The Old Arcade in Cardiff

An amazing experience for an old rugby player from Chascomús, Argentina. The ambient is unbelievable, the beer is excellent. A perfect place to wait until the game!!! Grettings from Chascomús, Argentina Santiago

A wonderful, long standing establishment in Cardiff. Exceptionally well located within the town, plenty of space, clean and tidy with a great selection of food and drinks. I've had a warm welcome in every visit. Such a great atmosphere on match days and race meetings.

Great atmosphere and very nice staff. Would recommend this pub to anyone especially for the races!

Visiting from Canada for a rugby tour. Awesome food and great service. Great chat with some great people, five stars!

Absolutely amazing people, the rugby atmosphere is better than anything I've seen in Canada, the food is delicious, an amazing Spot to watch the game.

Came into the place with a couple guys from my rugby team tour and the owner came up to us and had a nice chat with us and a couple friendly regulars came up to us to and asked is about our tour.

Best rugby pub in Cardiff. Landlord is an absolute gent

Great pub for the rugby or any sport. Life and soul of the centre.

The Old Arcade. The best pub you will find in Cardiff, with a magic vibe and the kindest hearted waiters. Everyone that comes here Will leave with a open smile - if not from the vibe, from the wonderfull food!. Kisses all the way from Portugal!

If you’re looking for the best cheeseburger of your life, look no further than The Old Arcade. Nestled in the heart of cardiff, this cozy, welcoming pub doesn’t just serve great drinks—it delivers a cheeseburger experience that will ruin all others for you. The moment it arrives at your table, you know you’re in for something special. The golden, toasted brioche bun is perfection—soft yet sturdy enough to hold the masterpiece within. The beef patty is thick, juicy, and seared to a perfect crust, locking in all those rich, smoky flavors. But what truly sets this burger apart is the cheese. Melting effortlessly over the patty, it’s a gooey, flavorful dream that ties everything together. Every bite is a perfect balance of textures and flavors—the crisp freshness of the lettuce, the slight tang of house-made pickles, and the secret sauce that adds just the right amount of kick. Pair it with their perfectly crispy fries and an ice-cold pint, and you have a meal that borders on legendary. Whether you’re a burger aficionado or just someone who appreciates damn good foods, The Old Arcade’s cheeseburger is simply unbeatable. Don’t walk—run to get one.

The service was extremely impecaple. The staff was amazing and the really showed the welsh spirit and welcoming. I tried the cheeseburguer and I personally loved it. The atmosphere was amazing and on top of that, the Manchester United game was going on which made it even mlre amazing. I personally loved one of the staff's Reykyavik sweater. It was a 10/10 for me and I highly recommend it !

Amazing pub really shows the welsh spirit, it has got the food the service and the vibes also has international decoration which gives the pub welcoming vibes for foreign customers , the staff were amaizing and the decoration is great really love the old wood style and how they kept their heritage, the rugby references were also beautiful. Would come back again. Had a cheeseburger and it matched expectations, good bread and chips and the sauces were also really good

Being Portuguese and Walking into The Old Arcade in Cardiff, you’re hit with a buzzing sports atmosphere—rugby memorabilia, international flags, and TVs showing football, rugby, and darts. It’s a proper pub with real character. The cheeseburger? Crispy but still full of flavour and just a bit overr cooked, with melted cheese oozing over the patty. Pair it with crispy fries and a cold pint, and you’re sorted. To finish of I went with chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream, just the right amount. Perfect to end the meal. Whether you’re here for the game or just a great meal, The Old Arcade delivers. A must-visit for sports fans and food lovers passing by.

Muy buen bar. James y Chad en particular eran excelentes. Muy servicial y amable. Lo recomendaría encarecidamente este pub.

Great place to be for Rugby fans! Excellent place for all! I didn't taste the cuisine but it's possible to eat there...beautiful pub! !

Best pub experience in all of Cardiff. Friendly staff, great drinks, good food.

Un gran agradecimiento a Mark y su equipo para un gran día el 8 de febrero. él consiguió mi amigo discapacitado un asiento para ver el rugby. fabuloso pub y servicio Gracias Steve.

What a fabulous find. We popped in on our trip over from Virginia and were treated so warmly.

Best Pint of dark in Cardiff, lovely atmosphere and helpful staff

I really liked the burger! The potatoes could be better. The service is very good, the truth is that it is a very good pub to come watch sports or just have a beer! I recommend it.

Good beer and friendly/helpful staff. Mark runs a very good pub. Always a warm welcome and a fab atmosphere.

Bustling, atmospheric city bar. 2025 Good Beer Guide listed with a good/full range of ales from Brains brewery. I had a couple of very good pints of their Dark ale. Multi roomed pick ⚒️ f the day for us. Cheers.

