The Secret Shed in Cardiff

Came here after hearing good things about it previously, they have extended their premises and it seems have gone downhill looking at recent reviews. Firstly there was no warm welcome, like in snails across the road (my normal go-to) staff seemed very miserable and didn’t smile once! We both went for a breakfast, I had a vegetarian one. Mushrooms were chopped up and tiny, very strange? Possibly frozen. Breakfast stated two hash browns, these were tiny small discs, not what I’d expect paying nearly £10 for this. Beans were served cold, and veggie sausages were like mush. I won’t be rushing back..

kept waiting for over 15 mins for coffee and when it finally appeared there was no apology. The cafe was very draughty as staff did not bother to shut doors as they walked past or thru.

What a hidden gem, great atmosphere with lovely food , staff were attentive and helpful. We would fully recommend this place. Thanks

Be warned - pot of tea is £3.20! That's a lot for a tea! Snappy response when I queried it. Will be going elsewhere in future

We’ve been twice now and our main gripe is that they need more experienced staff working on the weekends. First time husband and I ordered a cooked breakfast on a Saturday. We waited 40minutes and our coffees came after our breakfast! Also for the price charged we expected fresh mushrooms not frozen!!! The sausages and bacon were lovely though. Next visit was with our children. Again on a Saturday there was a very long wait for 4 drinks and 3 cakes. The coffee served is lovely but after 2 very long waits for food and drink we won’t be rushing back. Such a shame as it’s local to us

We visited here some time ago and as we were back in Cardiff decided to take our grandchildren along. The setting of the garden and cafe is very unique, however, this time it didn’t match up to the previous visit. Service was quite slow but we were served our drinks, the tea was not very warm, and a Welsh cake. We waited some considerable time before going to see where the tea cakes were. They duly arrived having told my husband that they had been served. It appeared that there was a lack of communication/ organisation at the time. Such a pity. We will probably give it another go when back in Cardiff and hope that the service is better.

This place used to be brilliant, but in the last year or so it really has taken a turn for the worse. I waited over 15 minutes for a simple vanilla latte, hot chocolate and slice of cake. The vanilla latte was luke warm and tasted more like chemicals than vanilla. The cake came without a fork so I asked for one, had to wait another 5 minutes for that. I’ve never known a place go from 5* to zero like this. When another coffee place opened in the village I remember the staff complaining about it. Rather than grabbing the opportunity to improve service and take advantage using its unique venue, it’s tried to compete and be different by offering more food etc. They just need to go back to basics. It’s a real shame as it’s a lovely location and used to be a real gem.

🌼 Such a lovely place for coffee and a cheeky cupcake 🧁The staff were very attentive and friendly. Particular thank you to the young lady with dark hair working the till, who was very helpful and patient advising me on the menu! Great service! 👍 Be back soon ☺️

Stubbled across this pretty place and whilst wasn’t planning on going out for breakfast thought it looked so nice we would give it a try. Disappointedly after a long wait (we were first customers of the day) my partners poached eggs had to be returned due to being full of water. Eventually my eggs Benedict arrived and my eggs where the same. The reception when we arrived felt cold with no atmosphere or welcome. At an average of £8.50 and £3.20 for tea you would have expected better. We left hungry as the food was uneatable.

A lovely place to visit. Friendly staff and good food. Pretty sheds to meet friends in and dog friendly too.

This shed should certainly be kept a secret !, so that nobody can have the displeasure of eating there. It took approximately 45 minutes to be served after ordering, and when my food eventually arrived after asking 3 times, the eggs were inedible , the bacon barely cooked. Even though there were only 19 people in ‘the shed’ The staff told me there was a 30 minute wait for food, which was eventually 50 minutes.

Total crap service a drink took 30 min to arrive food total crap either owners or crap staff close the place !! we don't want places letting cardiff down

Lovely location and the garden was beautiful. Ordered on the table app but waited 30 minutes for a toastie and tea. Disappointed to say the least

The Secret She has excellent outdoor spaces to have coffee and cake. They have recently expanded and created an indoor cafe that doesn’t have quite the right atmosphere for me so I only ever sit outside. Cater well for gluten free. Haven’t eaten anything except scones and cakes so can’t comment on food. There are so many coffee shops in rhiwbina these days so I hope they can all appeal to different audiences and do well.

Normally the food here is pretty good however we visited a few weeks ago and I just hope it is a glitch but it was almost inedible. All we wanted was a cheese toastie and a jacket potato. We waited over half an hour for the food. The jacket was fine. My toastie however, the Bread was not toasted it was warm and it was so squashed it looked like it had been sat on. Hardly any cheese and it was only just warmed. I should have complained however all I could do is laugh. Please teach the servers how to make a toastie

Cosy and attractive tea garden just off the Main Street in Rhiwbina. Beautiful plants expertly laid out and many for sale I believe. Nice cup of tea and slice of cake.

