Holiday Inn Cardiff City Centre by IHG

You wouldn't expect much from a Holiday Inn bar, but this Castle Street spot has quietly turned into one of the more reliable drinking holes in the city centre. The location is bang on – literally across from Cardiff Castle – and they've done a proper job with the fit-out, avoiding that soulless chain hotel vibe you'd fear. The bar team know their stuff, mixing decent cocktails and keeping a rotating selection of Welsh craft beers alongside the usual suspects. It's become a genuine meeting spot for both visitors and locals who work nearby, especially the legal crowd from the surrounding offices. The food's better than it has any right to be too – proper pub grub done well rather than microwaved mediocrity.