Cioni Bistro

This café, with its somewhat humble ugly and squat brick exterior is a not-so-hidden gem, spectacularly located on the western cliff tops of Penarth, overlooking the Hafren/Severn river. Whether you walk the famous clifftop path looking for the view (National Museum and Galleries, Cardiff) Sisely painted or settle down on a bench to watch the moody brown river plied incessantly by working vessels - you'll surely appreciate the warm welcome inside Cioni's. I recall years of occasional visits and each time enjoying the heart-warming Italian home cooking (or ordinary café menu food instead, if you or the little ones insist) prepared and served with love by the various family members. Although my memories of years gone by darken, and so did the decor, like many I was concerned that the place closed at the end of the autumn for refurbishment. I needn't have worried, because the younger generation of the family have taken over - the decorations at least, I presume - the inside has been stylishly simplified to open up the space, wood panels painted a bright neutral and natural sky colour and the tables and chairs all neater and smarter.. And the menu likewise has been sharpened up in presentation and content. This is a family friendly café bistro, where the key common ingredient is good ingredients brought together simply but with care and delicious Italian style sauces and herbs, from antipasti to pastas, carne e pesci and pizzas galore and the most generous ices in traditional glasses... But worth the visit just for Italian coffees and Welsh cake (I still dream of the iced custard tart) the entrancing view and the nearby child distracting play area and in summer (assuming it still runs) pitch and putt golf. There's a generous amount of free parking around the leeward sides of the building.