Such a pretty little place a little oasis unfortunately the service was so slow Three quarters hours for 5 toasted tastless sandwiches and if that was messed up with wrong fillings delivered so by the time 3 people had eaten theirs the final 2 were...

First visit but sadly will be our last. Very long wait for food. No atmosphere, genuinely felt like being in a library. Staff didn’t look very happy. I don’t mind paying for good food but £3 for a can of Coke is shocking.

Went with a couple of friends to this place a few weeks ago, first as you go in the place looks really pretty. Shame about the staff and food coffee was bland waited for ever for a panini which was cold. Staff where non helpful...

Visited today with three friends. Greeted at the counter by a miserable and abrupt lady who asked for our order. No welcome , no smile no atmosphere. After we finished our drinks a young man came over and took our cups and teapots away and...

Took my mother here for tea and a piece of cake. Whe waited nearly 45 min still no tea and cake asked at the counter didnt get much of a response so basically left and went to Coffee Lab where the service was excellent and...

We were really looking forward to having lunch here today. And it surpassed every expectation we had. The staff are delightful, the setting and the flowers enchanting. The food was delicious, my husband had the Welsh quiche with salad, and I had a bacon cheese...

It's true, the coffee isn't great. Quite weak and the milk isn't properly frothed. Could easily be resolved with a better coffee and some barista training. And it's quite expensive. BUT The experience is lovely. Sitting in an open shed on a dull wet day...

The setting is unique but I am sorry to say so is the price of their coffee. On a recent visit we were charged a staggering £3.30 a cup. The average price of coffee anywhere nowadays is £2.85. This is the most I have ever...

Visiting my 86 yr old Mum and wanted to take her for tea and cake. The idea is great, but needs to be backed up with being made to feel warm and welcoming! We asked to sit in one the sheds as that was where...

I am a local and love this little hideaway. However, on the last 4 occasions I have been, it has taken 45mins for a coffee and cake to arrive. In fact, the last time I went my bacon sandwich took 35mins to arrive and was...

What a beautiful place, lovely toasties and so cute sitting in a little shed. But, oh boy, the coffee really let's it down. It was awful and and not even sugar helped. Change the coffee and it would be a 5 star everytime.

I've walked past The Secret Shed so many times over the years, and finally paid a visit when a friend came to stay. The outward appearance is certainly deceptive. The staff were friendly and attentive, the coffee was nice, and there was a fine choice...

This is a delightful place to meet friends but there is often a long waiting time for ones tea and coffee. The coffee is completely tasteless, I have asked for an extra shot of coffee and it remained tasteless and was like drinking hot milk....

Very slow service. Waited q5mins for a coffee. Awful coffee for that matter. Very bitter after taste. Something didn't taste right at all. Not sure what the rave is about this place , it's pokey and small to walk down and even get to a...

I prebooked afternoon tea as a treat for my friend's birthday. It was the worst afternoon tea I have ever had. The sandwiches were okay but some of the fillings were ready made. The cakes were small. A chocolate éclair, a cream slice, millionaire shortbread...

Afternoon out with a friend first time since COVID. Booked a booth for afternoon tea for Two. We arrived and was shown to our booth which was set up ready for us. Tabled laid. We’re we’re served with a lovely tea, two different types of...

Lovely outdoor seating which is undercover. Friendly staff and good food and coffee. I like the fact they don’t take bookings as it feels like everything has to be planned a week in advance at the mo.

Great service with a lovely menu of cakes/cookies and wide range of hot food too. We met as colleges for coffee and had toasted tea cakes. They were best we’ve ever tasted ,infused with cinnamon delicious.

I met two of my friends yesterday morning for a lovely catch up - it has been such a long time. We were greeted by a lovely, friendly lady who showed us to our seats. It is such a lovely place, under cover, plants and...

I enjoyed a delicious cheese, bacon scone with a mug of latte. The scone was the best cheesy scone I have ever tasted. I will definitely pay another visit when I next visit Cardiff. Maybe to enjoy an afternoon tea. Friendly service and close attention...

Booked in after football with and other family and their kids to warm up after being out in the rain and cold . Great tea and coffee and cakes and juice for the kids . Visit here often and John and his team should be...

A hidden gem! Absolutely charming place. This was my 2nd visit in a week! Can get busy so may have to queue for a short time but worth the wait. Seating on a covered area or in small sheds. Beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. Highly...

