The ambiance of the building shines through, it's feels authentic and special. My double room was large, amazing spa jacuzzi bath with great shower overhead. No need for a shower curtain - a pet hate. Food was awesome - never eaten such succulent and fat free lamb. Breakfast was probably the best I have eaten in a hotel, even though it was buffet style. All hot but more importantly the sausage and bacon was great quality.

So disappointed with our stay. First of all we couldn't get in our room, had to keep going back down to reception. Then our TV wasn't working, 2 members of staff couldn't sort it either. Our bed was big enough for 2 kids not adluts. At breakfast we had to wait 20 mins for them to replenish the food after we told them there was hardly anything left! We had to ask twice for our tea which when he took our order when we got seated. Not a very good experience at all and 100% won't be staying again

It's like the Adams family home, all wood paneling and Victorian style chairs. The staff were helpful and the room very comfortable, albeit would be better if I could heat the rooms a little more. The jacuzzi was a nice surprise. The area is a bit dodgy, you are close to the Quay restaurant and shopping areas but you are also close to Bute Road - which a Welsh colleague described thus "dangerous mate - be careful at night"

The hotel is in an extraordinary building of deep historical significance to Cardiff. It is a bit of a maze to find your way around and would benefit from better signing and the rooms are very spacious and comfortable. My room had a slight smell of damp carpet - not unpleasant but not expected - and the bathroom was huge too with an enormous jacuzzi bath. Oddly tho, there was no shower which is what I really wanted. The staff were all very helpful and the bar/ restaurant was very good. Service was great, breakfast excellent and dinner very good and prices all reasonable. This place is good but has potential to be excellent with a few tweaks.

Fantastic experience at the Princess Brunch with my daughter. We had a brilliant time, the staff were friendly and helpful. The food nice, hot and plentiful. The building is tucked out of the way but only a five minute walk from Cardiff Bay train station so easy enough to find and get to. Would recommend the events. The only thing I would suggest is perhaps have the tables around the edge of the room with the entertainment in the centre. We were seated at the very back of the room, so I couldn't not sit and watch my daughter nor could she sit and eat her food as she wanted to be up. As the tables next to me didn't turn up I felt like I was on my own and missing everything.

I stayed there only one night but I really regret my decision! I wish i could stay longer. All staff are wonderful, very lovely people. Breakfast is good and enough, rooms are also beautiful(comfy beds/bathroom). I do not even mention about all the historical vibe the hotel gives. Art in it is so wonderful. Please dont even think just give it a try! Definitely gonna come again!

Arriving place looked lovely outside and interior old in style, as for the room No 7 it was very very hot a stuffy as soon as you walked into the room , 2 fans going in room full of dust .horrible as for air con box kept flashing the experience getting ready to go out was so uncomfortable but that's we did as quick as we could. the sink cupboard fell off. Arriving back room was worse windows only opened slightly. Night manager really rude attitude what do you want me to do with it!!! then we realised the room wasn't the one we actually booked, supposed to be pink and for £400 for the rooms disgusting . very uncomfortable sleep and suffering with menopause we were up and out by half 8. what a shame

When I pulled up to this hotel I thought oh my god what have I booked as there was a lot of work going on. This hotel has a lot of character and is beautiful. The staff are very friendly and helpful. A lady Anna was on the reception desk and she couldn’t of done enough for us. The room was beautifully decorated. We was delighted with the jacuzzi bath it topped the night off. Breakfast was delicious and staff again where very friendly and was served by Nicola who was lovely and told us a little about the hotel. We will definitely be back again. This is a hidden gem 💎. Thanks for a great stay guys

This is a beautiful hotel which could be luxury but attention to detail let them down. We had a double room which on first impression looked amazing but it only took 2 minutes to see the thick layer of dust on the bedside tables, the wardrobe, the mirror frame and the dressing table (we don't go looking for problems/dust this was just unmissable) the young lady at reception was lovely and found us another room which was still dusty and had cobwebs but we took it anyway as it was a bigger/better room. The decor is gorgeous, the bathroom is amazing. The bed was super comfy. Overall it was a great couple of nights. But we won't be returning because the amount of dust/cobwebs was a huge let down.

Friendly and efficient staff. Stunning building with big, clean rooms. Room service is fast and faultless. Would definitely recommend and stay again. The only complaint would be the air-conditioning doesnt go low enough and the windows only open 10cm. Way too hot in the room.

We have just returned from a couple of nights away in this gorgeous hotel. The staff were so friendly & couldn't do enough for us. Took the time to have a chat. The food was any, from breakfast & Sunday lunch. Bar prices were reasonable, our room was delightful & the building's history was great to read up on. . We would highly recommend this hotel.

