The 36 best breakfast and brunch in St. Albans

Went in for dinner on a hot Saturday. The ambience is great. The decor is more like a bar one would find in Texas or so. The place is spacious with quite a few tables. The service was prompt and good. The waiter gave us time to go through the menu and did not rush us for an order. The cocktail was usual, nothing extraordinary. They have a good mix of cocktails, beers and wine. The food menu is predominantly Italian with a mix western comfort food. The pizzas were well made and good portions. They could have been a tad bit better on the flavour. They have bottomless pizza for the more adventurous ones. The service was prompt and we were told in advance that the pizza would be delayed as there was a big bottomless pizza order. Overall a good place to visit with the family.

We fancied a roast dinner but didn’t want to cook, and Beech House is always our go to. The portions are generous and the food is delicious and well cooked. The Yorkshire puddings are light, the potatoes fluffy on the inside with a perfect crisp outside, and the gravy is full of flavour. It really feels like a treat and the value is excellent too. A great spot for a proper Sunday roast without the hassle of making it at home.

I’ve been to the Beech House many times and always thought the service and food were great. I had an exceptional experience today though. My young son and I went for lunch, which is tricky as he has a food allergy and is still quite young for a lot of food options. The staff were so accommodating though, and happily made him a pizza he could eat with no risk. He absolutely loved it! The service was very quick too, which is a huge deal when you have a little one, likely to get bored any minute! Thank you team! We’ll come back again, when it gets too lonely at home! 💜

A very generous portion of grilled chicken on top of my favourite Greek salad, today the 7th of August, brilliant chef, that looks exactly like I wished for and exactly like it should be. Love it!

I celebrated my birthday here with family. Even though it was a Monday evening and relatively quiet, the Beech House had a lovely atmosphere and the staff went out of their way to ensure we had a pleasant evening. If you are disabled or have a food intolerence, I highly recommend this restaurant as a hassle free venue, with good food, that can cater to your individual needs.

I recently visited The Beech House under the new management and wanted to share my experience: The service was outstanding, and it’s clear that the new General Manager ( Jeff) is making a real difference. Their presence was noticeable—professional, friendly, and truly engaged with both staff and guests. It’s refreshing to see such strong leadership in action. The team seemed motivated, the atmosphere was vibrant, and everything ran smoothly. Looking forward to returning soon—keep up the amazing work!

We had a bottomless brunch today with Jeff our server! It was fantastic! Food was great, service was top notch (we love Jeff) and drinks were generous! Highly recommend would come again!

First visit. Stopped in for a late lunch on a bank holiday Monday. A nice table in the window with comfy chairs to watch the world go by. Interesting menu. Quick service. Very good

Usual Bill’s offer in a large relaxed setting with polite, well trained staff on hand. We had brunch dishes, Steak and Eggs and an Eggs Benedict, both well cooked and presented. My only gripe would be the amount of salt thrown on the plate prior to service, see photos; I’ve used less than this to make a meal for four and it’s a positive hazard to health on one plate.

Came in for dinner and really enjoyed it. The food was good, the staff were friendly and there was a nice, relaxed atmosphere. It wasn’t trying too hard, a nice place to sit, eat, and enjoy. We liked it enough to come back the next morning for breakfast, which was just as good. Would definitely pop in again if we're in the area.

Definitely one of the best places to eat in St Albans now. The new decor after the big refurbishment is brilliant, and we got excellent, attentive, friendly service from Gurney. Very child friendly too with lots of room for buggies and helpful staff.

Stepping into Bills in St Albans was a treat for the eyes! I absolutely adored the interior. it had such a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you instantly feel comfortable and could happily spend a good amount of time. The food was a bit of a mixed bag, but with some real highlights. The watermelon salad was a standout. It was incredibly fresh and the perfect light and zesty counterpoint to the other dishes we ordered. Each bite was bursting with flavor. As for the ribs, they were decent. Not the kind that would make me rave, but certainly not disappointing either. They sat comfortably in the middle ground of ribs I've tried. However, the fries were fantastic! Perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Overall, Bills St Albans offers a great dining experience, especially if you appreciate a beautiful setting and are looking for some truly fresh and delicious options like their watermelon salad. While the ribs might not be the star of the show, the other elements, particularly the ambiance and those wonderful fries, make it a place worth visiting.

Had the flower pot dessert really tasty and I absolutely would come back for more. Plus dog friendly.. great food I love it here !

Lovely meal here, George was friendly and efficient. The aubergine parm was delicious!

Stopped at Verdi’s with some friends after a business meeting. I had a coffee, cake, and a digestive liqueur — all excellent. The place is very welcoming, with a great atmosphere, and it’s perfectly located in the heart of Clarence Park. A lovely spot to relax and enjoy.

Checked this place out for the first time—it’s right next to the park. Super chill vibe and nicely decorated, perfect for hanging out in the garden with friends on a sunny day. I had the beef fillet, but it came out overdone. The pasta and scotch eggs, though? Really good.

We had a good meal for four here in June. After an exhausting morning we needed an easy lunch near the station. We were kindly seated in this authentic Italian, even though we were rather late for lunchtime service. The two carbonaras, pizza and salad were just what we needed. During staff changeover, the welcoming owner served us himself. Nice atmosphere. Well located by the park.

Fri night fun. Maitre d' was friendly and helpful. Terry the chef came out and shared chat and liqueur at end of night. Familial feel. Pizza, pasta ordered and also vegan option available which was fab as 2 of our party vegan. We had an issue with one starter and it was sorted with minimal fuss and no hassle. Have to commend a business who will do that without even a single need to discuss. 10/10 for service. Smart interior and lovely ambience.

Out for a family meal, and the food was great! Really tasty and only thing was bread was forgotten with one of the starters that when requested did come, but took a long time so others had all finished - slicing and toasting a little bread shouldn’t take 8-10 minutes as it did! Service and atmosphere were unfortunately not great 2 members of our party were less than 5 minutes before our booked time, and were challenged slightly rudely several times if they were in the correct place/ meant to be there/ part of the booking - no problem with asking the question once, but the way it was multiple challenges wasn’t good Several items - requested extra cutlery, jug of water - were forgotten and I had to get up to go and ask again The front of house staff were turning off lights (decorative around the edge, not main ones!) and cleaning up loudly - knocking plates and glasses together, clearing the table loudly and closing down whilst we were still eating. Having worked in hospitality I know that at the end of the shift, you want to close and go home, but if they didn’t want our business at that time, it should have been made clearer to us the table was for a limited time Perhaps if I returned at a marginally more popular time/ with other staff the experience would be better

My family have been in Verdi's in the beginning of September to celebrate my Mum's birthday. The food was so delicious and staff so attentive, friendly and helpful that it made the celebration even more special. Thank you for that!

I love the place and atmosphere also the coffee and their other drinks are great. Prices are a bit higher than what I expected. It’s clean. It’s not 5 star because staff aren’t friendly and never seen them smile. When I get there first time went inside and there were just 2 person sitting on one table . I went front of the till and order 2 drinks and told them it will be take away . Lady told me you need to order from outside at the table but this is ridiculous Ian already inside and ready to pay for my drink. That wasn’t professional. Other than that I love the environment

Went there for a brunch and it wasn’t too busy we got a seat right away. The staff was very welcoming and quite chatty as well which was good. We went for the English breakfast which isn’t authentic but it’s absolutely brilliant. The slightly spiced beans goes perfectly well with the sourdough and the sausage was great too. We had a cappuccino to wash it down. My friend was visiting London and this was his first meal in the city after a long flight and it went down pretty well. Highly recommend!

