Reviews of The Handlebar kitchen. (Coffee Shop) in Oxford (Oxfordshire).

The Handlebar kitchen

1379 Reviews

315 Comments

Coffee shop

Brunch restaurant

Cafe

Tapas restaurant

28-32 St Michael's St, Oxford OX1 2EB

Description

Information of The Handlebar kitchen, Coffee shop in Oxford (Oxfordshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of The Handlebar kitchen

Reviews of The Handlebar kitchen

S. I.

A very interesting concept for a restaurant in Oxford but indeed relevant given the city is popular for cycling. We visited for brunch today and it was great. The menu had a variety of choices for everyone including my wife who has gluten and lactose intolerances. I want with the full breakfast and we also had pancakes along with smoothies and Turmeric lattes. All food was prepared well and was delicious. The pricing wasn't bad either and was in par or lower than other brunch places in town. Highly recommended if you're in the area for brunch.

J. W.

The downstairs seating area was super busy but the waitress kindly made room for the 3 of us as we wanted to be in view of our bikes. All of us had pouched eggs on toast and it was delicious! I will certainly be returning on a ride again in the future, the bikes are just about safe enough in the corridor of the building. Such a shame there doesn't appear to be anywhere in oxford that has an inside safe space for riders but this is the best we have. Drinks were great too. I loved the relaxed atmosphere in there and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. ☺

O. P.

The staff couldn't have been more helpful! Popped in on a Saturday night for drinks but we were tempted by the tapas so had a bite to eat too. I asked for a gin recommendation and not only was the girl behind the bar incredibly knowledgable, she even let me try a couple of the gins to ensure I was getting one that I really liked before pairing it with the right garnishes. The whole atmosphere at the Handle Bar was great with chilled music (they have good taste!), dimmed lights and comfortably distanced tables. Will definitely come here again.

I. B.

Fantastic find on our weekend away in Oxford, we loved our breakfast so much that we came back again the next day! Great coffee and the food (particularly the smashed avocado on toast with feta and beetroot hummus) was delicious. Staff are very friendly, our French waiter was so lovely and went out of his way to make us feel so welcome. Definitely recommend!

G. B.

Such a beautiful place to have breakfast! Delicious food and outstanding service 😄

K. H.

Expensive but mediocre food. Lots of fashionable ingredients thrown together in haphazard way. Coffee good.

A. D. B.

Very nice, casual atmosphere, and good espresso drinks. A friend visiting from San Francisco who is particular about his coffee deemed it quite good. Fairly few seats. We had gone to Society cafe down the street and found it packed and extremely warm inside, so Handlebar Cafe was initially a backup choice, and I am glad for this accidental discovery. I'll definitely be back.

J. H.

I really enjoyed this little cafe! It is small, cozy, and post-modern. When you get to the cafe, it is on the second floor, and the steps may be difficult for those with trouble walking or climbing stairs. I had a basic English Breakfast (mushrooms, baked beans, potatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage). The Chai Latte was by far the very best I have ever tasted!! I had two, and would have taken a gallon if I could have ordered it.

C. C.

Nice staff, great menu, super veggie breakfast and really nice coffee. Upstairs dining area in an old warehouse type of setting. Good fun.

J. H.

I am so happy I stopped by the Handle Bar today! I've always had a wonderful time each time I visited. They are now doing takeaway, so I ordered an avocado toast and a latte. Both are delicious! And the staff are always so friendly and pleasant to chat with. I would highly recommend the Handle Bar to anyone. :)

M. G.

Staff was nice and this was a good place to go for brunch. I had the Onglet Steak and it was amazing.

J. M.

Really nice cafe, does an interesting menu with a heavy focus on vegetarian and vegan food. Loverly decor inside too!

A. M.

Great service, great place, multiple vegan options. very good tea selection too! Would love to see the food flavour evolve slightly- would go back again.

D. W.

Food is lush!! Locally sourced ingredients, seasonal produce

R. L.

Good food, quick service, reasonably priced. Enjoyed our brunch (both ordered dirty chai and the full breakfast) and would definitely come back.

K. S.

Easily the best pancakes you can get in oxford

G. G.

Cannot recommend highly enough this wonderful cafe. A hidden gem in Oxford. The atmosphere is phenomenal. Light, airy, and artistically designed. The staff were all tremendous (Ruta in particular was exceptionally professional, friendly, and down-to-earth). There are many wonderful pubs and restaurants in Oxford, but this is the one place that I came back to each day.

M. G.

Fantastic, reasonably priced brunch: creamy mushroom toast with poached eggs was delicious! The avocado toast was unlike any other I’ve ever had: the attention to detail shows through! On top of that: lovely interior, attentive and friendly service, and a great choice of drinks.

K. W.

Very good food (especially their avocado toast!) And a great atmosphere! Even great for a quiet place to meet someone in the evening. I've met a few people there on different occasions in the evening and ordered their roasted root vegetable salad with their sweet potato fries. Very good!

