Baruccio, St Albans

12 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 1BZ
https://www.baruccio.co.uk/
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Italian style speciality coffee and wine, Baruccio sells itself on an aesthetic of post-war chic, that sort of ‘Roman Holiday’ 1950s idealism of coffee al-fresco, steam and stimulating conservations. It transitions from a cafe to a wine bar at dusk, trading cannoli for cabernet but still offering that gentle port of call for casual conversation but I only know its lunch time offerings.

The coffee is stronger, more intense than I’d expected, perhaps lulled into a false sense of security by the lackadaisical vibe. Strong and rich, it oozes across the tongue building into a crescendo of sweet, vibrant notes.

Nibble at the edges of focaccia, and enjoy the gentle hum of talk all around you while you try to figure out is it a coffee, shop, is it a deli or is it a bar? Ultimately, none of this matters, just sit back and enjoy the experience, it’s certainly worth a trip or two.