sample the cakes.

*updated review with accessibility information* This is a really great place, and an asset to our local high street. It's great to be able to go somewhere with the assurance that everything is gluten free and delicious. I can also recommend for vegans. We eat in regularly for a morning coffee, and often get their delicious savoury wraps, rolls and cakes. The coffee is excellent, the best in Whitchurch! There is a good selection of milk-alternatives. The menu is small, but good quality, as it is a coffee shop. Great for a light lunch bite! My other half has had several cakes from here, and liked all of them, with a particular shout-out to special cherry chocolate brownie, which, when warmed up slightly at home becomes, to quote "rich, soft, gooey and amazing". The scone is excellent! I am vegan, and whilst this isn't a vegan -only café, it has good vegan gluten free options, including on previous visits (eat in and takeaway) savoury lunch wraps (when available), vegan cheese and ham pannini, a lovely lemon drizzle cake, flapjack, vanilla cupcake frangipane blueberry pie, and gingerbread men. Note that menu can change and vary. Note: this is a "light bites" cafe, and so you wouldn't go here for a breakfast fry up or large /hot lunch. They do I believe still do toast and jam in the morning, but vegans should note the bread for toast at last check isn't vegan. (The lunch wraps and panninis are though). The café's interior is stylish, quirky and relaxing, with a great window to observe the local high street activity. The staff are friendly, professional and polite, and really helpful. Accessibility note: there is a step up into the cafe, and an external and internal door. The cafe can provide a ramp if you ask, and so it is accessible for wheelchairs.

Amazing café, so much gluten free choice, lovely staff and service.

[A coeliac’s dream] The first 100% gluten free coffee place of Cardiff. We are a coeliac couple and we have been here three weekends in a row. It’s great to finally have a place to sit down and feel safe. And everything is tasty and well crafted. Non-coeliacs wouldn’t notice any difference in the ingredients. We are regulars of places like Noglu in Paris and Senza Gluten and By The Way Bakery in NYC and this place has nothing to envy them. We hope they keep expanding and that we will soon be able to see more locations. They deserve it. So sos celíaco/a este es tu lugar en Cardiff. Excelente variedad de brownies, y pastry tradicional británica. Uno de los dueños es celíaco y por eso comenzaron este lugar. El ambiente es amigable. Muy bueno para sentarse o para llevar.

Visited here today with my friend - often struggle to find nice gluten free options so this was a real treat today. Very relaxing to be able to order anything off the menu. We went with cakes, coffee & pickled pear brownie - did not disappoint! Delicious. Small venue but nicely layed out with relaxing atmosphere, low lights comfortable surroundings. Looking forward to visiting again.

Very good coffee, pleasant staff, lovely little coffee shop! Everything gluten free😊

Went here with my girlfriend as she has coeliac disease and honestly can say what a lovely experience! The coffee and cakes were absolutely delicious whether you have a gluten free diet or not. There was so many options, which any one who is gluten free knows, is very uncommon so it was so lovely to see. It was great for my partner to be able to eat out without the worry of cross contamination. The customer service we received was brilliant and we will 100% be coming back here :)

Friendly staff and amazing food

Lovely cafe with a great atmosphere!

Best gluten free baked goods I've had! Delicious!

Beautiful relaxed feel to this coffee and cake shop. Wonderful welcome and top quality food and drinks. Really enjoyed our visit

What a find! Down from Glasgow and struggling to find somewhere to eat, and this popped up in my app. Muggle hubby and coeliac me both had toasties. Generously filled with ham, cheese and red onion chutney - absolutely delicious. The cakes are to die for. You won't know that they are gluten free. Or even if you do know, you won't care as they are amazing. Priced very competitively, especially in a market where gluten-free usually attracts a premium. If you're anywhere in the area, well worth travelling to. You won't regret it.

Fantastic cafe. Great tasting cakes. It is dedicated gluten free, so fantastic for those with celiac or intolerance. Gave my friend a cake from there as she could not even tell it was gluten free.

Great coffee, great cake and great ambience- we’ll be back.

Delicious food and drink. Service with a smile. Relaxing atmosphere. Modern, clean and well presented.

Great coffee and a selection of homemade treats. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed coffee on this visit. Friendly people, with good selection of cakes and coffee's. Will be returning.

A lovely place to get a coffee. All the food is gluten free and delicious!

Completely gluten free coffee shop....doesn't taste like it! The sour cherry chocolate brownie is to die for... Nice fully rounded smooth coffee too, good strength and no bitterness. Sandwiches and wraps available around 11ish. Lovely staff and absolutely No Gluten in anything so No Cross Contamination.

Amazing experience this morning at this gem of a cafe. 100% gluten free, so coeliac friendly and no worry about cross contamination. Delicious GF cakes and coffee. The owners are exceptionally welcoming and friendly. Highly recommended. We will definitely be making regular visits.

Truly unforgettable taste and experience. Highly recommended the macaroons.

Didn't eat but the coffee was good and the guys working were super friendly. Worth skipping the chain cafes in Whitchurch for.

I do not eat gluten free but did not miss it here. We had a bap, cakes, Italian style coffee and even the de-caf tea had plenty of flavour.

Great coffee and lovely selection of cakes, really lovely atmosphere and made to feel very welcome!

This place is a gem. I have coeliac disease and this is the 1st dedicated cafe in Cardiff. Staff truly cannot do enough for you from the man and woman on the counter to the guys in the kitchen who make up mine especially without butter. Highly recommend!

What a wonderful find. A glorious coffee shop selling delicious gluten free delights. The staff were attentive and friendly, and a great atmosphere. I came home with some goodies which I am looking forward to devouring. This is a little gem, I highly recommend whether or not you have dietary constraints. Looking forward to my return.

Very nice coffee and a great lemon drizzle cake. A great addition to the village.

Amazing, delicious cakes. My daughter with coeliac disease loved it.

Gorgeous coffee shop!!! 100% gluten free heaven! Some dairy free and vegan options too. Great coffees with an array of alternative milks too!

Amazing new cafe in Whitchurch. Best quality coffee in the area, delicious friands and friendly staff. Has plugs available if needed and fans/air conditioning and iced drinks options to help with the heat. Highly recommend and not to be missed.

A wonderful coffee shop with gluten-free cakes and brilliant friendly staff. Recommended!

Brilliant place. Can't actually believe it's all gluten free it tastes that good. Brownie was amazing so moist and rich. 10/10 would come again. So nice to take my partner somewhere and know it's safe for her. Thanks, definitely recommend.

Lovely little café with friendly staff. We really enjoyed the vegan chocolate orange muffin and bakewell blonde and will return another time to try out more of the bakes.