Each type of coffee shop has its own purpose; from the chain to the independently-owned, they all fulfill a specific need. Ultimately, the attributes you prioritize most will determine the cafe that suits you best. As such, the answer to the best coffee shop in Oxford is a multi-faceted one. However, there are general qualities to look for when searching where to order your next flat white.
For the Scenery
If we’re at least a little bit similar, sometimes you just want to sit still for minutes in a cafe to capture a few moments of serenity while in the midst of an overwhelming term. Tranquility is the prevailing feature here, and Art Café, in particular, comes to mind when considering its outdoor setting and crêpe-heavy menu. Its placement right outside of Westgate affords an optimal view for bird and people-watching.
Just off of Broad Street, the Caffè Nero located on the top floor in Blackwell’s delivers an even more serene view. Overlooking the History of Science Museum and Sheldonian theatre, a window seat captures an elegant view of the heart of the city. Although it does get difficult to find seating throughout the day, heading over to Blackwell’s before it opens on a weekday morning will ensure you’re able to capture a glimpse of the view.
Vaults & Garden offers a comparatively wonderful experience. Its full breakfast and lunch menus are not only delicious but perfectly complementary to the setting. Located in University Church across from the Radcliffe Camera, I am not sure there is anything more quintessentially Oxford than sitting in the bottom of a centuries-old church across from a centuries-old reading room, all of which manages to be a warm and comforting atmosphere. Wherever you sit, be it outside or indoors, Vaults & Garden extends humility in accordance with the history of its architecture and surroundings.
For the Atmosphere
Where quirky-ness and experimentation live, independently-owned cafes are perfect for spicing up and diversifying one’s coffee portfolio. I’m not quite sure where the euphoria comes from — through supporting a small business or feeling slightly more culturally adept after purchasing a latte from a dark room with postmodernist art? After all, independent shops typically embody youth culture best.
Jericho Coffee Traders emulates this quite well while also being conveniently close to the city center, located off of High Street. Their woodshop and plant-centered aesthetic lend themselves to a homey environment cosy enough for students to congregate in its spacious backroom. They’re also one of the few local shops that make iced chai lattes, so I may be biased.
Culture, however, really prevails at Common Ground, tucked away on Little Clarendon Street. Its interior pops in both color and attitude, as the furniture and art decor mimic 90s American sitcom arrangements, while also feeling wonderfully arbitrary in placement and piece choice. It epitomizes youth culture best, evidenced by its popularity among students as a designated workspace and social spot. All to say, Common Ground is where I go to be the main character. The baristas also always manage to create latte art on my dirty chais.
For the Consistency
I’ll admit, corporate coffee shops really do have a special place in my heart. There is something irrevocably safe about them, as they maintain a level of consistency that is both absent from my life and the universe generally. There is a deep comfort in that, and it is largely the reason why I am drawn to the Pret a Manger and Gail’s of the world. Also, they’re pretty tasty.
In tandem with reliable wifi and plenty of places to sit (bonus points for upstairs or downstairs sitting), chain coffee shops are the ideal cafes to study in. Some are better than others, though. Pret by far has the best food-to-convenience ratio, offering everything from sandwiches to macaroni to soup to pastries to pick up while on the go. However, I find its red and white corporate colors make it difficult to study for long periods.
Gail’s Bakery is another classic, providing an equally, if not, more expansive food menu of bread, soups, and sandwiches to choose from. Yet, Gail’s biggest setback is that it is almost always at high occupancy which makes it troublesome to concentrate or focus in. Its relatively expensive prices and uncomfortable sitting don’t help very much, either.
This appropriately leaves me with the Caffè Nero located on High Street. When I first arrived in the UK, I was admittedly a Caffè Nero skeptic. And yet here I am, writing in Caffè Nero, a mere subject to its iced lattes. The dim lighting creates a calm ambience and their booth-style seating is comfortable enough to study in for hours. Although occasionally busy, the basement floor of Caffè Nero offers a spacious and quiet place to study on most days of the week. These factors combined, including its placement in the city centre, grant Caffè Nero as the ideal safe choice.
For the Indecisive
If I were to leave you with just one recommendation, however, it would be Common Ground. It hits all the essential benchmarks, from providing delicious coffee, a cosy atmosphere, and a comfortable workspace. The friendliness of the baristas, latte art, interior design, and culture are the cherries on top of an already wonderful coffee shop. Common Ground provides everything I need and more when I’m looking where to spend my time and money, all of which I can confidently say make it the best café in Oxford.
