Bitten Streets is back, and this time our focus is on Little Clarendon St. in Jericho.
This Bitten Crew favourite ticks all our boxes; it’s delicious, accessible, and a little bit funky. We love its interesting concentration of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops along one short city block. And here are our top picks for when you next visit.
Say cheese!
The Jericho Cheese Company is enough all by itself to make Little Clarendon worth mentioning.
This specialist shop features British and Irish farmhouse cheeses that can trigger love at first sight. Think of it as Oxford’s funfair of fromage. From tiny goat cheeses to full wheels of Montgomery’s cheddar, the JCC has everything you need to build that perfect aromatic cheese board. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure what to buy: the knowledgeable cheesemongers are happy to give advice or provide a taste. They also stock some amazing Sourdough Revolution bread, and a carefully chosen range of accompaniments such as crackers, butter, chutneys, and quince paste.
Coffee love
Common Ground is a comfy co-working café and community arts space that extends a warm welcome to regulars and visitors alike.
Start by getting a cup of some excellent Missing Bean coffee or a treat from local Oxford bakers such as Hamblin. Then you can join a shared table or sink into a squishy armchair with your laptop. Why not pop downstairs to browse Curio books in the basement? That’s what I do. You can even come back later for a drink at one of the Common Ground social events, including a comedy night and music gigs.
On the other side of the street, Tree Artisan Café is a charming little spot to get a top-notch coffee with a side of chic. You will also be tempted by the display of baguette sandwiches and golden pastries facing you upon entry. Warmed by the friendly atmosphere and a flat white, you’ll be happy to linger in here for a while.
Dinner time
When it comes to date night, the Bitten writers and readers all agree that Pierre Victoire is our go-to local destination.
This beloved Oxford independent has been preparing traditional French food in an intimate candle-lit setting since 1996 and is still going strong. The prix-fixe menus (there’s no a la carte option) offer classics such as bouillabaisse, moules-frites, confit de canard or even fondue Savoyarde. Puddings are also excellent, as is the service. Reservations are highly recommended whether you want to grab a pre-theatre meal or get your romance on.
If your tastes tend towards Japanese cuisine, newcomer Kibou has arrived with a flourish.
Bitten has already enjoyed sampling the sushi and sake, not to mention cocktails and dinner. The former Wilding Wine venue has been beautifully transformed into a pretty restaurant with a contemporary Japanese atmosphere. Be sure to check out the walled courtyard in the back. It’s a charming and relaxed outdoor area where you can chill out.
Raise a glass
There’s plenty of choice when you’re ready for a drink.
The Oxford Wine Café has a mission to bring us the best examples of small boutique wines from around the world. At Bitten, we appreciate their bustling vibe, and we have been working our way steadily through their selection. So many wines by the glass, and so little time! Our drinks specialist James may have had a few too many bottles of their red, but he’ll have to decide whether to share those details with you all.
If you’d rather have a cocktail…
The Duke of Cambridge bar has an impressive menu. You’ll find classics (Bloody Mary, Negroni, Martini, etc), as well as some less well-known options to tempt you. How about a Seoul Swizzle, an Andy Garcia, or a Dublin Sling? Finally, you can always buy bottles to take home from the Oxford Wine Company shop.
And that’s not all
‘Oxford’s Own’ G&D’s, has been churning delicious local ice cream in the Little Clarendon Street location since 1992.
And as Bitten’s self-appointed ice-cream expert, of course I’m one of their regulars. They have over 60 flavours on rotation, and you’ll usually find about a dozen to choose from each day. Coffee, Oxford Blue, Daim Bar Crunch, Mango sorbet: which ones do you like most? The ice cream doesn’t need embellishment, but they’ve got you covered if you want to pimp it up with toppings or the makings of a sundae. If you’re there at lunchtime, you can start by ordering a home-made bagel sandwich first. The bagels are shaped, boiled and baked in the St. Aldate’s G&D’s.
Steamhouse Bagels has been warmly recommended by Bitten readers as a bakery/lunch spot.
Their bagels are freshly baked every day. And even though I wish they were baked a little longer, I go in to buy a half dozen ‘for emergencies’ from time to time. Their most recent new favourite bagel sandwich is worth highlighting as well: halloumi, avo, grilled peppers, salad and sweet chilli sauce make a delightful combo.
Opera Café gets a special mention on this list, even though it’s technically just around the corner on Walton Street. Chiara recommends their grilled wraps (so crispy!) and Rob has highlighted their lunchtime deals, so how could I exclude them?
Finally, Wild Honey, the community health food store and hub, has a branch here selling local organic produce and ethical food products. We can all savour the convenience of being able to fit in our shopping between a breakfast macchiato and margarita time.
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