Laguna Bar

This bar is definitely a pig in lipstick. It should be a cracking place with a fairly chilled out atmosphere. Somehow it manages to completely defy expectations.
The worst part of the bar is the clientele, of which I was regrettably one for a night. The bar seems to attract young attractive, but not massively slutty on first appearance girls. Unfortunately, this also brings along the most obnoxious sort of older male who preys on them.
It also seems to attract the kind of ‘gentleman’ who deems it appropriate to go up to a Chinese girl and say «Alright Chink» and then be amused by themselves.
Combine this with the long wait for the bar and the slightly claustrophobic feeling in what should be a brilliant open place and it’s just not worth going to.

This is a satisfyingly swish bar in the centre of town.

Attracting mainly professionals and theatre-​goers attending shows at the nearby New Theatre, this upmarket bar is part of the swish Park Plaza Hotel, so you know you can expect class and style before you arrive. Don’t be scared off by this association with the hotel, though — the bar’s prices aren’t as extortionate as I was expecting them to be, although obviously you could eat and drink cheaper elsewhere.
Laguna has two grand entrances — one via the hotel itself and another direct from Greyfriars Road. Inside, the design is fairly chic but minimalist, with booth seats and dark flooring.
The best thing about this place, however, is the al fresco terrace: with benches and parasols, it’s a lovely escape from the streets below and has a sophisticated air. Save a visit to this place for a balmy evening when you can sit outside!

A friend of mine used to be the bar manager of Laguna so as tradition dictates a few of us headed over to trash the place and talk loudly about how it had gone to the dogs since he’d left etc etc.
Annoyingly it hadn’t and was still a decent upmarket bar in the centre of Cardiff with a roof deck perfect for chain smoking on during the summer. There’s something very appealing about a roof deck to me, it makes you feel like you’re in the city without feeling like you’re actually IN the city.
We drank a whole lot of champagne, (I don’t know what it cost because I wasn’t paying but I think it was probably extortionate) and as the evening would down, the hectic but pleasant buzz ebbed away and left us a good environment to sit around and put the world to rights.
The Friday night crowd is mostly young professionals, well groomed ladies and silver foxes and the décor is minimal/​chic yet with a warm touch. The booths add a nice level of intimacy too. You can take me back there again if you’re paying…

As a thank you for making them proud, my parents took me to Laguna’s bar to celebrate my surviving of three years of higher education.
A classy establishment that adhere’s to professionals and theatre show goers. It is also a restaurant, but I did not succumb to it’s fresh local menu.
Luckily I wasn’t paying as the place is fairly pricey for your average bar attendee. As I felt deserved of ordering a cocktail or two (I lived on pizzas for three years and didn’t die!) I went with a Moscow Mule. Never has a name been so apt for a drink. POW! straight buck kick to the head via it’s Vodka, Ginger Beer, Lime Juice, Angostura Bitters ingredients at £7.50 a pop.
The thing is with Laguna is your paying for the simplistic, bright, class setting. Your also paying for top end ingredients for your drinks and food. If your looking for something a bit special to enjoy an occasion then you can’t do wrong with visiting Laguna.