The Dead Canary in Cardiff

Super nice place in Cardiff to drink cocktails with a story: a booklet explains the origin of the cocktail (which can be with or without alcohol). A cozy atmosphere, with islands of comfortable, discreet armchairs. The entrance is not easily guessed, but it also allows you to have a “secret” place (for those in the know), where customers do not enter like in a classic bar, every 5 minutes. I recommend if you are looking for a local Welsh atmosphere!

Loved it! Drinks weren't cheap, but they were very well made, proper cocktails

Does Bakewell - Derbyshire open on 10th November

Dropped into this amazing cocktail bar by pure chance although it's always been on my list of places to go. It was a wednesday night and the battery wasn't busy but it made the experience even better for the large group. Everything was great from the home made cocktail menu to the whiskey bathroom. I can without a doubt say the cocktails were incredible and the bar staff super knowledgeable about everything without any arrogance of any kind. They were adaptive to off the menu requests and friendly throughout the night. This cocktail lounge is just joy and I would highly recommend it to others in Cardiff

A little hidden gem, my most favourite place in Cardiff, cocktails are amazing, staff are super friendly and attentive, atmosphere is spot on, quirky, great ambience, love, love, love it. X

Loved it. Drinks were great, staff warm and welcoming and atmosphere excellent

Really like this for a different experience..Lovely cocktails very comfortable good atmosphere & super friendly / helpful staff..looking forward to taking my family for my Birthday..5* Dissapointed with uncomfortable bench seating, spoilt my evening as I couldn't relax..

Went here for a Friday night and loved it. Great atmosphere, really friendly service and loved the Welsh folklore theme. Diolch!

A lovely place to spend a Friday evening, the atmosphere was amazing, the service and staff were great and helped to recommend cocktails based upon what you like. The snacks were lovely and the decoration and music were the perfect finishing touch to the evening

'What we did in the shallows.' Managed to get in at short notice through the inconspicuous door. Interesting folk tale menu. Cocktails were reasonably priced but the ones we chose weren't particularly elaborate outside of the containers. Music not themed with the bar but more what you would expect at a regular venue. Definitely worth a visit.

Lovely place, fantastic service, tasty drinks!

First visit, hopefully not the last. Eclectic cocktail menu, but staff were happy to make me a classic Old Fashioned. Slight issue with our order, but staff put everything right very quickly and with good grace. Only one gripe - please do something about the lighting in the ladies; the gents is apparently brightly lit, but the ladies has been lit in the same style as the bar, and borders on dark.

Great cocktails, definitely coming again, amazing to come with friends here.

I rarely leave reviews - because I'm a lazy reviewer but this place is a find! It's a beautiful, small hideaway with a great drinks menu - quintessentially a cocktail bar. If that's not your thing, it's still worth a visit and they'll even go 'off menu' to make you a drink of your choice. A lovely, warm, relaxed atmosphere. It's worth mentioning - it's the staff that really make this place tick: charming and helpful. Thank you Xx

Special place for a cocktail 🍹. Friendly staff .

Great little find with fab cocktails.

Amazing place. Richard is wonderful, very knowledgeable, to be fair all of the staff are friendly and helpful. A little gem. I love coming here!

really lovely cocktail bar, the staff are always so friendly here and talk you through the menu, and the drinks are really fun :)

Superb cocktails served in an excellent environment. It should be on your list of things to do on a trip to Cardiff!

A lovely speak easy style cocktail bar with drinks themed from Welsh history, literature and culture.

This bar is awesome!! A speak easy is always fun and the atmosphere is great. We came early on a Friday evening. It can be a risk as you never know if it’s empty, but even with a few people in there, it was a fantastic vibe. Our waiter James was super knowledgable with great suggestions depending on what drinks you like, and the menus were really unique. Great music, great decor, great service and great drinks. Can’t wait to come back 🍸🍹

Fantastic speak easy vibes,beautifully curated cocktails, you should end the night here or spend the whole evening here.

