The Best Restaurants in St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom (2025)

We have tried this restaurant for the first time on Monday and the food and the service were really nice. Because it was Monday it was totally empty so we were literally the only customers over there so it was a little bit awkward but overall we really enjoyed the food and the service! I would recommend the sharing platter for starters!

OMG !!! My new favorite restaurant in st Albans.. We stumbled across this on our way home after happy hour at the Ivy.. so glad we popped our head in, to be welcomed by Faten, with the warmest welcome I know this place is new so maybe not be well known yet ..but seriously this Mediterranean restaurant which has Turkish at its heart is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I’ve been in.. this is at the high end ! Very classy.. but very very reasonably priced.. so yes get dressed up if you want.. the food is outstanding! The owner is also the chef and you can feel the care he puts into his dishes along with the presentation, which is beautiful Truly outstanding!! Thank you..

We had Sunday lunch and it was absolutely delicious. The staff are lovely, very attentive and friendly. My mum was with us in her wheelchair and the whole restaurant is accessible which made life very easy. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant.

Vourla in St Albans offers an exceptional dining experience that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a stylish yet cozy ambiance that makes it perfect for both intimate dinners and gatherings with friends. The food was truly outstanding. Each dish was crafted with care, featuring fresh and well-balanced flavors. From appetizers to the main course, every bite was a delight. The menu offers a fantastic range of options, ensuring there's something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for traditional flavours or something more unique. Overall, Vourla is a restaurant I can wholeheartedly recommend. I’ll definitely be returning soon!

Such good food and amazing personable service. You can tell they genuinely care about your experience. Will definitely come back again, love it!

My favourite restaurant in St.Albans! Good food, and service and atmosphere, definitely hope to go back.

Amazing staff, amazing food & incredible little additions to the meal like dry ice during our food, really affordable too, couldn't recommend more!

It was the first time we had visited Sauté and was impressed with the decor and ambience of the restaurant. There was a DJ playing cool sounds and a birthday party in progress. The staff were friendly and helpful. We ordered drinks and food. Almost immediately the waiter came up with a complimentary starter. An array of dips and bread. When the main course arrived the Adana kebab and salad was delicious! My wife’s chicken shish she also enjoyed. We asked for the bill and a plate of sliced fresh fruit was presented to us. Apple, kiwi, orange, melon, clementine, which was very refreshing and tasty. Again a complimentary dish. They told us they had only been open a short time, glad they did. We will certainly be going to eat there again!

Just had an outstanding meal at Thompson, every course was a taste sensation and beautifully presented, staff were friendly and knowledgeable, we will definitely be going back

Firstly the not so good points, I took a friend for a birthday meal, we sat at the bar and we still had to pick from the menu even for the 9 course tasting menu. We were presented with a menu each which had prices for the meals, a little embarrassing. The lighting in the main room was bright and harsh, the waitress did try to dim them and for a bit it was a better atmosphere but they started to flicker so back to bright. And the pasta on the tortellini was thick an a bit gloopy but the taste was fantastic. Now for the positives. Every other course of the 11 courses we had, the 9 courses plus the chefs choice and cheese were just delightful, my favourites being the mushrooms and the birds liver pate. The staff...attentive, polite, knowledgeable on what they were serving and just absolutely lovely. The wine we chose was out of stock, however the alternative suggestion was very drinkable. Crockery beautiful. We just had a wonderful time and my guest felt very special. Thanks guys.

This was our first time visiting this amazing restaurant in St Alburns! We were served by Nick and he gave us the best service ever, even put my jacket around my shoulders for me! Personal touch and massive attention to detail! The food was exquisite!! Huge commitment to the chefs the gnocchi I had - was the BEST I have ever had - and I used to be a chef myself. We can’t wait to come back here and experience the tasting menu! We had cheese board as pudding and it was off the dial. We LOVED everything about our first visit here ! Well done all.

The food we had was exceptional and so was the wine. Works of art with excellent attention to detail. Ingredients top quality. Great attentive service but not rushed. So glad we have this gem of a place on our doorstep. Highly recommend.

Absolutely loved this place. We ordered burnt ends and rack of ribs. The food was excellent, and there's a great selection of craft beers that we were offered tastes of. Big thanks to Shane, who made us very welcome on my wife's birthday. I'm definitely coming back with our friends.

