Silver Palate, St Albans

1 Market Place, St Albans, AL3 5DR
https://www.silverpalate.co.uk/

St Albans seems to have a good handful of delis smattered about the place, offering hams and cheeses, biscuits and bites of exquisite quality that reeks of the sort-of middle class privilege you’d expect from such an area. Silver Palate is just one of these, with a Mediterranean vibe being at the centre of its offering. As a vegan, delis can be a very hit and miss experience for me, depending on what focus they choose to take on their wares. However, I’m not here for the food, there’s one thing on my mind and that is quality coffee. 

Gentleman Baristas beans is what they’re serving, and I wonder if this is a concession to practicality given howe many great, but much smaller, roasters there are in the locality. Still, the mellow tones of the oat latte I order are warm and rounded, ideal for the moment as I take a seat out front of this crisp but chill morning.

There’s quite a hectic vibe inside with the interior being packed with goodies so that every surface is cluttered with something. Flowers and bouquets then fill in the few spaces left so it feels a little less claustrophobic to be out front but it’s a sweet and sensual cup of coffee that starts the day on an upward trajectory and allows me to motor forward with what’s to come.