voco St. David's Cardiff by IHG
A five-star Cardiff Bay landmark with its own spa pools
About this hotel
voco St. David's Cardiff sits on the scenic Cardiff Bay waterfront, its iconic architecture giving many rooms unbroken views across the water. The Spa at St. David's is the standout feature for a family pool trip, offering hydro and swimming pools alongside rejuvenating treatments, a genuinely different swimming experience from a public pool day with the kids in tow. Dining runs through Tir a Môr for exquisite local cuisine, and guests can also relax on a private balcony or stroll the waterfront promenade just outside. The hotel doubles as a premier events destination, with eight contemporary spaces boasting Bay views, so this is very much a full-service five-star rather than a simple overnight stop.
- Cardiff Bay waterfront setting
- Spa with hydro and swimming pools
- Tir a Môr restaurant
Our take
This suits families wanting a genuinely special hotel to anchor a Cardiff trip, with its own spa pools offering a quieter alternative to the public pool and Bay views that lift the whole stay. It's a premium pick, best suited to a shorter splurge within a longer trip rather than every night of a budget-conscious stay.
- ✓Book the spa's hydro and swimming pools in advance for a quiet, adult-focused swim outside busy pool hours.
- ✓Ask for a Bay-view room specifically when booking, since the waterfront outlook is the hotel's standout feature.
- ✓Check event calendars before your stay, since the hotel's event spaces occasionally affect restaurant and spa availability.
Why we love it
- Spa with hydro and swimming pools
- Cardiff Bay waterfront views
- Tir a Môr restaurant on site
- Private balconies in many rooms
Why guests love itWe treated ourselves to two nights here partway through a longer trip, and the Bay-view room genuinely changed the tone of the stay after two exhausting days of flumes and a tired toddler. Tir a Môr handled a table for four without any fuss, and the spa's hydro pool gave me twenty minutes of real quiet the next morning while the rest of the family slept in after a hard pool day.