I can't rate this place too low but wouldn't return. Absolutely beautiful building and staff were amazing. However it was as hot as the sun in the rooms. Yes the weather's hot but with the windows only opening a couple of inches it really was the end of the world for the money we paid. Highly recommend they get air con or open the windows. Came home exhausted and again it was REALLY expensive. But beautiful....

There is a historic sense of place and feel about the listed building that’s evident from both the external facade and the interior. Location is great in terms of proximity to the Bay. Staff were welcoming & helpful. The room was comfortable & grand. Double jacuzzi bath is a treat! The interior hall was largely out of bounds to guests and open for functions only. As a marketing ploy this should be opened up for all and its grandeur and history promoted as this in effect was and should be the heart of the exchange. There were corridors leading to & from the rooms that gave a temporary works in progress and unkempt feel to the place which was a shame and the possible difference of my 4 star as opposed to 5 star rating. Would recommend and look forward to staying again.

Hotel was great and I woukd go back. The rooms are beautiful, clean and had a large jacuzzi. The staff at the reception and restaurant where friendly and helpful. We dined in the restaurant for evening meal and breakfast. The food was very nice. There is a lack of parking so we parked in a multi story car park about 10 minutes walk away as all the road parking was max an hour, permit only etc.

I’ve worked in hospitality for a considerable time now as a Reception Supervisor, I attended a friends wedding on the 31st of May, from the moment I arrived at the hotel until the moment I left on the 1st the hotel staff have been so respectful and the most accommodating, they really couldn’t have done enough! The chef for the wedding was from Duchess of Delhi in the bay and provided the most exquisite and most beautiful food with such a huge variety of dishes! The rooms are extremely beautiful and decorated perfectly in line with the age of the building! Thank you so much to all the staff and the GM Brian at The Coal Exchange for getting everything so perfect!!

My brother and I booked rooms here for a short visit to Cardiff yesterday. From arrival to departure it was great. The two lads running reception late Thursday night couldn’t have been more helpful, immediately available to serve at the bar (till 2am!) or help at check-in. I’d forgotten my toothbrush and one was provided as a freebie. The rooms were comfortable and stylish with really good blackout curtains and fancy bath. Breakfast was nice, and charmingly served in gorgeous surroundings, and the girls on reception were amiable. The Q park is a bit further away than we thought but the forecourt is large enough to turn around in, so you can drop off luggage before parking. A beautiful building, so much nicer than the usual concrete block and glass hotels.

Spent 2 fantastic nights at this stunning building for my sisters wedding! The hotel were so accommodating for our every need. Special thanks to hotel manager Brian. Food at the wedding provided by Duchess of Delhi in the Bay was incredible!

A great few days spent here. Full of history and particularly interesting for me as the exchange floor is where my great grandfather made (and lost!) His money trading coal. Very nice room and extensive breakfast. Pricey but it's easy to see that maintenance will cost a great deal. Oh, and great location too!

Love, love, love, this place!!! The history, the ambiance, the quirkiness. Every part of our stay was lovely. The staff was amazing and very knowledgeable, the beds were comfortable, the dreamy jet tub and even and the restaurant was fabulous. I generally do not eat at hotel restaurants because they are usually overpriced and bland but this one was great! The hotel is ideally located; a short walk to the wharf, restaurants, bars, and shops. And to top it off you can’t beat the price. What a value for the richness and timeless antiquity.

Beautiful historic hotel. Love the original features the hotel has. Lovely staff, delicious food. Rooms are stunning, love the room names and history bit that is on room ceilings. Good location. And absolutely loved the bath spa. Was so nice to relax in it at night time to ease my weary muscles.

Outstanding service. Eclectic rooms. Conversion into hotel of historic building which served as the most important coal exchange in the world. Staying here is not only fun, but helps fund the ongoing restoration and preservation of this beautiful and significant building.

Fantastic night with the "girls night in" package. Afternoon tea with private room was absolutely delicious. Catered for all our needs & staff were friendly and very obliging. Big shout out to the lady who found my selfie remote & brought it up to our room! Rooms very spacious, comfy beds, lush bedding, and quiet rooms. Perfect little pamper gifts in the room, tea & coffee facilities & bottled water. Prosecco and alcohol free nosecco Staff very happy to help & brought ice buckets & extra glasses. Was really nice as we seemed to be away from other guests & didn't feel like we would bother anyone with the noise of 8 women giggling & enjoying the night. Would definitely recommend! Breakfast was also amazing!

