The Heathcock

From the same stable as the renowned Hare & Hounds pub in the Vale of Glamorgan comes a Cardiff neighbourhood stalwart, The Heathcock, re-imagined as a destination dining place, with a handful of lovely guest rooms upstairs. The bar is still a terrific local hangout – just a couple of miles from the city centre, near the river in Llandaff – but an increasing number of visitors are making their way here to sample some of the best in contemporary regional Welsh cooking. You can expect things such as slow-roast Vale of Glamorgan lamb, seasonal game dishes, shellfish from the coast, local farm cheeses or Welsh-landed fish, while the kitchen team makes its own sourdough bread, butter, pasta and the like.

It's not at all pretentious, with plenty of tables inside and out for drinkers just to turn up. Dog walkers and parties are more than welcome, and the menu at lunchtime especially lends itself to sharing a selection of reasonably priced dishes. It's definitely not sandwiches and crisps – think mussels in cider, minced venison on toast or rabbit pasta – and the watchwords throughout are relaxed and informal. Meanwhile, the Upstairs Bar is the ideal spot for pre- and post-dinner drinks and cocktails, and small plates too, if you only fancy a nibble.

Make a real night of it by staying in one of three charming en-suite guest rooms on the top floor. They've gone for cool country vibes, so there's a mix of old and new, from the original fireplaces and panelled headboards to big, standalone baths, rain showers and Nespresso machines. The beds are super-king size, and the largest has beautiful views out over the hills to Castle Coch. Breakfast, of course, is a high point, with terrific produce on the plate from their Hare & Hounds Bakery, setting you right up for a day's sightseeing or simply mooching around the capital.