“Octavo’s is a gem in Cardiff’s crown and the perfect place to while away an entire day (and I did!)”

Octavo's Book Cafe and Wine Bar - Cardiff

Octavo’s Book Cafe & Wine Bar is a gem of a place tucked away up a side street in Cardiff Bay but it’s well worth stepping away from the main drag for. Set on a large premises the store encompasses bookshop, cafe, wine bar, and meeting place and it’s absolutely delightful. I popped down with my friend Sammy for lunch last week and an hour lunch turned into a five and a half hour afternoon off work, that’s how cosy and welcoming it is!

We started with coffee and that in itself was delightful as it was a brand of Welsh coffee that was, as we say here ‘bliddy lovely!’. In fact everything about the place has such attention to detail, you’re spoiled from the moment you walk through the door. Lunch was gorgeous, I went for the all day breakfast but the menu is varied with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too. Sammy, a vegan, chose a Moroccan vegan dish and we both cleared our plates. The whole place is fairly reasonably priced and despite spending all day in Octavo’s, buying two lunches, several coffees and a book, I’d spent less than £40.

After lunch we left our bags at the table and wandered around the bookshop, met a book vlogger, chatted with the staff and discovered a brand new author. If Carlsberg made bookshops, they’d look like this one. The bookshop itself is well stocked, crammed in fact, with a good selection of stock, classics, contemporary authors, new releases, and plenty of local flavour too. There are posters around the wall advertising upcoming events and book signings, and plenty to ensure you’ll want to go back and visit again.

I’ve visited a lot of bookshops, Octavo’s is already one of my favourites. I can’t wait to go back and I’m so pleased its in my hometown!

~ Kath Cross

Pictures courtesy of Kath Cross and Sammy Evans.

Address: Octavo’s Book Cafe & Wine Bar, West Bute Street, Cardiff

Hours:  9am-7pm Mon-Fri/ 10am-7pm Sat/ 10am-5pm Sun

Website: octavobooks.co.uk

Facebook: Octavo Book Cafe & Wine Bar