Gwdihw has joined the likes of Milgi and Buffalo Bar in forging a new trend of venues in Cardiff, where the food for your artistic senses is just as plentiful as the stuff you digest in your stomach.

The Venue
It's unfortunate for those blissfully unaware of this great little spot that, due to it being tucked away on the far side of Guilford Crescent, it seems unlikely that you'd stumble upon it by chance, However, on entering for the first time it's clear that word of mouth has already worked its magic for those with their ears to the ground.

The main room is decked out impeccably to the point of comedy, with vintage furniture, retro decor and a white-washed brick fireplace commanding the room. Complete with a mounted deer head and cheesy family portraits, Gwdihw conjures quirky images of Canadian log cabins and basically makes you feel as if you have just stumbled through a time warp into someone else's living room from about 1978. For all its stylish charm, you may notice that it’s a little grubby but no-one in this busy bar seems to be bothered by such small details.

The Atmosphere
Establishing itself as a hotspot for artistic types, the clientele seem proud to have taken ownership of this place. Some people may call it cliquey, but where you find something that's so uniquely cool, you will always find people that want to preserve it.

Things liven up in the evenings when, between Wednesday and Saturday, an eclectic mix of jazz, soul, disco and global oddities can be heard from one of Gwdihw's resident DJs.

The Food
The emphasis here is on affordability (the average main meal costs £6) without compromising quality - and they definitely pull it off. Meals are all hearty and well presented, and they stress the importance of their high quality fresh ingredients.

The lime and garlic chicken goujons (£5.50) are succulent and crispy, and are served with a cooling fresh tzadziki and a warm pita or wrap. Rounded off with an Italian roasted vegetable salad, it makes for a delightful lunch.

The pork sausage with caramelised chutney (£4) is juicy and full-flavoured and comes sandwiched between two reassuringly huge doorstop slices of fresh granary bread. The basic staples, like a good home-made vinaigrette to dress your salad, can often be overlooked or blundered, but Gwidhw’s is wonderful, perhaps making up for the unnecessary handful of crisps that share the plate. If you have room left for afters, you could always try the irresistibly moist chocolate brownies (£2) on offer on the dessert counter.

When Sunday comes, it’s time for roast dinner. One course is £7.95 and 2 courses cost £9.95. There’s always at least one meat and one veggie option, for example roast beef and veggie nut roast.

The Drink
There is a good selection of alcoholic drinks also on offer - one worthy of a special mention however, is the Barenaked beer, which is brewed locally in Pontcanna (it costs £3.50 for a bottle that pours a pint and a third in total). It is a Bavarian-style lager with a slight banana flavour, and as Gwdihw is one of the only outlets in the UK to stock this particular drink, it’s well worth a try. At weekends mojitos and cosmos are shaken up by the bar staff, these are £6.25 or 2 for £10.

The Last Word
Oozing personality, Gwidhw’s giving young Cardiffians another well needed hotspot to strut their hipster-stuff.

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