As if we aren’t already stuck for choice, there are even more cool chow-downs recently opened or coming our way over the next few weeks. Here’s our round-up of our favourites. If we’re missing any, let us know!
Barefoot, King Edward Street
We do love Barefoot cake and it is instantly recognisable. They’ve been expanding and now include a cafe in Woodstock, with this new site to become their third. This one will focus less on cake and more on healthy food – granola, avocado, smoothie bowls, chia pots, porridge, plus rainbow lattes. You can guarantee it will all be beautifully presented and insta-ready! Opening date TBC, but it’s looking likely to be the end of June or early July. Preview to come!
The Oxford Blue
Previously Oxford Blue Smokehouse, the East Oxford pub on Marston Street is reopening as a Charles Well’s Pizza, Pots & Pints community-style pub concept. Stay tuned for an exact opening date and preview, but it looks set to open within the next two weeks.
Taco Bandits and Spurtle & Spoon
The pop-up venue share is now open, replacing Hyper Ramen, with Taco Bandits taking the evenings and Spurtle & Spoon taking brunch. Coffee and healthy eats like overnight oats, sourdough toast and granola by day, tacos, nachos and margaritas by night. Sounds like a perfect balance to me! Read our brunch review of Spurtle & Spoon on the blog now, and check back later in the week for a Taco review. You can also check out our earlier review of Taco Bandits pop-up at Organic Deli Cafe.
Vine
We’re pleased to see Vine back, and it’s fully open now with wines and spirits to drink in or take away, plus coffee, brunch and dinner offerings. Jacqui popped in earlier this week to check out the brunch offering, read about it here – there are also cheese, veggie and charcuterie boards available for afternoons and evenings, alongside coffees, wifi, plug sockets, and – of course – wine! A good one to check out for remote working.
Souvlaki Brothers
Souvlaki Brothers at Oxford Covered Market opens on Monday 10th June! We’re looking forward to the market being filled with the smells of grilled souvlakis. Check out our full preview here.
Under the Shop
The new cocktail & dining room underneath Pint Shop is well and truly open, with coal-baked kebabs, dry-aged steaks, and comfort foods like short rib beef tacos and potato & rarebit pie all featuring on the food menu. The drinks menu contains classic cocktails like Espresso Martini, White Russian, Mai Tai and Aperol Spritz; alongside eight house G&Ts, while the decor has changed to a darker, moodier vibe with low lighting, to match a speakeasy theme. We love Pint Shop’s food & drinks so this should be equally impressive.
Thirty Eight
Replacing Summertown’s Oxford Wine Cafe, this new bar & restaurant hasn’t shared much on social media yet, so we’ll pop in soon for a nosey so we can fill you in! Thirty Eight’s menu items so far have included: black cod with miso, chestnut mushrooms, greens and pearl barley; clams and pomegranate in a white wine, garlic and saffron sauce; corn cheese fritters; and feta filo parcels with caramelised pear purée.
Itsu Westgate Oxford
Itsu have confirmed this new addition to the Westgate will be in addition to their Cornmarket venue. If you haven’t Itsu’d yet, get yourself along for a big selection of lighter sushi, sashimi and bento boxes, along with noodle pots, gyoza and froyo, plus a selection of other healthy snacks.
Skogen Kitchen
Another King Edward Street cafe, this time Scandinavian. We know very little about Skogen Kitchen so far, so we’ll pop down for a nosey soon, but their social media feed so far includes Scandi soups, cakes and chia fruit pots.
And in other news…
Silvie launches weekend dinner service
The lovely Silvie on Iffley Road has launched a new weekend dinner service. Now open every Friday & Saturday night with a changing seasonal menu of small and large sharing plates, beers, wines, natural wines and cocktails. Dinner service runs 6.30-9PM every Friday & Saturday night.
James Street Tavern gets a refurb
We’re told East Oxford pub, James Street Tavern, is getting a facelift and improving its ale offering.
Thali closed
It wasn’t open for long, but Thali Oxford has closed it’s doors for good. We really enjoyed our visit there, but not quite enough to run back since. We wonder what will take over the venue next.
Which new opening are you most excited about?
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