The Coal Exchange Hotel - Cardiff

681catr

I had a great stay with my daughter. Very friendly staff, especially Victoria who helped to sort out my booking error and gave us great tips for weekend activities. The spa bath was great, delicious complementary breakfast, and comfy beds. The room was very big and spacious, which is rare. Easy 5 minute walk to the Bay and to bus stops into the city centre. Absolutely loved our stay here and hope to go back again soon.

Kevin T.

Booked for the 26th October at a price of £244 for breakfast and king size room with king bed and hot tub. On arrival was told they had trouble with my booking and didn't have king size bed only 3 beds in the room with hot tub. As this was a romantic weekend away immediately it was spoilt my the actions of hotel. Fair to say we will not be back there. Was offered no refund or compensation so had to stay in room not impressed.
Breakfast very good girls in breakfast room amazing. Overall reception terrible service terrible. Breakfast and staff amazing

707seanp

Went here for 1 night on a dinner bed and breakfast package. Firstly I have to say it is definitely an interesting hotel. The character of the furnishings are in sync with the historical fabric of the building. You can imagine coal trading going on there. |It was quite quirky with odd but very in context furnishings. The hotel seemed quite dark, but I don't think that's a bad thing as it encourages people to sleep... |It was spacious in common areas, with wood panelling. |The room was clean, well decorated and well furnished. The whirlpool bath was fun, but the hot water did seem to take some time to come on. |It does seem to need a little bit of tlc in the hotel, but value for money, enjoyment and location it was excellent. |Our package was a theatre night package with a double room, set menu dinner and breakfast all in for £180. This represented good value for me and my wife. The restaurant had high quality food.|There was a nice personal touch, we wrote it was my wife's birthday on the notes when booking and there were a couple of balloons and a card to wish her a happy birthday. It was a lovely personal touch. If we're ever in the area again we would be delighted to return.

292hamads

I stayed 2 night in a beautiful traditional hotel that had a very unique atmosphere and charming design. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the location was perfect. I would especially like to thank Mr. Calum, who was extremely helpful and kind throughout my stay. He went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for me, and I really appreciated his support. This made my experience even more enjoyable and memorable

Discover17746432709

We had the most amazing time at this hotel. ||Both jasmine and Victoria were taking care of us. We celebrated a birthday and there was some amazing towel art in the room, a card and some balloon, such a nice gesture. The team was so knowledgeable and helped me with all my questions. The spa bath was really great. ||Thank you coal exchange!!!

J50

Good location but room had not been cleaned old night wear still on door in bathroom, hair pins found on floor and toilet was dirty. Was not told about pre booking the q carpark and nothing on the website to advise you. Lady on reception didn't seem to care either. Room was very dark with not enough lighting, and dirty so no would not recommend to stay here.

prio7342

What a shame - and what a missed opportunity. The hotel is housed in an incredible old building and the outside approach is striking as you walk to the main entrance - almost like a grand French chateau. Unfortunately there are all sorts of let-downs once you check in. The purple and black decor is more like a relic of a bad 90s nightclub - does anyone really want padded black leather behind their head, deep purple walls and a random history of the building printed on the ceiling above the bed? (Weirdest design decision of all - see photo...) We had a bed which was comfortable and clean but pretty small - too small for the size of room or for us to sleep comfortably. It was also hot and stuffy throughout the hotel - with double glazed/double width windows that restricted the amount of fresh air you could get into your room. There is an amazing grand hall behind reception, but it's just left abandoned and unlit in between functions and feels like a forgotten part of the building - right in the centre of it. The breakfast buffet is extensive but poor quality - worst (bready and tasteless) sausages I have had for a while, black pudding that wasn't cooked, powdery scrambled egg, tinned mushrooms. The only yogurts available were banana and toffee flavoured - not a great breakfast choice. And you pay extra for a proper coffee. Someone with a bit of taste needs to grab this place and shake it up - it could be fantastic, but currently feels dated and unloved. Could do better...

Steve H.

My wife and I had the absolute pleasure of staying at The Coal Exchange on the 8th of August 2025, and we honestly can’t speak highly enough of the entire experience.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and professionalism. A big thank you to Jamie on reception, who was incredibly friendly and polite – he made us feel instantly welcome and set the tone for a fantastic stay.

Our room was stunning – beautifully decorated, spacious, and spotlessly clean. The highlight was definitely the spa bath in the room, which added a luxurious and relaxing touch to our evening. It was the perfect way to unwind.

We also had the chance to dine at the hotel’s restaurant, and the food was nothing short of amazing. Every dish was full of flavour and beautifully presented. Special mention goes to restaurant managers Haley and Sam T, who were both outstanding – attentive, professional, and clearly passionate about delivering a great dining experience.

All in all, The Coal Exchange exceeded our expectations in every way. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!