Cardiff, United KingdomCardiff Bay
voco St. David's Cardiff
Sculpted glass sail
Cardiff Bay Cardiff, United Kingdom
Opened
1999
Price
$$
Rated for
Wellness Design LocalOutside the door
The house
IHGSculpted glass sail
Built like a futuristic glass sail on the bay, the hotel centers on a seven-story atrium flooded with light.
What it’s good at
Notable
Hydrotherapy pools with swan-neck fountains, beside a pool overlooking Cardiff Bay.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
This futuristic glass-and metal wedge could pass for a museum, or, less charitably, a landed spaceship; as it happens, it's the first five-star hotel in Wales.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Mermaid Quay and the Wales Millennium Centre are a short walk along the waterfront promenade.
The rooms
Floor-to-ceiling windows look straight across Cardiff Bay, and spacious marble bathrooms come with plush bathrobes.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Blue cove lighting glows over the heated 15-metre lap pool, which connects to a water corridor with gentle currents.
The spa
Therapists perform facials and mud rituals using organic Hebridean seaweed from ishga and skincare from OSKIA.
The sauna and gym
Cardio machines face floor-to-ceiling windows over the bay, and a traditional timber sauna sits steps away.
Restaurant
Tir a Môr
The dining room takes its name from the Welsh for land and sea, and serves regional seafood under timber beams.
At the table
Bistro tables and wicker armchairs sit along the curved waterfront terrace, and an indoor bar mixes evening cocktails.
How it began
It opened in 1999 as the first five-star hotel in Wales, anchoring the newly regenerated Cardiff Bay docklands.
Cardiff
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.