With Veganuary hard upon us and the excesses of Christmas to dispel, here’s our guide to Oxfordshire’s best veggie and vegan restaurants and food!
Not only are there some excellent stand-alone choices but many other pubs, restaurants and cafes offer stunning veggie/vegan food alongside more traditional offerings. From top gastropubs and taster menus to comfy pubs and healthy cafes, this is your definitive guide to Oxfordshire’s vegan and veggie options.
VEGGIE/VEGAN RESTAURANTS, PUBS, CAFES AND POP-UPS
- The Punter, Osney, Oxford – Brilliantly inventive, fun, with riverside views and a great atmosphere. It’s a proper pub too! read our review here What’s not to like? https://www.thepunteroxford.co.uk
2) Table 13, Wheatley – Anyone who’s been to Georgia Gallacher’s weekly plant based pop-up supper clubs will know she’s the Heston of vegan food, endlessly concocting and surprising with her elaborate and dedicated dishes and inventions. read our review here She’s a rising star so catch her while you can. https://table13oxford.uk
3) The Gardeners Arms, Jericho – read our review here a lovely old boozer serving substantial meat-substitute style food. Perfect for anyone with a big appetite and much loved by students. https://www.thegardenersarms.com
4) Green Routes Cafe, East Oxford – funky, edgy and cool, this great little East Oxford cafe always has queues going down the street and was a massive hot during lockdown. read about it here Great for brunch and it’s coffee defies belief.
5) V-giyan, Woodstock – read about it here – the vegan Punjabi curry delivery service which has taken off beyond belief, mainly due to its passionate founder Bal Gill and his obsession with finessing his recipes and menus, and the variety of its food catering for meat substitute and veg fanatics equally. https://www.veganpunjabi.delivery
6) Damascus Rose Kitchen, Oxford – the social enterprise which has taken over the cafe at Oxford’s Old Fire Station read our review here and serves some wonderful Syrian food made by refugee women, which is both healthy, substantial, genuine and good value for money. https://www.damascusrosekitchen.org
7) Delhish, St Clements – Eccentric, original, Indian and vegan, this brasserie style eatery is endlessly popular and right at home in East Oxford. https://www.delhish.com
8) The Eden Cafe, Witney – A much loved day time, family-friendly cafe for breakfast, brunch, bakes, coffee and ice cream. https://www.edencafe.kiwi
9) Ribizli, Wallingford – has just been taken over by new owners and still running its popular vegan menus of poke bowls, wraps, salads, cakes, soups, smoothies and breakfasts. https://www.ribizli.co.uk
10) Magic Cafe, East Oxford – proudly old school, think Cranks with a constantly changing canteen style cram it high style offering at the counter of delicious and healthy offerings.
FINE DINING: Veggie menus at:
- Muddy Duck, Hethe – read our review here Newly opened, its unashamedly old-school French food is served in the most extraordinary interior, it’s a must because the veggie food is a dream. https://www.themuddyduckpub.co.uk
2) Le Manoir, Great Milton – Always exceptional, Raymond Blanc has been championing vegetarian and vegan food long before it became popular, and grows as much of the produce on site in the grounds of his Michelin starred, world famous restaurant. Yes it’s expensive, but it’s worth saving up for. https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/dining
3) White Hart, Fyfield – read our review here Again big eco credentials and a huge veg patch to source their menus from, the veggie food offering is excellent, consistent and delicious. https://www.whitehart-fyfield.com
4) Duck on the Pond, South Newington – Make sure you’re hungry because the 12 course tasting menu is Herculean and impressive in equal measure. read our review here Think pickled quail eggs with onion ash, home-made cottage cheese, beetroots, stems & leaves, raw honey dressing or the hay & honey custard. https://www.theduckonthepond.co.uk
5) The Swan Islip – read our review here Just opened with Paul Welburn at the helm in the kitchen, it’s bar snacks or tasting menus here but the veggie offering is really worthwhile, highly finessed and original. http:// https://swaninnislip.co.uk
6) The Old Crown, Faringdon – Dine like a king in the newly refurbed ballroom and enjoy head chef Samual Squires’ tasting menu. read our review here Sumptuous, elegant and luxurious. Wallow to your hearts content. https://www.theoldcrowncoachinginn.com
7) The Nut Tree, Murcott – Michelin starred with a vegetarian tasting menu to match, this little corner of Oxford has always revered a more plant based existence in the kitchen read about it here under the watchful eye of head chef Mike North. https://www.nuttreeinn.co.uk
8) Greyhound, Letcombe Regis – Head chef Martin Sherriff is a constant experimenter, especially where vegetarian and vegan food is concerned read about it here and has never held back, so his menus are flamboyant, creative and inspired. Enjoy. https://www.thegreyhoundletcombe.co.uk
9) Feathered Nest, Nether Westcote – read our review here Elegant, stylish and cosy, the food is very seasonal and perfectly in tune with the surrounding countryside. http:// https://thefeatherednestinn.co.uk/cotswolds-restaurant/
10) Killingworth Castle, Wootton near Woodstock – Head chef Adam Brown makes a big effort with a special vegetarian taster menu read our review here with delicacies such as an artichoke, pine nut & truffle tartlet, the beetroot remoulade, potato, horseradish and the BBQ celeriac, kale, and malted Roscoff onion. £65 per person. https://www.thekillingworthcastle.com/vegetarian-tasting-menu
11) The Sir Charles Napier, Chinnor – A long-term favourite with new head chef Andy Lewis who’s vegetarian food is simply delightful. Daring, refined and eminently edible. Review to follow. http://www.sircharlesnapier.co.uk
