Looking for the best places to eat in St Albans on your first visit? There are so many amazing restaurants packed in this historical English Cathedral City that it’s honestly hard to list only 10. As an American living in England, it’s been my mission to eat or drink at every one. And although there are a few St Albans restaurants I haven’t tried yet, there are some restaurants that I can’t help myself from repeatedly going back.
From charming brunch restaurants, pudding stops, famous pubs, and even St Albans bars that exude Austin vibes, this is where to eat in St Albans if it’s your first time.
St Albans Restaurants – The 411
Several of these St Albans restaurants offer both inside and outside seating venues. In addition to outside seating, most places offer take-out or delivery services.
Honestly, having the option to sit outside vs inside is one of my favorite things about these best St Albans restaurants. The other reasons why they top the list are because of their amazing food or drinks, the ambiance, and their one-of-a-kind experience.
Lastly, since this post is about St Albans food I must disclose that I moved to St Albans from Texas. That makes me a bit of a meat snob, Mexican snob, and pretty picky when it comes to margaritas. And if that isn’t enough, I’m originally from Maine. So, I’m not even gonna go there about lobstahs.
So, if you love to try new things and have a bit of FOMO like me, make sure to try these places to eat in St Albans first!
Top 10 Places To Eat In St Albans On Your First Visit
In no particular order, here’s where to eat in St Albans during your first St Albans visit. Or if it’s your second time, find more good places to eat in St Albans in the summer post – but definitely make sure you try these 10 first!
HATCH
20 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 1BZ
Straight-Up at HATCH St Albans
I’ve eaten a lot of good burgers in my life – so much so that admittedly, I didn’t think I’d find one in the UK. In fact, finding a place to eat in St Albans focused on steak and burgers was low on my St Albans food list. But holy cow! (see how I did that right there?)
HATCH is not only great on the burger front, but their entire menu is amazing. If I’m not ordering the Straight-Up with cheddar, the BLTA or cajun chicken is #2 and #3 in that order.
HATCH is a busy St Albans restaurant so try to avoid prime eating hours. But if you do have to wait, it’s totally worth it – EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
HATCH is a great place to not only eat but enjoy cocktails, too. And to top it off, their free WIFI makes their cool eatery spot a nice place to work, too.
HATCH is open for dine-in, daytime take-out, and delivery. With the St Albans Cathedral literally around the corner, it’s a fantastic combination for a picnic.
The Waffle House
Kingsbury Watermill, St Michael’s St, St Albans AL3 4SJ
View this post on Instagram
Quite possibly the best St Albans restaurant for a picturesque brunch, The Waffle House serves everything on a waffle! During popular weekends, such as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day the queue can reach St Michael’s Street. And when it’s sunny, it might be the most popular breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot in town.
What’s so great about eating a waffle from the St Albans Waffle House? This isn’t just any Waffle House – this is an organic-waffle-to-table experience for waffle connoisseurs.
- Choose sweet or savory toppings
- White, wholemeal, or spelt flour made in the local St Albans mill
- Nearly all ingredients and toppings are farm-to-table
- 100% of tap and bottled water profits are returned to Belu as part of The Waffle House sustainability mission
In addition to the St Albans Waffle House story and mission, they are located in the historic Kingsbury Mill so it doubles as a sightseeing attraction on your list of things to do for your St Albans visit, too!
Be sure to check The Waffle House opening hours for eating in and take-away options.
The Pudding Stop
6 The Colonnade, Verulam Rd, St Albans AL3 4DD
Butterscotch Blondie From The Pudding Stop
Probably my biggest St Albans food weakness: The Pudding Stop! The Pudding Stop is an absolute must on your first St Albans visit…and your second…and your third…you get the picture.
Everything about this cute little British bakery is amazing. I need not convince you that the Butterscotch Blondie is the best (so much so that there’s a Blondie bake tray in my oven right now) because one look at this and you’ll be ready to eat your own.
Top tip☝🏻for a pudding tray: eat the pudding cold instead of baking in the oven for 15-20 minutes! My entire family agrees 100%.
The Pudding Stop is sorta famous and undoubtedly the best restaurant in St Albans for puddings. Owned by the British Bake-Off contestant, Johnny Shepherd. He opened this pudding bakery in 2016 with a Pudmobile. Thousands of carrot cake, salted caramel, and butterscotch puddings later, this signature mitt brand is worth traveling from anywhere for.
Do not miss out on eating pudding in St Albans! Of all the places to eat in St Albans, this one is an easy win if you’re short on time. Buy Pudding Stop and take home to enjoy later.
The Pudding Stop is open for in-person dining, take-out, and even delivery.