Wonderful cocktail bar with unique drinks in a lovely atmosphere with great staff!

We only get to visit The Dead Canary once a year, but we can honestly say it's by far our favourite all time cocktail bar. Beautifully thought out cocktails, each with their own unique story page and illustration. Last time it was 'Here be Dragons', this time 'What We do in the Shallows'...and they did not disappoint!

We arrived without a booking and the incredible Poppy was able to fit us in at a table. The service she provided was so personal and she was able to recommend drinks based on what we were looking for. Her attention to the room was better than some of the others working there but that is not to put down any of the staff. I would highly recommend this spot (if you can find it 😉) 10/10!

Cool, quirky speakeasy. Charismatic and engaging staff who are as unique as the venue. Cocktails are well made with quality spirits and mixers and sit at the £10-13 range. It's well worth the expense as other places tend not to be half as good, with wholesale and substandard products. Love this place, never a disappointment 😎

While I feel this place was wasted on me a bit as I'm not a cocktail drinker, it was a lovely little spot, with a very nice vibe. 90's/00's hip hop and R&B music playing loud enough to sing along too without being embarrassed, but quiet enough where you can have a conversation and hear every word. There's a new menu which comes in the form of a little book labelled What We Do in the Shadows (a favourite film/TV Show of mine) and it's full of cocktails with names designed around the coast of Wales with little stories about the area. It was really well done. Staff were superb, it's a complete table service and they never let our drinks run dry, including the free water. You have to book a table in advance and the secret club style entrance is a nice touch.

The name aside, fear not, no canaries were harmed in the making of this cocktail, as far as I could taste. Pals in abundance from door to bar, and an ambiance not entirely befitting of the bin-surrounded façade. Absolute naughty slice of a cocktail, innit.

really good service and great choices of drinks.

Atmosphere was the best here. Love it!! Definitely coming back.

If you're trying to find it, it's the black building with the bird cage above the door. Really interesting speakeasy cocktail bar. Drinks are all based around folklore with illustrations alongside. The staff and drinks were great.

I've been here twice so far and each time the service has been impeccable. The staff are very knowledgeable and welcoming and the mocktails are fantastic! Highly recommend this bar

speakeasy, phenomenal and showstopping cocktails and mocktails. must go. make a booking!

Lovely accommodating staff, cocktails are expensive but staff will adapt them to how you like them. Nibbles available.

What an interesting place! Reservations only, a ‘secret’ entrance and somewhere that clearly thrives on reputation. Not a drink they can’t make, a true little gem of a place. Top class vesper was drunk!

Always lovely service and delicious cocktails. A little on the pricier side of Cardiffs cocktail bars but not extortionate and always well worth the price. The staff are knowledgeable and will make changes if you ask for them and will discuss your preferences and make recommendations. So you will very rarely end up with a cocktail that you don’t love! Also the presentation and atmosphere is always lovely.

What a fabulous night at The Dead Canary on Thursday. I was there with a friend for the Cocktails in Concert evening - specially designed cocktails matched to live music from a string quartet. Such an unusual idea and really well executed: a mix of classical and popular pieces of music and three very distinct cocktails to suit all tastes. It was a very popular evening and I can see why: the perfect event for this elegant, intimate venue.

Excellent drinks paired with wonderful food in a cosy environment

Dead Canary? Dead drinks. Dead atmosphere. Drinks were too strong and overpriced with terrible glasses. We did not enjoy.

Great hidden bar, definitely worth booking!! Great cocktails and excellent service 👌

Came for a private work event. Staff friendly and helpful, good cocktails!

Having just moved to Cardiff, we’ve been wanting to discover a new cocktail bar to become our local go to. Thankfully, after a great recommendation we visited The Dead Canary and were blown away with the quality and welcoming atmosphere. Hidden away is this fantastic, spacious, cocktail bar that serves a fantastic drinks menu. Each have there own unique story! Upon being welcomed in, myself and my partner felt like we’ve been coming to this bar for ages. Both the host and the bartender were chatty and super friendly. Bit shoutout to Adam who welcomed us to Cardiff and gave us some expert advice on what drinks were what! We can’t wait to return here as soon as possible! Would highly recommend others head down as well!

