The Best Cafés in Oxford, UK: My Favourite Places for Coffee & Brunch
Looking for the best cafes in Oxford? From specialty coffee on Turl Street and a long brunch in Jericho to French pastries on The High and one very touristy cream tea, here’s where I’d stop for coffee in Oxford.
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On my first few trips to Oxford, coffee was mostly whatever I could fit between college tickets. Which, in hindsight, was a waste.
Oxford is actually very good at cafés. You’ve got independent roasters tucked between the colleges, proper neighbourhood brunch around Jericho, coffee inside the Oxford Covered Market and a surprising amount of choice within a few minutes of the Bodleian Library.
I still love the big Oxford bits, obviously. But after several visits, some of my favourite stops are the ones that sit between them: breakfast before the first college, coffee after the Ashmolean Museum, something sweet on The High, or an hour in the cool and local Jericho.
On that note, here’s some of my favourite cafés in Oxford.
Shall we?
About the Author
Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.
On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.
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Quick Overview: The Best Cafes in Oxford
| Café | Best for | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Art Café Oxford | An early breakfast and easy first coffee after arriving in Oxford | Bonn Square |
| The Missing Bean | Specialty coffee in the historic centre | Turl Street |
| Jericho Coffee Traders | Oxford-roasted coffee with one of the best central locations | High Street |
| Tree Artisan Café | Single-origin coffee sourced from female producers | Little Clarendon Street |
| The Jericho Café | Neighbourhood brunch and a slower morning | Jericho |
| The Handle Bar | A proper brunch before sightseeing | St Michael’s Street |
| Colombia Coffee Roasters | Single-origin Colombian coffee in the Covered Market | Covered Market |
| Saint Clair Valentine Patisserie | French pastries and something sweet on The High | High Street |
| Society Café | Specialty coffee and a longer city-centre sit-down | St Michael’s Street |
| The Spires Café & Restaurant | Full English breakfast and weekend brunch | Gloucester Green |
| Thirsty Meeples | Board games, coffee and a group stop on your Oxford trip | Gloucester Green |
| The Grand Café | Cream tea, people-watching and old-Oxford atmosphere | High Street |
Plan Your Oxford Trip
Where I’d stay: For an overnight or weekend trip, I’d recommend Old Bank Hotel on The High. You’ll be right by Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian and some of Oxford’s most beautiful colleges.
Getting to Oxford from London: You can get to Oxford easily by train in less than 1 hour. Compare London to Oxford train times and fares here before you go.
The experience I’d book first: If the weather is on your side, I’d book this Oxford punting tour.
Stay connected: Set up your UK eSIM before your trip to have mobile data as soon as you land.
For extra peace of mind: I personally recommend using VisitorsCoverage to compare travel insurance options before your trip—it’s my go-to for finding the right cover whenever I travel.
1. Art Café Oxford: My Easy First Stop After the Train
Best for: an early breakfast, specialty coffee and an easy start before the historic centre.
Art Café Oxford is a great coffee shop to visit straight off the train. It’s on Bonn Square, around a ten-minute walk from Oxford Station, and beyond easy to pick something up and keep walking towards the colleges, with coffee roasted straight from Oxfordshire.
P.S. – From here, you’re basically already at the start of the city-centre route in my best things to do in Oxford guide.
2. The Missing Bean: My Pick for Coffee on Turl Street
Best for: specialty coffee in the middle of Oxford’s college streets.
For coffee alone, I’d make The Missing Bean my Turl Street stop.
The original Turl Street café opened in 2009, with the company roasting its own (truly delicious) coffee in East Oxford since 2014. The tried-and-true Turl Street shop still serves the seasonal house espresso and rotating single-origin coffees, plus bread, sandwiches, cakes and pastries from its own bakery.
Plus, you’ll be right next to Bodleian Library and plenty of Oxford’s colleges whilst you’re here.
3. Jericho Coffee Traders: Oxford-Roasted Coffee on The High
Best for: a quick specialty coffee with a ridiculously Oxford view.
Jericho Coffee Traders has one of my favourite café locations in Oxford: right on The High, surrounded by the university buildings you came to see.
