When my partner and I were looking to move out of London over four years ago, finding somewhere that boasted a decent list of independent coffee shops and restaurants ranked highly on our list and we found all that and more in the charming town of Witney.
So here’s our low-down on what Witney has to offer. Oh and did we mention parking is free!
Coffee time!
If you’re a coffee lover like us, you won’t be short of options. Here are our top three:
Left to right — all options are very dog friendly.
UE Coffee Roasters, this is about as East London Hipster vibes as Witney gets. Based on an industrial estate just a short 5-minute drive out of the town centre is home to UE’s roastery and cafe. They have a monthly Saturday indie market and have a large selection of pastries and doughnuts at the weekend. Their “Green” cafe downstairs is full of plants and cozy leather armchairs and then they’ve got a larger space upstairs overlooking the roastery which is great for a bit of co-working (although a tad noisy at times). They have a limited food menu but is an impressive place to take a friend or have a date and in summer they extend outside and often have live music on at the weekends!
The Edge Eatery Ltd, is based on Witney High Street and is a great option for brunch. They also serve delicious Routes Coffee. It’s quite small and gets busy but has a good atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food options.
Coffeesmiths, is at the other end on the High Street on Langdale Court. In warmer weather, it’s a nice spot to sit outside and watch the world go by and they also have a small terrace out the back. Coffeesmiths is my regular spot for Avocado on toast, their Sourdough bread is locally sourced. They also do the best peach iced tea! I could drink that stuff by the gallon. They serve Origin Coffee which is also delicious.
A bite to eat
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat we’d recommend…
Part & Parcel, a dodo pub – notorious for their pizzas and burgers. It’s got a cool atmosphere and attracts a young, trendy crowd and you can combine it with a few drinks at the same time.
Como Lounge is a chain that gets it right most of the time. It’s a massive space, so there’s always room and their order at the table works perfectly. It’s very accessible and a popular choice with young Mum’s. They’ve got a good tapas menu for sharing and an extensive menu that caters almost to everyone. I often opt for the Buttermilk fried chicken with fries, pure comfort food.
The Plough, is a lovely pub serving very good grub and has some great deals such as Fish Friday – 2 for 1 deal on Fish and Chips. They’re roasts are notorious for being excellent (we’ve yet to try them). They’ve got a lovely garden area, a decent cocktail menu and a brilliantly warm community atmosphere.
Treat yo’self
My top three treats from left to right…
Huffkins, their Belgium bun is INSANELY good and they have lots of lovely fresh cream cakes.
Hunters, a CAKE cafe! What’s not to love? All cakes are homemade, the choice can be overwhelming but stuck with my choice because trust me when I tell you that a slice of their chocolate cake never disappoints
Alfonso, proper Italian gelato, some interesting flavor combinations! My choice is Mint Stracciatella (made with proper mint leaves and chunky dark chocolate pieces), you can also choose to try two flavors when you choose one scoop which is a lovely touch.
The critic’s choice!
The Lamb in Crawley, a short 5 min drive from the town centre will always get our vote for dinner. We’ve been so many times over the years and the standard is always consistently high. It’s a proper country pub, expect lovely nooks, open fires and even their pub dog. The service is great and the food is exceptionally good. If you’re lucky enough to go when they’ve got the rotisserie cajun chicken on the menu, order it fast, it always sells out and when you taste it, you’ll see why.
Other mentions
Eden Cafe: Vegan / Gluten-free eaters. All their food is vegan and gluten-free. It’s fresh, and tasty and they also serve great coffee.
Sandwich de Witney: a very popular baguette shop, made to order. Take-away only
Suwanna or Cambodian Cuisine at the Carpenters Arms: our favourite takeaway options.
Corn Exchange, serves UE coffee, homemade cakes, has good wifi and a strong community feel
Witney Blanket Hall, walk through the shop, down the path and you’ll feel like you’ve been exported to someone else entirely (I won’t give any more away). Grab a homemade scone or pie on your way out.
I moved to Witney six months or so ago, and here are some of my suggestions:
San Marzano – Great Italian restaurant with excellent service. Possibly the best place I’ve eaten in Witney so far.
The Three Horseshoes – Pub on Corn Street which has recently come under new management. They do a wonderful Sunday roast.
I agree with you about The Lamb in Crawley, The Edge Eatery (note: *not* The Edge at Fat Lil’s) and Suwanna being great options.