St David's Hotel and Spa, Cardiff, Wales - travel review
We have been friends since middle school – sharing the joys and tribulations of teenage years, our twenties, thirties etc, weddings and children. And now we were all sharing a special birthday!
For a few years now we had abandoned present buying for birthdays and Christmas and just arranged a meal or break away. And this weekend it was a special one.
We were staying at the five-star St David’s Hotel and Spa which has a prominent position on Cardiff Bay’s waterfront and it’s a stone’s throw from the city centre. The hotel is striking with its glass fronted structure on the edge of the bay.
Across the Severn Estuary we could see where we planned to spend our evening at Michelin-starred Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth.
The restaurant is in a prime position on the seafront with contemporary and chic decor, including the use of Welsh slate, and crisp white table covers.
There is also a private dining room and Chef’s table. There is a huge window from the main restaurant to the kitchen, where you watch the chefs at work.
In a short amount of time James has amassed an array of accolades and just two days after our visit the restaurant won four Rosettes at The AA Hospitality Awards 2017.
James was awarded his first Michelin star in 2007. He then gained a Michelin star in 2016, AA Restaurant of the Year – Wales 2016-2017, 3AA rosettes, Restaurant of the year 2016 for Wales at the Food Awards Wales and Number 34 in the Good Food Guide for 2017.
The restaurant is also placed at 35 out of 50 in the Good Food Guide.
Proud of his Welsh heritage James, who runs the restaurant with his wife Louise, uses the finest ingredients, locally sourced where possible. The food was exquisite.
We went for the six-course testing menu including matching wine. The options for the evening were the six courses, nine courses and also the Surprise Menu when you leave your dining experience in James’ hands. It is then a bespoke menu.
Each course was expertly presented and a lovely touch was that the chefs including the man himself came to our table to run through the dishes. The chefs were friendly and chatty – there was no rush to get back to the kitchen and they were happy to answer any questions.
The six courses started with beetroot, feta and pine-nut; followed by venison with carrot, tarragon and mushroom and then langoustine with samphire and spices; guinea fowl with sweetcorn, truffle and potato. For dessert there was pear with cinnamon, flap-jack and hazelnut and apple with puff pastry, caramel and vanilla.
We added a cheese course which was a wonderful selection again. We were taken around the country with a wide array of cheese.
Again, the sommelier talked us through each matching wine with every course. There were some little surprises in there with a chilled red wine and Riesling.
The whole ambience of the evening was relaxed, but sometimes the front if house staff did seem a little stiff upper lipped.
The evening was a thoroughly pleasant one, chatting away and the flavours and texture of the food were fabulous.
After the meal, it was back to our hotel which is set on Cardiff Bay’s waterfront.
Our rooms with balconies had views across the estuary and it was wonderful to watch the boats and yachts sailing by.
Relaxation was certainly the name of the weekend with Marina Spa being most inviting with relaxation pools, hydrotherapy multi jet marine pools, a sauna, gym, treatment rooms and a relaxation suite, whilst enjoying the beautiful views overlooking Cardiff Bay.
Rooms and the hotel have been transformed in the run-up to the Champions League final, which was held in Cardiff in June.
The hotel restaurant – The Admiral – is beautiful and airy with lovely neutral and teal shades and floor-to-floor windows with panoramic views across the bay.
Recently presented with a 2017 Gold Award by Visit Wales, the hotel offers a luxurious retreat from where you can explore Wales’ capital city.
The Admiral St David draws inspiration from the eclectic food culture and bold flavours of Australasia and Asia-Pacific, while looking closer to home for the best of seasonal Welsh produce.
It’s under the watchful eye of executive chef Martyn Watkins.
The hotel has 142 bedrooms and our rooms were contemporary with crisp white linen and teal colours.
Service at the hotel was exceptional.
After breakfast at the Admiral we wandered around Cardiff Bay. We were not quite as energetic as the participants of the Survival of the Fittest race, but we spurred on the competitors who looked exhausted as they crossed the finishing line in the bay.
Cardiff Bay which used to be known as Tiger Bay, has been transformed with the Giant Wheel, restaurants and bars and the Senedd – home to the Welsh Government. Next door is the Wales Millenium Centre. There is also the Norwegian Church which Roald Dahl had attended as a child and now houses Cafe Norsk.
Sombering but impressive was the Weeping Window at the Senedd in Cardiff. The sculpture of ceramic poppies was breathtaking. All in all the weekend lived up to being a special one with a special restaurant, special hotel and special fun for a special birthday treat.
Travel factfile
Rooms at St David’s Hotel & Spa start from £109.00 for bed and breakfast.
See www.thetdavidshotel.com for details and offers or telephone 029 2045 4045
The six-course tasting menu is £60 and £100 with matching wine; nine-course tasting menu is £80 and £140 with matching wine and the Surprise Menu is £70 for six courses and £110 with matching wine
See www.jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk or telephone 02920706559.
See visitwales.com