Had a fantastic brunch at The Breakfast Club in St Albans this weekend! The vibe of the place is relaxed yet lively – perfect for a lazy brunch date. I went for the wrap, which was packed with flavour and really satisfying, and paired it with a refreshing peach iced tea that hit the spot. My girlfriend opted for the masala chai, which had just the right amount of spice and warmth, and she also tried the pani puri and vada pav. She was seriously impressed – said the flavours were authentic and reminded her of proper street food in India. Service was friendly and fast mainly manager ansh was helping us with the menu was very friendly and the staff made us feel really welcome without being overbearing. We’ll definitely be coming back to try more off the menu. Highly recommend if you're in St Albans and looking for a unique brunch spot with a mix of traditional and fusion flavours.

We loved this place because it wasn’t just the typical dishes you usually find. We had the Samosa Chat, Pistachio French toast, Iraqi chicken shawarma wrap and Lavender Macha. Great food and atmosphere – highly recommended! Worth a repeat visit!

Amazing big portions of food, the place is lovely and super cozy. The staff is super friendly. Will definitely return to work here for a couple hours.

I've visited a fair few times now and the food is always exceptional, great little brunch spot near Clarence Park. Definitely recommend the French Toast!

Best brunch in the area. Brilliant customer service and the quality of food was superb. The French toast especially was delicious. Highly recommend

Special shout out to Ansh for our top service, great food and custom! We love it here and we will be back :)

Great start to finish Lived around here as a kid, was Hulse the best greengrocers in the area Nice selection of sandwiches and cakes etc, friendly staff, I hope this is a success for many yesrs to come

I went there today for lunch being new around the area and decided to try their Jerk Chicken sandwich and i must say after the first bite, it is the best jerk chicken sandwich i have ever had and super tasty! Love the portion size and the garlic mayo makes it a game changer! Highly recommend!

Pretty good food from a hidden gem but with a couple of tweaks this could be one to be sought out... a real destination. Firstly the food quality is good and with nice bread choices (hey guys don't give me a slightly burnt toast next time...). Good coffee, nice ingredients and well done like i like them, but this may not be to everyones taste, so best to check maybe. The name Smokehouse made it not look like a cafe when i was passing, so I nearly carried on past... then the menu is a little confusing with too many options, people like simplicity, so may some set menus for breakfast perhaps....

Amazing place! We moved away over a year ago - today we were lucky enough to be visiting and called in for Brunch. They did not disappoint....Best Eggs Benedict ever - truly superb!! With the most amazing staff. Thank you.

This is the best sandwich place in St Albans by far. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the owner goes above and beyond to satisfy his customers needs. Would highly recommend if you want the tastiest food around! Eggs Benedict is to die for and the jerk chicken melts in the mouth! Yum!

Always a warm welcome, an absolute commitment to both make sure you get everything how you like it and genuine care that you really enjoyed it. I breakfast here, lunch here and sometimes work from here. Great for any time of day or occasion. Allergies (I'm GF and DF) totally catered for, Gluten Free Bread, Olive Spread and Soy Milk always on hand. Unlike some restaurants, there isn't only a commitment to allowing for your allergy, also that a great and well presented meal is put in front of you. A great local business with an incredibly personable team! I'll be back soon, but they know that!

It was OK. Had Salted Caramel milk shake Very sweet and sickly. Not presented as well as others I have had at other venues. Ie no swirly cream or presented On a small plate /saucer and usually on a doily type place mat. Specially as it was more expensive too. Small thin/short Plastic ! Straw in sundae glass. Had to ask for napkins as well . Toilets not obvious. And not the cleanest. Sorry for negative view. Just how I perceived it. Cannot comment on food quality tho.

really well done coffee, super cosy, comfy and nice

Amazing coffee stop and the best sausage rolls. Nice outside seating and smashing service. Our new cycle stop…..8 months on has become my regular, sitting at the bar just inside during these cooler times…..even get asked ‘your usual?’. Smashing place!

Lovely place and fast service! We got a Pastel de nata which was lovely and a brownie which was good. The coffee was great too! Would definitely come again!

Lovely coffee and tasty croissant. The alfresco courtyard at the back gives you that free feel experiences. I think playing a different radio station like Smooth Chill will really enhance the ambiance, but that’s just my opinion.

I walked past it many times and read good reviews, so as one can imagine how much I looked forward to it when I entered it. The service staff was very cold and not welcomning even when I passionately said how much I was looking forward to trying their product. His attitude made me not want to stay. I took away 3 different types pastries, they were way over priced. My husband and I are both food lovers and we like trying new food around the world. Safe to say, their pastries taste very ordinary.

Food is amazing , coffee as well. It is a relief to find a coffee shop that is actually not a big chain but owned by real people dedicated to make pastries and cakes. Totally recommended.

Get there early if you want to buy one of their freshly baked loaves of bread - they sell out quickly. Good fresh coffee too.

Beth was a wonderful addition to our evening - my partner and I came for the £8 chicken deal and Beth was super pleasant and helpful. Great food and value. Would recommend! Thanks to Beth and the lovely ladies all running the floor this eve :) x

We were in the area and we were hungry. We came to the Harvester this afternoon,it was not busy at all for a Saturday afternoon. This was probably one of the best experiences we have had at the Harvester chain. The atmosphere and vibe felt quite tranquil. The exterior looks like a fairytale building,the interior is the typical Harvester style and full of character and charm. The toilets were very clean. The food from the salad bar was fresh and replenished well. The food is delicious from the salad bar and you can’t really go wrong with it! The colours of the veg are very vibrant. The service was friendly and the food came out very quickly. The food was delicious as usual. I had the pork belly and corn. The dish was beautifully presented. The pork especially was beautifully presented,the pork belly tasted nice and had a reasonable amount of flavour to it. The veg on the side was fresh and delicious. The mash was tasty and very generously portioned. However my only one criticism is that in the last year Harvester have significantly reduced the choice for gluten free diners and made the amount of choice inadequate for consumers who are gluten free. Whilst I appreciate that since the reduction of choice there have been two new main options added on that are gluten free. However,there has been a new change to the menu meaning that the chips are not 100% gluten free now. The pork belly and corn dish that I ate comes with chips and I was told by the server that I couldn’t have the chips with it. I only ordered regular chips so I’m presuming other chip options such as the sage and onion fries are no longer gluten free. It’s now either a choice between mash potato or jacket potato. I am shocked that a company like Mitchells and Butlers does not have standardisation with their food. I have eaten at their other brands such as Browns and Miller and Carter many times and never had an issue with fries but for some reason it may not be 100% gluten free here,however I have not eaten chips at either of the brands I stated above since February so it may have changed. I also had a similar experience at a Vintage Inns restaurant in February with the gluten free options. On the other hand,I feel that Mitchell’s and Butlers is probably the safest choice for me being a gluten free diner as all the staff are really well allergy trained and our server was really well trained and protecting me from any potential cross contamination. It was a great value meal and the food was lovely. Harvester is not cheap but it is a good option if you don’t want to break the bank. Today’s experience was one of the best I have had at a Harvester. I would highly recommend Harvester Ancient Briton!

An amazing Sunday afternoon dinner with great service and chilled family friendly vibes. Thanks to Kelly our waiter for her patience and friendly demeanour. Highly recommended for those big eaters out there 😋

I had such a wonderful experience thanks to my server, Emily. She was incredibly helpful from the moment I sat down, making sure I had everything I needed and answering all of my questions with a smile. Her customer service was truly top-notch—she was attentive without being overbearing, and you could tell she genuinely cared about making sure I had a great dining experience. Emily went above and beyond, and it made my meal that much more enjoyable. All around amazing service—I’d definitely recommend asking for her if you visit!

