I’m a caffeine addict and this is the coolest new coffee shop in Cardiff
In the summer of 2024, the coffee shop we’ve all been waiting for finally opened up in Cardiff. A modern space selling entirely plant-based options in one of the most striking parts of the city.
On Park Place, near the heart of one of the capital’s most coffee-saturated quarters, another cute spot to buy an oat latte hasn’t yet caused a huge stir, but I can so see this becoming the place to be for everyone in search of somewhere fun and fresh to catch up with friends, while away a Saturday afternoon or as a new spot for your regular work meeting point.
Oat and Bean is airy without feeling clinical, and homely without feeling overfamiliar - the plants dotted around and books placed on windowsills to leaf through are a great touch and kind of emulate the atmosphere of a hip yoga studio. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here
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They serve food, but it’s not the type of place which you go to for a formal dining experience or anything. The layout is chilled and easy-going, with seating almost strategically designed to encourage conversation rather than make you retreat into a shell of anonymity with your phone.
One of the reasons I love coffee shops, and particularly love going to them alone, is that they offer a small perspective shift. Not to sound like a stalker, but I do love sometimes love listening to other people’s conversations. The first time I went in I overheard the loveliest exchanges of people debating film, theatre and fiction books beside me.
It was that really chilled, wholesome feeling which you sort of want to bottle up and hold on to for as long as you can. So I love that this place has now opened and there’s somewhere to enjoy great coffee and a bite to eat in a place that feels so fresh.
In the background, they were playing some subtle jazz, but the noise of people talking and the sense of life inside was so gorgeous, and was a completely different vibe compared to nearby chain cafes where everyone is glued to laptops.
Although Oat and Bean’s main USP is being a vegan café, they have moved away from the traditional vegan vibe - I’m not sure I can pinpoint what that is or means specifically, but the main thing that comes across when you step inside that everyone is welcome.
When they first opened, they shared on their Instagram: “Oat & Bean will be a 100% vegan coffee shop with a focus on sustainability, making plant-based food approachable for everyone, and making sure there are plenty of protein-rich options." They’ve definitely lived up to this.
Ideas around veganism have come a long way over the last 10 years, and we’ve definitely moved away from the stereotype that vegan food is “boring”, or that being vegan means you are in some way malnourished.
I also think as a society we’re moving away from putting yourself in a box which is reflected in cool businesses like this. AKA, you don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist. Advocating for the rights of ethnic minority groups is not limited to those who belong to them. And more plainly, you don’t have to be a vegan to eat vegan food or support a more sustainable way of eating.
It’s nice to see that there’s a fun middle ground with Oat and Bean and I would absolutely love to see more initiatives like this in the city. There’s loads on their menu, from banana bread which comes toasted with coconut yoghurt, almonds and maple syrup (£7.50) to a spiced aubergine flatbread, served with chickpeas, mint yoghurt, pomegranate seeds and dukkah (£10.50).
Drinks wise, you’ve got all the classic hot drinks- but you can get pretty much anything you ask for iced as well. They also sell smoothies, but not your typical strawberry and banana-type combos. Here, you could go for a vanilla matcha, or a blueberry banana - or even a mango coconut, all for £6 each. They’re open every day from 9-5.30pm, and it’s until 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
