LAKOTA
St Mary Street,
Cardiff

Trepidation probably best describes my mood at the idea of evaluating the revamped, renamed Edwards, never Cardiff city centre’s most salubrious chain pub. But prejudices are there to be disproved and immeasurable improvements have taken place in the creation of Lakota.
Suave red and white leather furnishings immediately catch the eye as you enter. Next you clock an impressively stocked bar with neatly arranged spirit wall. It’s no mere ostentatious display, however, they’re important ingredients for a fantastic themed cocktails menu - combining quality and affordability. Indeed, there’s barely a duff choice between classics or twists on traditional mixed tipples (try the Solero ice cream-like Porn Star Martini for proof).
For a classier drinking experience, Strongbow is ditched in favour of Magners. And while Carling/Stella/Becks options remain, Peroni and Japanese beer Kirin Ichiban on tap complement the standard selections. If you hadn’t expected that, then Lakota’s food menu really seals the deal. No dish troubles a tenner, yet imaginative tastiness isn’t compromised. We sample a stone-baked China Town pizza (slow cooked duck with hoi sin sauce) and special early evening offers allowing you to guzzle such delights and a drink for £5 ensure it’s a real winner.
Perhaps Lakota’s strongest card is its versatility, from early opening for bargain breakfasts to late-night weekend licences for DJ-catalysed dancing. And with a 1000 capacity, it’s arguably the finest large bar operating on St Mary Street in 2010.
Punters: Wallet-conscious diners to cocktail-downing dancers
Drinks: Draught beers £2.55-£3.55 a pint, bottled beers £3.20-£3.50, spirits £2.45-£2.60 a single, £3.45-£3.60 a double, wines £2.15-£4.45 a glass, £6.99-£9.99 a bottle, champagnes £12.95-£40 a bottle, cocktails £4-£4.95 a glass, £8.50-£9.50 a pitcher
Ambience: If Wetherspoons pimped itself out on every level…
Contact: 029 2037 1315
Adam Kennedy

MOLOKO
Wind Street
Swansea

What is Moloko?
In A Clockwork Orange it’s Milk. Alex and his droogs liked to drink Moloko-Plus (milk with something added) at the Korova Milkbar.
Moloko were also a brilliant Irish/English electronic/pop duo that banged out hit after hit in the 90’s.
But this Moloko is a bar. It doesn’t serve up milk, but does have lashings of good live music, excellent DJ’s and some great offers on stronger tipples. Moloko is on Wind Street, Swansea, and is formerly known as Bar Co. Founded by Myles Wellington, it is one of the only independent bars on this iconic street and offers much more than the usual franchise venue. The venue has a warm and sophisticated feel, lovely leather sofas, a private room and a chill-out area behind the dance floor, giving it plenty of space and some great nooks and crannies to hang out with your mates.
Escape Club Award-winning and resident DJ CN Williams spins on the decks on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and this guy knows his house - he’s headlined alongside Jazzy Jeff and Roger Sanchez.
And if the pumping sounds of repetitive chords isn’t your thing then fear not, other nights offer a wide and varied cross section of live music from rock and pop to acoustic. As a passionate lover of live music, the owner welcomes promoters and bands who wish to put on their own nights or just play at the bar.
A good pre-club venue with casual dress code, free-entry and fabulous Moloko vodka jellies!
So go on guys, give it a try, in the words of the brilliant Moloko band – The time is now...
Punters: A varied mix (depending on what’s on) of Funky House loving clubbers & live music lovers
Drinks: Draught beers £2.70; bottled lagers £2.50, doubles with mixers £3.00; wine by the glass £3.60, bottles of wine £9.95; shots £2.00
Ambience: From chilled acoustic to bone rattling base - a pick’n’mix of various vibes

THE VULCAN LOUNGE & CAFÉ
Wyeverne Road
Cathays
Cardiff
Cheap, cheerful and not necessarily classy, the main hub of student-centric suburb Cathays isn’t the most obvious location for a top notch drinking establishment. At odds with the gaudy anti-charms of several bars in the vicinity, however, The Vulcan Lounge & Café – not to be confused with stalwart Cardiff pub The Vulcan – is a definite diamond in the dirt.
The people behind smart Maindy’s, The North Star, plus city centre destinations Crystal and Mocka Lounge, have totally transformed the building formerly home to drab, run-of-the-mill student hangout The End. And much like The North Star, the revitalised ambience is now nearer gastropub, albeit minus pretension levels and bank-emptying prices.
Nice touches, notably salvaged wooden doors separating seating compartments, make you feel at ease in comfy confines unrecognisable from The End. The chocolate-coloured exterior betraying what to expect from the warm décor inside. We can vouch for their standout tipple, the American-brewed, Belgian-style beer Blue Moon, served with a slice of orange. And hearty yet competitively priced meals will keep you coming back – we tried a light bite of chicken fajitas with fiery dipping sauce, although mains represent equally good value. Better still, a range of homemade vodka infusions shots aid tipsiness with maximum tastiness, while cocktails are on the way for summer. All of which adds up to serious reasons to reconsider the idea that studentsville is just for students.
Punters: Anybody on a budget who refuses to compromise on quality
Drinks: Draught beers £2.40-£2.60 a pint, bottled beers £2.20-£2.40, spirits £2.20-£2.60 a single, wines £2.40-£3.40 a glass, £10.40 a bottle, champagnes £35-£75 a bottle
Ambience: Gastropub quality without the snootiness
Contact: 029 2023 1669
Adam Kennedy