Locanda Bagutta
23A George St, St Albans AL3 4ES
Locanda Bagutta – secluded Italian Restaurant in St Albans
Tucked away on an alley off George Street is Locanda Bagutta. It’s one of many good Italian restaurants in St Albans, but there’s something extra special about this place. And that says a lot because there are some really great St Albans Italian restaurants!
Locanda Bagutta makes the top places to eat in St Albans first list because you really feel like you’re in Italy. From listening to the staff talk Italian to one another to the wild truffle pizza, you’ll pinch yourself while taking in the ambiance under the twinkle lights outside to remind you you’re actually in St Albans England, and not abroad.
If sitting outside isn’t an option – which I highly recommend whenever the weather cooperates – the restaurant inside is super cute. My kids love sitting under the lights outside, but they also like to explore and help themselves to the sweetie bowl inside.
So if you’re looking for where to eat authentic Italian in St Albans on your first visit that offers an experience beyond just the food, Locanda Bagutta is the best place.
Be sure to check Locanda Bagutta opening hours for eating in and take-away options.
Loft
23b George St, St Albans AL3 4ES
George Street Alley is home to 2 top St Albans restaurants
Just above Locanda Bagutta is Loft. Nestled upstairs on the second floor of a Tudor-style building, Loft is a swanky place for a couples dinner in St Albans without kids.
The tables are decorated in white linen napkins and the food – contemporary British – is incredible. Service is top-notch and the ambiance feels more intimate than a casual affair.
To be honest, the first time I went to Loft I didn’t know what a surprise I was in for. But now I’m not surprised at all that Loft could be considered a Michelin star restaurant after winning these St Albans food awards:
- St Albans ‘Best Upscale Contemporary Restaurant 2019′ for Hertfordshire
- ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant’
- ‘LUX Culinary Excellence Award for Contemporary British Cuisine 2020‘
- Good Food Guide 2020
- Best Contemporary British Restaurant Award 2021
For a celebrity food experience on your first visit to St Albans, Loft is the place to eat.
Be sure to check Loft opening hours for eating in and take-away. Lunch and dinner hours are available.
The Six Bells Freehouse
16-18 St Michael’s St, St Albans AL3 4SH
The Six Bells Freehouse Pizza
For an old English family-run pub experience in St Albans, go to The Six Bells in St Michael’s Village. From the historical building charm to the clientele, a pub doesn’t get any more authentic or friendlier than this.
Not only kid-friendly but dog-friendly, too. This St Albans pub offers cozy seating inside and a full garden outside. Their menu is several pages long, but it’s typically the specials on the chalkboard that’ll win you over first.
You can opt for ale-battered fish and chips, or if visiting St Albans in summer, order one of their ridiculously amazing pizzas from their wood-fired oven outside (spicy Americana!). Pizzas are only available during summer month specials.
Between the amazing food, the welcome vibe from the locals, and charm of all that St Michael’s has to offer, you’ll be gutted if you don’t eat here.
Although The Six Bells tap is known for its wide selection of beers, it’s also the only pub in St Albans that consistently sells Pinot Noir – an important need to know fact for any red wine drinker (did I mention I used to live in Cali and Oregon 🤣).
The Six Bells Pub is open for take-out and delivery. Be sure to book a reservation in advance. While this St Albans pub welcomes everyone that stops by, dining is typically booked quickly for Fridays, Saturdays, and for most definitely the Sunday roast.
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks
16 Abbey Mill Ln, St Albans AL3 4HE
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks
Eating at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is a rite of passage for any first time visitor to St Albans UK. It’s not only the oldest pub in St Albans but in all of UK, so you must eat there.
And there’s really no reason not to…
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is located at the bottom of the hill from St Albans Cathedral and Abbey, just before entering Verulamium Park. Its prime location between the park and the Cathedral makes it suitable for any hungry first-time visitor to eat or drink there.
Enjoy their Sunday roast in the historic cockfighting ring, or classic fish and chips in the massive garden outside. Known to host many events and a supporter of all things local, Ye Olde is not only one of the best pubs in St Albans, it’s a community social hub, too.
UPDATE ON PLACES TO EAT ST ALBANS 2022:
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks went into administration as a result of the hardship caused by the pandemic as reported by the BBC News. This famous St Albans pub closed for a brief period but reopened with the help of its loyal employees in April 2022 under new management.
This St Albans pub is such a big deal worldwide that 60 Minutes in America did a segment on the closing of Ye Olde Fighting Cocks. Undoubtedly, add this historic pub to the top of your list for places to eat in St Albans.