Wish there were more BBQ places like this one around, food was excellent! Very tasty! Highly recommend! Nice relaxed atmosphere (great playlist) and friendly staff - dogs welcome to! Do you fancy opening a restaurant in Salisbury? :)

Absolutely amazing food!! Me and friend were looking for a decent burger for dinner, found Craft and Cleaver online, and after looking at the photos went to try it out. We we surprised to see it was busy on a Wednesday night during the Easter break but after sitting down and seeing the menu, we realised it was a proper American style BBQ joint! No wonder it was busy. The server was really friendly and recommended the Texas Tray and we were not disappointed at all. The food was absolutely magnificent and I’m glad I had this rather than a burger. It was some of the best meat I’d ever eaten! It was so tender having been in the smoker for 8+ hours, and the beef just fell off the bone. It was so good and we couldn’t finish it all. I would 100 percent recommend this place especially if you’ve never tried American BBQ before. Fantastic food, friendly staff, and a great atmosphere.

Literally one of my favourite places to eat locally. Insanely tasty food!! We nearly always get the pitmaster tray, which has a little of everything. They also have my favourite beer on tap. Food comes out quick, decor is cool & staff are friendly. Also added bonus is that dogs are welcome!!! They even bought him some meat as a treat. Love love love!!

I 've been looking forward to trying food at bagutta for a while now ,and was so glad that I did !!The food was so delicious, loved every bite and the service was really great too.

We had a dinner, food and service was amazing. Ambience was perfect cozy and peaceful.

Extremely impressed by the level of service and the quality of the fresh food. We had no complaints! The manager Christina was excellent, I would like to highlight this to management. She looked after our needs and expectations hugely. The waiters were also attentive, friendly and highly efficient. Thank you all for looking after us. Katie x

I went here with my father for my 40th birthday lunch in February and was blown away! This restaurant should be Michelin starred. From the starter to the dessert it was exquisite & I am hard to please with food. We were served by Esther who was friendly, accommodating, attentive & personable. Will be returning very soon as there are so many more dishes we wish to devour!

🌟 Lunch at Cote🌟 Today, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Cote with their set menu. We started with the Truffled Corn Veloute which was rich and comforting, followed by the Confit Duck Rarebit , a savory and satisfying dish. For mains, we had the Fish Parmentier, hearty and flavorful and the classic Steak Frites, cooked perfectly and juicy. To finish, we tried the Blueberry Financier, which was a delicious end to our meal, balancing sweetness and texture wonderfully. Overall, it was a delightful experience with thoughtfully prepared dishes. The staff were very friendly and attentive Highly recommend! 🍽️💖

The Ivy is a beautiful, elegant and impressive eatery. The moment you arrive, they make you feel welcome. The restaurant is spacious and incredibly decorated The staff are friendly, helpful, attentive, and hard-working. The food has always been delicious. 💫🥰

Had an enjoyable visit here last month as a family of four. We don’t go for the festive menu. The food was well presented and tasty with decent portions. Atmosphere was pretty good with plenty people there for a festive meal. Would visit again if in the area. Drinks good but a bit pricey.

The atmosphere and service we received were top-notch. 👍🌟🥂 The ginger ale mocktail was absolutely divine; I really enjoyed the spiciness level. 😋🔥🥂 When it came to the food, the duck salad tasted good, but the chicken Milanese let the whole experience down. 😞👎😩 I have had this dish before at the Liverpool Street Ivy and loved it, so I was really looking forward to eating it again, but I didn't enjoy this one as the chicken was dry. 🐔🙁😓 However, the apple fine tart rescued the overall experience. 🍎😋👍 So overall, it was good. 👍😊🌟

We had the most incredible time celebrating my boyfriend’s birthday at the Ivy. Our waitress Anna was so attentive, friendly and informative. She gave us excellent recommendations, always made sure our wine was topped up, and even sang my boyfriend happy birthday! The food itself was unreal, and all the courses came out so quickly even though it was very busy. 10/10, cannot wait to go again. Thank you Anna & the rest of the team :)

I came here for a working lunch and it was so calm and pretty inside, it was exactly what was needed. Isabella our waitress was very sweet & i’m glad she encouraged me to order a little side of hash browns as they were yummy! I can’t wait to go back and try more on the menu. Thanks to the team for looking after us so well.