We’ve come here a lot especially as our group of 7. Kelly was our waitress today. She went above & beyond to make sure our service was great. Thanks again Kelly! (Ps I keep saying this to every Harvester I go to, please add sausage & mash back onto the main Harvester menu)

The restaurant was lovely and clean and felt very welcoming. The food was served up very quickly and was delicious, there was four of us and we all thoroughly enjoyed our food. Our server was a lovely lady called Kelly ,she was very helpful and bubbly and easy to chat to. She even went out of her way to get some scraps from kitchen for me to take home to my puppy. We will definitely come back and hopefully get the same server.

Stopped in for dinner with our 6 week old baby without booking a table but the lovely ladies on shift got us seated with space for our pram. Beth, our waitress, cooed over our baby boy and was a fantastic conversationalist during service. Not to mention how timely the foods arrival was. Have to say probably the best service we’ve had at a Harvester restaurant and it was so lovely to enjoy a meal together (our first one as just a trio). Thank you to the team for making it an enjoyable last minute treat.

Had lunch here on our over night stay. From start to finish the service from the various members of staff was great. Food options wasn't the best but I did enjoy the 2 courses that I had. The old fashioned I had wasn't great but other than that wasn't too bad of a lunch.

We saw an offer for a set menu to celebrate the reopening of the brasserie. Staff were great, very attentive. Had seen some posts about slow service and can only assume that was before the reopening. The restaurant itself has been nicely furnished. The set menu option was really good ( we went for Friday dinner in the evening). £29 for 3 courses including a glass of wine. Sopwell house itself looks lovely. Lots of people were obviously enjoying a spa weekend- great for a girls catch up etc.

Amazing service Yaroslava! She served us the entire time with such a beautiful smile. The food was good, limited vegan/veg options, but the Yaroslava was flexible in helping us find alternatives from the other restaurant.

Very pleased with the service by the tall gentleman, he was very attentive give and polite. The food was just above average as the palette was not quite to our liking on the scallops starter. The apple sauce was an odd pairing to the shellfish. The beef cheeks was delicious, tender and saucy. Pudding not too keen. The setting and atmosphere was perfect for a catch-up. Would recommend and would return but only for deals and not full price.

Last minute idea to go to the newly refurbished brasserie. Wow what a good idea. We had the set lunch which was excellent in every way. This place is a class act, with friendly professional staff, in a great setting.

Absolutely fantastic. Great re-opening offer. Lovely attention to detail for a birthday

The perfect end to a wonderful Saturday - the duck was amazing and the service was fantastic!

★★★★★ We had an absolutely fantastic dining experience at this Italian restaurant! The food was authentic, full of flavour, and truly felt like real, proper Italian cuisine. Every dish was cooked to perfection, and you could tell that high-quality ingredients were used. The service was excellent—attentive, friendly, and efficient. The staff made us feel welcome and ensured we had everything we needed. On top of that, the value for money was outstanding, especially considering the quality of the food and the overall experience. If you’re looking for a genuine Italian meal that ticks all the boxes—amazing food, great service, and fair prices—this is the place to go. We’ll definitely be returning!

A very authentic Italian restaurant that offers a lot of famous Italian dishes. There are also different chef recommendations every day. These chef recommendations are handwritten. The price is a little expensive, but it is worth a try. Overall, the food is of good quality and it is a cost-effective Italian restaurant.

Great place for breakfast, amazing food and really nice atmosphere, friendly staff and helpful, the food is amazing.. definitely recommend 👍🏻🥳🍸

The presentation of the food is lovely, the cafe is cosy. However the food lacked flavour. Ordered pizza and pasta

Delicious home style italian food. Informal and relaxed setting. All staff were friendly and attentive. Kids loved the buffalo mozzarella Margherita pizza. the portions were generous. The tiramisu was very tasty! Will definitely go again.

It's always a pleasure to brunch or dine there. Delicious food and lovely staff members. Me and my family simply love this place. ❤

One of the best pizzas we have had. Authentic, fresh and full of flavour. Fantastic service and feel very lucky to have this restaurant on our doorstep. Thoroughly recommend.

Having seen Gail's in the UK I hadn't ventured until today. The minimalist artisanal shop interior design is bright and trendy with exposed ceiling AC ducting. The baked goods and bread are lined beautifully and one would assume it's baked locally? That wasn't the case as it factory baked which was a shock but also kinda of expected with a chain. The Brand design and use of sans serif typeface similar to Century Gothic simple design branding analogous to elements of Swiss Design & Nordic Design styling. The coffee was prepared well and the latte art on my Cappuccino was done well, which is a good indication of good quality beans with enough oil to add florid decorations to your beverage unlike the N's, S's and C's ubiquity that offers no nonsense slap bang coffee. The taste was average, unremarkable that gave a slight bitterness aftertaste that had no distinct bean profile. The baked goods Pain au Chocolat was pleasantly made, proofed well and size impressive. After the initial crunch of the outer layer Mon voucher was met with a half baked kind of card board soggy texture that is atypical of many baked goods that are pre-preped and in great numbers. What was curious was the small amount of chocolate of the interior. My mouth was certainly confused with the ingredients of the Pain au Chocolat. Did it contain both butter and margarine rather than just Butter? My continuos curiosity with food cooking and baking is a blessing but also a curse. Suffice to say my experience was pleasant in a trendy place but do I think 🤔 Gail's is worth the effort and money? I would have to place my reservations on the unspectacular level of gastronomy in the UK today. The baked goods are neither as scrumptious as the Old Bakery Guard from our Parisian friends across the Channel neither are they as perfected, curated as the Taiwanese & Japanese artisans. I would wager as Food Culture doesn't appear to form a large part of the local culture in the United Kingdom has resulted in the current low level of quality and innovation in gastronomy. The apparent rise of celebrity chefs with a slap bang approach with moderate copies of worldwide cuisines seem to dominate the media showing a lack of Excellence, Consistency, Commitment & Talent with food. In this case, baked goods, is average even with Gail's hailed as great. Would I visit? I would from time to time but I certainly haven't come across a place I would class as excellent that I would become a frequent visitor to.

I stopped by once as I was quite hungry. The sandwich unfortunately was not good at all and the whole atmosphere was quite hectic as I think they are very busy but the coffee and buns were delicious ☺️ nice place to sit and people watch 😁

I have ordered onlilne for collection 4 slices of babka from you as you can't order a full loaf. At every other Gail's( Ealing's, Berkheamstead, Shepherds Bush) , 4 slices is a full loaf. I have recently started ordering from St Albans as Berkheamstead no longer sells them. First time I have received a full loaf when ordering 4 slices, as expected. 2nd time I have also received a full loaf as expected. This morning, I have received four slices, which cost £4 each and they are about half as big as normal. How is it that a full babka when ordered is the price of 4 slices everywhere and in St Albans it changes randomly?

Hands down, my favourite coffee shop. Yes, it's expensive, but the coffee is consistently good and the Carrott cake is worthy of a special mention :) However, that being said, for me, it's the staff that make this particular coffee shop so good!! Attentive, warm and friendly (even when it's ridiculously busy). They're the reason I keep coming back! Thank you ALL for your kindness and consideration 🙏 And a BIG thank you to Raffaella for making the most amazing Mocha's - See picture below... Tastes as good as it looks :-D

I just don’t get the hype. How does a company get so big with such terrible coffee? As a barista myself, a SCA professional, this is a sad excuse for a long black. Customer service was none existent and even as I write this the manager is still talking to a friend (not on shift) very loudly in the kitchen not paying attention to who’s walking in. No welcome, no hello, took my name for coffee and didn’t call it out. I’m consistently disappointed by this chain.

