The Cinnamon Tree

You're walking past the Victorian terraces of Pontcanna when you spot the warm glow from The Cinnamon Tree's windows—the kind of place that doesn't need neon signs or Instagram theatrics to pull you in. Inside, it's comfortably worn-in rather than trying too hard: exposed brick, dim lighting, the smell of cardamom and cumin that hits you immediately. The menu reads like someone actually knows what they're doing with Indian food, moving beyond the usual curry house suspects with proper regional cooking that changes with the seasons. At these prices (mains around £12-16), you're getting genuinely good cooking without the pretence of somewhere trying to justify a Michelin star it doesn't have.