Slinky and stylish, Iota has rapidly scaled new heights on Cardiff’s bar ladder.

The Venue
Iota was a bit too exclusive for its own good when it first opened, but now it’s come under new management and it’s far more approachable while retaining its chic sheen. It's split over three storeys and The Base Bar downstairs is all very stylish with a polished floor, blue walls, a low ceiling and big red lamps alongside pink and blue soft lights.

Along the far wall there's a strip of low cubic sofas and behind these are some bamboo trunks stuck against bright green illuminated panels, which makes it feel like you're sat in an aquarium. Climbing the winding metal stairs up to the next floor, the sludgy khaki green paint job lets the side down a bit (they’re on the case). There’s a tiny mezzanine floor bar called The Couples Lounge and a Penthouse section which has a private entrance, waitress service and its own cocktail menu.

It also has a fantastic Japanese-style sunken area where you sit down on low wooden bench seats. It’s certainly the only one in Wales, if not the UK, and it’s pretty darn funky. There's also an outside patio with trees and plants which is a great asset in the summer.

The People
Iota is home to the city’s blinged-up and tanned. Here the girls get regular beauty treatments and the guys wear expensive shades and take pictures of each other on their iPhones. Music varies night to night with house, funk and R'n'B. As you'd expect Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights when it stays open until 4am and it's a mix of crowd pleasing party anthems and funky house. It's smart casual but go with the herd and dress to impress.

The Food and Drink
Cocktails are knocked out at a pretty reasonable £4 to £7 price range and shooters are £3 each and they have a happy hour every day from 4pm to 9pm. On draught you’ve got Guinness, Staropramen, Poretti and Tuborg and in bottles there’s Corona, Budweiser, Tiger, Cobra and Magner’s. Champagne is £45 for a Ruinart Brut, while white wines start at £15 a bottle upwards.

Food isn't fussy and it's aimed at the guys who were too busy with their hair or iPhone to remember to eat before they came out. Make-‘em-yourself bagels start at £5.75 each and there are also burgers and a southern fried chicken fillet with jacket wedges for £7.95 and chicken kiev for £8.95.

The Last Word
Beautiful to look at and even lovelier to drink in, sit back in their stylish lounges, circulate and, more importantly, be seen.