Took my wife here for afternoon tea. Staff were pleasant and the afternoon tea was lovely. The Coal Exchange Hotel is a beautiful place to visit, well worth a visit if you fancy making a day of it down Cardiff Bay. Our Son had a Ham sandwich, jam sandwich and cheese sandwich. There was so much value he couldn't eat it all. The warm Welsh cakes and Scones were a piece of heaven.

Wedding on NYE simply delightful. If you are in Cardiff really have to visit this absolute gem of a building. Historically wonderful. Seeing is truly believing.

In Cardiff Bay with lots to do. Great location. Not far from train to Queen Street in Cardiff centre. Room and Bed lovely. Staff attentive. Fire alarm woke us early hours due to a vaper, which was out of hotels control Breakfast good (croissants very dry though) Would stay again. Beautiful building

Attended a private event here and had such wonderful service! Especially from the waitress Emily! I have also stayed here and the rooms are lush! Such beautiful heritage and all the staff were so nice!

Very nice old style hotel, very helpful staff and excellent breakfast. Very close to dock area. Only negative was that our rooms were not done after the first full day, complained to the reception and was OK on the following days. Alex

We came here for a night to give my daughter a hotel experience. The rooms advertised were stunning with jacuzzi baths. We did not get any such room. Although the room was nice the bathroom was not. There was not even a full length mirror. We dined at the hotel in the evening, we prepaid for the 2 course meal, yet when we got to the restaurant most items on the menu had supplements on top of what we had already paid. This was not as advertised at all. The steak had a £15 supplement on top of the £22 we had already paid. My daughters chicken nuggets were dried up. It was quite disappointing. The hotel itself is stunning and the staff were friendly and helpful.

What s hidden gem this places is. Staff were amazing the old school Outlook of the building was jaw-dropping in areas. keeping all the old features of the building from past looks amazing. The exchange is very old Building and still going through building process, I do believe this will be the best hotel in Cardiff when fully finished. 100% worth a stay or a meal in the restaurant.

Absolutely blown away by how friendly, warm & welcoming the staff were. Particularly Ethan one of the waiters and Anna on reception… this was my second stay and the jacuzzi baths had doubled in size. The food was absolutely divine and I’ve never tasted lamb that was cooked so perfectly. Can’t recommend this place enough. Rooms get very warm but that couldn’t be helped with the weather we’ve had. More than capable of hitting 5 stars if they just brushed up slightly on their cleanliness but that’s my only flaw. Thank you so much for making our anniversary a special one! See you next year :)

Lovely building, great bed and vintage furniture. Jacuzzi bath was huge! Had problems with TV and air conditioning but reception quickly sent someone to rectify these. Breakfast was incredibly tasty and great quality. Lots of options. Could easily get lost from the car park to hotel, it's quite a distance away if you had a lot to carry or mobility problems

Wow! A very unique place. Situated in the quiet side of Cardiff and a stone's throw from the bay. It has it all, lovely bar and restaurant which cater for everyone. The cocktails looked amazing... A very comfy and quiet stay. The bathroom consists of a 2 person jacuzzi 😎. The only negative thing was that the bar shut at 2200.

Booked for Sunday lunch. Four of us had a Sunday roast platter. It was £10 each! The food was great, the room was very impressive too with its shabby chic decor, comfy seats and huge light fittings. A guy on a guitar sang chilled easy listen while we ate! I couldn't believe it wasn't packed to rafters!

Second time stay at the coal exchange… lovely rooms , nice & clean , had a wonderful nights sleep. The staff are just amazing..! So kind , friendly & lovely service with a smile :) Thank you again guys loved it x

Really enjoyed our Date night stay. Room was great, bottle of bubbly waiting for us and rose petals on the bed. Location is perfect, being 2 minutes walk to the bars, restaurants and amenities of the Bay area. Staying in such a history-clad building was a real treat. Staff couldn't have been more attentive - even putting a car parking ticket on for us at 8am so we didn't have to get up early! Breakfast was fabulous - lots of choice and served till quite late.

Amazing stay, really nice staff and found the room just as we needed. We decided to stay in bed and enjoy a lay in but the restaurant and the breakfast looked great. We look forward to coming back to Cardiff again and staying once the refurbishments have been completed

Beautiful building with so much history. 1st million pound cheque written here. We attended a wedding fair in the lovely Central Hall.