GREAT VEGGIE AND VEGAN FOOD AT:
- Cinnamon Stick, Middle Barton – Syrian food in a village pub location. read about it here Authentic, fun, colourful, delicious and well priced. https://www.thecinnamonstick.co.uk
2) Coconut Tree, St Clements – Sri Lankan food read about it here is predominantly vegetarian anyway so choose from a wide array of affordable delicious spicy dishes and share. http:// https://www.thecoconut-tree.com/oxford
3) The Handle Bar, Oxford – an ethical, independent and vibrant cafe in the heart of Oxford making great roads into catering for Oxford’s mass of vegan and veggie enthusiasts. https://www.handlebaroxford.co.uk
4) The Edge Eatery, Witney – contemporary, welcoming and proud, read about it here The Edge hailed from catering at festivals so perfect for veggies and vegans alike. Try the brunch, you won’t regret it! http:// https://theedgeeateryltd.co.uk
5) Taste Tibet, East Oxford – Tibetan food made by a Tibetan chef. read about it here It doesn’t get much more real than that. Eat in, take away or buy their frozen curries, momas and dhals at home and pop them in the freezer. Proper comfort food! .https://www.tastetibet.com
6) The Milkshed, Weston-On-The-Green – Think Cornish brunch minus the seaside. read about it’s recent change of ownership here Pancakes, salads, tarts, dhals – wonderful concoctions and creations all served with a smile. Love it there. Veggies and vegans always well catered for. https://www.themilkshedstore.uk
7) Dosa Park, Oxford – Sometimes only a dosa will do and when life gets hard you can find me tucking into their masala dosa and the full vegetarian thali until I feel better again. read our review here Plus its very budget friendly. Win win. http:// https://www.dosapark.com
8) Five Little Pigs, Wallingford – Living up to the hype with their inventive yet nostalgic menus, with great eco credentials, the food being seasonal and as local as possible. read our review here The ingredients here speak for themselves. http:// https://www.fivelittlepigs.co.uk
9) Arbequina, Cowley Road – A stalwart on the tapas scene that never disappoints. A little goes a long way, from an individual slice of their incredible tortilla to the unforgettable Portuguese custard tarts read our review here .Pared back but unstinting and always delivers. https://arbequina.co.uk
10) Za’atar Bake, Cowley Road – fun, colourful, busy – a little slice of Arabic life right bang in the middle of Cowley Road. read our review here From brunch to dinner, veggies and vegans are always well catered for there. http:// https://zaatarbake.co.uk/Home.html
11) Flo’s, Florence Park – The volunteer run communal cafe read about it here caters for everyone, with a culinary global sense of adventure. Choose from the daily specials and then sit and watch the world go by. http://Flosoxford.org.uk
12) Waste 2 Taste, Cowley – another community focused enterprise making a difference to the surplus food war with some inspired cooking and endless good tempers. read about it here Lovely people. http:// https://www.ark-t.org/waste2taste-cafe
13) Worton Kitchen Garden, Cassington – Always a treat, the menu is always a surprise with endless appealing veggie and vegan focussed dishes, much of which originates in the vast gardens and greenhouses around it. read about it here Everything is made from scratch, from the pickles to the freshly baked bread. The colourful farm shop there rounds things off nicely. https://wortonkitchengarden.com
14) Tap Social’s White House, Abingdon Road pub makes a huge effort with a predominantly veggie, vegan menu from brunch to Sunday lunch. read our review here you’ll find yourself well catered for by head chef Michael Carr. https://www.tapsocialwhitehouse.com
15) The Yurt at Nicholsons, North Aston – Again boasting massive eco credentials from recycling to waste and a predominantly plant based menu. read about it here With Andrew Carr at the helm you will always be spoilt for choice. Brunch, lunch and pop up suppers. https://www.nicholsonsgb.com/yurt/
16) Back Lane Tavern, Woodstock – The sharing plate style menu suits the herbivores amongst us from the moreish Vietnamese rolls to the wild mushroom gnocchi or red lentil dahl with slow cooked onions, coriander chutney and yoghurt. read our review here head chef Johnny Parke is well travelled and it shows. http://www.backlanetavern.co.uk
17) White Rabbit, Oxford – their gluten free and vegan pizzas are in every supermarket in the land, but why not come to the centre of the White Rabbit universe and try one for yourself? read about it here Endless toppings to keep you amused and a great vibe! https://www.whiterabbitoxford.co.uk
18) Silvie, East Oxford – Such a great cafe with a sunny vibe and great food. Perfect for brunch, coffee, lunch and their epic pop up parties. read about it here Oh and did I mention the cake? http:// https://www.silvie.co.uk
19) Sasi’s Thai, Covered Market – Great, cheap and quick Thai food to eat at the communal indoor market trestle tables when you’ve just got have a Thai green curry.
20) Brasserie Blanc, Jericho РIf you are veggie I defy you to resist their baked cheese souffl̩s or baked cheese with truffles and honey. read about it here If not their beetroot terrine, grilled cauliflower steak with parsley & walnut pesto and a herb & nut breadcrumb or the Moroccan vegetable tagine are all crowd pleasers. https://brasserieblanc.com/restaurants/oxford/#
21) The Perch, Binsey – caters brilliantly for herbivores with a special vegan menu and Sunday lunch options. Think Herb Crusted Baked Cauliflower in a kale, red wine & rosemary sauce, Butternut Squash & Roasted Red Onion Pearl Barley Risotto, crispy sage & toasted almonds or the Perch Vegan Cheeseburger, house burger sauce, triple cooked chips! https://the-perch.co.uk
