A cool and quirky gallery-cum-bar, this unique little hangout is great for a light lunch or an evening of unusual art, music and cocktails.

The Venue
Situated on City Road, this stylish yet unconventional bar is a diamond in the rough on a street laced with kebab houses and cheap fast food shacks. It is a haven for students with an afternoon to spare or those searching for a night with a splash of colour, culture and cocktails.

Milgi Lounge is truly an attack of the senses. As you walk in your eyes flit across the smallish room filled with an eclectic collection of posters, paintings and miscellany, which tastefully create a style unique to Milgi. Several aligned screens each play an individual film, from indies to classics, emphasising the diversity of art on offer and giving you something to watch while you drink. Everything in Milgi, from the cocktail list to the flamboyant décor, screams eccentricity. Tasselled lampshades, fairy lights and colourful parasols decorate the space, further enhancing the quirky feel.

Only once you step into the beer garden will you realise this bar's true uniqueness. A tardis-like yurt unexpectedly (or, perhaps not so unexpectedly) inhabits this space. A seating plan fitting for this venue's style; chesterfields, couches, cushions and stools provide the ultimate place to relax for Milgi's regular film and storytelling nights, with soft lighting bestowing a mellow ambience.

The People
There is an air of independence and youthfulness created by both the clientele and people that work here, however this is definitely not a pretentious place. The bar staff are friendly and welcoming and seem to hold a sense of pride in the refuge they have created and nursed, giving the place a familiarity that provides a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The neon lettering lit up on the wall highlights the bar's philosophy – 'art eat drink music'. Although mainly frequented by people in their early twenties and thirties, people of any age will be equally welcome.

The Food
A quote from Milgi itself seems to perfectly sum up the concept of their food: ‘Recipes from around the world, food from around the corner'. This is true enough, a lot of their food is ethically sourced, with many of the ingredients being free range, Fairtrade, organic and Welsh.

Their fantastic menu consists of tiffin boxes, (three tiered traditional Indian lunch boxes) each with a unique flavour from a different part of the world. There is a set menu of five to choose from, each comprising of three courses, or, if you don't fancy what's on offer you can build your own box and mix and match different dishes to suit your tastes.

The preserved lemon and chickpea salad, raisin cous cous and seasonal vegetable tagine is a definite winner. With its appealing sweet and tangy Moroccan influences, it is great to enjoy in the beer garden on a sunny afternoon. There's also a deliciously well-balanced mango and mint salad, with spiced potatoes and blackeye bean and coconut curry. For the British foodie, try the buttered peas, creamy mashed potato and Welsh lamb and leek hotpot - the most homely of comfort foods. The food at Milgi is definitely tasty but inevitably the portions are smaller than you’d get if it was served up on a plate. Having said that at just £8.50 a pop, along with the novelty of eating out of a tiffin box, it is well worth it.

For £20 (takeaway deal) you can get a full box to go and even keep the container your meal comes in, getting it refilled at a discounted price each time you visit. Also remember to check out the specials board for soup of the day, Milgi puds and extra special tiffin boxes.

Another thing of note is the Milgi breakfast. Served every weekend from 10.30am until 3pm, it contains a traditional fried breakfast - additions being homemade baked beans, free range eggs and the choice of meat or veggie sausages - for the reasonable price of £6. They also offer the sweet and salty American dish of French toast with bacon and maple syrup for £4.50. Alternatively, for something slightly more continental, try the cinnamon French toast with Fair-trade bananas and yogurt for the same price.

Also on offer is the Milgi buffet, for those of you who fancy hiring out the Yurt one evening. £8.50 per head will get you some great party food such as goat’s cheese and cranberry parcels, pistachio and pomegranate tabbouleh and sweet potato wedges. For an extra £2 per head will also include a dessert of chocolate fudge cake - a gratifying way to round off a menu.

The Drink
With one of the most extensive drinks lists around Cardiff, if the food doesn't take your fancy a cocktail is sure to suffice. The honeysuckle and cinnamon daiquiri is a glass full of sweet, honeyed indulgence with a squeeze of fresh lemon to give it a citrus kick. The unusual cocktail list is definitely in keeping with the style and theme of the place, everything is delivered with flair and attention to detail, from the presentation of the food to the ingredients of the drinks. The Marmalade Collins is a bizarre yet satisfying concoction of Southern Comfort, mandarin Napoleon, fresh lime, sugar , marmalade and Red Bull. The cocktails are reasonably priced, between £5 and £6, but you can easily rack up a hefty bill if you knock a few back in quick succession. They also serve up an organic mojito that is very much in keeping with the ethos of the place.

The wine list is diverse and well priced. Consisting of wines from the continent as well as the new world, the cheapest starts at £12.95. A popular bottle from the wine list is the Billy Billy Shiraz at £18.95 a bottle. There is also a good selection of international beers and ciders on offer; a bottle of Desporados with a wedge of lime is great with the bean patties and salsa.

The Last Word
With all of its quirks and colour this fantastic little bar is sure to serve up a unique experience, which will leave you with an affectionate smile and an appetite for more.

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