Low Key cocktail bar brings calm to Cardiff’s nightlife, led by one of the UK’s top bartenders
A brand new cocktail bar is about to quietly transform Cardiff’s drinking scene. Opening Thursday 12th June on the former site of Jacksons in the Grade II-listed Duke Street Arcade, Low Key is exactly what it sounds like — an intentionally calm, stylish and deeply curated cocktail spot designed to offer an antidote to the chaos of modern nightlife and the current bar and social scene.
Behind the new venue is one of the UK’s most respected bartenders Alex Taylor , who formerly owned Pennyroyal in Cardiff, whose mission with Low Key is to reimagine what a night out can feel like — slower-paced, more considered, and with a focus on quality without the volume.
Table service only, music you can talk over, and cocktails you won’t forget.
Tucked away just a few steps from Cardiff Castle, Low Key offers something completely different: no shouting over pounding playlists, no queues three-deep at the bar. Instead, expect mellow jazz-bar lighting, playlists that respond to the mood of the room, and an atmosphere that’s less party-all-night and more sit-back-and-savour with table service only.
The cocktail menu is split into three thoughtful sections:
- Covers – riffs on the classics like their Midori Sour (Sipsmith Vodka, Midori, Guava, Lemon, Pistachio Cream)
- Singles – house signatures such as the Self-Titled Album (Singleton 12 Year Scotch, croissant-infused coffee liqueur, Frangelico, oloroso sherry)
- Unplugged – no- and low-ABV drinks including Doe Eyed (Champagne Telmont Brut, strawberry wine, Italicus, and Low Key’s own vanilla)
A third of the drinks list is no/low-alcohol by design, with midweek sipping in mind — and without the guilt of a heavy morning after.
On the menu: comforting bites and brunch incoming
Low Key’s food offering is modest to start but already intriguing, with dishes like house devilled eggs, “ramencini” (a crispy ramen-based arancini) and passionfruit buffalo chicken bites. A fuller brunch menu is expected to follow soon, making Sundays a little slower — and more delicious.
Opening hours (first week):
- Thursday 12th – Saturday 14th June: 3pm until late
- From Sunday 15th June: open Thursday–Sunday weekly
Low Key Cocktail Bar
3-7 Duke Street Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AZ
Instagram: @lowkeycardiff