Wonderful drinks, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere

Amazing place with friendly staff and mind blowing cocktails....hard to find the entrance to the place though

Ok so the drinks are. Amazing, loads of fun and different options. The food was ok only little snacky things, they were good quality but don't think it was ideal for the price, if you want something to snack on just get one as our table got a few. They also have a few wine options if cocktails are not your thing. Finally the staff there are amazing and super helpful. It's a cool experience and environment so will def be going back there...oh did I mention it's a jazz bar! So while I not experienced it yet I be going back for live music 🎵

A classic speakeasy vibe with a fun mythological twist on the cocktail theme. Well worth tracking down and exploring.

Have visited many times but most recently between Christmas and New Year. Simply put, it is the best bar in Cardiff. Speakeasy style with wildly clashing but achingly cool decor. Eclectic mix of equally cool tunes played at the perfect volume- you can speak and be heard easily without hearing the table next to you, creating an intimate atmosphere. The cocktails are expertly made, beautifully presented and taste delicious. Don't expect to buy a Jug of a pink, fruity and largely tasteless 'cocktail ' for £15- go to Weatherspoons if that's what you're after. You are paying for the finest ingredients, beautifully served by people who genuinely seem to care about giving you something you'll enjoy. Pick from the innovative menu (Drinks made to represent Welsh folklore , with a fabulous story for each drink), ask for a surprise or pick a classic, nothing seems to phase them. Can't image a visit to Cardiff without spending (and occasionally losing) an evening in The Dead Canary. Always worth booking because, as you would expect, it is popular!

The determinant of a quality cocktail bar in my view are... The bartender and his mood..simplistic menu... I think this place got it wrong on both places The cocktails didn't have a feeling of alcohol being in them I had to order an old fashioned after to feel the alchohol hit. I wanted it witj nikka by the barrel (like Zuma makes it). Comment from the bartender was it's not a good choice.... Lol

This place is very cool. If you don't know where it is, the birdcage on the outside is the only clue. This is an American prohibition era speakeasy, where they serve the best cocktails in Cardiff. The staff are amazing, very knowledgeable and passionate about the place and we felt well looked after. The atmosphere is perfect, with quirky decor and comfy relaxed seating and music and lighting at the right level, that allows you to be in a room full of people but still be in your own private space. They will make you any cocktail, but the menu of their own cocktails, inspired by welsh legends, is a brilliant touch. We weren't sure what to try, but our host was able to give us recommendations based on what drinks we like and they were spot on. The 3 that we tried in our 2-hour tineslot were great, with lots of thought going into the presentation. It's not cheap, but for how good it was, I still found it good value for money. Not somewhere you would go every week, but definitely for special occasions. So for a unique drinking experience in South Wales, you won't beat this.

Very niche, unique bar. Amazing cocktails. Super expensive though! Excellent service. However you'll need a torch for the toilets.

Speakeasy style bar which is well worth a visit, if you know where to find it 😉 Wide selection of signature cocktails, fine whiskey and other spirits served by friendly a knowledgeable team.

Very nice venue if you just want to relax have a conversation and drink some really good cocktails. Nice staff as well.

I don't know why the bar doesn't provide wifi, when I asked the clerk they said they didn't have this service, and the cocktail weren't recommended according to my request, not a good experience.

This hidden gem in Cardiff is a must visit. A speakeasy with a hidden door. Cocktails are great. The decor and ambience is cool.

Like all good cocktail bars, you pay a premium for the drinks. Reasons to visit the Dead Canary are many. Certainly, the cocktails are very good and served in a creative way. The menu, however, is incredible. It's a book that gives the history and thought behind each drink, well worth a read. The interior is comfortable and very nicely designed, more of a speakeasy feel than modern cocktail bar. It's a place that does not advertise it's presence, hidden away down a side street with no signage to reveal it's location. This adds a feeling of exclusivity. Definitely worth a visit, but book in advance as they do get a busy.