Great food in the Old Arcade, quick service and really hot and tasty meals.

¡Wow! La Antigua Arcade continúa su legado ¿quién la administra? No es cierto. Mark y su brillante equipo joven (Gabby incluido) son tan buenos. El servicio que ofrecen es excepcional. Me encanta el Old A y el brillante equipo que trabaja allí. Fair play

A fantastic pub in the heart of Cardiff close to Cardiff castle and principality stadium. A famous sports pub, all staff very friendly.

Really great place, great atmosphere, great food, and great host. Highly recommend the Old Arcade, no better place to enjoy a Cardiff welcome!

Called in today, A warm welcome, beer was excellent, as was the meal. I went for the vegetarian option and thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere was great and for a pub bang in the middle of Cardiff, the prices are better than competitive. Will defo be returning.

Superb place. Been before on rugby match day but still a great atmosphere and wide selection of Brains beer

One of Cardiff's most famous landmarks that attracts a large crowd on rugby internationals. The atmosphere on these days is brilliant and a memorable experience. The welcome is always very warm and the beer is exceptional. It it traditional you're after, you won't find a better pub that'll come anywhere near as good as here. The menu is varied, and the staff are a credit to the place, very friendly and nothing being too much trouble. A visit to Cardiff would be incomplete without a visit to the Old Arcade.

Great laugh in a proper pub, friendly staff

El barman era amable y las bebidas no eran caras. Lugar bastante fresco en el interior con periódicos viejos y fotos en las paredes. Diolch yn fawr.

I met with friends and ate lunch. The service was excellent and food tasty. The drinks were also top quality.

Very enjoyable meal will call again next time I'm in Cardiff

Nice pub great atmosphere friendly and efficient staff .

Went down to see Plant and Pot - purchased some Plants - what an amazing place.

Great location and lovely staff

Fui con mi familia y orden Filete con papas fritas Las papas fritas estaban frías y el filete necesitaba una sierra mecánica para cortarlo, ya que era más resistente que el cuero viejo

Just had an early 3 course Christmas dinner of prawn cocktail to start. Classic turkey dinner mains and Banoffee cake to finish. Absolutely amazing. Turkey and all the trimmings cooked to perfection 👌

Good Brains beer. Steeped in history Rugby pub

Loved this place Grab a drink and sit out the front to people watch!

hello! the vegan nachos, bbq cauliflower wings and onion rings were very tasty! i would love for more vegan options like alternatives to cow's milk, more pudding options and a vegan burger. the bar staff are all lovely especially chad :-)

One of the best pubs I’ve had the pleasure to drink in.

The best 👌 staff fabulous. Food great. Our favourite place ❤️

It was great. We will come back. We are from Germany

Nice experience and really good atmosphere 😊 And they love football and rugby

A fab pub to visit. Staff are amazing. Food was value for money. Great atmosphere.

I had a really nice lunch with a mate. Lovely food, great choice of beer. The Old Arcade is a proper Cardiff pub and should be treasured as such.

Mark, the owner, is great. Very hospitable. The pub is superb as evidenced by the number of locals that go there. I am from Lima Peru and finding this type of attitude makes your trip truly enjoyable!!

Great little pub for a pint of “Brains” - the guys behind the bar where very welcoming.

Extremely busy and loud at weekends, but becomes a quiet pub with excellent beers during the week

Very nice place, friendly service, good food

Lovely old pub. Great food that came quickly. Really nice staff 😊.

I visited here in August 2024, Never been there before but passed it many times when visiting Cardiff. Its a wonderful pub friendly great beer, I didn't have any food but will next time I'm there. And the Welsh rugby theme of the bar is absolutely amazing.

Great pint of Brains, some good banter in the afternoons with locals and it's central to the city

Staff attentive, no waiting too long & eagle eyed to see next customer. Premises clean, atmosphere great, good choice of beverages, so nice to see it's still thriving after all these years & still a great atmosphere.

Cracking rugby pub with great ales on tap

What a disappointment on the weekend advertised August Sunday bank Holiday Elvis music should have been playing all day got there at 2pm no Elvis music at all thankfully the Elvis tribute made up for our disappointment he was fabulous.. Update thankyou for your reply funny that as it was the tribute act wife who commented on it to me also

Regular visitor nowadays. Exceptionally quiet here on the day after St Patrick's Day Definitely worth visiting Thanks

Acogedor pub situado en la parte trasera de la sala del mercado. Abierto todo el día, tiene una terraza para tomar el sol que está prohibido fumar por lo que hay que entrar en la calle para disfrutar de un cigarrillo. Ambiente de bar deportivo ocupado y agradable.

