Caffè Nero

You'll find this Caffè Nero tucked right on Market Place, where the real heart of St Albans pulses with market traders, shoppers and the occasional tourist admiring the Cathedral. It's the sort of place where you can grab a decent cappuccino without faffing about, order a croissant or panini, and blend seamlessly into the weekday morning rush. The staff know what they're doing, the coffee's consistently solid rather than revelatory, and there's enough seating to actually sit down with a newspaper or get some work done on your laptop. Nothing fancy, just dependable.