With an enviable location just minutes from Cardiff Central station and The Principality Stadium, Cardiff's Parkgate Hotel couldn't be better placed for locals and those visiting the Welsh capital to grab a bite to eat. This Grade II-listed building is a striking landmark in itself, and has a fantastic reputation as one of the best luxury hotels in the city.
Alongside the spacious, contemporary rooms and luxury spa, The Parkgate Hotel also boasts a chic restaurant - The Sorting Room - which caters to a huge range of different occasions with elegant food and drink. The interiors are as grand as you would expect from this magnificent old building - chandeliers hang high from the ceilings, and plush leather seating looks smart against the herringbone floors.
The menus are similarly impressive, with elegant dishes leaning heavily into Welsh produce. Kick your menu off with bread from Abergavenny, served alongside Welsh butter salted with Halen Mon sea salt. Starters include a scotch egg made with Monmouthshire pork and chorizo ketchup, baked French onion soup with truffle, Welsh fish cakes with laverbread sauce and samphire. There's also a cold counter which features cured and air-dried Monmouthshire meats, as well as Welsh lamb carpaccio.
Mains strike a balance between refined and comforting, with dishes including rack of Brecon lamb with baby spinach, confit shallot and olive jus, lemon and dill crusted sea bass with cockles, mussels and lobster bisque sauce, and broad bean, pea and asparagus risotto. If you still have room, finish off with an iced summer fruit parfait, apple and cider tarte tatin or sticky toffee pudding with Welsh honey ice cream.
As well as the a la carte, The Sorting Room also serves afternoon tea, Sunday lunch and special platters of nibbles on the gorgeous terrace.