Five Great Places to Have Tea and Cake in Oxford
There are cafes, coffee shops, a greek cafe, an art gallery, a museum cafe and they're all great.
Feature
Surely, this is all you need know about any city: where to get good cake. With the sad closure of The Old Bookbinders in Cowley -a sofa strewn warehouse which was undoubtedly the coolest place to be seen having a nibble of something sweet - it's time to reassess the purveyors of baked goods in Oxford and decide which café really puts the icing on the cake.
The Ashmolean Cafe
This place really redefines the phrase 'café culture'. Where else can you enjoy a cuppa whilst surrounded by pillars, glimpsing dead languages of the world and photographic exhibitions? Sit in one of the booths which line the walls and gaze upward, through the sky lights of this basement coffee shop, and view The Ashmolean from a completely new perspective. Manos
If you fancy a change from the oh-so-English scones and jam afternoon tea, branch out and take an excursion around the Mediterranean; why not try coffee and baklava instead? This Greek restaurant serves home made halva and the chocolate and walnut baklava is the perfect accompaniment to their incredibly potent coffee. Of course, if you're not feeling particularly adventurous, you could always opt for English Breakfast and a slice of carrot cake. The Grand Café
Founded in 1650, this historic establishment boasts the title of 'oldest coffee house in England'. The guilt and marble salon looks as if it has escaped from the Palace of Versailles and, as you would imagine, there is a not unsubstantial price tag attached to all this opulence. But if it's decadence you're after, there is no better place to revel in a long, leisurely and luxurious afternoon tea; their three tier trays of sandwiches, cakes and chocolate truffles are towers of sheer gluttonous delight! The Missing Bean
This coffee house in the centre of town has been a raging success since it opened in 2010. The waiting time in this cafe can be so long that, at times, you could probably get minor surgery on the NHS before you manage to find a place to perch in the seating area. The reason for this insane popularity? Simple: their coffee is the best in town. The Jam Factory
Handily situated within spitting distance of the train station and housing an onsite arts centre, this place is so edgy it's probably a health and safety hazard. With an interior that looks like it leapt out from a glossy, avant-garde 1950s design magazine, you will definitely see the coolest cats in town hanging round this joint. They even stock gluten free options that are equally as delicious as the rest of their home-made tasty treats. Cake has never been so cool. Kate Travers Ashmolean Cafe image ©James Hudson, 2010
This place really redefines the phrase 'café culture'. Where else can you enjoy a cuppa whilst surrounded by pillars, glimpsing dead languages of the world and photographic exhibitions? Sit in one of the booths which line the walls and gaze upward, through the sky lights of this basement coffee shop, and view The Ashmolean from a completely new perspective. Manos
If you fancy a change from the oh-so-English scones and jam afternoon tea, branch out and take an excursion around the Mediterranean; why not try coffee and baklava instead? This Greek restaurant serves home made halva and the chocolate and walnut baklava is the perfect accompaniment to their incredibly potent coffee. Of course, if you're not feeling particularly adventurous, you could always opt for English Breakfast and a slice of carrot cake. The Grand Café
Founded in 1650, this historic establishment boasts the title of 'oldest coffee house in England'. The guilt and marble salon looks as if it has escaped from the Palace of Versailles and, as you would imagine, there is a not unsubstantial price tag attached to all this opulence. But if it's decadence you're after, there is no better place to revel in a long, leisurely and luxurious afternoon tea; their three tier trays of sandwiches, cakes and chocolate truffles are towers of sheer gluttonous delight! The Missing Bean
This coffee house in the centre of town has been a raging success since it opened in 2010. The waiting time in this cafe can be so long that, at times, you could probably get minor surgery on the NHS before you manage to find a place to perch in the seating area. The reason for this insane popularity? Simple: their coffee is the best in town. The Jam Factory
Handily situated within spitting distance of the train station and housing an onsite arts centre, this place is so edgy it's probably a health and safety hazard. With an interior that looks like it leapt out from a glossy, avant-garde 1950s design magazine, you will definitely see the coolest cats in town hanging round this joint. They even stock gluten free options that are equally as delicious as the rest of their home-made tasty treats. Cake has never been so cool. Kate Travers Ashmolean Cafe image ©James Hudson, 2010
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lunch |
food |
cake |
tea |
Oxford |
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