Came here for a birthday meal and the service was amazing. Food came so fast and was divine 😍 I ordered the plant basked lamb kebab and it was 10/10!! I asked in my booking to bring a bday dessert out and they didn’t forget, I didn’t even have to leave the table, they brought it over at the end of the meal which is so appreciated as it really added to the surprise element, and they took it off the bill ❤️ the lights and hanging decor is so beautiful. Shoutout to our lovely server Andrea who made my bestie feel special on her birthday and had a big smile the whole time, thank you Andrea!

Fabulous! This spot is modern Mediterranean style with a genuine take on the cuisine. Great spot for groups, happy hour, and overall social vibes. Isabella took great care of us! Would love to come again. Also dog friendly

My daughter and I had a really great experience at the restaurant! Each member of staff we interacted with brought something special to the day. Loretta, the manager, runs the floor with calm confidence. She clearly knows what she’s doing. Everything ran smoothly and she was present and attentive. It’s rare to see someone balance professionalism and genuine warmth so naturally. You can tell she takes pride in the place and leads by example. Isabella, who looked after us most of the time, was friendly, helpful, and really on the ball. She had great knowledge of the menu, made thoughtful recommendations, and was quick to respond to anything we needed. She’s the kind of person who makes you feel relaxed and looked after with a little bit of sparkle. Lucie had such a fun, energetic presence. She instantly brought a great vibe to the table. She was bubbly, full of personality, and had a great sense of humour that made the experience even more enjoyable. At the same time, she was super attentive and made sure we had everything we needed without missing a beat! It’s clear this is a well-run team. We felt genuinely looked after, and that’s a big part of why we’d come back again!

We first went for a spontaneous dinner date night and we loved the food and the atmosphere so much we decided to have our intimate civil ceremony dinner there too with our family. Thank you so much for accommodating us and our requests. The food was delicious, my dad especially couldn’t stop talking about how perfect his T-bone steak was and my starter feta saganaki was so delicious the first time I had to have it again on our special day! Even though I baked our own little wedding cake, they served it so nicely with the sweetest strawberries which we did not bring or ask for, it was a lovey touch! Food portions were super generous too, no one went home hungry, barely had space for cake. I can only recommend if you’re looking for a place to eat in St Albans. Especially if you’re looking for great food and service for special occasions! We will definitely be back! Thank you so much again for making our day that much more special!

I had the pleasure of dining at Loft restaurant and it was an absolutely delightful experience! From the moment we walked in, the warm ambiance and stylish decor set the perfect tone for our meal. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive, making us feel right at home. The menu offered a fantastic variety of dishes, and everything we ordered was beautifully presented and bursting with flavour. I particularly enjoyed Sea bass, which was cooked to perfection. The attention to detail in both the food and service was evident throughout our visit. Overall, Loft restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their delicious offerings. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great dining experience in St Albans!

Hosted a birthday here and I could not recommend it enough! We were able to have private use of the top room. It was beautifully decorated already with fairy lights, but we were also given freedom to decorate it further ourselves. The food was delicious (meat, veggie and vegan options) and the service was fantastic. Martina and her staff made sure to check on us regularly even with a large other party group and several flights of stairs to climb each time. Thank you so much!

Fantastic food and service in a great location with a lovely atmosphere. Have previously only been the the loft for a cocktails and a work Christmas dinner about 5 years ago, I booked a table here at short notice via the convenient and simple WhatsApp service last night. On arrival we received a genuinely nice welcome and shown quickly to somewhere that we could relax with a couple of great cocktails whilst we decided what to order from the menu. We were given as much time as we needed and without any pressure to make our choices, which was much appreciated and something that really annoys me in many other restaurants. Our lovely Italian waitresses (never know if that is the right terminology these days, so apologies if I am wrong) was happily to go through the menu with us with recommendations etc. We both went with the lamb Souvlaki and Kleftiko. Both dishes were delicious, perfectly cooked, and more than generous portions. The best compliment I can give to be honest, is that food could not have been better if we’d been a top notch Taverner in Greece. Plus, as a lovely touch they most have overheard us talking about it being my partners birthday and we got complimentary: amazing Cheesecake for dessert. Thank you so much and I look forward to coming back again soon. 😀