Tir a Môr restaurant and bar, located at VOCO St David’s Hotel & Spa, Cardiff. At the heart of Cardiff Bay, in the iconic 5-star hotel. Recently awarded Green Key accreditation for its environmental and sustainability efforts. Tir a Môr, means land and sea in Welsh.
As you arrive to the hotel, the views are beautiful, especially on a sunny day. This building is very known in Wales for its architecture and many artists use it as inspiration for their pieces of art. It also has magnificent views, so we were excited to go through this experience.

We were invited to Tir a Môr as guests and our food was complimentary.

As you walk in the hotel’s main lobby, the design and feel is so modern. You have to go past the reception and the restaurant entrance is located on the right hand side. We went in and the host greeted us in a friendly manner. He directed us to our table, explained what the dishes of the day were and mentioned the waitress will be over soon. We were very lucky to have sat next to the window, with the Norwegian Church Arts Centre right in our view. We did not have to wait long for the waiter to come, but we were still unsure about what to order, so we asked if they could please give us more time.

The interior of the restaurant is so modern and elegant, the colours are beautiful. Dark blues, light blues, they give the restaurant elegance but yet a vibrant summer feel. There are wooden beams on the ceiling, big hanging paintings on the walls and there are plants located around different corners of the restaurant, that enhance the appearance of the space. The restaurant is surrounded by floor to ceiling windows that keep you in touch with the outside. With an airy feel, yet cosy by the restaurant’s use of colours and deco.

The Menu

The menu at Tir a Môr showcases the best of Welsh cuisine, with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. The restaurant also offers a carefully curated wine list, featuring an array of top-quality bottles from around the world, as well as a range of local beers, ciders, and gins. The beef comes from Douglas Willis, who buys from a range of farms within Cefn Mawr, North Wales. So the meat is locally produced, which is amazing because we are not only tasting local produce but this restaurant is keeping their business local too.

Food ordered

For starters we ordered Pembrokeshire crab cake, poached egg and warm tartare sauce & Monkfish goujons, dragon aioli, lime. The crab cake tasted fresh and you could very much taste the crab, the tartare sauce had peas in it and complimented the crab cake well. The egg was perfectly poached and gave the cake the moisture and depth it needed. In our opinion the crab cake could have done with a bit more crunchiness to it, as that would have given it more texture and bite, apart from that it was nice and different. Portion wise it was a decent size, so it is filling enough to leave space for mains.

The Monkfish goujons were so crunchy and tasty. There were 3 on the plate and that aioli sauce was our favourite. We could have had a whole plate of those. They were perfectly cooked, non oily and so delicious.

For mains we both wanted meat, so we opted for 8oz Cefn Mar Farm rib-eye steak, king prawns, laverbread butter, triple cooked chips. Let’s start with the meat, we can tell you that to this day we are still thinking about that rib-eye steak. It was absolutely mouth-watering. It was a reasonable size, cooked how we wanted and so juicy. Then add to this king prawns (3), well cooked, not rubbery and well seasoned too. And if you like chips, well these chips were chunky and together with the peppercorn sauce, they tasted very nice.

The other main was an 8oz Cefn Mawr Farm sirloin, confit mushroom, roasted plum tomato, triple-cooked chips. The steak was cooked well and the peppercorn sauce complimented the steak very well. The mushrooms were nicely cooked and not soggy and well the chips were the same as above. We have to add here that both steaks were cooked how we ordered.

For sides we ordered Kale, rocket and beetroot salad & Garlic Blas y Tir leeks and sautéed potatoes. The salad tasted fresh and dressed with a slightly sweet balsamic dressing, which was very nice. This is a salad that is delicious, with just a few ingredients and we will most likely try to make it at home. Now the sautéed potatoes, they were a story all on their own. They were soft, with a good amount of salt, the leeks were soft and it was an acceptable sharing portion too. All of the portions to the dishes mentioned were decent portions, enough to fill you up but not leave you without space for dessert, which we obviously had.

For dessert, we had Blackberry and apple crumble, Black Mountain brandy liqueur custard & Merlyn cheesecake, milk chocolate, amaretto crumb. The apple crumble was a nice portion, good to share and so beautifully presented, however we wish it would have been less runny. The custard complimented it very well. It wasn’t overly sweet, as some you might taste elsewhere. The Merlyn cheesecake, well who doesn’t love a cheesecake because we obviously do. This was nicely presented, tasted very nice and the only comment we have is that we hoped the biscuit base would have been a slightly thicker, as we would have liked a bit more crunch to the cheesecake or maybe we just like biscuits too much.

For drinks, we had a Peroni beer and glass of Rosé. And the waitress constantly came to top up our water glasses, when they were getting empty. We didn’t have any coffee/tea at the end of dessert, as by this point we were completely full.

Summary

Overall the service and food was nice. The waitress constantly came over and asked how are food was or if we needed anything. Enough to make you feel valued as a customer, but not overly done to the point you feel it is too much attention. She was also knowledgeable and friendly.

Something we have to mention is that originally instead of the Monkfish goujons, we had ordered Menai oysters. And a couple of minutes after placing the whole order, we were told they didn’t have oysters. They were very apologetic and we asked the waitress, if she could recommend anything and she recommended the Monkfish. And it was delicious, so it was a win.

The experience at Tir a Môr was not only romantic, but the food was nice. There were a few things that we would have enjoyed more, if they would have been slightly different. But we have to appreciate the taste of the chef and we can’t fault them for their food quality. It was exceptional. The meat was well cooked and high quality. The portions were good, descent portions and the food on the plate was beautifully presented. Everything was seasoned just right and there was not one thing we thought was poorly seasoned.

Will we go back? Yes, we will. There are so many things on that menu to try out, such as breaded pork escalope, pan-fried salmon and Anglesey mussels. The list just goes on.

If you are planning on going to Tir a Môr on a romantic dinner for two, it could surely be the place to be. With its elegant decor, spacious seating, and warm lighting, the restaurant will give you a nice experience. Let’s not forget the food, the good service and the stunning views of Cardiff Bay. We can imagine how nice it must be in the summer time, having a special celebration or family meal with those views and good company.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Tir a Môr Restaurant at St David’s Hotel & Spa is a must-visit for anyone looking for a truly special dining experience in Cardiff. From its stunning views to its outstanding cuisine, this restaurant is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who visit, just like it did with us.

Location

VOCO St David’s Cardiff
Havannah Street, Cardiff CF10 5SD
+44 (0)29 2045 4045

Parking: There is parking just a short distance from the entrance of the hotel. You have to pay at the pay point machine on your way out.

Booking your table

To book your table, click HERE.

Have you been to Tir a Môr yet? What dishes do you recommend? Comment below.

Stay Safe

Kay