Luxury hotels in Cardiff | treat yourself to the ultimate Welsh city break

For a true taste of Wales, the boutique rooms of Hotel Indigo are each inspired by a particular local theme: the Welsh industry room, for example, sports traditional tweed cushions, coal scuttle bins and steel furniture reflecting Cardiff’s mining history. Request a south-facing room for views across the Cardiff skyline. The spa-inspired bathrooms feature rainfall showers, brightly coloured tiles and luxury toiletries.

The hotel caters to lie-ins with room service for breakfast in bed, but you can also wander down to the lounge where you’ll find a buffet among the jumble of armchairs and sofas sprinkled with cushions proudly proclaiming ‘bore da’ (good morning). For an evening of fine dining, take a trip up to the rooftop, home to the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill. Pick from a classic British menu offering delicacies such as roasted Chateaubriand, seared sea scallops with black pudding and velvet artichoke with wild mushrooms. The monochrome interior also houses a chic bar, serving Brecon gin, locally made craft beer and wines chosen by the celebrity chef himself.

Next to the shops of Queen Street, the centrally located Hotel Indigo is well-positioned for exploring the city, with Cardiff Castle, the Principality Stadium and the green fields of Bute Park all within strolling distance. Wander down to the Victorian arcade with its old-world architecture, independent boutiques and hipster cocktail hangouts. If you still have energy to burn, keep fit at the state-of-the-art gym, which contains an assortment of modern cardio and weightlifting equipment.

In the heart of the city centre, the Park Plaza is a delightful hotel and spa just a short stroll from Cardiff’s main attractions, including St David’s Shopping Centre, the historic arcades and Alexandra Gardens. With long drapes, dark cushions and throws and hand painted artwork and sculptures, rooms offer an elegant and peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. After a full day of sightseeing, it’s a pleasure to climb between the crisp white sheets of a queen size bed and slip into a blissful slumber.

Spend a quiet evening at the sleek and sophisticated Laguna Kitchen and Bar. This award-winning restaurant is known for its wine wall, which consists of a carefully curated selection of fine wines from around the globe. For an elegant treat, book the Chef’s Table Tasting Menu. With six courses, complemented by four glasses of wine and a champagne sorbet, it truly is a decadent experience.

Park Plaza is home to the Laguna Spa, with its sleek stainless steel swimming pool, steam room and gently bubbling hot tub. Stretch out on a poolside lounger while you browse the ESPA menu. Treatments on offer include body wraps, soothing deep tissue massages and results-driven facials, along with traditional manicures and pedicures. For something more energetic, attend an exercise class at the gym, which stretches across two storeys.

Towering majestically over the city, the Grade II-listed New House Country Hotel provides a prestigious base for exploring all that Cardiff has to offer. For a real country manor experience, request a room in the older part of the house, which was built in the 1700s. The Georgian-style rooms come with dark-coloured antique furnishings, long drapes and soft bedding. Freshen up in your well-stocked bathroom, with herb-inspired toiletries by Myddfai, who donate their profits back to the local community.

If you wander through the wood-panelled corridors to the grand dining room, you’ll find a full Welsh breakfast to start the day. While away the hours with tea, cake and conversation at the Michelin-recommended Sequoias restaurant. With delicate finger sandwiches, home-made cakes and a glass of champagne, the afternoon tea provides a sumptuous way to spend an indulgent afternoon with someone special. Afterwards, explore the well-tended grounds, where you’ll come across a Georgian water fountain, several carefully manicured lawns and the restaurant’s namesake – a majestic sequoias tree.

Spend long days amid the designer boutiques and upscale cocktail bars before returning to this sublime Georgian manor, which offers views of the twinkling city lights and glimmering Severn Estuary: an exquisite balance between town and country life.

This 5-star hotel in Cardiff is home to the Australasian-inspired Admiral St David restaurant. We recommend sampling the extraordinary afternoon tea selection, which includes a vegan option with coconut cream-topped scones and sandwiches made from a plant-based cheese. Meanwhile, the waterfront bar serves an eclectic selection of drinks, including rosemary mojitos, Brecon gin and Welsh vodka.

Overlooking Cardiff Bay, Principal St David’s Hotel offers luxury rooms by the water. The hotel’s light-filled bedrooms all come with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer far-reaching views across Cardiff and the surrounding water. Modern bathrooms have fluffy bathrobes and White Company toiletries. For a particularly memorable experience, book a Principal Suite, with its external walls made of glass, two private balconies and a king size bed.

During your stay, pay a visit to the glass-fronted Marine Spa, which overlooks Cardiff Bay and Penarth Marina. It’s home to a saltwater swimming pool, sauna and dry flotation tank, plus 11 treatment rooms. Soak up the therapeutic benefits of saltwater in the hydrotherapy multi-jet marine pools, which contain mineral-rich water designed to replicate the ocean. Afterwards, spend a peaceful hour in the relaxation room, with the fruit-infused waters, teas and snacks.

Set amid 650 acres of rolling countryside, Vale Resort offers elegant rooms in contemporary style, with bright velvet throws, pared-back décor and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gently sloping lawns. It’s a short drive from culture-filled Cardiff Bay and the attractions of the city centre, including the castle, arcades and park. Known locally as the garden of Cardiff, the lush green Vale provides a welcome retreat from the pace of city life.

The Vale Resort has an invigorating array of activities on offer, thanks to its championship golf courses, tennis courts and squash facilities. If you’re feeling energetic, book a personal training session at the gym, which is also used by Welsh rugby and football stars. Once you’ve freshened up, visit the Salamanza Champagne Bar before taking your seat in the hotel’s bistro-style restaurant, which serves locally influenced cuisine, including a trio of Welsh lamb, pan-fried sea bream and superfood salads.

Leave the cares of the day behind with a few hours in the tranquil Vale Spa. The largest spa in Wales, it has a 20-metre indoor pool, steam rooms, saunas and a whirlpool, plus five relaxation zones. For a soothing treatment, opt for a chakra-balancing massage, designed to realign mind, body and spirit. Your therapist will hand prepare an essential oil blend to encourage calm and restoration. Afterwards, snuggle up in the intimate slumber chamber, which comes with cosy duvets and soft, twinkling lights.

Set on a scenic hilltop, Celtic Manor Resort is a short drive from the centre of Cardiff, yet feels in a world of its own. It sits among 2,000 acres of greenery and provides an excellent base for a few days of sightseeing in the city. Visit the hotel’s spa, which houses a newly refurbished pool area with saunas, steam room, plunge pools and spa baths. Float in the relaxation pool as you gaze up at the softly shining stars and clouds on the ceiling above – an idyllic end to the day.

The family-friendly hotel offers a vast selection of accommodation, including historic rooms in the 19th-century Manor House. Wander up the sweeping wooden staircase before sinking into a four-poster bed for a blissful night of sleep. Bathrooms come with marble walls and flooring, Elemis toiletries and soft white dressing gowns. For a quiet adults-only break, book a room on the sixth floor, which has its own check-in desk, restaurant and lounge just for grown-ups.

If you’re seeking an afternoon of excitement, the Celtic Manor has an inventive array of activities in store: swing through the trees on the high ropes challenge, tackle the nine-hole footgolf course or join a game of laser combat. Cen restaurant is the place to attend a street food cookery demonstration, or dine on fresh and inspiring Asian-fusion food created by a MasterChef finalist – home-made spring rolls with Asian slaw and lamb rump rendang are just some of the original dishes here.