Cardiff - the Arcades

Known as the City of Arcades, Cardiff has more Victorian and Edwardian arcades than any other city in the UK. More than 100 shops, cafes, bars and restaurants are to be found under glass passageways.

The High Street Arcade opened in 1886 and is a Grade II listed building.

They all have these glass roofs.

I really liked the art-deco style glass of this shop front.

Cafes and restaurants abound in the arcades.

This is Barker Tea House

Beautifully decorated and very cosy, 

we had lunch here twice and really enjoyed it

Castle Arcade opened in 1887 and is a Grade II listed building. It's one of the longer of Cardiff's arcades and has a variety of small boutique shops as well as cafes and delicatessens.

Wonderful glass roof again,

a shop selling Welsh cakes

a bookshop

an artisan bakery

Coffee Barker

as tastefully done up and cosy as the tea shop in the High Street arcade

but with a different menu. We had lunch here 

Morgan Arcade opened in 1896 and is a Grade II listed building. It's considered the best preserved of the arcades with first-floor Venetian windows and original slender wooden storefronts. 

The Royal Arcade is the oldest arcade in the city, having been built in 1858. It is a Grade II listed building.  

It's all specialist shops

Even though it's not strictly an arcade I would like to include Cardiff market in this post.

It is so much more than a fruit and veg market.  One of the best I have visited, I would say.

Anything to do with hair, including wigs, is sold here

Tarot readings

Hats and more...

Italian street food

cards for all occasions

Everything to do with watches

bakery

Amazing place - herbs and spices I have not seen anywhere else

You can find anything you want here

fruit and veg

and persimons - I have not seen persimons for at least a month!

The other side of the herb shop

I told the guy we would not be buying anything as we were travelling the next day but he still gave us a very generous taster

Greek sweet puddings

another bakery

books

Hats

vintage clothing

a deli.

And that was just the ground floor... we did not venture upstairs.