Had an outstanding experience at Gail’s yesterday. My server Jaine was really helpful, kind and friendly. The almond croissant was to die for. I will definitely be returning! :)

Everyone at this coffee shop is always very warm, kind and attentive, I love coming in, even if it’s semi-regularly! I always get great recommendations and the variety of drinks amazing :)

I was really looking forward to a walk to Heartwood Forest and a nice stop off at the Tearooms. What a disappointment-the worst food & customer experience I’ve had in a long time. Not a friendly welcome, the waitress told us there would be a 20 minute wait for food when we ordered but it must have been about 45minutes. The owner did apologise when the food came saying it was “chaotic” but I don’t know how they could have served up the food, I felt embarrassed for them. Raw veg in the Mediterranean ciabatta with sad salad and unpleasant coleslaw and the bubble and squeak was a tiny portion, soggy with horrible halloumi. I should have sent it back but we’d waited so long and were so hungry I thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad but I honestly felt queasy after. No-one asked us how it was, probably best not! I could hear the owner offering other customer free drinks because of the long wait but I think they left in the end. I told the waitress how disappointing the food was when we went to pay and said maybe they were just having a bad day but it shouldn’t have been served up like that. To add to the bad taste of the whole experience, she just repeated very insincerely “I’m so sorry” not even making eye contact and clearly couldn’t care less. Sorry to have to write such a bad review & I hope you can take this honest feedback on board (looking at your previous responses to negative reviews I’m not expecting you to acknowledge or apologise for the poor experience 😞 )

An interesting village tearoom with two dining rooms and a tented outdoor eating area. Close to Heartwood forest. Attentive service and eclectic decor with exposed bricks and beams in a medieval building. Excellent cream teas at sensible prices that have to be booked in advance. I had a delicious soup with granary bread and warm butter not frozen slabs that I abhor! at sensible price. Parking may be a problem. My only minor criticism was the noise it seems to rebound off the walls and ceiling as there is no carpet or acoustics to absorb it and conversation was difficult

I hired out the whole place for my 50th, for a Champagne Afternoon Tea. David and his team did a fantastic job taking care of us. All dietary requirements were fully understood and catered for, and as the volume rose amongst the ladies, the team kept on smiling - nothing was too much trouble. A fabulous afternoon was had by all 34 guests!!

Love this place. The food and the service are fantastic. It’s so great to have a locally run independent tea room /cafe on our doorstep. An amazingly good cup of Earl Grey to-boot! Highly recommended

Such a beautiful little cafe with really good food, best bacon and poached egg I’ve ever had! Staff (Lauren and dani) were so kind and accommodating had to come back the next day for lunch again

Great menu, especially for a little café Place is cozy and welcoming and there are outside tables Service was good, and the food was really well cooked and presented

What a gem, arrived too early for park run coming from Ashford, in need of a coffee and a sausage sandwich. Walked in while they were still setting up uit given a great welcome. Definitely on my list to revise for lunch.

First visit and the cake was delicious. Enjoyed a coffee and quick peruse of the craft stalls. It was Saturday, so unsure if they are normally at the venue. Enjoyable visit.

good place to get some work done. apple cake was delicious!!

I regularly recommend the Courtyard cafe to friends and family, it's a real gem in St Albans. Compliments to the chef and team who always offer great service. Recommend the mushrooms on toast - tasty!

Delicious bacon buttie with fried egg. Their cakes -delicious (Rhubarb & Orange). Staff are lovely. My new favourite place.

Me and my girlfriend loved the food, Jamie had great service and very kind. Highly recommend

Absolutely loved this cafe.. the food is stunning service second to non, definitely going to be a regular stop for us. Xx

Easily my favourite place in St Albans for lunch and brunch! Wonderful food and coffee, lovely, friendly staff, and a very pleasant setting, especially outside on a sunny day. I'm pretty much addicted to the mushrooms on toast.

The food in there was lovely create, create your own breakfast with a nice price. I have to say the tea wasn't all great. But the biggest issue took half a can of coke away and chucked it in the bin before even finishing it, they said clean the table without asking if you finished with everything instead she just taking it all.

Was ignored on entry to cafe by staff , my friend had to prompt two staff behind counter for a menu as sat a while waiting to be served. When tried to attract staff in a polite way was greeted by a disgruntled waitress who seemed like she didn't want to be there, order was taken but my meal arrived quick but after 20 mins was still waiting for my friends meal , had to prompt staff and it appeared to have been forgotten , by now I had eaten my sandwich and 30 mins later my friends meal finally arrived. Poor service won't rush back. It was also noticed they were running a takeaway service also and maybe the service to the cafe menu's were affected because of this.

A grand local cafe with good quality coffee, super-quick service and plenty of choices. Slightly dodgy music playing this morning, hence 4 stars. Also note that it's CASH ONLY, which is quaint. It's not exactly cheap either, but the service and quality is better than you might usually get in such a place. You get what you pay for!

Great food and staff. Muzak not too loud. Very popular. Great service!

Excellent value for money, nice atmosphere, great staff and hugely generous portions! I had to ask for half my food to be put in a takeaway box as it was too much to eat but too good to waste!! Highly recommend this place!!

Poor food which isn't cooked properly but the service is worse than ever. Avoid

My first time visit to this cafe. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Food and coffee are excellent and reasonably priced. Definitely will revisit.

This cafe is an absolute gem. The service was fabulous;, polite, helpful and charming. The cafe is lovely in layout, very clean and tidy. The wall picture - spot the famous faces, will keep you amused if you're eating alone. When the food arrived I was bowled over; freshly prepared, piping hot and generous to a fault. This is my new favourite.

The best food restaurant anywhere in UK , amazing food & amazing staff.. love this place try grilled chicken with rise to die for.. 100% satisfied or money back from me !!

My go to for a bit of grub 2-3 times a week. Never had a bad experience here. Food is top notch and staff lovely.

Seems like a proper cafe in St Albans is a dying breed. So it's great to still have traditional options that aren't catering to hipsters and vegans. Great food, unpretentious and friendly staff and great outdoor seating near the town centre. Dog friendly too!

I’ve been visiting Cafe Alfresco on Victoria Street for some time now, and it never fails to delight! The moment you step in, you’re greeted by a cozy vibe light floods the indoor seating and the covered outdoor area invites you to kick back and watch the world go by. Service feels genuinely warm and attentive even during busier moments, the staff strike the perfect balance between professional and personable.

There's something for everyone on the menu. Great place with timely service and the best prices and portion sizes in St Albans. The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating

We had breakfast and lunch here on our weekend in St Albans. Outside or indoor dining. Varied menu. Very clean restaurant with helpful friendly staff. We will be back. Thanks

We came on a Sunday when the vintage market was on and it was very busy! However they were handling this really well. We both ordered the avocado on toast as they were sadly out of the jacket potatoes. They asked whether we wanted the garlic and chilli flakes on top and I was able to request mine without black pepper. I also order a pistachio latter which was amazing it was nice and creamy and not too sweet. I really enjoyed my food and drink and the experience. I will be coming back to try the jacket potatoes!

Such a lovely place for a coffee and some food. Highly recommend the pistachio latte and yes you do want the cream with it. Stuff is always super friendly and helpful even when it's busy. You can really see and feel how much better it is since the management change, it has been a while but you can see all bad reviews are from years ago. It's a shame I don't live in St Albans or come here all that often but whenever I'm around I always pop in for a coffee.

What a great little gem. Owner managed and my matcha tea and almond croissant were amazing! Come on St Albans, support an amazing little local, run by a resident 😀

Always stop for a coffee here. Staff are lovely and must get that from the owner. Always popular which is a good sign. Plenty of seating outdoors to people watch.

Always come in whenever over to England Has great coffee, food breakfast options , tasty snacks and a good choice of delicious cakes Owner is lovely as it her staff

I dropped in here today for the first time. It’s a gem of a place. Great coffee and cake, and really friendly atmosphere. Simple menu but all the food looks splendid and is very reasonably priced. Please support the local independents!

