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Welcome To Abbot’s Kitchen
At Abbot’s Kitchen, nestled within the historic Cathedral in St Albans, we celebrate a passion for quality food and community. Our story began with the aim to create a warm, inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy exceptional dishes crafted from fresh ingredients. Patrons rave about our delectable jacket potatoes and exquisite loose-leaf teas, showcasing our commitment to quality. The buzz of a busy café is complemented by our friendly staff, dedicated to providing swift service. With an array of delicious cakes, including the beloved honeycomb tiffin, each visit promises delightful surprises that nourish both body and soul.
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About
Abbot’s Kitchen
Welcome to Abbot’s Kitchen, a delightful spot nestled in the heart of St Albans, specifically at Sumpter Yard, AL1 1BY, United Kingdom. This charming café, located within the historic Cathedral precincts, is much more than just a place to grab a bite; it’s an inviting escape that combines an extensive menu with a warm, friendly atmosphere.
As you step inside Abbot’s Kitchen, you immediately feel the buzz of a busy café where the aroma of freshly brewed loose leaf tea and the enticing scent of baked goods waft through the air. The café is a beloved fixture in the community, serving an array of delectable dishes that cater to varied tastes and preferences. Reviewers consistently praise the quality and flavor of the food; standout items include the highly recommended jacket potatoes, which come beautifully baked and generously topped. One visitor remarked on their experience: “the potatoes were piping hot and served with delicious coleslaw and mixed leaves on the side,” making them a must-try during your visit.
Beyond the comforting main dishes, Abbot’s Kitchen boasts an impressive selection of cakes and pastries. Patrons rave about the unique offerings such as the honeycomb tiffin, a treat that you won’t find in many places. Each bite tells a story of expertise and flavor that lingers well past the meal. A guest mentioned how the “lovely caring staff and great service” enhance the overall experience, making each visit a little more special.
The café does get busy, particularly during peak hours, but this only reflects its popularity and the quality that keeps people returning. The efficient counter staff manage the hustle beautifully, ensuring a smooth and pleasant dining experience. The setting, within such an iconic landmark, adds an extra layer of charm, encouraging visitors to linger a little longer over their food and tea.
If you’re in the area, a trip to Abbot’s Kitchen should certainly be on your agenda. Experience the genuine hospitality and exceptional food that make this café an essential stop for both locals and visitors alike. Remember, it's pay when you order, so don’t forget to show your appreciation for the service with a well-deserved tip!
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ I have eaten here a few times over the years. The food is very good and the staff were friendly. I would recommend the jacket potatoes, they are very tasty! ”
“ Loose leaf tea is excellent. Food selection also quite extensive and of excellent quality. Can get very busy. ”
“ This place was busy when we visited, but the counter staff kept it organised, quick and were polite. Great choice of cake and drinks. Located in the Cathedral itself, worth a visit. Remember that being pay when you order easy to forget to leave a tip, if you enjoy the service show your appreciation. ”
“ A lovely little cafe, with a warm atmosphere, good quick service and not bad value. My friend and I both had Jacket potatoes with beans, a cake (Almond and dark cherry bakewell slice and a choc tray bake) and teas. These 3 came to 13.65 altogether. The potatoes were beautifully baked, piping hot and with yummy coleslaw and mixed leaves on the side. The tea pot loose leaf which held around 3 full cups. ”
“ I had a the most delicious honeycomb tiffin here today, which I have never had anywhere else and wish more places offered, along with a pot of tea. Lovely caring staff and great service. ”
“ One of my favourite places to visit. After a lovely touring around the most magnificent cathedral in UK, filling your soul, Abbots kitchen comes to your belly's rescue with their amazing soups, sandwiches, desserts, coffees. When visiting St Alban's in any circumstances, you must stop there. ”
“ I am leaving a review here as a reminder for all to be kind to our hospitality staff here in St. Albans. It is certainly not an easy industry to work in, proved by what I witnessed today. I come to Abbots Kitchen relatively often with my son for tea and cake, and the staff are what keep me coming back. Abbots Kitchen employs several younger staff members, who are always keen to help and exceptionally friendly. Unfortunately, one of the young women working today was left in tears and shaking like a leaf from a customer interaction. The customer, an older woman in blue, was entitled and unkind. The tone she used was disrespectful and callous, and completely unacceptable. The young lady would have been completely within her rights to ask her to leave, but she served the customer, who continued to scowl at her while she ate as an attempt to further intimidate the worker, who as I mentioned, had begun to cry. I really feel for the young lady, and would like her to know that from my many visits to the cathedral cafe, I have observed she works hard and is always incredibly polite and smiley. She has been in my thoughts for the remainder of the afternoon. Can I remind the people of St Albans that everyone deserves respect. Being cold and nasty towards hospitality staff who are just trying to do their job, and then staring them down while they cry, is unacceptable behaviour, and not something we should tolerate in our community. It costs nothing to be kind. ”
“ Dropped a visit to St. Albans Cathedral and was surprised that they have this Alban Bun. This is only available during Lent and definitely a must try. They said that this is the predecessor of hot cross bun. We had it nice and warm as its just been baked when we bought it. Just take note of pre ordering as they are very keen of its production. ”