When I went home for Christmas, Cardiff was a completely different city to the one I remembered. When I left, the Hayes was dirt, scaffolding and JCBs – now it’s boasting the biggest John Lewis outside of London as well as the mahoooosive shopping centre, St David’s 2. It’s crazy to see my city changing in this way, and the word on the street is that Swansea is to get similar treatment. It’s pretty impressive though; Cardiff is clearly on the up with a shopping centre that rivals that of bigger English cities. Personally, I was really excited to see John Lewis because of its fabric section – in fact I ran straight for it and haven’t really been in the rest of it yet… I have a feeling the fabric ladies will get to know me veeeery well when I’m back in Wales!

However, my favourite part of Cardiff has and always will be the small arcades dotted around the city centre. My particular favourite being the Castle Arcade (pictured), mainly because of Cafe Minuet – an amazing little Italian cafe that’s been there for years, serving some of the best pasta and pizzas that I’ve tasted, and for a really good price. I’ve always hated it when I’ve gone to jumped up Italian restaurant chains, and they charge you a ridiculous amount for the smallest piece of lasagne you’ve ever seen, which will never top my Mum’s lasagne anyway! Cafe Minuet’s recipes are fantastic, and all named after composers, classical music being one of the owner’s passions. The Penne Bowman is a monster of a dish, but by far my favourite! The other reason that Cardiff Arcade is among my favourites is because of the shop opposite Cafe Minuet, Claire Grove’s Buttons.

This shop has been in the Castle Arcade for as long as I can remember. Don’t be fooled by how tiny it is, this place is filled to the brim with all manner of buttons. This is where I always go to find my buttons – except for when I’m in Germany, and even the Karstadt, the big department store in Dortmund, doesn’t have the selection that Buttons does. My Maryy, Little purple dress, Cute as two buttons and Ruffle Clutch all feature buttons from Buttons!

I was planning to head to Buttons this week and get some to take back to Germany, but sadly I didn’t get a chance to. Damn you John Lewis fabric section for distracting me past 5! Rest assured, if you’re ever in Cardiff, head to Buttons, it’s fab. Are there any shops of the like in your hometowns?

Flying to Dortmund tomorrow! Wish me luck!