Love this place! The best coffee in St Albans - and Velina and her staff are always so friendly and uplifting! Nice there is now a small food menu too (excellent smashed avocado on sourdough toast). Fabulous to have this wonderful independent coffee shop; SO much better than the chains

Couldn’t believe what happened when I went to this cafe for the first time. To start lady at the till wasn’t engaging with us when placing and order (2x coffees, cake and croissant). Thought fair enough might be new. We ordered a carrot cake and was served a coffee and nut cake rather than what we ordered. Secondly sat down and waited for our drinks then the staff member SPILT the Iced Chai on our table and proceeded back to the till and didn’t even volunteer to clean it up. Absolutely unbelievably disappointed with the customer service. Not to mention the fire alarm test ringing in our ears for a constant 7 minutes.

Brilliant cafe, excellent customer service, the food was cooked to my liking and it's very clean. I will definitely be back to try more food.

Had the mediterran and veggie lunch plates, at £12 each. They were absolutely enormous, fresh and delicious. Took about 10-15 mins to come even on a busy lunchtime. Drinks of matcha iced coconut and honey and tea in a proper sized teapot also great. Nice shady outside seating area to the front great for a warm day. Staff were very welcoming.

Nice cafe at the beginning of the main strip, so not overcrowded. Enjoyed the salt-beef closed sandwich

What a fantastic find...amazing female barrista who was outstanding. Buzzy, busy and wonderfully friendly atmosphere. Food looked amazing, if it matches the high quality coffee and fresh juice (just add ice) then you're onto a winner!

A fab family run cafe. I would happily come here every weekend for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Always greati

Discover a cozy café that offers a delightful twist, radiating charm and creativity. Immerse yourself in an ambiance that fuses aromatic brews with artistic flair. Each expertly crafted cup delivers a unique experience, complemented by welcoming service. This is the ideal destination for coffee lovers who crave something truly special.

Well allocated, lovely place for smart working or meets with friends. Lovely food and coffee. Very professional barista staff. Amazing customer service.

Great in terms of chain cafe! It doesn't come across as one as much as other and whilst slightly expensive not much more than anything else and the food is a lot better and a wider variety than lots of other cafes. I really recommend for groups with lots of different tastes, pickier eaters and there are lots of delicious healthy and filling options too.

I never had a disgusting matcha in my life, im thinking the powder is old or very low quality!I’m drinking matcha for years now and i had a brilliant idea to go to pret! Never again! I don’t know how people spend their money every day in places like this!

I asked if they could remake my Chai Latte as it was so sweet! The gentleman just rolled his eyes and the lady blamed me for not telling the lady at the front beforehand. I have never had such bad service. This is what you get when you franchise a business and don't get the right training/staff

I love the variety of delicious sandwiches and wraps from The Pret. Location is great as it is in the high street but i don’t like their sitting area as chairs were not as comfortable as they used to be and they got too many in sitting area so hard to walk. Ordered breakfast but was not provided cutlery . Do t like their trays which look very unprofessional they should change them and provide proper trays.

Really disappointing visit today Are you aware that they charge at least 25% more if you eat in ?!!!!! I was shocked that my lunch came to £12 !!! When i queried this was told its the eat in surcharge. I never been so lost for words. The macaroni cheese inflates in price from £5.67 to £7.09 Just because you're eating in on a dirty table that you have to remove the previous occupants leftovers and crumbs from, plus the luxury added bonus of a wooden fork to eat with. There's no waiter service and the food is not cooked fresh as you order. This is very poor given restaurants in St Albans offer set lunch menus for £8. I even took my crisps and cake back to work with me, despite having been charged extra to eat those in too. The macaroni cheese wasn't even enjoyable, I suspect sitting in the heated cabinet had made the pasta rubbery and the cheese was all congealed. I shall not be visiting again on this basis.

For nearly £5 I’d have hoped for my wrap to not be missing a third hidden behind the label. The guy shouting orders out across the room every 20s seconds is an interesting touch.

It's been already a couple of times when I order a coffee with a single shot, because I cannot drink a stronger coffee and I get such a bitter, strong latte that there is definitely more than 1 shot! I can barely drink it, it is so bitter! I used to have great lattes with 1 shot for 2 years in this place but last 2 weeks, I constantly receive such strong coffee, which is so annoying because I ask for 1 shot (health reasons), I pay for a coffee and I cannot drink it! I thought it was once, or twice, but it's happening constantly now!! If someone ask for 1 shot, don't make 2! Some people cannot drink stronger coffees because of their health problems!! And the difference in taste is so drastic! From milky latte to pure bitterness!

Lovely starbucks, very clean and orderly, coffee is done very well - I only order espresso but it can be quite hard to find a starbucks these days that manages to pull a really good shot, luckily this is one of the better stores, 8 times out of 10 it's always really nice and the other 2 times it's still reasonable. It's a shame it's quite hard to spot the store from the outside, may have just been my experience but i feel as though if I wasnt purposely looking for it i would've missed it. Would recommend.

this review is long time coming. I can say I have been to this Starbucks at least 100 times as it’s near my work and every time I go it’s always a disaster and I’m leaving disappointed. Today was my final straw every time I go to this Starbucks and ask for a drink it’s always unavailable and this has happened nearly every time I’m here and I ordered a strawberry drink to find dragon fruit in it. I will never come here again. I do not recommend at all.

Since being on maternity leave, Starbucks has become a home to me! I cannot thank Gomez (Ruben) enough for being so helpful, kind and friendly. He has a warm soul and is such a delight to me and my baby boy - he’s become family and a friend. He has such a good relationship with all his clients and I wish him the best in life, always! Lots of love Decaf White Mocha ✌🏼 (I must add I do love Patrick, Aurelia and Martin too) #BringBackNutBlend

Love this particular Starbucks all of the staff are amazing and super friendly and amazing coffee

I really enjoy to come to this Starbucks, than others around. It's friendly and the view contribut to the vibe, because you can admire the oldest Clock Tower from England, while you're enjoying your drink.

One of the greatest places to have coffee ever ☕️💛

Don’t have high expectations when eating in Morrisons in St. Albans. But today’s meal was terrible. Pie was burnt inside, so pastry was rock hard. Gravy was like dishwater. Mushy Peas were crunchy!! Mash potato was bland. No wonder so many of the cafes are closing, standards have really slipped.

Great place to grab a good value bite to eat. Enjoyed a Brie and Cranberry sandwich, cup of tea and slice of cake for £4.80 each, the sandwich would cost that elsewhere. Overall, I can't complain.

We were taken to a table and then told to queue to place our order. They were quite busy (Sunday morning) so it took 15 minutes for our food to arrive but we didn't really notice as we were chatting anyway. Food was tasty and hot. We had a big breakfast and a vegetarian breakfast. Currently half price which was an added bonus. Lynne on the till was super friendly. Will definitely go again.

The food was amazing,the staff seemed super nice and nothing loud was there.

I used to love this place untill today!! I asked for 2 soft poached eggs on brown toast with a side of 2 mushrooms. I got 2 HARD poached eggs on the side of the toast NO mushrooms. My mum asked for a full breakfast -no tomatoes - no beans with an extra mushroom. 'We have to charge for extra mushroom' Not a problem. Mums food, no black pudding witch is meant to be on a full breakfast no extra mushroom witch we paid for. The staff dealt with someone before us & over charged them, when confronted they made out it was there fault when the guys sat down all staff laughing completely mugging of the gent that paid the over charge. Discusting i wont be eatting here ever again.

Often come here for breakfast & have to say the breakfast is really delicious and always been on point. Loads of seating and excellent facilities and a variety of meals offered besides breakfast.

All excellent delicious all day breakfast. Great value.

A stop over in ST Albans with my boys to do some shopping and meet some friends, so we go to the McDonald and was very easy to park and access the restaurant we already ordered via the app to make it easier for us. The place was very niece and tidy different from the other McDonald I been was more cosy with lots of space and sofa everything was clean and comfortable all around. I will go again when I will be back.