It sits at 105 High Street with views towards the University Church of St Mary the Virgin and the college buildings opposite. So yes, you can be drinking coffee while looking at the next thing that’ll be on your Oxford camera roll.
Coffee here is roasted at the company’s very own Osney Mead roastery, with some quite yummy cakes to pick up too.
4. Tree Artisan Café: Coffee From Female Producers on Little Clarendon Street
Best for: single-origin coffee and a stop between the Ashmolean and Jericho.
Tree Artisan Café has one of my favourite coffee stories in Oxford. Founded in Oxford in 2020, it sources its single-origin coffees exclusively from female producers and women-led cooperatives.
The café is on Little Clarendon Street, between central Oxford and Jericho, and makes a lovely stop after the Ashmolean Museum.
It’s also open until 6pm if you’re after a late night fix!
5. The Jericho Café: Best for a Proper Neighbourhood Brunch
Best for: brunch, breakfast and a slower Jericho morning.
This is where I’d go when I actually want breakfast rather than a coffee and pastry standing in for one.
The Jericho Café is family-run and sits on Walton Street, around ten minutes from the centre. The breakfast menu covers the full café breakfast, vegetarian and vegan versions, Turkish eggs, porridge, breakfast baps and the usual eggs-on-sourdough territory.
I’d make it part of a proper Jericho morning with breakfast, a browse at The Last Bookshop, then pottering around Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street before walking back into town.
6. The Handle Bar: My Favourite Repeat Brunch Stop in Oxford
Best for: brunch before a full day of Oxford sightseeing.
The Handle Bar was one of my breakfast stops on my first Oxford trip, and I’d happily do it again.
It’s above a bike shop on St Michael’s Street, and fabulous for a proper sit-down breakfast without leaving the centre.
French toast, smashed avocado and eggs, seasonal plates and coffee are all on offer, and on a college-heavy day it’s the perfect first stop.
7. Colombia Coffee Roasters: Coffee Inside the Covered Market
Best for: Colombian specialty coffee in the middle of Oxford’s Covered Market.
Colombia Coffee Roasters started inside the Oxford Covered Market in 2018, when founder Milly opened what started as a micro-roastery and café here.
Since then the family-run business has flourished, working directly with Colombian producers and roasting its coffee right in Oxford.
I’d stop here if you’re already in the Covered Market and get lunch under the same roof (if you’re keen on a sit-down though, read my Oxford restaurants guide).
8. Saint Clair Valentine Patisserie: My Pick for Pastries on The High
Saint Clair Valentine Patisserie
Best for: French-style pastries, viennoiserie and an afternoon stop on The High.
I keep Saint Clair Valentine Patisserie in my Oxford notes for when I want the tea-and-cake part of The High without doing the full Grand Café.
It’s at 90 High Street, in a building that’s belonged to University College since 1905 (John Ruskin’s mother once stayed here while he was at Christ Church). Inside, you’ll find French-style pastries and viennoiserie, all made in house.
Save this one for mid-afternoon, especially if your day has already taken you through Christ Church and the Bodleian Library.
9. Society Café: A Central Coffee Stop When You Want to Sit for a Bit
Best for: specialty coffee in the city centre when you don’t want to rush straight back to exploring Oxford.
On the same St Michael’s Street stretch as The Handle Bar, Society Café is where I’d go for a cuppa and a long sit-down.
Their Oxford branch is spacious and coffee-led and a lovely one to use if Cornmarket is packed and you just want to sit down somewhere for a bit.
10. The Spires Café & Restaurant: Best for an Early Full English
Best for: full English breakfast, weekend brunch and starting near Gloucester Green.
The Spires Café & Restaurant is one of my favourite Oxford cafés, and for good reason.
It opens early, serves a full English every day and does a mean weekend brunch, all from Gloucester Green. Plus their smoothies are divine!
11. Thirsty Meeples: Best for Coffee & Board Games
Best for: board games, coffee, group trips in Oxford
Thirsty Meeples is best if you want your coffee stop to turn into an actual Oxford activity.
