Clayton Hotel Cardiff

You might walk past assuming it's just another forgettable hotel dining room, but Clayton's restaurant is actually worth seeking out in its own right. Tucked into the buzzy St Mary Street strip, it occupies that sweet spot between smart-casual and properly sophisticated – think crisp white tablecloths but no stuffiness whatsoever. The menu leans heavily into modern British cooking with enough international touches to keep things interesting. Their Sunday roasts are genuinely excellent, and the breakfast menu runs longer than most places bother with. Service strikes the right balance between attentive and unobtrusive, while the dining room itself feels more intimate than you'd expect from a chain hotel. It's become a solid option for business lunches and pre-theatre dinners, especially when you want something reliable but not boring.