The Boot
4 Market Pl, St Albans AL3 5DG
The Boot Pub St Albans
Located immediately next to the St Albans Clock Tower, you can’t miss The Boot. This family-run pub offers a casual atmosphere making it an ideal place to eat or stop for a drink after exploring the city or browsing the St Albans shops for a day.
Aside from the fact that The Boot wins in curb appeal, it’s on the top ten places to eat list because
- Similar to Ye Olde, it’s one of those pubs that you just have to go to in St Albans
- Location makes it an easy win with kids
- The Boot is also home to the only iconic red booth box in St Albans
- The War of the Roses started here (right outside The Boot’s door)
- All food is locally sourced, including meat from Hedge’s Farm
If you’re in St Albans at night, The Boot isn’t kid-friendly but definitely the place to be for a social night out with friends. Just be sure to remember to duck your head!
Be sure to check The Boot opening hours for eating in and take-away.
St Villa
2 Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XQ
Super fun place to eat in St Albans – book an igloo!
For a London food experience without the prices of London, eat dinner in a private igloo in St Albans! Seriously, how fun is this?
The food is amazing so even if you don’t book outside, inside is as gorgeous a food experience.
Be sure to check St Villa opening hours for eating in and take-away options. If considering a brunch spot, St Villa is the top place to eat for Mother’s Day and other special occasions.
Suckerpunch -> Punchin’ Palooka
26 Verulam Road, St Albans AL3 4DE
Margarita at Suckerpunch St Albans
Okay, so I’m sorta sneaking this one in for anyone on a liquid diet vs a food one. But, I can’t resist.
For the best craft cocktail experience in St Albans, this mysterious establishment is a must. Although it’s impossible to go into Suckerpunch without a reservation, don’t let that frustration write them off on your St Albans bucket list.
Here’s why this St Albans bar makes the top 10 list:
- Suckerpunch maintains a maximum number of people in the bar at any one time to ensure everyone has space and a good experience.
- It’s an eclectic scene – from hipster to glam grandma, I’ve seen it all.
- The staff behind the bar are a bit like the Kokomo scene in Cocktail – it’s amazingly entertaining.
- The margaritas are great here – along with everything else. To include the popcorn!
- Whoever manages the music playlist should own a Spotify channel.
Suckerpunch offers a culture inside that no way mirrors the neutral exterior. That might be why you haven’t been or haven’t heard of it. It easily goes unnoticed on George Street.
As an American in England, this St Albans bar vibe can only be explained by comparing it to a social night in Portland, Oregon, or 6th Street in Austin Texas.
Be sure to schedule a reservation to Suckerpunch on your first visit to St Albans. Order the George Street Social!
Suckerpunch delivers. How cool is that?
Update October 2022: Due to many factors related to the pandemic and financial climate after-math, Suckerpunch on George Street closed October 2022. BUT not all is lost. Suckerpunch operations moved to a successful new bar around the corner at Punchin’ Palooka. In fact, Punchin’ Palooka won the “Hertfordshire’s Best Newcomer Bar’ at Enjoy St Albans Food & Drink Festival 2022.
Map For Where To Eat In St Albans On Your First Visit
5 Best Picnic Spots For Your St Albans Food Take-Away
If you choose take-away from St Albans restaurants during your visit, there are great picnic spots to spread out and enjoy. A few local favorite picnic spots:
- St Albans Cathedral Vintry Garden
- St Albans Cathedral & Abbey Church Hill
- Verulamium Park
- Sopwell Nunnery
- Clarence Park
Final Tips On Where To Eat In St Albans On Your First Visit
I really wanted to include The Verulam Arms as a top pub in St Albans for a first visit, but sadly they closed down in 2019. Their menu was weird but amazingly good. All food was foraged by the staff, which sounds odd but goes to show how dedicated they were to bringing nothing but locally fresh and farmed food creations to the table. I even saw them go through their foraged loot in the pub one day and it was fascinating to watch. Fast forward to 2023, and The Verulam is open again! If you’re seeking a place to eat in St Albans that’s not pretentious and a “local pub for local people”, this is one to definitely try.
St Albans Restaurants are reviving and making a comeback after 2 years of severe hardship. Show your support and visit as many of these St Albans places to eat as you can!
HATCH makes the BEST burgers in St Albans
For more St Albans food recommendations, check out more of my food weaknesses in my St Albans summer post.
And while you’re planning your first visit to St Albans, be sure to save this St Albans bucket list.
Looking for more to do in St Albans? Try these.
- St Albans Travel Guide: The Ultimate Bucket List
- St Albans Antique And Vintage Market
- Moving to St Albans UK from America? Use my MOVING ABROAD CHECKLIST
—————————————————————-