If you’re gearing up for a night out in the Welsh capital, the best bars in Cardiff city centre are worth the visit!
With its next-level nightlife, we can’t fault the city for making it so easy to have a phenomenal time on a hen weekend in Cardiff.
What’s more, our experts at GoHen.com are here to make it even easier. We’ve been organising hen weekends since 2002, and Cardiff is one of the cities our groups come back to most.
Be At One is the easy first stop for happy hour, and The Philharmonic is where you’ll want to finish, with a club night under the same roof.
Check out our curated list of the 12 best bars in Cardiff city centre for a hen do and get the bride’s long-awaited bar crawl underway.
12 Best Bars in Cardiff City Centre for a Hen Do
- Be At One
- The Cocktail Club
- Tonight Josephine
- The Philharmonic
- Coyote Ugly
- Mocka Lounge
- Dirty Martini
- The Alchemist
- Peppermint Bar
- Flight Club
- The Botanist
- Heidi’s Bar
Be At One
Be At One is the bar we’d pick above all others in Cardiff. What makes this bar better than the rest is that it never disappoints.
The tunes are always raging. The cocktails are always delicious. The party never stops. And the good times never let up. What more can a gal want?!
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: cocktail rounds for the whole group, with happy hour deals most days
Cardiff tip: Check happy hour times when you book. Two-for-one rounds stretch the hen kitty a long way.
Address: 60-62 St Mary Street, Cardiff, Cardiff, CF10 1FE
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The Cocktail Club
Did someone say… COCKTAILS? Yes, that would be The Cocktail Club. Their extensive drinks list is simply too great to handle… or is it?
You will find your favourite tipple on their menu, and then your new favourite tipple, and then your soon-to-be new favourite tipple. We can keep going!
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: theatrical cocktails and dancing until late
Cardiff tip: Book a table for Friday or Saturday night, as it fills up fast after 10pm.
Address: 75 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FA
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Tonight Josephine
If you’re all about the atmosphere and love everything pop, Tonight Josephine is the answer to all your hopes and prayers.
Crash the dancefloor, strut your stuff, grab a drink and party like there’s no tomorrow because it’s all about tonight.
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: pink neon, prosecco and photos of the bride
Cardiff tip: Get your group shots under the neon signs early, before the queue for photos builds.
Address: 46 Caroline St, Cardiff CF10 1FF
Happy Hours: Yes
- Mon: Thu 17:00: 19:00
- Friday 16:00: 18:00
- Saturday 14:00: 17:00
- Sunday 17:00: 19:00
Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Philharmonic
One night, five bars. This place packs an entire bar crawl in one venue. Live music, different lounges, private hire, bottomless brunches, happy hours, live DJs: you name it, The Philharmonic’s got it!
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: bottomless brunch, live music and a club night under one roof
Cardiff tip: Start with the bottomless brunch and you won’t need to move venue until late.
Address: 76-77 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FA
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Coyote Ugly
Coyote Ugly will take care of all your cravings: from quenching your thirst with some refreshing drinks to helping you fuel up with their delish BBQ bites, visiting this spot takes your party to the next level.
It’s a great last stop before the clubs, so you can expect your best memories from the night to take place on this dance floor!
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: dancing on the bar to rock anthems
Cardiff tip: If the bride fancies a turn up on the bar, tell the staff early in the night.
Address: 78 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FA
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Mocka Lounge
Cutesy, mindful, demure and hen-friendly, Mocka Lounge is a cosy spot tucked away in the city centre.
If you love your Mai Tais as much as you love having fun, this bar is for you! Every night pops off and every ordered drink helps support a hen in need of fun.
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: two-for-£12 cocktails on Mill Lane
Cardiff tip: Ask about the 1 Below private room if your group wants a space of its own.
Address: 1-2 Mill Ln, Cardiff CF10 1FL
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Dirty Martini
Are you a Martini lover? Whether you chose the drink, or the drink chose you, it’s time to show your love for each other and dedicate a night to sip sip hoorays, martini trees, and martini heaven.
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: martinis and a dressier night out
Cardiff tip: Saturdays get busy with groups, so reserve a table before you arrive.
Address: Imperial Gate, St Mary St, Cardiff, CF10 1FA
Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Alchemist
Boasting a stunning cocktail menu designed with equal doses of molecular mixology and dark magic, you’re bound to find your new favourite tipple amongst The Alchemist’s menu.
With bartenders and chefs ready to bedazzle and bewitch your senses, and regular DJ hosts keeping the feel-good energy high with their tunes, it’s a night out like no other.
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: smoking, colour-changing cocktails
Cardiff tip: Order the showpiece drinks in the first round, while everyone still has their phone out.
Address: 117 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1DY
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Peppermint Bar
This bar is one of the locals’ favourites and you’ll soon see why.
Serving anything from Detroit-style pizza to Japanese fried chicken and of course, looong happy hours (just the way we like them), this spot is ready to dazzle your group.
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: Mill Lane terrace drinks and a bottomless lunch
Cardiff tip: On a sunny afternoon, grab an outside table and watch Mill Lane fill up.
Address: 63 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FE
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Flight Club
Being one of the most awarded bars in Cardiff, Flight Club is worth the hype! From the state-of-the-art lighting and stereo system to the multiple get-together areas, you won’t find one boring corner in this bar.
You can take to the oches and start a friendly hen competition whilst enjoying your drinks or sit down for a bite and soak up the cool energy in the air.
Walk-ins: Walk-ins are available, but you can also book a table or a darts slot to avoid waiting for a space to free up. It’s the bride-to-be’s hen do after all! Why waste any valuable time waiting in a queue?
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: social darts and competitive hens
Cardiff tip: Book an oche for the group. The games keep score, so nobody argues.
Address: 3-4 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1AT
Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Botanist: Cardiff Central
From the super-cool and trendy interior to the expertly crafted cocktails, The Botanist is great on so many levels.
Settle in and get stuck into the food and drinks menu. You can also grab some stunning snaps for Insta and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: garden-style decor and sharing pitchers
Cardiff tip: Pitchers keep rounds simple when there are ten or more of you.
Address: 10, 5 Church St, Cardiff CF10 1BG
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Heidi’s Bar
Heidi’s Bar is ideal if you want a change of environment on your bar crawl.
Amidst the disco lights and molecular mixology, this beer-loving bar brings you loads of the good stuff, feel-good energy and feel-good drinks. Inside, it’s like Oktoberfest 365 days a year! 🍺
Walk-ins: Yes
Dress code: Smart casual
Made for: an après-ski party with steins and singalongs
Cardiff tip: Dirndls and lederhosen count as fancy dress here, and nobody will bat an eyelid.
Address: 4-6 Mill Lane, Cardiff, CF10 1FL
We Can Help You Plan Your Night Out!
If you need help picking the best bars out of the best bars, why not get some friendly advice from the experts?
It’s the 21st century!
You no longer have to use Google Explorer (oh, the horrors!) nor go and personally try each of the 12 bars to see if they’re worth the hype (although, who in their right mind will stop you?!).
Give us a call on 01225 474200 and let’s get your party sorted!
Most of these bars sit within a few minutes’ walk of each other around St Mary Street and Mill Lane, and plenty stay open until 3am at weekends.
Fancy dress is welcome in most, though the cocktail lounges prefer the bride’s sash to a full costume.
To get the rest sorted, find a place to stay with our Cardiff hen houses and hotels, or see our full Cardiff hen weekend packages.
Happy Bar Crawling! 🐔
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