Coffee Barker

I had the afternoon tea for one person which cost 19 pounds and is more than enough food for one person. Four half sandwiches were included, two scones, 2 macarons, a bit of chocolate, and a large slice of cake. Delicious and filling.
The people who work here were nice and helpful. The atmosphere is pleasant (though a bit cramped). They have free wifi.

Okay, let’s not kid ourselves. yes it is a quite the hype place … but don’t tell me you wouldn’t want to have a nice tea/​coffee sitting in an awesome couch that you would never leave if you were given the opportunity to stay in. Not that cheap, but fair enough for a nice afternoon tea with your girl or friends’n’family !

I echo the comments in other reviews. This is a coffee shop to come back to time and again. Very comfortable, loads of seats and, incidentally, great coffee and food. Both my wife and I finished our books while we sat at Coffee Barker and had a lovely break from our ‘touristing’. To add to the pleasure Coffee Barker is in the Castle Arcade with a fabulous second hand bookshop, Troutmark, so you can replenish your book supply very easily.

Inside the iconic Victorian Castle Arcade is where you’ll find Coffee Barker. Opened in 2009 its the kinda Coffee House that makes you wish you had more complex tastes so that you could order something impressive — not the flat white you usually have on a Monday morning.
Inspired by the coffee houses of New York’s West Village and bistros of St Germain in Paris — Coffee Barker is the perfection destination whether it be business or pleasure. Flat White or Americano. Chocolate Brownie or Parma Violet Cake.
Coffee Barker has something for everyone.
Pull up a window seat, clear your schedule and people watch the afternoon away.

Nice place to relax and enjoy your afternoon tea and a book or a magazine. Nicely decorated and esp the outdoor seating area. Its located in the castle arcade which is is a great spot itself. They have a nice selection of tea types (actual tea paper not tea bags) And i would suggest their sandwiches and their mini brownies.

I really wanted to like this place, and I think it is beautifully decorated and has good atmosphere. However, I came in for post lunch coffee and cake and was decidedly underwhelmed. The coffee was fine, but nothing special. The red velvet cake was kind of dry, a bit sweet, and had a perfume taste, like it had been stored next to the parma violet cake. Also, there was a problem with the till when I was paying which resulted in a good amount of faffing. Sorry Barker’s I probably won’t be back.

Magnífico desayuno inglés. Dependiendo de la hora, se forman colas para pedir. Los precios son razonables.

Atmosphere 8.5
Service 5
Drinks 8
A café hotspot located in Castle arcade, it’s wide windows let you know whether to even attempt to weedle your way in through the lunch-​time rush. I definitely advise you to pop in earlier or later in the day. Even during later hours there can be a queue past the fridge-​display. This may be partly due to the logistics at the cashier. Your server will make your drink immediately after you make your order, whilst you — and the (fortunately very patient) customers behind you — twiddle your thumbs in line. Luckily there is another member of staff behind the counter to take advance orders for food, or at times another server.
This modern yet rustic coffee-​and-​cake joint charms you with its soft leather armchairs and twist on British country house décor. It can get a little clumsy when navigating your tray to one of the small round tables during rush hour, but the moment you sink into your armchair the area around your table seems to expand into a cosy space. When the venue isn’t too busy, the ambience is perfect for unwinding with a good book or relaxed chatter with a friend.
There are both hot and cold sandwich options available, along with jacket potatoes and changing varieties of soups. Drinks include the usual café fare, of coffee, milkshakes, tea etc. (they serve TeaPigs flavoured teas here).
My favourite is the mango chai latte dusted with cinnamon (£2.99) and a slice of either the lemon drizzle cake or Victoria sponge (both £2.99 I believe).
On my previous visit I sampled their tomato soup. It was presented in a little metal pot with a choice of white or granary bread & butter. However the first time the soup was served it was cold. After politely pointing this out it was returned to the kitchen, then promptly back to us. The soup itself was good, and my friend and I spent a few minutes wondering whether they baked the crusty bread in-​house.
Overall, a lovely place for a light meal and cuppa in the afternoon. This my go-​to place for post-​lunchtime relaxation and I’ll definitely be back again. Hopefully one day I will make it in time to try their breakfast of duck eggs on toast!
Another point I love: since it’s nearing Winter now they have started putting blankets on the chairs for tables outside (but they are still inside Castle arcade).
A wonderful homey touch!

We found Coffee Barker and didn’t leave for a week! Literally all of our time in Cardiff was spent sitting on one of their comfy chairs, reading and devouring strong coffee and delicious food.
Sure, it’s a ‘hipster’ joint … just relax and enjoy the ironic décor. Unlike coffee shops back home, the loudest thing in here is the wallpaper.

An outstanding coffee house with great iced lattes and fresh sandwiches. The meatball and mozzarella is a gooey delicious mess.
The ambiance is a hipster-​filled cross between a 20’s speakeasy, Thomas Edison’s workshop and the Allsaints Spitalfields on Portobello Road in London. Suffice to say, it’s pretty eclectic.