Oxfordshire Indies Opening Indoors from 17th May
For the first time since Christmas, we will be allowed to meet in doors on Monday, and with this weather, it couldn’t come soon enough! We’re so looking forward to having a drink inside a pub, watching a film and heading back to some of our favourite indie cafes and restaurants.
If you too are dreaming of brunch in the warm and dry, or even heading to a hot yoga class, here’s our Independent Oxford inspiration for making the most of UK restrictions easing on Monday 17th May. >>
Arbequina
Arbequina is an independent, buzzy tapas bar & restaurant, focused on quality, delicious food & drink in an exciting atmosphere.
Taking bookings for inside dining, outside dining is first come, first served.
BSM Social Club
Part record store, part craft beer bottle shop. They carry a wide range of punk, emo, math rock, instrumental and alternative records alongside hundreds of lovely beers and soft drinks, all available to drink in or take away.
Enjoy a beer inside from Tuesday 18th May.
Cherwell Boathouse
The Cherwell Boathouse is an iconic Oxford punt station and restaurant on the banks of the river Cherwell, close to the centre of Oxford.
Coffeesmith
Coffeesmith’s little shop is in a beautiful 12th century building, slightly off the beaten track in the heart of Oxford, a perfect spot for coffee, cakes and pastries.
Enjoy a coffee in their Golden Cross cafe from Monday 17th May.
Colombia Coffee Roasters
Colombia Coffee Roasters is a speciality, single-origin coffee roasters born and based in Oxford (UK).
Grab a coffee at their Summertown or Covered Market cafes.
Every Body Studio
Every Body Studio is a small, supportive, non judgmental space for movement classes in St Clements, Oxford. They specialise in Yoga, Pilates and Barre.
Studio classes start on Monday 17th May.
Gee’s
Gee’s Restaurant offers locals and visitors a uniquely rustic, Mediterranean dining experience set in an iconic Victorian Glasshouse.
Gourdans Steak Frites
Established and serving Steak Frites since 2015 locally in Oxford and around the UK from our Renault Estafette mobile kitchen that Matt & Christina still travel with, catering at private, corporate and public events.
Reopening from 19th May, book a table at Gourdans.
Handle Bar Cafe & Kitchen
The Handle Bar Cafe & Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, all made with love and carefully sourced ingredients from local independent suppliers.
Open from Wednesday 19th May, book your table here.
Jericho Coffee Traders
Conceived in 2012, Jericho Coffee Traders has evolved from the back of a Vespa tricycle into a roastery and a speciality espresso bar in the heart of Oxford.
Visit their High Street espresso bar, or Osney Mead roastery.
Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia is an Oxford Institution – serving the best pizza and pasta in the city for over 35 years.
Opening on Monday 17th, book your table online.
Modern Art Oxford
Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s most exciting and influential contemporary art organisations, renowned for a bold and progressive artistic programme that promotes diverse and unconventional viewpoints from around the world.
The gallery, shop & cafe open on 21st May.
Parsonage Grill
Parsonage Grill, famous for its intimate, bohemian, clubby atmosphere, displays an amazing collection of eclectic oil paintings; mainly portraits of well-known writers and artists.
Book a table online, or book a room at the Old Parsonage from 17th May.
Pompette
The French word for tipsy — Pompette, a stylish charcuterie wine bar and restaurant in Summertown, Oxford.
Quod Restaurant & Bar
On Oxford’s bustling High Street, peering out onto St Mary’s Church and the iconic Radcliffe Camera, Quod Restaurant with its unrivalled location forms the lively hub of the Old Bank Hotel.
Book a table for inside, or outdoor dining, or book a room at the Old Bank Hotel.
Sandfield Guesthouse
Paul has hosted over 3,300 guests since converting his charming childhood home into a guest house in 2009. He delivers a warm, personalised service, modern business amenities and the highest housekeeping standards – all in a Carbon-Positive environment where comfort is key.
Sandy’s Piano & Wine Bar
Sandy’s Piano & Wine Bar focus on quality wines and cocktails, along with live music every night.
Open from Tuesday 18th May. Book online.
Skogen Kitchen
Skogen Kitchen is a Scandinavian café nestled amongst the beautiful Oxford colleges in the heart of the city on King Edwards Street.
Open Tuesday 18th May inside.
Society Cafe
Society Café are an independent speciality coffee shop in the heart of Oxford city centre. Their focus is on making great coffee sourced directly from the best coffee producing farms in the world and roasted by the best roasters in the world.
Visit their St Michael’s Street cafe.
Tap Social Movement
Tap Social was opened in 2016 and is a craft brewery, coffee house and community space that provides training and employment to people serving and recently released from prison sentences.
The Edge Eatery
Inspired by their time in New Zealand, owners and chefs, Phoebe and Tom created The Edge Eatery to share their love of cooking and foodie ideas with their community.
Reopening on Monday 17th May. Call 07983930662 to book your table.
The Folly
The Folly offers an excellent dining experience in a unique location as well as providing wonderfully unusual experiences such as their Cruise and Dine package, cocktail masterclasses and Mad Hatters Tea Parties.
The Jam Factory
Restaurant, bar and gallery, The Jam Factory has become a safe haven for the food lovers and art enthusiasts of Oxford. Located just a stone’s throw from Oxford train station, bus station, city centre shops, The Saïd Business School and Oxford’s dreaming spires.
Reopening on Wednesday 19th May. Book a table on 01865 244 613.
The Jericho Cafe
Whether it’s excellent coffee you want, a full English breakfast, a light healthy lunch, tea and a (large!) slice of home-made cake, or a full evening meal after a film at the independent cinema across the street- they’ve got it covered.
Open for indoor and outdoor dining from Monday 17th May.
The Market Cellar Door
The Market Cellar Door is a tiny ‘Hybrid’ wine shop and wine bar in Oxford’s Covered Market. They sell over 200 wines from around the world, including organic, low intervention and English wines, alongside the classics.
Enjoy a drink in The Covered Market!
The Missing Bean
The Missing Bean was founded by Ori and Vicky in 2009 to establish a speciality coffee scene in the heart of Oxford.
Check out their Turl Street cafe, Magdalen Road roastery, and soon to open Abingdon and Banbury cafes.
The Oxfordshire Yeoman
A family run free-house serving great pub grub in the heart of Freeland, Oxfordshire.
Open indoors from Tuesday 18th May, book your table by calling 01993 881003.
The Perch
The Perch is one of Oxford’s oldest pubs, offering fabulous food and drinks to locals and tourists alike seeking relaxing refreshment after a stroll along the River Thames, across beautiful Port Meadow.
Ultimate Picture Palace
The Ultimate Picture Palace is Oxford’s oldest and only independent cinema. The cinema is run by a small team of film fanatics who pick the programme, screening only the best mainstream, indie, foreign-language, and documentary films, alongside a regular season of classics.
Waste2Taste
Waste2Taste offer a bespoke catering service with a vision towards a vibrant, healthy and sustainable food culture, committed to packaging and food waste cuts.
The Cafe at Ark T is open from Tuesday 18th May.
Wilding Wine
A new restaurant and wine shop on Little Clarendon Street opening on 26th May.
Yellow Submarine Cafe
Often rated #1 for coffee and tea in Oxford by TripAdvisor, 70,000 customers each year visit the Yellow Submarine cafés because of the quality of the coffee & food.
Visit their cafes on Park End Street, or in Windrush Leisure Centre, Witney.
Yoga Venue
YogaVenue is Oxford’s premier Yoga studio and was created to provide a dedicated space for students to enjoy their Yoga practice. They have classes for all levels so don’t worry if you’ve never practised Yoga before.
