Looking to make new friends in Cardiff? From the Victorian arcades in the City Centre to weekends around Roath and Pontcanna, this page helps you meet local people for relaxed, everyday plans that feel natural. Think coffee, a walk in Bute Park, or a low-key drink by Cardiff Bay. It’s aimed at adults who want genuine local company without organised socials or pressure.
Established in 2005, Drinking Partners is one of the UK’s longest-running platforms for meeting new people and making friends.
Drinking Partners is built for socialising, not drinking or dating. Share a short intro, browse people nearby in Cardiff and start conversations that fit around your life.
Create a free profile, browse nearby people and say hello when someone sounds like your kind of person.
Meet people for coffee, walks, cinema, lunch, gigs or relaxed everyday plans around Cardiff.
Chat privately first, keep things relaxed, and only arrange a meet-up or group-style plan when you feel ready.
Making friends across Cardiff usually starts with familiar routes and easy meeting spots. You might meet for coffee around Pontcanna, take a walk through Bute Park, or keep it casual at the Bay after work. Because the city is compact, it’s realistic to meet regularly without it becoming a trek — even if you’re coming in from Canton or heading out towards Roath. For a first meet, choose something public and time‑boxed so it stays relaxed. If you click, the next step is simple: repeat the plan, try a new café, or bring someone along to something you already do. That steady rhythm is where friendships usually begin to stick in Cardiff. If you’re newer to Cardiff, starting in a well‑known spot helps: the arcades, the park, or the Bay. From there, you can branch out to Roath for cafés or Canton for something quieter. The key is choosing plans you’d happily do anyway, so meeting again feels effortless.
Making friends as an adult can feel awkward — especially when everyday routines in Cardiff are already set. Drinking Partners keeps things simple, relaxed and pressure-free, without the need for large groups or organised events.
Take things at your own pace and connect in a way that feels comfortable for you.
Whether you have just moved to Cardiff, work from home, or simply want to widen your social circle, Drinking Partners helps you find people nearby and start relaxed local conversations.
Follow these steps to connect over shared interests, message freely and plan meet-ups that feel comfortable, public and pressure-free.
It only takes a few minutes to get started:
To get the most out of Drinking Partners and begin to meet new people in Cardiff, follow these simple steps:
Share a short intro about yourself, where you are based in or around Cardiff, and the kinds of relaxed plans you enjoy — coffee, walks, cinema, fitness, lunch or weekend catch-ups.
Add a recent photo to help people recognise you. Profiles with clear photos feel more trustworthy, get more replies and appear higher in local results.
Use GPS search or filter by nearby areas to find people close to you. Save your favourite profiles and searches so it is easy to return to promising local matches.
Messaging is free, so say hello to people with similar interests. Mention a simple local plan you would enjoy and swap a few messages before arranging anything in person.
Set alerts for new people near you, message reads and profile views. Pause notifications or hide your profile whenever you need a break.
When you are ready, suggest a simple public meet-up such as coffee, a daytime walk, a casual lunch, cinema trip or another relaxed plan somewhere you both feel comfortable.
A quick call or video chat first can help break the ice and make meeting up feel natural. You’re always in control — choose who you talk to, take things at your own pace, and only meet when you’re comfortable.
Short, practical guides to help you meet people and make new friends without the pressure.
These are people in and around Cardiff who are looking to make new friends. Join free to say hello, browse more members and start chatting at your own pace.
53 years old
Cardiff, South Glamorgan
“I enjoy studying maths and Spanish. I work…”
51 years old
Cardiff, South Glamorgan
“I'm Emma I'm friendly and easygoing and am…”
54 years old
Barry, South Glamorgan
“Hi I’m paula originally from Bolton england lived…”
43 years old
Cardiff, South Glamorgan
“Just looking for cool people to hang out…”
35 years old
Cardiff, South Glamorgan
“I enjoy travelling, cooking, meeting new people and…”
54 years old
Cardiff, South Glamorgan
“Looking for friends with similar interests to hang…”
There’s no single way to make friends — people connect in all sorts of everyday ways.
Pick an idea and start a conversation that suits you.
Cardiff’s arcades make a great first meet: central, relaxed, and easy to keep short. Choose a café in the City Centre or around Pontcanna, have a proper chat, and if it’s going well you can extend it with a wander through the shops or over to Bute Park. It feels casual and ‘normal’, which helps first meets feel less like an interview.
Explore →A walk is low-pressure and gives you natural conversation flow. Bute Park and the Taff Trail are popular because they’re easy to reach, comfortable at any pace, and work well for daytime meets. It’s ideal if you prefer something calm over a loud venue. You can always finish with a takeaway coffee if you want to keep it simple.
Explore →The Bay is made for easy social plans: a waterfront stroll, a quick drink, or a casual bite around Mermaid Quay. It’s a simple way to meet without it feeling formal, and it suits both first meets and repeat catch-ups as you get to know someone. If you prefer daylight, go earlier — it’s just as good for a calm walk and chat.
Explore →If you like a bit of atmosphere, plan something simple around match days or the city’s food spots. Keeping it informal — street food, a quick pint, or a weekday dinner — helps you meet people who enjoy the same pace, without overplanning the whole thing. It’s a good fit if you want company but not a ‘big night’.
Explore →Answers to common questions about making friends and meeting people in Cardiff.
Yes — Cardiff is compact and neighbourhood-based, so meeting locally is realistic and repeatable. If you start with easy plans (coffee, a park walk, a casual catch-up at the Bay) you’re much more likely to meet again, and that second meet is usually when a friendship starts to form. Cardiff’s size helps — you can meet near where you already spend time, which makes follow-up plans easier.
Common first meets are coffee in the arcades or around Pontcanna, a walk through Bute Park, or a relaxed drink by Cardiff Bay. These spots are public, easy to get to, and don’t force a big commitment — perfect if you’re fitting plans around work or family life. A second meet is usually when it starts to feel real. Cardiff’s neighbourhoods make it easy to keep things local.
Keep it simple and central: a café chat in the City Centre, or a short Bute Park walk if you’d rather move while you talk. If evenings suit you, the Bay works well for a quick drink. Time‑box it to 45–60 minutes so it stays low-pressure. Cardiff’s neighbourhoods make it easy to keep things local. A second meet is usually when it starts to feel real.
It’s designed for meeting people and making friends. Many members are looking for local company and everyday plans — walks, coffee, food, day trips — and prefer building connection gradually rather than treating it like a formal dating set‑up. You can be clear in your profile that you’re here for friendship and local socialising. A second meet is usually when it starts to feel real.
Yes. Drinking Partners is for friendship and socialising, not dating. In Cardiff, you can use it to chat with local people first, then suggest something simple and public such as coffee around City Centre, Roath, Pontcanna and Canton, a walk, lunch or a relaxed daytime catch-up.
Working from home can make it harder to meet people naturally in Cardiff, especially if your week is built around the same few routines. Start with a short message, look for people near City Centre, Roath, Pontcanna and Canton, and suggest an easy plan that fits your day, such as a lunchtime coffee, after-work walk or weekend catch-up.
Want more tips? Read How to make friends after moving to a new city.
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