Barocco

Definitely more of a bar with a club feel than a restaurant. It’s the kind of place to go for their 2-​for-​1 cocktail deal and to listen to club music.
We actually went there for an early dinner and sat upstairs. They dimmed the lights so uncomfortably low that when we asked to make them brighter again, they said they couldn’t because they had a DJ coming. A DJ at 6 on a Sunday night…
The dish I wanted wasn’t even available, so I had a lamb burger. It was good, but the fried tasted like they were from the freezer. Overall nothing to rave about, so I don’t think it’s right to advertise themselves as a gastropub.

My favourite café in Cardiff, it looks so aristocratic and classy inside, especially the plush. Usually I drink Citrus Burst cocktail but sometimes I eat Char grilled chicken, it’s heavenly delicious.

a really good place to take a woman. Not part of the weekend pub crawl circuit, and all the better for it

Brain’s took over this site, formerly called Is it?, in November 2007 and have turned it into a style bar, which they seem to be doing more of nowadays. You could easily walk past this place because it’s so understated but don’t step inside and you’re in for a treat.
There’s a saying on the continent that if it’s baroque don’t fix it. Well hopefully Barocco will stick to this because baroque flair has taken over this place. Stone sculptures, big candelabras in the window and large gold-​framed mirrors are everywhere. But it’s not overbearing mainly due to the high ceilings.
The bar is made of ornate carved wood and behind it is an enormous mirror stretching all the way up to the ceiling which is a good 20 feet. Spanish guitar music, world music and light classical play in the background.

I’m going to go right out on a limb here for the second day in a row and say that Barocco is, without doubt, the best bar in Cardiff that has a similar name to a fizzy orange vitamin drink that used Blancmange’s Living On The Ceiling in its advertising and has just launched a new tropical flavour. It’s a bold claim, but I feel confident enough to say. If you’ve got a better suggestion then bring the noise motherhugger.
Barocco née Bar Is It? (Is It? What? A terrible name for a bar? Yes it was, thanks for asking, boom!) is a fanciful baroque and gothic inspired bar with an impressive menu and booze selection. It does feel slightly dated however, displaying a legacy to the mid-​Noughties Brains ethos of bar rebranding (see also Terra Nova) that has now been discarded in favour of the café bar code as seen in the new Duke Of Wellington and The Pear Tree.
It’s a bit pricey for my liking, but they do have a two-​for-​one offer on cocktails, including White Russians, so ifyou’re ever in there and hear someone pretending to be The Dude, you’ll know who it is.

I’ve only recently discovered this place, and it really is completely to my taste. Luxurious and plush, this bar is really a joy to behold.

Barocco is plush and grand, with a rather heavy, dark Baroque theme that’s far more suited to a winter’s evening than a sunny summer afternoon. The bar is the focal point, ornately carved and placed under a giant mirror, and many of the drinks have an Italian influence.
The first time I went to this bar it was to see a gig, and it was packed out and great fun. It’s not just an evening venue, though — they serve breakfasts, lunch and supper, and their cuisine mixes contemporary British with Italian influences, including things like antipasto and stone baked pizzas, although I haven’t eaten there myself. The cosy booth-​type tables are good for small groups, and in the evenings the low lights and candles make for a cosy atmosphere. It’s also worth mentioning that they serve some delicious ice cream that’s made in Carmarthenshire with local ingredients.

Barocco (formally Bar IsIt) is one of those places that looks so posh that your scared to go in! The décor can only be described as luxurious and sumptuous and I’d say girlie. It is dark, which is great when you have a mug like mine and the lovely was well impressed when I took her here for a romantic night out. I should have taken her to their Tango and then I’d really be in the good books.
The food here all has an Italian influence and uses good local products. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and what’s more surprising is that it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Most mains are under £10 and I would defiantly recommend giving the venison medallions (£13) a go if you fancy something a bit different and the deserts are too gorgeous to share. Drinks aren’t so cheap, but offer a good range in keeping with the Italian theme.

The décor in Barocco is interesting to say the least. When you enter this bar and restaurant you’re surrounded by velvet chairs, candelabras, deep burgundy curtains, and black wallpaper. Whoever designed the interior clearly wanted to create a grand, opulent feel, but unfortunately the surroundings in Barocco merely come across as dark and oppressive.
I do however really like and enjoy the food here, which seems to straddle between gastro pub and fusion (wild boar sausages, in a red wine gravy being one item on the menu). The food is also very good value, the main courses range between £7-£12, which is not bad considering the style and quality (I’ve paid well over double this for similar food in London).
I’ve always found the staff accommodating (the waitress didn’t bat an eyelid when I had 3 sides instead of a main). However due to the dark lighting it can often be a nightmare trying to make eye contact when you want to pay the bill (I often just end up going up to the bar to pay).
Barocco also on occasion has live music, which is usually good. I would never come here just for a drink, but they do have a nice wine selection, which really compliments their menu.

Like a dark, juicy purple plum; that’s how i’d describe the interior of what used to be Bar Is It. Step through the doors of Barocco wearing casual clothes and you immediately want to slip into something a little more burlesque and order a Martini cocktail.
I must admit, I like what they’ve done with the place. The layout is the same as before, but the décor has been suped up. It’s a bit like the place has been on ‘pimp my pub’ and discovered mirrors and swirly patterned wallpaper.
The drinks aren’t Wetherspoon’s cheap (but I’d rather spend a couple of quid extra if it means NOT going into a Wetherspoon’s) but there is a heck of a lot of choice behind that long bar. They serve food throguhout the day, have a lovely upstairs eating area and even do breakfast.
There’s a lot to rest your eyes on in this bar — chandeliers, sculptures, lights in the floor, mirrors galore etc. I enjoyed my visit and would defo go back.

A gem of a city bar — funky, stylish interior — its own in house DJ, a nd a mellow mix of tunes. Drinks are on the pricey side, but worth it.
A good date venue, or drinks with the girls. Close to Bar Copa — so excellent choice for a start to a classy pub crawl!