We didn’t have any food, hence no stars for food. But everything else was perfect! Drinks were delicious, atmosphere was fantastic and even the music playlist was 10/10. Bar staff were friendly, attentive and helpful. Would definitely come back!

Didn't have food. The drinks, and illustrations drawn to go with them, were lovely! Amazing atmosphere, really quirky, loved the whole set up.

Awesome awesome awesome! More on the pricier end but definitely worth a visit. It feels like you're part of some secret when you come here. The drinks are absolutely fantastic and the lore behind them makes it really cool. The venue is stunning and the staff are fantastic. One of the few 5 star places in Cardiff! I'd highly recommend this as a date ide

Very nice cocktail place with a great character ☺️

Awesome speak easy nestled in the heart of Cardiff. The staff are well informed on the menu, the the ming of both the drinks and the bar are wonderful, and always tasty and worthwhile drinks

Love the concept and they did great to accommodate something off the menu. The mythology aspect is awesome

Interesting cocktail bar tucked out of the way, gothic decor fun stories behind all the cocktails and all served with a smile

Best cocktails in town! Great staff and a fantastic playlist - a fantastic evening

Lovely bar with a great atmosphere. The lady who was serving us was great as well. She recommended drinks to us to when we weren’t sure. I would definitely recommend going to everyone. I’m sure I’ll be going back soon as it made for such a lovely end to our evening.

Really interesting place with amazing cocktails which they will make even if they are not on the menu. Fabulous service as well.

On the pricier side but you can’t draw fault with it just for how nice the place is. A Cardiff Hidden Gem (literally!) Great atmosphere, great drinks and was an absolutely fab time

What a class experience first time to a speakeasy, our host poppy was above and beyond amazing, explained the whole menu and how everything works and wasn't to far away if we had any other questions, absolute loved our experience and definitely will be back again, 100% recommend for some drinks with friends groups small or big.

Went there yesterday - friendliest bar staff & amazing atmosphere!

Amazing staff who were caring and really made our night the best that we could have asked for. Knowledgeable and friendly, and all in a really unique atmosphere and location. Cannot rate this place high enough!!

Eclectic decor and ambience, wonderful cocktails and attentive staff, highly recommended 🍍

Fantastic place, great vibe and the staff really polite. So good that we are going to book to bring our daughter here for her 18th Birthday.

A friend of mine recommended this venue whilst I was visiting Cardiff. It is a really cool venue, great atmosphere, staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the drinks were excellent. Definitely book a reservation to avoid being turned away as it was really popular on a Saturday night. A must visit if you are in Cardiff.

The Dead Canary is not just a cocktail bar—it's an experience. Hidden in Cardiff, this gem offers a unique cocktail menu where every drink tells a story. Each cocktail features a unique combination of ingredients, showcasing the creativity and passion of their mixologists. For a truly immersive cocktail experience, The Dead Canary is a must-visit when in Cardiff.

Everytime I enter the dead canary I am met with, outstanding customer service and impeccable drinks. If alone or as a group this place makes you feel welcome.

We had a nice time here. The menu is well curated and the attention to detail in their creations shows. The place was quiet and spacious, so it’s easy to talk and sit there for a while. Maybe the prices were a bit higher than expected for what you get, but it is an experience worth living.

Our server was very polite and friendly. Wish I’d have taken his name now to note on here but he had a few good recipes of his own up his sleeve and never failed. It’s always a lovely setting inside but make sure you book before you go… even though they’ll do their best to accommodate you, it is easier if you’ve got a table set for you

The definition of a hidden gem! This is definitely worth the effort because the drinks and atmosphere are mind blowing and the staff there are even better.