The Oxford café first opened in 2012 and has a huge board game library, with Game Gurus on hand to help you choose a game and explain the rules. There’s food and drink too, from yes, coffee—to no frills sandwiches, beer, wine and cocktails.
A really good one for a rainy afternoon in Oxford or a group trip!
12. The Grand Café: Still Worth Doing Once
Best for: cream tea, old-Oxford atmosphere and one of Oxford’s most touristy experiences.
I’ve done tea at The Grand Café, and I’m not going to pretend it’s the local specialty-coffee pick on this list, but if you’re looking to have a quintessential ‘Oxford moment’ it might be worth the trip.
It’s apparently England’s first coffee house, dating to around 1650, and is worth it for the photos, a cream tea and people-watching. Just go in with reasonable expectations.
Final Thoughts on the Best Cafés in Oxford
If I were back in Oxford tomorrow, I’d probably start with breakfast at The Handle Bar or Art Café Oxford, then save my actual coffee stop for The Missing Bean or Jericho Coffee Traders.
With more time, I’d go back towards Jericho for The Jericho Café and Tree Artisan Café (basically the side of Oxford that gets better once you give it more than a rushed day trip).
And no matter which I go to, I’d always make time for some Oxford exploring in between.
Enjoy your coffee—and Oxford!
Happy travels,
Candace x
FAQ: Best Cafes in Oxford
What Are the Best Cafes in Oxford?
For coffee, I’d start with The Missing Bean, Jericho Coffee Traders, Tree Artisan Café and Colombia Coffee Roasters. For brunch, I’d choose The Handle Bar or The Jericho Café.
Where Can You Get the Best Coffee in Oxford City Centre?
The Missing Bean on Turl Street and Jericho Coffee Traders on High Street are the best coffee-led picks (in my opinion) in the historic centre. Colombia Coffee Roasters is another strong choice inside the Oxford Covered Market.
Which Oxford Café Is Best for Brunch?
I’d choose The Handle Bar if you want to stay central, or The Jericho Café if you’ve got time to spend the morning in Jericho. The Spires Café & Restaurant is useful for a full English or an early start around Gloucester Green.
Where Should You Get Coffee Near the Bodleian Library?
The Missing Bean on Turl Street is the easiest coffee-first stop near the Bodleian Library. Jericho Coffee Traders on High Street is also close and gives you views towards the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Is The Grand Café in Oxford Worth It?
I think The Grand Café is worth visiting once for cream tea, the gold-and-marble room and the High Street atmosphere. I wouldn’t choose it over The Missing Bean or Jericho Coffee Traders if my only priority was specialty coffee.
Are There Good Cafés in Jericho, Oxford?
Yes. The Jericho Café is my brunch pick on Walton Street, while Tree Artisan Café sits on Little Clarendon Street on the way in. I’d only prioritise Jericho if you have two days in the city though.
Which Oxford Coffee Shops Roast Their Own Coffee?
The Missing Bean roasts in East Oxford, Jericho Coffee Traders roasts at Osney Mead, and Colombia Coffee Roasters does too, with a focus on Colombian coffee.
What Else Should You Do While You’re in Oxford?
Use my best things to do in Oxford guide for the main city sights, or my day trips from Oxford guide if you’re staying longer and want to get out of the city. For dinner, I’d switch to my Oxford restaurants guide!
Plan the Rest of Your Oxford Trip
Still planning? Here’s the rest of my Oxford guides for what to do, where to eat and stay, tours and what else to see nearby.
Oxford Itineraries & Things to Do
- The Best Things to Do in Oxford, England: My Favourite Sights, Food Stops & Local Gems
- What to Do in Oxford in a Day: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary
- How to Spend a Weekend in Oxford: The Perfect 2-Day Itinerary
Where to Eat & Stay
- The Best Restaurants in Oxford, UK: My Favourite Places to Recommend
- The Best Cafés in Oxford, UK: My Favourite Places for Coffee & Brunch
- The Best Hotels in Oxford City Centre: My Favourite Places to Stay
Oxford Tours
- The Best Oxford Walking Tours: University, History & More
- The Best Harry Potter Tours in Oxford: Filming Locations, Colleges & More
