Cafe W - St Albans

It has been a while since I last visited Café W on the upper floor of Waterstones. Since my last visit, the café has been expanded by removing the travel section of books, creating a much larger seating area. However, it seems that the small library of children's books has disappeared or been relocated. My cappuccino was well prepared, the staff were friendly, and there was a newspaper available to borrow. I must return here soon.

This restaurant was once a pleasant spot to grab a coffee, but recently there has been a high turnover of staff. Yesterday, one employee mentioned it was her first day and the other said it was her second day. Unfortunately, neither of them knew how to make the drinks I ordered, handle the till, or add my loyalty points to my Waterstones card. Additionally, they were neglectful in clearing dirty cups from tables and maintaining a clean environment. It begs the question, who is overseeing the management of this establishment? It would be beneficial to hire individuals with previous coffee shop experience. If the intention is for customers to train the staff on drink preparation, perhaps complimentary drinks should be offered as compensation.

I visited Café W on a quiet Sunday afternoon and was pleased to find ample seating available. Despite the time of day, there was still a good variety of cakes and snacks to choose from. I enjoyed a delicious cappuccino while relaxing on one of the comfortable seats and reading a book I had recently bought.

This is a good place to go for a quiet cup of coffee. It seems that timing is crucial as we were there at school pick up time so there were no children. Unlike many coffee shops where the tables are very close together in...W they are well spaced and conducive to conversation with companions. The coffee and flapjack was only average. Not my top pick in at Albans for the quality of the coffee but excellent for a quiet catch up with a friend.

Have visited this cafe on several occasions with toddler too. Always lovely tea and cakes. Good service, very clean toilet and just such a relaxing atmosphere. I Recommend.