Rhiwbina, Spanish Restaurant Guide

This “lively spot” in the shadow of the Principality Stadium offers “great service” and a “good choice of tapas and wines” – “a lot of places promise ‘tapas’, but Bar 44 delivers authentic dishes and an excellent sherry list” (including three served directly from the barrel). It’s the flagship of the 44 group of Spanish-inspired venues, founded 22 years ago by siblings Owen, Tom & Natalie Morgan.

Inside swish city-centre boutique hotel Parador 44, this moody, Iberian-themed restaurant featured on Channel 4’s ‘Remarkable Places to Eat’; as per the name, the “brilliant” food revolves around the Argentine-style asador grill, resulting in a veritable “meat feast” (“the slow-cooked lamb was memorable”), though squid and cauliflower also feature on the “very interesting” menu, alongside almost wholly Spanish wines and a tempting ‘del dia’ lunch deal.