Business Details
Authentic Italian Dining in Hertfordshire
The Old Guinea has been providing a distinctive dining experience since 1826, blending authentic Italian cuisine with panoramic views of rural Hertfordshire. Our establishment combines historical charm with modern culinary techniques, offering guests a menu that balances traditional Italian dishes with contemporary innovations. As a family-run business, we prioritise fresh, high-quality ingredients and maintain a commitment to professional service and a welcoming atmosphere. Our breakfast menu features both traditional and vegetarian options, while our all-day menu includes handmade pizzas, Al forno pasta dishes, and an extensive selection of wines and cocktails.The restaurant's garden provides alfresco dining opportunities with ample seating, catering to families, walkers, and professionals. We accommodate dogs in designated areas and offer special amenities such as complimentary birthday gelato for pre-booked celebrations. Our venue hosts live music events every Friday evening, enhancing the dining experience with local talent. Despite kitchen limitations, we strive to accommodate dietary requirements including gluten-free and vegan options. The restaurant remains open year-round except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with operating hours from 8:30am to 11:00pm daily.
Services
Italian Cuisine
Gluten-Free Options
Live Music Events
Garden Dining
Gift Vouchers
Highlights and features
- Family-run establishment with 196 years of heritage
- Daily fresh dough pizzas and handmade pasta dishes
- Panoramic countryside views from our garden restaurant
- Special dietary options including gluten-free and vegan menus
- Live music events every Friday evening
What people say
Superb food quality
Breathtaking countryside views
Excellent service for families
Generous portion sizes
Authentic Italian experience
Services
Italian Restaurant
The Old Guinea offers authentic Italian cuisine with a modern twist. Our menu features handmade pizzas with 48-hour proved dough, fresh Al forno pasta dishes, and traditional Italian desserts. The restaurant combines historic charm with contemporary service standards, providing an exceptional dining experience in a family-friendly environment.
Garden Dining
Our extensive garden area provides breathtaking views of the Hertfordshire countryside. The tastefully designed outdoor space offers ample seating for alfresco dining, with special provisions for families, walkers, and business professionals. Dogs are welcome in designated areas when kept on a lead.
Live Music Events
Every Friday evening, The Old Guinea hosts live music performances featuring local emerging artists. The events run from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, creating a vibrant atmosphere that complements our Italian dining experience while supporting local musical talent.
Special Dietary Options
We cater to various dietary requirements with dedicated gluten-free and vegan menu options. Our kitchen prepares children's meals and accommodates special requests, though we cannot guarantee complete allergen-free preparation due to kitchen constraints.
Gift Vouchers
Available for purchase with a minimum value of 25, our gift vouchers provide a flexible dining option for special occasions. The vouchers can be redeemed against any food or beverage purchases, making them ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, or corporate gifting.
Questions
Does The Old Guinea offer special dietary options?
Yes, we provide gluten-free and vegan menu options alongside our regular offerings.
What are the restaurant's opening hours?
We're open daily from 8:30am to 11:00pm, serving breakfast until 11:00am and full menu until 11:00pm.
Can I bring my dog to The Old Guinea?
Dogs are welcome in The Floral Bar and garden area when kept on a lead.
Are there live music events at the restaurant?
Yes, we host live music performances every Friday evening from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Is parking available at the venue?
We have limited onsite parking; additional spaces may be available on the main road during busy periods.
Can I book a table in advance?
Yes, we recommend booking in advance through our website, especially for popular times.
Reviews (5)
Aaron Silver
Jan 27, 2022
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Very crowded when I visited around 3-4pm and the tables were very close. The regular pizzas are quite small so a starter is recommended. With that being said, the food was delicious and their breakfast menu is very good too. They are usually quite for breakfast so I'd recommend visiting early in the day.
Chris
Dec 28, 2021
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First visit for lunch today and it won't be our last. Lovely warm atmosphere with friendly staff. Beautiful view over fields even on a cold drizzly day. Delicious food, lasagne, pulling pesto pasta and salad nicoise. Will return for dinner in a few days.
Mp
Dec 28, 2021
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The best thing about this place is the view and the chips. With that said, you wont always have a window seat with a view, especially at weekends when this place is cramped and noisy. The soup is watery. Bruschetta or homemade breadsticks are not crunchy as commonly seen but just small ciabattas and cut-up ciabattas with burned spots here and there. The pizza is only crispy around the edge and soggy in the base, even when we ordered the crispy version. Definitely not authentic Italian. Worse than Prezzo.
Phil Nottage
Dec 17, 2021
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Excellent food, good service, great atmosphere and has a large outdoor area with great views of the countryside. Especially like the pizza's. Can get busy and parking is hard when it is as car park gets filled up. Also nice walks opposite through fields if you dance a walk after lunch.
Rebecca Wearmouth
Dec 14, 2021
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Really great pub with delicious food. We booked this for a work Christmas lunch and everyone enjoyed it. The car park is small but there is space to park on the road outside. There was an error with one of the orders but this was rectified quickly and politely. The staff were friendly and we enjoyed the food. Would definitely return again.
