Empire Cafe

74 Pontypridd Rd, Porth CF39 9PL, United Kingdom
+44 1443 682302
$$$ Cafe
(100 Reviews)
Price Range £1–10

If you're looking for a charming spot to unwind with a cup of coffee or indulge in a hearty meal, look no further than Empire Cafe. Nestled on Pontypridd Road in Porth, this local gem has built a reputation for its warm atmosphere and exceptional food that captures the heart of traditional cafe culture.

Cuisine Type: Empire Cafe serves a delightful array of classic British cafe fare, focusing on comfort and quality. Whether you're in the mood for a restorative breakfast or a light lunch, their menu caters to a variety of tastes.

Popular Dishes: The star of the show has to be the extensive breakfast offerings — imagine sinking your teeth into a lavishly plated traditional big breakfast, which includes perfectly cooked bacon, sausages, eggs, and toast. The generous portions have delighted many customers, with reviews mentioning that you get great value for your money, making it a top choice for a satisfying start to the day. Their sandwiches and rolls are equally appealing, with options like bacon and egg, cheese and onion, and meat and salad, perfect for a quick bite while you’re on the go.

Adding to the allure are their hot beverages — from refreshing cups of tea to robust coffees, and even rich hot chocolate for those who want to indulge a little. With beverages starting as low as £90.00 for a whole, cozy experience, you're sure to find something that tantalizes your taste buds.

Dine-in Atmosphere: Step inside Empire Cafe, and you're greeted by a warm, inviting space filled with the delightful aroma of freshly cooked food. The decor pays homage to Welsh culture and vintage charm, providing a cozy backdrop for your meal. Regular patrons describe the atmosphere as homey and unpretentious, perfect for enjoying a quiet chat with friends or just savoring some quality alone time with your thoughts. While the cafe might lack modern distractions like music or a television, it fosters conversations and connections among patrons, reminiscent of classic cafes of yesteryear.

Don’t just take our word for it! Customers like 'Sam Brankin' have enjoyed their visits to the cafe, noting how the charming and friendly staff add to the already delightful experience. Meanwhile, 'Tibor Domjan' shared a heartwarming story of how the staff's kindness truly left a meaningful impression.

One review poignantly captures the essence of Empire Cafe: "It looked closed from outside, but step inside and it was cosy and warm." This warm sentiment is echoed throughout the many reviews, illustrating that Empire Cafe is more than just a place to eat — it's a community hub where memories are made and friendships flourish.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, make sure to stop by Empire Cafe. With its fantastic food, welcoming environment, and affordable prices, it's a true must-visit for anyone in Porth. Just remember to bring cash, as they operate on a cash-only basis!

Accessibility
No wheelchair-accessible car park
Service options
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
No delivery
Highlights
Serves great coffee
Serves great dessert
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves coffee
Quick bite
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Crowd
Good for groups
Payments
Cash only
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Openings Hours

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Wednesday

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Thursday

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Friday

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Saturday

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Sunday

10:30 AM - 2:00 PM

100 Reviews
The Dollar Club MFL

19 Sep 2025

Amazing big breakfast, reasonably priced in an old school cafe environment. Make sure to visit.

Tara Pincott

06 Sep 2025

Absolutely stunning food everytime i really enjoy the dinners but the breakfast is also stunning and both a good size also lovely staff lovely atmosphere it's also really cheap and great value for money I would recommend the dinners 100% and the breakfasts only downfall really is there's no parking unless u park in morrissons and walk down and some might find the fact they only accept cash as a downfall but there is a cash points nearby so not massive issues I don't think u could take pushchairs or wheelchairs in tho because it's not big enough unfortunately which is a shame really

Sam Brankin

05 Sep 2025

I popped into Empire Cafe for a quick breakfast while on a bike ride over to Llanelli. The food was tasty, quick and affordable but what stood out more was that it was a charming little cafe with lovely people. I really appreciated being able to bring by bike inside and place it in the bay window of the cafe. Thank you :)

Andrew Williams

01 Sep 2025

It looked closed from outside, but step inside and it was cosy and warm and families were there with children. We had 4 great cooked breakfasts which included toast and drinks. If you fancy breakfast, lunch or coffee and you are in the area then I recommend this cafe.

Tibor Domjan

16 Aug 2025

An absolutely nice place with nice people. Their breakfast was to a very high quality and really large, it was delicious. I didn't realise it was cash only, I only had my mobile with me to pay contactless after breakfast. They told me it was fine and that I could have the breakfast on them. I walked away and luckily there was cash in my car so I could go back right away to pay. It is very nice to see good people, they made my day, this is what excellent customer service is, their other google reviews were good that's why I picked the place and I can see why. You are doing a great job, well done and thank you.

David Morgan

08 Aug 2025

I've recently moved to the area and wanted to find a cafe. This was the only one I could find It was dated inside and I found the seating cramped for my size. Ordered pie and chips and a mountain of food arrived, it was also delicious. Really looking forward to trying other dishes on the menu, pleasantly surprised with the pricing too

Sasha Boucher

26 Jul 2025

Visited here for the first time today. It's a nice little cafe, found on pontyptidd road just after the zebra crossing. The food is good value and worth the money, the decor is of the welsh culture and vintage, however it was quiet in the cafe (no music or telly) but I suppose that reinforces the art of conversation between customers. Have previously also had bacon baguette takeaways from here before which were nice. It's a little treasure found in Porth I definitely recommend this place.

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