Non-residents and residents alike can enjoy fine dining at its best in the award-winning First Floor Restaurant. Providing great value for money, this restaurant is just a stone's throw from the centre of Cardiff, inside the four-star Mercure Holland House Hotel. The contemporary-style bar has a touch of 1930s retro charm and is a perfect place to relax before dining. The equally impressive restaurant features a wall of glass, offset by wood panelling inset with mirrors that reflect exotic flower arrangements, creating a rarified atmosphere.

This restaurant, the proud winner of two AA rosettes, sources the best local produce to deliver two menus. A set menu changes every day, offering two or three reasonably priced courses. The à la carte menu includes vegetarian dishes and some very enjoyable little surprises in the form of free, delicious appetisers and mouth-watering sorbets. To start, enjoy a taste of the sea, with tian of crab, or seared diver-caught scallops on braised pork flavoured with poached pear and vanilla. Main courses might include grilled fillet of Welsh Black beef with potato and horseradish rosti, wild mushroom foam, caramelised vegetables and pancetta jus. I can personally recommend the loin of venison, which was cooked to perfection with poached pear, sautéed celeriac, beetroot and juniper berry jam.

The delicious desserts include hot chocolate fondant, Baileys ice cream and caramel lace; or raspberry pannacotta sweet wine float, with lemon biscotti and chocolate sorbet. In typical nouveau cuisine style, all dishes are presented like edible works of art.

There is also an extensive choice of fine wines from around the world, which cannot be purchased in any supermarket. The restaurant manager will advise you on your selection and is happy to share his expertise on the subject. This restaurant has so much to offer; call in for a drink - you'll soon want more.