Lunch Date: Coffee Barker

Coffee Barker is a New York coffee house/Parisian bistro inspired cafe found in Cardiff's Castle Arcade and is truly one of the city's little gems! The place itself is warm and inviting (as are the wonderfully helpful staff) and it's fabulous range of hot drinks, lunchtime nibbles, cakes and snacks are definitely a reason to get cosy in their comfy armchairs. The building is glass-fronted (perfect for those of you who love to people watch) and there is optional outdoor seating which is lovely as the arcade is covered so you're not open to the elements. 

Barker's offers homemade soup of the day (which changes in flavour regularly), panini's and jacket potatoes as their hot lunchtime menu, as well as a range of freshly made sandwiches which can be found in the chiller to the side of the counter. I've had their homemade tomato and basil soup before and loved it as it was packed full of flavour and was served, rather interestingly, in a metal saucepan with a loaf of crusty bread at its side - a perfect winter warmer! 

This time around, I decided to opt for a jacket potato filled with tuna mayo. It was served in a metal dish, not unlike the ones we used to take camping with us, which gave the dish a rather rustic feel. The tuna was seasoned nicely with salt and pepper adding a little bit of heat. The only slightly negative comment I could make is that I would have much preferred a side salad to a pot of coleslaw, but other than that no complaints whatsoever.

Overall I love Barker's and will definitely be revisiting for a light lunch or a coffee and a homemade cake. It's the perfect meeting place for a catch up with friends and is so cosy you won't want to leave! I one hundred percent recommend a visit here if you're ever looking for a nice little place to have a rest during a busy day in Wales' capitol city.

Have you been to Barker's before?

What were your experience?