Had Steak&Ale pie. It was terrible… barely any meat, no taste and pie crust was all soggy. PS: To be clear the photo show original amount of meat inside

We were welcomed very friendly and courteously. After a quick round of tasting, everyone was treated to a pint and had some interesting conversations with the bartender. We recommend. Cool and rustic atmosphere.

Good old style pub great staff very friendly will be back 17 /08/24 for another great weekend in Cardiff

Shoutout to Curtis the security guard. Thanks to you fir all you do in keeping us all safe!👏👏

Great place, staff are absolutely lovely and the security is top notch, a credit to the pub. Food is good, lots of choice.

Happy nights had by all feel at ease coz there is security on the door

Llamamos para tomar una copa, mientras estábamos allí pensamos que pediríamos algo de comida, pensando ahora me pregunto por qué. Con todos los maravillosos lugares para comer en Cardiff decidimos comer aquí (gran error ) la comida era sangrientamente horrible parecía una cena escolar de los 60 s , pidió papas fritas sucias y otras cosas pero NO había queso nacho en ellos era más como un cheddar barato . El lugar tampoco está tan limpio me da miedo ver cómo es la cocina... ...por favor, no cometas nuestro error y mantente claro.

Great beer, good atmosphere and good food. Very attentive waiter. We liked a lot.

This place was recommended by another pub owner of all people! His pub didn't serve fish and chips which is what we were looking for, so he directed us to The Old Arcade. What a great spot off the beaten path. We not only enjoyed the fish and chips immensely, but the staff, service, and ambience were great. If we ever get to Cardiff again we will certainly seek out this place.

Visiting from Canada, great food and service!

Just arrived in Wales today from Florida! Luckily we got the inside scoop from a friend whose wife is from here. They recommended the Old Arcade and we were happy we came in for lunch. They have light bite specials for lunch each day. I got a burger "lite" with no bun and fries, with an excellent salad. Others got chili which was also great. We enjoyed seeing all the locals eating in there. Check it out!

UNMISSABLE EXPERIENCE. We are a family with a dog. We come from Ancona, Italy.

Great place, great food, nice desserts, lovely people, we’re glad we visited from Corsica! 😉

Superb pub not far from Cardiff Castle. Very good atmosphere which mixes locals and tourists, like us coming from France

Had a lovely afternoon at the old arcade. Really nice place with lovely and helpful staff, sat outdoors and the drinks we got was nice too. Would recommend visiting!

Amazing Place, very friendly and perfect to hang out and leave your sorrows behind.

Very nice place, great selection of local beers, friendly staff

Lovely place with warm and welcoming staff. Food was delicious and we also got a football lesson! 100% recommend.

Properly run pub, great sport, atmosphere, and music 👍

Love this place as it suits me age demographic! Food and drink all good vfm AND there is a loyalty reward system!

Came to watch the NZ vs England rugby! Great atmosphere and open early enough to watch the game! Will be back to watch the Rugby championship in August!

So glad they open early for 8am All Blacks games, great staff will definitely be back

Hands down, best pub in Cardiff, come here every time I'm in Cardiff

Cracking pub. One of the best in Cardiff.

Excellent. The manager is a legend.

Had a great time in The Old Arcade. Mark behind the bar could not do enough for us and seemingly for everyone. Great atmosphere and a proper pub.

Lovely food! Came for food the day of the foo fighters and there was a long wait but the owner/boss I assume was lovely and welcoming! Only problem I had was seeing the cocktail promotions only to be that 'they aren't that kind of place, we don't do cocktails!'. Lovely place overall!

The owner is really nice and gave us a 13 fake tattoo for Taylor swift.

Great pub. Excellent service, food and beer. Everyone was very friendly. Lovely pint too. Very clean also. Highly recommend

Staff were amazing, recommended cocktails were class. Guinness could do with some work

Best pub in Cardiff. Great staff, service and beer

Brilliant service, great food and beer selection. TV for sports. Great banter from locals. Was well looked after by bar man Tag!

I celebrated my birthday here. Excellent service by Tag. He’s a star!!! Great food & drinks. We’ll definitely come back here

Lush food lush people and brilliant prices

Great city centre pub, great atmosphere, lovely food and a great pint. Staff are lovely especially the new lady Lianne.. Will be back soon for sure

Great atmosphere. Amazing staff, especially Georgia

Best place I’ve ever been to in my life. Taylor swift is the best

Truly the best night out in Cardiff. Amazing staff and a great time!

Taylor swift night was amazing !!

Busy today considering home rugby International tomorrow, staff attentive, great atmosphere.

Amazing fish and chips in a lovely locals pub! Stumbled upon this place after a visit to the Cardiff Castle and found great food but even better atmosphere. Our bartender was the best ambassador for Wales and made us feel very comfortable. Try the beers, ales and lagers but if you don't have the jam sponge pudding, you're making a very big mistake. DELICIOUS!