Avoid if possible. Always a mess , some staff very friendly unlike others 👎. But overall it’s a NO ❌ Branch for me. The most important has to be food hygiene standards for me. No excuse!

I stopped picking up food deliveries from here because it's all over the place. The Franchise owners need to investigate and get things in to order. During busy periods, all hell breaks loose and they simply can not meet the demand. Store needs re-designing to assist with efficiency, i.e. "delivery partner" entrance on the side of the building to ease congestion at the till. The managers need to communicate more with delivery partners to get orders off the shelf, RATHER THAN LETTING US FIGHT TO GET SOMEONE'S BLOODY ATTENTION! 🤣

DO NOT ORDER A DELIVERY FROM HERE UNLESS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH ITEMS MISSING - THEY SOMEHOW FORGOT A BURGER AND THOUGHT 6 NUGGETS WOULD FULFILL AND ORDER FOR 9!!! UPDATE: DECIDED TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER CHANCE TODAY 13/01/24. ORDERED A LARGE STEAKHOUSE STACK MEAL AND THEY FORGOT THE ACTUAL BURGER. THESE GUYS ARE HALFWITS THAT WORK HERE.

Every time over the last teo months our order has had missing items , the restaurant refuses to accept any accountability. This is extremely frustrating and not good enough . As regular customers we expect that you make every effort to ensure the same mistakes do not reoccur . Uber eats do what they can by offer a refund but it doesn’t alter the fact that order is never complete.

Food was cold even though we ordererd in store at the till lots of staff chatting in kitchin service was very slow deliveroo people see more inportant than customers .knoew friends that have it delivered and its always cold when it arrives most times but dont expect in when you go to collect it should be fresh and hot very disapointing after not having one for a while

Service is slow. Food is hit and miss, chips under cooked, chicken I had didn't look cooked so ended up not eating it. Its not a Mc Donalds I would rush back to anytime soon.

Just have my breakfast here and food was delicious. Shop is keeping clean and tables cleaned straight away after customers leave. Food is served quick and it is easy to change ingredients from the sets.

Located down London road, small cafe with limited seats. It wasn’t clean, floor had food particles. The staff weren’t friendly. I got a cup of cappuccino which was watery(can view it in the photo). Wouldn’t try again.

I’ve been coming here for a while and everytime the food is just absolutely amazing and the staff are so lovely especially Alexandra. Thank for you for your great service and being so helpful! HIGHLY RECOMMEND 10/10⭐️

Wonderful in every way. If I had to nit pick then butter would be better than marg... all in all though it was a fantastic, fairly priced breakfast, quality sausages and free range eggs. Decent coffee, fresh bread..... I could go on and on

I have not had a better breakfast in my 50 years. Value, quality, service outstanding. Premium ingredients.

Lovely all day breakfast. Can't fault it. Simply fantastic food and great variety of options.

Authentic full English breakfast, service is excellent, real thing for real workers.

Charlie is truly interested in her customers​. She is always chatting to them as I pass. If Charlie is half as caring about her coffee as she is her customers it will taste great. In fact I'm sure the coffee tastes great, it certainly smells great but unfortunately I'm always on bike so I can never buy one! 😥

When I started a new job, my colleagues assured me that the best coffee in St. Albans was from Charlie's. Having sampled all the other coffee shops on my route to work, I can confirm they are correct. Not only is it the finest coffee you'll ever taste, it's also served with the sort of friendly smile and chat that you'd never get in one of the chains. 5 stars.

Charlie's coffee van truly brightens up my day. Delicious coffee always served with a friendly smile and a chat. Something to look forward to on my morning commute!

Fantastic coffee, service with a smile from a super-friendly, independent coffee brewer and her little van. She's been making commuters happy with a fresh brew for years and St Albans wouldn't be the same without her (and she can even be relied on when it's snowing - awesome!).

Lovely coffee. Cup size is kinda too small. Lovely customer service. Has a variety of pastry. Well placed to grab a quick hot drink before getting on the train.

Not only is this the best coffee you will ever have it is served by the nicest and most friendly staff you will ever meet. Impossible not to recommend to anyone who loves good coffee and fine people.

Such a lovely lady and really delicious. Not often you find a flat white as tasty as this and the milk was perfect temp. Thanks Charlie!

I have supported this business for many years and they have always offered lovely produce and good service. Recently, I tried to purchase some croissants and white rolls and was informed that they had no croissants and they refused to sell me any rolls even though they had a counter full of them. When I mentioned this to another trader in the village they advised me that they had had a similar experience; another customer at that shop at the time said that he too had been treated in a similar manner. How can the only bakery in the village refuse to sell bread to its customers?

Lovely bakery with a great atmosphere, but I was disappointed to find my sandwich filled with grated cheese. Cold sandwiches with grated cheese just don’t work — it falls out, lacks texture, and feels like a corner-cut. For a place with such good bread and coffee, sliced or chunked cheese would match the quality they’re clearly capable of. Like so many businesses these days, it feels like they see the customer as a bit of an inconvenience. The place gives off the impression that it’s better than it actually is — the presentation and branding suggest top-tier quality, but the small details (like the grated cheese) and service reveal the execution doesn’t match the image they project. Where else are they cutting corners…

Top quality bakers who also offer assorted hot food for rolls, baps and sandwiches. The pastries available are delicious, my favourite is the blackberry crumble! Highly recommended.

Bought made to order baguettes and had lunch at their riverside decking area, watching the mallards. Excellent staff and atmosphere.

Sit outside after a walk or cycle, red heatlamps lovely in the cold. Hot chock and almond bread and butter puddin mmmmm

Always busy with lots of people seated outside with their pups. I had a really nice blondie here. Oh and a really nice bacon bap.

Amazing choice for a delivery! BEST Sausage, Egg and Bacon Baguette ever - a must try. No other bakery compares to this breakfast as not too salty and good quality bacon. A cappuccino each to finish it off. . . . but the treat didn't stop there. Their Bakewell tart with almonds was a different level to anything else I have tried. However the coconut cheesecake wasn't quite a cheesecake we expected, it was more a puff pastry turnover, still exceedingly nice. The extra star would be given had the sausage been a better quality. Delivered within an hour and still hot - brilliant service and we will definitely order again. #supportlocalbusiness

It's a small Costas in my opinion with limited seating in the heart of St Albans. The staff was a little busy but got the order correct making the experience worthwhile and also notified that I can get a free drink with my app reward if I wanted to. That was great to know. Recommend if In the area. Coffee was good quality and service provided was satisfactory.

One male staff was really grumpy and stubborn and didn’t listen to customer. (And he seems to be bullying another female staff too?) Ordered a drink w cream and they only had take away cup. I said it’s fine but I don’t need a lid. The staff insisted putting that on for safety. To be honest I don’t get that at all - you don’t need to put a lid for normal glass right? And all the other branches I have been to would not do this as long as I say I don’t need a lid. (Also the cream was so little and he didn’t ask if I need sprinkles) These were all small things but adding up to an unpleasant experience overall. (Also he kept shouting at another female staff which made the whole vibe even worse) I would suggest the guy not doing this job if he refused to even listen to his customers’ small requirements and can’t treat his colleague respectfully.

Great service from the Costa team this evening. William, Guy and Aly were excellent. The Coffee shop food area was spotless and the floors were clean. Nothing was out of place in the shop. I forgot to collect my receipt but a new one was printed for me without any fuss 🙏 Thank you for a great atmosphere 😊

Went in at 5:30 stood at counter- only one at counter and clearly seen by staff but no greeting. Waited a fair while then asked if I could order a coffee was told in a dismissive fashion that I should wait. Walked out and went to Cafe Nero and got served immediately

I go to Costa coffee in tge maltings daily & have been for 2yrs . I really like this costa as the staff are friendly & welcoming . The manager William has really made this costa into a really pleasant place to have a coffee ,lunch or a cake. Not only William has made this costa very pleased but his staff has also

Quite spacious and nice, coffee is okay but do yourself a favor and don’t get cold brew here. It’s sour and watered down there is nothing you can do to fix that questionable beverage as sugar will not dissolve in cold drink. Staff seems to be happy to work here so I guess that makes visit a bit better.

