The 10 Best Bars for Cardiff Students on a Budget!

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and is known for its vibrant nightlife and the best Bars for Cardiff Students. Cardiff offers a wide range of entertainment options for visitors and locals alike, including bars, clubs, and live music venues. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and exciting events, Cardiff is a popular destination for people looking to experience the best of Welsh culture and nightlife. Whether you’re a fan of live music, dancing, or just enjoying a drink with friends, Cardiff has something for everyone.

As a new batch of eager students arrives in the city, ready to explore and enjoy all that it has to offer, we have put together a list of the best bars in Cardiff for students. From the best places to get a Sunday roast, to the most exciting happy hour deals, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best bars in both Cathays and the city centre that are perfect for those on a student budget.

1. The Taf

Located in the Cardiff Students’ Union, The Taf is an ideal place to grab a drink after class. It offers some of the cheapest drink prices in the city and has food deals specifically designed for students on a budget. It’s a laid-back, non-pretentious bar that’s perfect for unwinding after a day of studying.

2. The Woodville

A student pub that has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a pub quiz, bottomless brunch, unlimited wings, or even a reasonably priced gin-tasting session, The Woodville has a range of fun offerings that will make your trip to the pub more interesting.

3. NQ64 Arcade Bar Cardiff

This is one of the best bars for Cardiff Students, it brings a unique vibe to the bar scene and if you’re ‘having a chilled one’ or taking out a tinder date this is the place to go. NQ64 offers neon-splattered drinking dens with a wide variety of retro arcade games and classic consoles. Their drink selection is equally as extensive, providing customers with a range of craft beers to a varied selection of famous cocktails like the renowned packs-a-punch cocktail. NQ64 has partnered with UniWOM and offered some great student discounts to the Students of Cardiff.

NQ64 Cardiff Student Discounts:

4. Gassy Jacks

Gassy’s featured in the well-known film Human Traffic is the larger sibling of The Woodville. With a big projector screen, Gassy’s is a great place to watch sports events, from the Premier League and Rugby World Cup to MMA and boxing matches. They show all major matches in a lively atmosphere.

5. Misfits Social Club

Misfits is a street food bar in Cathays that offers a variety of different kitchen takeovers to keep you fueled throughout the night. With tasty food, affordable prices, and a modern interior, Misfit’s is a great place to grab a drink before heading to the Students’ Union on a Saturday night.

6. Steinbeck & Shaw

Steinbeck & Shaw offers one of the longest-running happy hours in Cardiff, with 241 cocktails available from 5 pm to 10 pm Wednesday through Saturday. The bar has a beautiful, edgy interior that makes it a great first stop on a night out with friends. Its cocktails are just as unique and fun as the interior, with options like “Shades of the Disco” and “#SorryNotSorry”. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

7. Live Lounge

“The Godfather” of student bars in the city. Open seven days a week from 12 pm to 4 am, it features live music until 2 am daily and £1.50 pizza slices until 4 am. It’s a popular destination for both current students and alumni, known for its unpretentious, affordable atmosphere, whether you’re looking to grab a few beers after class or dance the night away. No list of the best student bars in Cardiff would be complete without mentioning the Live Lounge.

Live Lounge Student Discount:

Live Lounge Discount

8. The Cocktail Club

This Bar opened on St. Mary Street this summer, may not be known as a student venue, but it definitely deserves to be on this list. It offers a great happy hour, with all of its delicious cocktails available at a discounted rate from 4 pm to 8 pm every day. In terms of entertainment, The Cocktail Club has it all, with drag kings and queens performing in the venue and wild bartenders making for an unforgettable night out. It’s definitely worth checking out, even if you’re not a student.

9. The Flora

Is a pub located in Cathays that offers city-quality cocktails, innovative food, great-quality ales and beers, friendly service, unmissable events, and even a cheeky beer garden. After undergoing a recent refurbishment, it has quickly become one of the hottest pubs in Cathays and is now a favourite among students and young professionals alike. The interior is creative, quirky, and modern, the drinks are tasty and affordable, and the food, particularly the Sunday Roast, has received rave reviews. If you’re planning to visit on a Sunday, it’s a good idea to book a table in advance.

10. The Pear Tree

Our final entry on this list is a bit off the beaten path, located in Roath on Wellfield Road. The Pear Tree is not your typical Brains pub; it has a cosy, grand interior and hosts a Jazz night on the last Thursday of every month. It’s a great spot for a more laid-back evening when you’re looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city.

Find Cardiff Student Discounts

We are Cardiff Graduates and we have built UniWOM to help you undergrads find the best discounts possible, If you are looking for Cardiff Student Discounts then look no further. We were tired of asking for recommendations on places to go on Overheard and where offered Student Discounts around us.

So we thought why don’t we build something that would help our younger selves?

If you are looking to redeem any discounts on UniWOM for Cardiff Nightlife, Food, Haircuts and more, sign-up to UniWOM FREE and show your verified Student ID when paying… simple as that!

Love from, team UniWOM! <3