Is there a better city to watch rugby in than Cardiff? Almost certainly not. The raucous atmosphere of the Millennium Stadium is one thing, but the passion for the sport extends way beyond this wonderful sporting arena and into most of the pubs and bars dotted about the city. We’ve picked out a few of our favourite bars toting TVs, pints and good grub in this guide to rugby pubs in Cardiff.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 25th July 2024
The Eli Jenkins is a Cardiff Bay pub overlooking the Millennium Centre. It has a passion for craft beer which can be enjoyed in its heated garden, decked out with tropical plants, as well as inside come game day. Catch the rugby on one of its many HD screens sprinkled about the venue, depending on the weather, and try your hand at its lunch menu where you can bag a main and a drink for only £8.50.
You'll find Walkabout in the middle of the city centre, and as well as being famed for its cracking parties, it's a prime location for any sports fan to enjoy any game. The cocktail menu is enticing, with Australian-influenced tipples like Sex On Bondi Beach. Food-wise, you can build your own burger starting from £9 each, or order some loaded nachos to share.
If you're on the hunt for rugby pubs, we recommend heading to Beverley Hotel in Pontcanna. The Cardiff joint has a wide selection of drinks, alongside scrumptious comfort eats like fish and chips as well as gourmet burgers served with triple-cooked chips. Plus, these guys screen all the latest sports fixtures on HD screens.
The Blue Bell can be found close to Cardiff Castle, dating back more than two centuries - making it the third oldest pub in the city. You'll find cosy, traditional interiors here, from the expertly crafted tiles down to the wooden bar. This is a great spot to catch the rugby in, thanks to multiple screens dotted round the venue, and you can pair the match with a pint of draught beer. And if you're feeling peckish? They've got tasty dishes like chicken curry, rump steak and lasagne on the menu.
Mackintosh Hotel is loved by the city's rugby-mad folk, thanks to its plasma screens, large projector and buzzing vibes. Make your way over to catch all of the action, all while delving into classic pub grub, like six chicken wings for £5.99, paired with cask ales or lagers.
If you're looking for a place showing the rugby in Cardiff's city centre, Pen & Wig is the cosy boozer boasting big screens and fresh pints galore. Pop by this traditional-style pub to catch the games, with an electric atmosphere and comforting food like steak and venison pie or hand-battered fish and chips to keep you cheering along.
Not only is Church Inn Llanishen a beautiful, historic building in Cardiff, but it also hosts epic sports screenings. While you enjoy a prime view of the games from one of the many TVs, get stuck into burgers, beer-battered onion rings, a chicken club sub and delicious local ales.
Oozing a lot of character with its primary blue walls around the bar and posters scattered across them, The Woodville in Cardiff is a great spot to catch the latest game and cheer on your team. Chomp on tasty tacos filled with chicken karaage or grilled halloumi topped with guacamole and wash it down with a pint of too. Mmmm, scrum-ptious.
Yates Cardiff is a great space for rugby fans, as not only are there a load of screens but the atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are reasonable. Alongside live sport, expect everything from pub classics to buckets of wings and more across the menus.
Heralded in Cardiff as being one of the very best sports bars in the city, O'Neill's St Mary Street is of course an ideal spot to watch the rugby. Venture over to this Irish haunt to experience an electric atmosphere, as well as delicious food like burgers with fries and fresh pints aplenty. Find its sister site on Trinity Street.
With three floors of fun, including a club and a rooftop terrace, The Philharmonic on St Mary Street is a popular party destination in Cardiff, and a lively place to watch the latest sports fixtures, including rugby. It offers a big screen TV as well as packages to book so you and your friends are sorted for the match. Food-wise, the venue packs a punch with its brunches, plus tapas bites like mozzarella melts.
One of the best places to watch the rugby in Cardiff, this unique pub and restaurant near Pontcanna offers its own on-site microbrewery so you can be sure you're getting only the freshest pints. The ultimate spot to pitch up for Six Nations matches, Brewhouse & Kitchen can also sort you for excellent food and a relaxed outdoor seating area.
Up there with all the cool rugby pubs in Cardiff is Owain Glyndwr. Watch all the action on their HD screens as you settle into this traditional boozer with delish pub grub and freshly pulled pints to boot. It's a brilliant choice if you're a fan of quirky corners and enjoy chomping on chicken wings.
If you're looking for a place that's buzzing with atmosphere to watch the rugby in Cardiff, then hit up Brewhouse. A hotspot for live music as well as sports, its arched tunnels and high ceilings provide the perfect space for some half-time dancing. The drinks offering is expansive as well as cheap, so grab a pint or a G&T and soak up your game day surroundings.
Toting a stylish lounge dedicated to all things sports, Grosvenor Casino is certainly a top spot to catch the rugby. Head on over to cheer on your team while in a lively atmosphere, as well as chow down on a range of scrumptious British bites, like scampi and fries, plus house classic cocktails like espresso martinis and Long Island iced teas.
Gassy's Cardiff is a charming pub on Salisbury Road equipped with an indoor balcony and a pool table for a bit of pre-game fun before watching the sports fixtures on its shiny, HD screens dotted about the venue. The food and drinks offering is fab, with a menu boasting 'the crowd pleaser' AKA a spread of fried chicken, onion rings, halloumi skewers plus nachos, perfect for sharing.
A great Cardiff pub for rugby fans, The Cambrian Tap offers a charming spot to catch up on all the sporting excitement. On top of scrum halves and soaring trys, you'll find a slap-up range of filled pies, a mammoth craft beer selection and one of the friendliest atmospheres in the city.
Located within cheering distance of the Millennium Stadium, The Old Arcade's legendary showcase of memorabilia makes it one of the most atmospheric places to watch rugby in Cardiff. Surrounded by the jerseys of some of the greatest players of our time, watch every try and every drop goal on seven screens dotted about the place.
If you're close to the City Arms and Wales score a try, you will know all about it. Mostly because it's right next to the national stadium, but also because the fans here make a real racket themselves whenever those red men cross the line. To top it off, the City Arms is renowned for its excellent range of beer so there's always an interesting drop of ale to be had here.
A fun bar in Canton, The Landsdowne is one of the best places in Cardiff to watch the rugby. A classic local boozer with a sprawling outdoor area, this pub offers charm, great beers and a phenomenal atmosphere whether it's matchday or just a Tuesday evening.
One of the funnest party pubs in Cardiff, The Vulcan Lounge is one of the best places in the city to watch the rugby. Popular with students and locals alike, this high-energy watering hole cracks out the projector for the occasion, and follows up the occasion with a big post-match blowout complete with cheesy tunes and cheap pints.