I had a lovely afternoon tea there last week, enjoyed it so much we are going back next week. Highly recommend and the service is second to none. The sandwiches were lovely, great selection and so fresh. The cakes........ just beautiful, really varied selection compared...

I am a very regular visitor of secret shed . Its is the perfect place to relax among beautiful flowers , drink tea and eat delicious food. The staff here are also extremely helpful and friendly and also go out of their way to make...

Such a lovely place to hang out in this Covid19 world. Whereas so many places want you to book these days so so nice to have somewhere with a walk in policy to allow that spontaneity of life that we've all missed over the last...

What a wonderfully relaxed place to have afternoon tea! We were put in an open, heated shed looking out on a colourful garden. The afternoon tea was very nice with an array of different cakes. The staff were attentive and friendly but unobtrusive. We were...

Great local place for coffee and tea in an outdoor inspired indoor kinder place . Lovely setting with real thought to it's surroundings. Appreciate you have to wait, but suspect that will get back to normal as guidelines change and more places open up. Lovely...

Lovely , friendly place to get a cuppa and cake and more if you want !! The sheds are a fab idea , the owner has worked hard to get the place as safe as possible . Added bonus of great selection of plants to...

The secret shed is an ideal place to meet up with friends safely with shelter from the elements. In these very challenging times it offers great coffee and cake and you know that whatever the weather you won’t have to cancel your get together ....

This is a lovely coffee shop in a really good location with great service and lovely staff. They have obviously gone to great lengths to adapt to current restrictions. If you want a high street coffee shop with high st prices this is probably not...

I have visited the Secret Shed for years. After a potter around the lovely local shops I always like to pop in for tea and cake. They serve lovely gluten free cake and the staff are very friendly and helpful! They have a covered outdoor...

I’ve wanted to visit The Secret Shed for a while but due to the current pandemic this wasn’t possible. Thankfully with restrictions lifting and hospitality re-opening my friend and I booked for afternoon tea. It was AMAZING! From start to finish the experience was great....

I’ve made many visits to The Secret Shed and can recommend highly. How hard has it been for small businesses, particularly cafes, restaurants & pubs, over the last year? I follow them on Facebook and the owner and team have worked tirelessly to provide a...

Visited here to meet a friend at last minute. This place is popular and very busy, but we didn't have to wait for a table on this occasion. Had a lovely lunch, staff caring and friendly and doing an awesome job in such difficult times....

My go to place for a snack and a drink. The owner has worked so hard throughout the pandemic to make a beautiful and safe space for his customers. Tables are either well spaced or are in colourful open fronted garden sheds - with heaters....

We visited last weekend on a sunny Saturday morning, a group of 6 friends we were allocated one of the gorgeous sheds. A tasty cream tea sitting in the most beautiful of environments was the perfect way to start the weekend and to top it...

My girlfriend tried to book a table for 4 as a treat for her mothers birthdays. Two afternoon teas (£16 pp) for her mum and dad and then something off the menu for us two as we we wanted to eat something different. The lady...

Bacon sandwiches from the microwave left the bacon tough and impossible to eat .. bacon looked raw and very unappetising. Cheese toasted sandwich (£6) was insipid and had also been microwaved .. you should not be able to fold a toasted sandwich in half !...

A hidden gem in Rhiwbina. Lovely staff.delicious tea and cake and a gift shop attached. What’s not to love? A really lovely place to visit.

Lovely welcome. Good place to meet. Well spaced. Enjoyed food with my eyes. Will give in and partake in next visit which will be soon. Thank you.

Hallelujah!!!! A local coffee shop with covered outdoor seating. My friend and I were in desperate need for a catch up and with restrictions were struggling to think of where to go. We kicked ourselves that @thesecretshedrhiwbina in Rhiwbina didn't jump straight into our heads!...

Good to see what an enterprising business can do when faced with the adversity of Coronavirus, they've managed to provide a very pleasant place to go for coffee and cakes (and more) which is outside as far as the regulations are concerned, but under cover...

Coffee meeting moved as local Starbucks closed, it was poor really.....drinks very average, expensive and didn't help not in "Eat out to help out scheme" so full price ! If you want a good coffee don't go to Rhiwbina !!!! Plus can't park anywhere near...

Little oasis that serves lovely coffee and cakes surrounding you with colourful flowers Has brightly painted sheds set out for social distancing if its raining Babbling brook running at the side Perfect !

This is a hidden gem in Rhiwbina we go every Saturday. Good choice of lunches and refreshments and scrumptious cakes. The staff are courteous and friendly and the surroundings are beautiful. We love it