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As a student town, it comes as no surprise that Oxford is home to an extremely vibrant cafe scene. With students constantly scoping out the best places to get some work done, and visitors always on the hunt for local secrets, the coffee standards in Oxford are high. And for that, I am extremely grateful.
Jericho is one of Oxford’s cutest neighborhoods. About a 15-minute walk from the center of town, Jericho might as well be a world onto its own: cocktail bars, delis, quirky pubs, record stores and some of the best Oxford cafes.
I’ve lived in Jericho for the last few years so I may be a tad biased. I acknowledge that the best restaurants in Oxford are around Cowley Road, while the center is full of markets and vegetarian gems. But when it comes to coffee, I know that’s where my neighborhood shines. Ask any Oxford student or young professional where the best cup of coffee in Oxford is and they will invariably point you towards Jericho.
Here is my local guide to the best 5 cafes in Oxford’s Jericho neighborhood.
101 Coffee
Set in the heart of Walton Street, 101 Coffee is my regular, pick-up coffee joint. This isn’t your full service brunch cafe. Rather, 101 Coffee is all in the name: high-quality coffee roasted in a no-frills cafe.
101 Coffee offers a small indoor seating area which has recently included a tasteful black-and-white photography collection. When the weather is good, they’ll usually set up a few chairs outside.
Beyond coffee, 101 Coffee offers one of Oxford’s best chai lattes and matcha lattes.
Barefoot
Barefoot is something of an Oxford institution.
Most famous for its daily cake supplies (and don’t forget the donuts), the coffee here is excellent.
In Oxford’s colder months, Barefoot is an ideal place to study with its warm and cozy atmosphere. The old church pews add a gorgeous aesthetic and add to the overall feel of the place.
For those seeking milk alternatives, Barefoot doesn’t have a soy option, but there is both oat milk and almond milk available.
Local tip: After 5 pm, with any hot drink you can pick up a piece of Barefoot’s famous cake for half-price!
Broche
A relative newcomer to the Jericho coffee scene, Broche only opened its doors in early 2024.
What I love about Broche is the real neighborhood atmosphere. Set a little further up from the main Walton Street drag, you wouldn’t find this cafe unless you literally lived in the neighborhood. Now add to this neighborly coziness a slight Scandinavian undertone and sophisticated coffee menu – and voila, you have Broche.
The coffee menu is simple yet clearly specialist, including not just an iced latte, but also an iced creamy latte. Alongside this, Broche usually offers a small selection of homebaked goodies, including my favorite chocolate-covered madeleines.
With only a small window out to the street and two sets of built-in outdoor tables, Broche isn’t ideal for doing some work. However, on a lovely (and rare) Oxford summer day, there’s nowhere more pleasant than an outdoor table at Broche.
Jericho Cafe
As a Jericho local, I feel like I should be honest here. Despite its institutional status, Jericho Cafe isn’t where I go for my local cup of coffee. I personally prefer my coffee a little stronger, and I find their milk to water ratio isn’t exactly how I’d like it.
In saying that, I am a big fan of Jericho Cafe’s bagel spread – especially with eggs and avocado. You’ll also find an excellent assortment of cakes (the vanilla and peach is a dream). With a large outdoor seating area, this is easily one of the most popular cafes in Jericho on a Sunday morning.
Local tip: Jericho Cafe sits on the corner of Walton Street and Observatory Street. If you head down Observatory Street, you’ll see some of the prettiest colorful homes in Oxford.
Opera Cafe
At the end of Little Clarendon Street (which you should check out!) sits one of Jericho’s absolute gems.
The dramatically named Opera Cafe offers one of Jericho’s most unique brunch menus. Opera has matched the classic British breakfast spread (it’s overrated anyway, right?) with a suave, Middle Eastern fusion offering
You can still find your classic breakfast eggs and avocado toast. But where Opera really shines is with its Middle Eastern fusion dishes. During term time, I am at Opera at least once a week for their Moroccan aubergine and courgette wrap (if only the street-sellers of Marrakech had thought of this).
At Travel Insighter, we are always on the lookout for a high-quality grilled cheese sandwich. Opera is home to Jericho’s best grilled cheese sandwich – although it’s not available every day, much to my dismay. Keep an eye out for the mushroom and spinach toastie, or better yet, ask the friendly staff.
On a cold Oxford day, Opera Cafe’s warm lentil soup is a real gift – served with a fresh lime as if you were on the side-streets of Cairo.
If you are looking for a spot to work, Opera offers a quieter downstairs basement, as well as a lovely courtyard garden.
The coffee and tea offerings at Opera are wide. As expected, Opera offers Moroccan mint tea and my personal favorite, the dirty masala tea.
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