Black entrepreneurs can be found all over the world getting to the bag. No matter where you might go, you never know where you’ll run into a Black-owned business. However, without question, you definitely will.
When it comes to Black-owned brands and businesses, restaurants serving authentic cuisine from the African diaspora are highly sought out by travelers from all walks of life. Whether it is delicious jerk chicken and soul food or fresh fufu served with peanut butter stew, Black cuisine was birthed from many different flavors, styles, and countries. While there may not be a ton of Black-owned restaurants in Wales, here are a few to check out the next time you visit the Welsh side of the United Kingdom.
Le Mandela
Location: 156 Penarth Rd, Cardiff CF11 6NJ, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Authentic African
Located in Cardiff, Le Mandela is an African restaurant started by three brothers. The restaurant aims to showcase the beauty of African cuisine and believes it is oftentimes overlooked. However, the brand continues to serve traditional dishes with an elevated touch while staying true to the recipe’s authenticity. The menu includes a variety of contemporary African dishes like smokey, grilled mutton, egusi, and okra soup.
Afro Lounge
Location: 55a Whitchurch Rd, Cardiff CF14 3JP, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Nigerian
Afro Lounge is exactly where travelers should go in Wales to immerse themselves in authentic Nigerian cuisine. The pub-style restaurant and lounge serves an array of menu items and drinks all centered around traditional Nigerian food. It’s the perfect place in Wales for eating, drinking, and engaging in African food culture.
Up A Yard Jamaican Cuisine
Location: 1 Greenfield St, Greenfield Rd, Holywell CH8 7PN, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Jamaican
While it may be hard to find African-American soul food in Wales, there’s no better place to go for a taste of Jamaican soul than Up A Yard. The restaurant has won multiple awards including the TripAdvisor 2023 Travelers Choice Award and the Best World Cuisine Award from the Wales Food Awards. Up A Yard Jamaican Cuisine is the place in Wales where soul food and rum punches meet good energy. There are plenty of island vibes to go around, steel drum performances, and authentic Caribbean food for travelers looking for tropical cuisine in the streets of Wales.
West Bakes Cookies
Location: Online Delivery
Cuisine: New York Style Cookies
Although travelers can’t walk right into West Bakes Cookies, they can have them delivered fresh to their hotels whenever in Wales and many other places throughout the UK. Husband and wife duo Lewis and Yaz West created the cookie business when they couldn’t find the perfect New York-style cookie in the UK. Their persistent sweet tooth led them to start the business that now delivers fresh, hot-baked goodies right to doorsteps throughout Wales and surrounding areas. They offer a variety of unique cookie boxes full of delicious, homemade treats.