No complain as always nice coffee n cool staff. Love the outdoor hut for enjoying coffee but shame I couldn’t get space there so sit inside but hope next time

Hi Everyone, I visited this place today morning with my friend to enjoy a breakfast together. The place is lovely and the breakfast was excellent. 👌 The staff were very friendly and professional. I would like to highlight recommend this place. The menu has also Lebanese 🇱🇧 food. Thank you so much for the lovely breakfast. We were so happy! Keep up the great work, Guys 🙌

Our server Yash was lovely and attentive. The range of food had us spoiled for choice. Our party picked simple and more unique menu options and everyone left happy and stuffed. Definitely will be returning.

Fantastic brunch! We're here in Luton to fly from the airport and we had a quick brunch before leaving. The waiters are very efficient and polite. The ambience is good with big and comfortable tables. The food is amazing, we had poached eggs that were perfectly cooked and all our dishes were very yummy and good portion. Next time we fly from Luton, we'll know where to go again!

Amazing brunch! I came here today with my sister and aunt and had an amazing time. We ordered the fresh juices which were incredible. They were so fresh and tasty. I ordered the English Breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also enjoyed the chocolate caramel shortbread that we got on the house. Perfect service and I recommend it for anyone looking for a great halal brunch in Luton!

I love going to 50 nine with my friends. It’s a cute breakfast brunch cafe. Love their lunch menu. It has great options. The peri peri chicken pasta is so good. Love the Black Forest latte and the mango smoothie. Highly recommend it if you are near the station or in high town in Luton.

I’ve ordered food for home delivery from 50nine a few times every time it is perfect. Perfect poached eggs delicious pasta tasty chicken and amazing avocado toast, also the fruit juice drinks are 10/10. They are great at cooking and make your food exactly how you like it when you ask for special requests. Great menu lots of choice couldn’t recommend them enough and if you call and speak to them at all they are really friendly! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Great service, fantastic coffee and delicious food! I had the prawn curry with chips and it was so good. The atmosphere is very cozy and comfortable. Would absolutely recommend to anyone coming to Luton

A delicious array of obviously hand made cakes and several varieties of cold sandwiches on over-generous focaccia bread. I'd never had a cold Ruben before but it was very tasty. My partner's smoked salmon with pickled onions and ribbons of cucumber was gorgeous. The carrot cake was unctuously spicy and nutty with just the right amount of cream cheese icing. Tables inside or outside in a verdant bower. Flat white coffees were a bit dear considering the portion size. Loved the freely available ice water. Local eggs and apple products available. Take away goodies too tempting. Dog friendly.

Bad coffee. 4 stars food, 4 stars service and 5 stars atmosphere by the river and greens. They removed kids menu but still a good place for brunch with kids. If you order bun or wrap or pastry from the take away menu you can eat by the riverside. If you order from the eat in menu you can only eat inside or at the balcony. I recommend it.

An impromptu visit here was very pleasant. Busy but extremely well managed by professional staff. Very clean. Choice of cakes was mind boggling! Definitely worth seeking out.

Quality of food and coffee is not only shockingly poor but they charge extortionate prices too! £3 for a can of coke! £7.50 for a slice of cake! If the quality was good you could understand but I’ve seen happy shopper fruit juices being served. Although I must add, the outside is very tranquil and beautiful by the river. If they improve on food and drink quality this place could be a gem! Until then, won’t be returning.

Incredible riverside and farm-based location, with the best local brunch we have found. Unlike most places, the vegetarian options are plentiful and on a par with meat ones, all with fresh and local produce. Popular with cyclists and dog walkers, but also well spaced out and covid friendly. Will be visiting regularly!

Beautiful family run cafe. Set in converted farm buildings and set back from the road. Well worth seeking out. All decked out for Christmas with large decorated tree at my visit. Small terrace with views over the river. Idyllic. Fantastic homemade cakes to finish you off.

Had a delicious brunch at this quaint, riverside cafe. Very calming and friendly in a sweet location. The selection of cakes is fantastic also.

If you want a quick stop without the hassle of South Mimms services then this is perfect. Clean & Tidy with good service and toilets - you can be on your way quickly. Drive through also available.

It wasn’t a great experience. We ordered food and drinks to be delivered to the car, but the drinks were not included in the bag. I had to go and collect them myself. When I was about to eat my Big Mac, I noticed that I had been given a chicken sandwich instead of what I ordered. The staff were very friendly and corrected everything promptly. However, it seems that either there are not enough staff or training is lacking.

Absolutely incredible staff. Stopped in with my 2 month old baby and the manager, Vishal, was so kind and attentive to make sure we had everything we needed. He even brought over water as it was an exceptionally hot day. Such service is rare and so very appreciated!

Amazing experience at the drive-thru today, thanks to the outstanding service from Luisa. After receiving my order, I realised a couple things were missing. When i let her know, she handled the situation perfectly. She listened carefully and acting nothing but professional and friendly, sorting me out with the correct order - the food was extra hot too! Thank you!

A reliable and affordable McDonald’s stop This local McDonald’s is my go-to for a quick, satisfying meal that won’t break the bank. The value for money is commendable, making it great for families or even solo visits. Personally, I often pop in after work for a meal, or grab a frappe before heading in. At the moment, my absolute favourite is the Biscoff frappe, I really hope they keep it on the menu! The only downside is the straws they provide, which tend to collapse easily, so I usually bring my own reusable ones to avoid the hassle. One thing I wouldn’t recommend is getting McDonald’s delivered to your home. By the time it arrives, the food is often cold and the chips soggy. To be fair, this is probably more down to the delivery company than the branch itself. When ordering at the in-store self-service screens, I’ve noticed the receipt doesn’t always print. This can make for an awkward wait, especially when it’s busy, as I struggle to remember my order number and end up hovering around wondering where to stand without getting in anyone’s way. The location is right by the M25, so it’s busy pretty much any time of day or night. That said, the drive-thru is impressively fast, I’ve never waited more than 3–5 minutes. Inside, the service is efficient, the restaurant is very clean, and it’s fully wheelchair accessible, with disabled parking right outside the main entrance. There’s also 90 minutes of free parking (be careful though, overstay and you’ll get a fine), plus EV charging facilities and a good number of parking spaces. Overall, this branch is a solid choice for quick, affordable food with generally excellent service, just a few quirks that could be improved.

I had a very unpleasant experience here. I ordered food and sat down to eat without anyone saying anything to me at the start. In the middle of my meal, a staff member named Rajib suddenly came over and rudely asked me to leave, saying he wanted to clean the table and go home. He even called me “stupid,” which is completely unacceptable behavior in customer service. This is the worst treatment I have ever experienced at a restaurant. I came to enjoy my food, not to be insulted and rushed out. Very unprofessional staff and terrible customer service. I will definitely not be coming back and would not recommend this place to anyone.

This is one of the best McDonald's restaurants I have ever visited, the food was on point, fresh and hot and the toffee latte was made to perfection something which most other McDonald's restaurants are for some reason unable to get right despite it being from a machine. Top marks for this location! It's a bit out of my way but the extra travel is worth it. Update: I have had a not so nice toffee latte from here since my initial review but I was so impressed with my first visit I've decided to let it slide and keep my rating the same, I'll put it down to a slip in usual quality and service, hopefully I won't have to change my review the next time I visit. I will update again.