Had my wedding here and pretty much all of our wedding party stayed. So definitely recommend it as a wedding venue. It's such a gorgeous building. THE STAFF!! 10/10 Lovely, friendly and so helpful, just brilliant. Culley's Restaurant, lovely place to eat, really nice menu. Also recommend going there for a Sunday roast. Some parts of the rooms are a bit tired, the rooms and corridors don't have great lighting. The waterfall showers over the baths are a bit of a faf. These are just little things I didn't like because I'm fussy. I definitely recommend staying here

The building has great bones & has clearly had some money spent on it recently but the finish is to a really poor standard in places mainly seen in our room. See huge gap in woodwork & industrial amounts of caulk used in some very poor wallpapering. "Decorators" should have been called back. The lighting throughout the hotel is really insufficient in places which comes across as very gloomy particularly the corridors. As mentioned below the attention to detail is really missing with the cleaners only working to a certain height in our room & cobwebs left hanging in corners from the ceiling. One of the windows in our room didn't close 100% which would have been a problem in colder months. The large part of the room & the bedding was all clean. The bath/shower/jacuzzi was a bit strange. No shower curtain so you did worry about water splashing everywhere. There were upholstered leather panels on the side of the bath, is that hygienic? Personally don't really need to spend enough time in a hotel room running a bath or a jacuzzi. To be fair we were asked on departure if everything was okay with the room by a nice member of staff on reception but were on a flyer so didn't have time to relay the above. There's great potential here but someone could really do with getting strong hands on it.

Absolutely beautiful place. Staff were very friendly and the room was stunning. I literally fell in love with the place. Although we didn't have a evening meal at the restaurant it was very busy and the food looked lovely. Breakfast was excellent to lots of choice. There was even a birthday card off the hotel for my partner. We will definitely be staying again. Thank you

Loved everything about our weekend stay! Staff are a real asset. Friendly, approachable, attentive and efficient. Bedrooms, we're spacious and well equipped, we appreciated the "old grandure", felt very luxurious. The breakfast provided so much choice...all fresh...one of the best I've had in a hotel....the setting and building is absolutely spectacular....can't recommend highly enough. Thank you. Kerry Kane

Loved staying here for my hen do. Staff were fab, very welcoming and accommodating. Check in and out was very easy. The booking was flexible but excellent value for 20+ of us. The building itself is beautiful and has an interesting history, the location is convenient for the bay or even for city centre (reasonably walkable or a very short taxi ride). Rooms were clean and well stocked with waterfall showers and plenty of storage space. Afternoon tea at Culleys was delicious and (with advance notice) had exceptionally good vegan options, particularly the desserts. Would definitely recommend especially for large group bookings.

I'm not a regular reviewer but my experience today I feel is important to post. I attended a funeral reception at the Coal Exchange along with 2 over 90 relatives. Pulling up in the front of the hotel we were met by a really friendly helpful member of staff who immediately sorted out a ramp for my Aunts wheelchair, and then allowed me to park up on in front of the hotel. Once in the hotel the staff couldn't do enough to make us feel welcome and assisting every way they could. We'll done Coal Exchange would definitely return to the restaurant or an event in the future.

My daughters wedding and reception were held at the exchange hotel.We had a great time, the main hall is a beautiful room and it was set out beautifully. The staff were very helpful and added to the whole experience. The food was great, plenty of it as well. Thanks to everyone that made the day so special.

This is a historical building converted into a hotel. It’s in a good location near the Mermaid Quay. Lots of bars & restaurants near by. The staff were extremely friendly & helpful. The room we had was large & very spacious. The bathroom was oversized as well. The decor is funky but functional. The floor in the bathroom was strange in that it was some kind of roll out linoleum that was bubbling up in spots. If you’re staying here when it’s hot outside be prepared to be uncomfortably hot in your room as there was no AC & no fans. I’d of given it 4 stars otherwise

Room slightly shabby around the edges, like wall plate over socket coming off when I took a plug out, and the bath surround rotting due to the fact the water from the shower clearly drips all over it. Staff were excellent, and breakfast was good. Good location for exploring Cardiff Bay. Overall a good experience.

My boyfriend and I had to come back to this wonderful hotel! We came here back in February and have had another stay this weekend. We cannot recommend this hotel enough, and say enough good things about it. Yet again, the staff went above and beyond to make our stay blissful. The food at the restaurant was stunning - we had breakfast on the both days, and also an evening meal, which was 10/10! Room service was also wonderful, we could enjoy beautiful food whilst enjoying the comforts of the room. We already can’t wait to plan our next stay. Would recommend to anyone and everyone who is looking for a pure blissful break.

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay last month! It’s a beautiful hotel with lots of history. We had excellent food for both dinner and breakfast. Had a comfy room with a jacuzzi in the bathroom. The bed was very very comfy and we even had a Dyson fan to keep us cool. Ran into a few problems in the room, to which the staff, special shout out to Paul and David, were brilliant and attended to immediately. Definitely staying there again!