Wonderful experience you have to knock the door on the pictures to get in! Once inside the decor is well presented with a mix of chairs and booths. I've never seen do many mixers in a bar! New range of cocktails - very tasty as are the (light) snacks.

Very welcoming staff, drinks and atmosphere were excellent

Finally got around to visiting Dead Canary and it definitely lived up to expectations! Fantastic drinks with ingredients and combinations that are unique and perfectly crafted. With a detailed, and beautifully ornate menu to choose your drinks from, the staff are more than happy to talk you through the options and help you choose. They will even create something bespoke if you cannot find something you like. With a relaxed, sophisticated, and utterly charming atmosphere I would strongly recommend visiting here. Worth noting as well, that alongside their selection of longer, "milder" cocktails, and the shorter stronger ones, they also have a lovely selection of mocktails for those who aren't drinking or who don't drink. Definitely visiting here again!

What an amazing place. I've been passing next to this building without knowing it was there Tried it yesterday and loved it. Cocktails are lush and the concept is great. Staff really friendly

Nice vibes, interesting menu! Non-alcoholic options were decent and interesting, too.

Best Cocktail bar in Cardiff hands down

amazing spot that I would have walked past if I didn’t know it was there. Sweet Vibe, great people, Fun Drinks

Fantastic cocktails, weird & wonderful decor and lush staff. We were remembered on our return, favourite drinks remembered. Will be back

Such a cool hidden bat. Delicious cocktails with awesome stories

We never actually made it as couldn’t find the bar. The directions on the website are awful.

Fascinating place! Very original experience and a great place to drink with friends.Highly recommended!

Atmospheric. Different. Loved it. They have a cocktail called Skirrid Inn so I tried it as I have been to that pub. Really liked it though you would not think stout belongs in a cocktail. Try it, you may surprise yourself!

Hidden gem in the Cardiff. Nice staffs. Good ambience.

this is the first time I came here, I ordered the "dark beast of brymbo" and it was stunning. the atmosphere is amazing.

Wow ! Absolutely loved this place. Definitely worth a visit and I would recommend booking it in advance. Lovely nice relaxing atmosphere and great choice of cocktails.

Nice cocktail bar, if you can find it! Good range of drinks and nice relaxed atmosphere, well worth a visit

Walked in through an obscure door in Cardiff and suddenly we were in the middle of a pristine cocktail bar where a friendly waitress gave us a seat and a super friendly waiter responded “of course” when I asked him if he could surprise me with a cocktail from the Welsh-inspired menu. Atmosphere very secretive and staff skilled and great in customer service. The drinks were amazing and I’d 100% go there for my next trip to Cardiff.

What a great little gem in Cardiff. Visited not too long ago and the atmosphere here is just super chill. The drinks are really good and their accompanying descriptions and artwork really well done. It has an almost prohibition-esque vibe about the place but I don't want to say much more. All I'll say is go here if you like cocktails, an easy atmosphere, and a bit of a magical vibe. You won't regret it.

A genuinely enjoyable experience, a great welcome into a bar with, given the time of year, felt like an almost Dickensian atmosphere, the mood and ambiance of a time gone by....... lovely! A really great time with some unheard of cocktails and, for me, an impressive range of whiskies....... highly recommended and we will be going back 🥃.

😍 love this place!! I wish we could’ve stayed longer. The decor is beautiful. The cocktail menu is extensive and the staff are so nice! I will visit again!

Been many times so know what to expect. Drinks were excellent and staff very helpful. I think seat location is important. You want to be in the main bar area, not near the entrance, and definitely not upstairs. Lighting was brighter than previous visits, which spoilt the atmosphere for me. Didn't expect to be charged for pretzels snacks each round either. Not the same experience as previous.

Loved it... you just have to find it!

11/10! This place is sensational! Just can't decide if the impeccable cocktails, the magnificent surroundings, or the divine staff top the list of Reasons I Will Always Come Back! Exquisite cocktail menu (and nibbles). Nothing is too much trouble. Make us feel like royalty every time we visit. Love this place 💛