Went in for breakfast but ended up having a lunch-type meal. We ordered a Mediterranean chicken, was cooked really well although a tad bland. Adding some HP Brown sauce definitely helped. Staff was friendly, and the place was clean.

Visited May2025 for an all-day-breakfast. Very nice, great value.

Been meaning to review for a long time and based on my last two times here and being a longtime customer, the service has declined significantly. My food was taken to the wrong table and sat infront of customers for a good few minutes before anyone said anything and the chicken was slimeky and grey, potatoes over cooked and bad oil and veg hard. The quality of food is very poor and the plates and cutlery smell. The staff are kind and friendly but the purpose attending is for the food not to say hi. Such a shame, was a real gem a good few years ago.

It’s one of the best places in St albans ✨ The atmosphere is amazing and the staff are helpful and friendly 😊 The food is amazing 🤩 their English breakfast is to die for 💯 and their hot chocolate is one of the best that I have ever tasted I recommend this place ❤️

Great local halal cafe situated near the mosque and train station. Great quality food and the following available: Full English breakfast, roast chicken, jacket potato, pasta, panini.

HALAL FOOD! Absolutely love the food, I always get the beef lasagna and chips. The owner and employees are welcoming, friendly and provide fast service. The food is delicious and will always satisfy me.

Friendly service, fresh food, parking in front or at Clarence Park. Been coming a year good coffee friendly attentive staff.

I was disappointed with my visit to Knoops. I ordered the 100% exclusive blend, and while I love extra dark chocolate and am used to its intensity, the preparation of this drink fell short. Given that extra dark chocolate is harder to melt, the staff should be better trained on how to prepare it properly. The milk (or water) needs to be very hot, and the chocolate must be thoroughly mixed. Unfortunately, this time, the chocolate didn’t fully melt, and the milk seemed off, resulting in a strange texture that made the drink difficult to enjoy. Additionally, the chocolate flavor didn’t blend well with the milk, which was disappointing, especially given the high price of the drink.

Just had the most amazing experience at Knoops in St Albans, thanks to the lovely Laura! From the moment I walked in, she greeted me with warmth and genuine enthusiasm. She took the time to talk me through the different chocolate percentages and helped me choose the perfect blend for my mood – and wow, she nailed it! Not only was the shake incredible (rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced), but Laura’s service made the whole visit feel like a treat in itself. Friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what she does – she’s a real asset to the team. If you’re in St Albans and fancy a proper chocolate fix, do yourself a favour and let Laura guide you. She makes Knoops feel like more than just a chocolate shop – it’s an experience. 👏🍫

Apparently this place has been here for years.. only just stumbled upon it! Dark iced choc was delightful.. Will be back to try more as the pastry looks good too. Staff were not busy and just chatting, generally polite.

We first tried Knoops in Edinburgh and we loved it. My fiance doesn’t like drinking iced chocolate but he liked Knoop’s iced chocolate drink. I love the iced white chocolate matcha, can’t wait for them to have a Lactofree milk option.

Decided what I wanted but told I can only have it hot when I wanted it iced. So asked for a white chocolate matcha and told she can’t do that either. Strange as it’s their number 1 advertised drink. No explanation given. Seemed weird and disinterested in helping me find something she could do. So I left. Not a good experience won’t bother going back.

The milkshake was absolutely delicious with an incredibly rich and chocolatey flavor. The texture was smooth and creamy, making every sip a real treat. The customer service was fantastic — the staff were exceptionally friendly and welcoming. Overall, a highly recommendable place for anyone looking to enjoy a top-quality milkshake and great service!

Hello I’ve been coming into Knoops, St Albans a lot and I just wanted to say I’m very impressed with Nadia, she was very friendly to me and made me feel welcomed as a customer. The drink she made for me was amazing and she took her time explaining all of the good options to me, would definitely recommend this place, especially if you’re looking for great drinks and even better service.

Great service as always and a very good location to stop for a relaxing coffee and snack. Thank you for the super service.

I am in a wheelchair. This Costa is one of the few that was easy to access, and the staff couldn't do enough for me. They were wonderful and caring. This Costa is cramped and there was plenty of room for my wheelchair. I love Costa mocha (and I know my mochas), but unfortunately I can't afford it all the time. Ross, Sneha and Nathan - thank you.

After having to endure stationary traffic on the M3 and M25 today en route to Norfolk we had a very welcome break at this Costa Coffee. The staff were lovely and the muffins were the best we've tasted (believe me my husband is a connoisseur!). The barista was friendly and chatty and made a mean cappuccino 😋. We left feeling very valued customers.

Absolutely fantastic chap behind the counter when I popped in on the 11th of June, really friendly and very welcoming Absolutely a credit to the business

Amazing staff , very caring, could not do enough for us. Very clean and comfortable. Not much vegan food.

Amazing service! Just a 15 mins walk away from London Colney, and easily accessible via the dual carriageway. Right next door to Wenzel’s as well, so you can pop in next door for a small bite while waiting for your coffee to be made!

Great staff.. as always amazing.. fan of latte

Best Breakfast ever ! My wife had the small and I the medium breakfast ! It was brilliant and enough on the plate to didn't get starving till the afternoon. It's absolutely worth to travel from Germany/Löhne 🇩🇪 to Wales/Cornelly 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 for this breakfast ! 😉 👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Really friendly staff and very accomadating too. Love that it's dog friendly (at least to small dogs). Food was good too.

Very friendly. Service very quick. There were only another two people in the cafe so it was quiet. However, the place has a nice feel to it.

2 bacon rolls with 2 slices of bacon in each and 1 latte, cost £11.00, I only went there cos I missed the breakfast at gregggs, and by god il make sure I never miss it again. How can you charge these prices in cornelly it wouldn't be so bad if it was nice but I'm still chewing on the doughy roll, take a wide berth guys if u want value for money

Stumbled across after walking the dog on kenfig nature reserve. The food was absolutely STUNNING. I didn't even know this cafe existed until a few days ago, water bowl outside for the dog, staff super friendly! Also you don't see many cafe with disabled access toilets these days!

Eggs, mushrooms and Toast good. Sausage and bacon poor quality. Staff Very RUDE. Will not recommend or be back. Seats could use refurbiishing or at least a good clean.

Breakfast roll on the go, wrapped in foil nicely to keep it warm until i got back to my base at Pyle. I've only given a 4* for food solely because I asked for brown sauce with my roll and it wasn't included...this was discovered on taking a bite!

Always beautifully merchandised and incredibly clean and tidy Staff here are just the loveliest - I shop here almost every day and they recognise you and ask how your day has been They genuinely seem to care about a store well kept & great service Keep up the good work Lisa & her awesome team!

The best food hall in St Albans, bar none. We shop in here most days and are always well looked after by the helpful, friendly staff, especially Manjit.

Very well laid out store and staff are super friendly and helpful. The food section has a great variety of fruit, veg and meat so you will definitely find some great options if you need to think of something to have for dinner. Will definitely be going back.

Great produce, but some sell by dates were short-dated.

Made in China with high prices, shop fittings are from the seventies , dowdy designs and colours. The shop front and offices are in need of some tlc, as per photos

While I'm dragged in here by my wife i could be a lot worse. The cafè is very nice! Good prices too. I can't speak for the clothes as i leave her to it, but definitely visit for the cafè

The staff were polite and attent8ve.

Amazing food and friendly service—definitely one of the best cafés in St Albans. Their steak is cooked to perfection and full of flavor!

Great food and service, plus affordable prices, highly recommended

I sadly only work in the area one week of the month, but when I do, I'm here everyday for a spectacularly tasty breakfast. Affordable, comfortable seating, with amazing friendly staff.

Absolutely brilliant cafe. Friendly staff, stunning food. Overall a clean and tidy place offering excellent food and service.

Great food and amazing customer service, hands down the best café in St Albans.

Amazing recomend for everyone