J. S.

Breakfast with a twist! Good range of vegan and veggie whole food with excellent bacon and sausage for the rest of us. Check the menu on line Currently closed on Monday and Tuesday

J. C.

Fun and friendly staff, and a good choice of breakfast / brunch items. We pop in every month or so when we have guests to show around the city, these guys do a great bloody Mary and awesomely filling breakfasts. The vegetarian breakfast is also surprisingly good with proper tasting veggie sausages and home made baked beans!

M. P. A.

The pancakes are great and had a good experience in past visits, but don't be fooled by the non-dairy milk substitute in the coffee. Made it taste foul, I only could manage a few sips.

C. E.

Lovely place for Sunday brunch. Very busy, but friendly, and attentive staff. Good coffee.

N. R. (. T.

Not bad, had the full breakfast.. more would have been nice but still a good breakfast.

A. B.

At first I found it difficult to find because you need to go upstairs through the bike shop but when i got there the staff were welcoming, the atmosphere was lovely and the food was exactly what I wanted for late breakfast.

A. C.

Don't be afraid of going upstairs.😂😂😂 I like the cake 🍰 but I forgot its name😅

M.

I love this cute/quirky cafe! The food is delicious and so is the coffee! They also have a great range of alternative milks which is always nice! I would have given 5 stars but the service is always soooo slow! Better not be in a rush! Definitely recommended though!

M. O.

Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Went there for brunch and ordered the full English. Eggs and toast were good but rest of the food was average. Price was OK.

J. N.

I got the veggie breakfast and it was very very good! Nothing too fancy, but the beans were homemade and tasty (definitely not in can stuff). Serving size was food and well priced. My bread was a bit soggy but besides that I enjoyed it. The coffee is food too!

A. M.

The cocount pancakes are something else! Paired with amazing decor and cheerful staff. It's more than enough to bring me back to Oxford :D

R. M.

Really cool bar and cafe, relaxed, friendly worth another trip soon!

D. M.

Delicious food, great coffee and superb service, packaged up in charming and relaxed surroundings. What's not to love!? Will be coming back next time we visit Oxford. Thank you for making it such a lovely experience :)

D. A.

Excellent coffee, had the HB breakfast (fry up) was super good, definitely will be back. Plantain great bacon, nice sausage. Toast poached egg and delicious home made beans made with canollini beans I think.

J. S.

Spent the day in Oxford from london and was met with such friendly staff and great coffee! It even had a smile 😝 the lady was so lovely and gave me a delicious brownie for my bday! Will definitely be back 🙂

S. C.

Only recently I discovered the wonders of the handlebar, having walked past for years not realising that above the bike shop hid such a gem! Along with the great service the quirky interior builds such a wonderful atmosphere! The food is absolutely delicious... my favourite being the full HB. All the ingredients are of such high quality and it makes such a noticeable difference! Homemade baked beans, garlicky mushrooms, high quality sausage and black pudding( not usually a fan of black pudding but theirs is far superior and lovely), beautiful bacon, roasted tomato, bright orange perfectly runny egg yolks and lovely bread all marry together truly elivating a typical cooked breakfast into something quite special. I can't get enough which might explain why I have been nearly everyday since! Really lovely coffee as well. Excellent food, excellent service, overall a really excellent place!!

O. F.

Really positive experience here on Saturday 16th of April. The Lamb Burger was awesome, we all really liked how they didn't overload the bun with stuff and served simply a really flavoursome lamb burger on a tasty bun. Great salad and coleslaw and we all liked the triple cooked trips. The IPA beer was delicious as was the green tea. The banana bread was incredible. Great atmosphere, lovely staff who were accommodating.

L. A.

Amazing. Flavours sound like they won't go together but they really do!! Love that dairy milk is extra rather than plant based milks

M. G.

It was OK, but they used oatmilk in coffee which was too sweet and sickly, not keen on the plantain, or garlic mushrooms with a full English, and annoyed that it was bought as a present on groupon for us but were charged another £4, and not impressed that the young girl coughed not stop while making our coffee, would I go again, sorry no

K. L.

Happy with the ambiance and the food. The coffee served was not hot enough but I won’t complain.

M. H. (.

On tour with a show for a week at the Playhouse and I’ve eaten here 3 times. Coffee is excellent; staff, amazing. The food is outstanding. The creamy mushrooms and the Full House breakfast are exemplary.

P. C.

Nice little place. And they make great coconut pancakes!

D. M.

Had a veggie English breakfast here last weekend, and would highly recommend it to others. Quality ingredients well prepared, with proper thought going into the flavours, textures, colours. Go check it out!

Y. D.

Used to be better when it was Zappi's. Staff changes quite frequently and the service is often sloppy (forgotten dishes, takes ages to get the bill sometimes, or ask for anything else if you already received the order). Although I think they do try. I was there recently with a friend who spilled her drink, and they quickly made her a new one at no extra charge. When I was there with my sister, the steak they brought was impossible to chew, the waiter noticed that we couldn't finish half of it and took it off the bill. The atmosphere is quite pleasant if a little bit crowded, very nice industrial decor. It's worth a go but it's not the best coffee shop there is.

G. C.

We went on a Thursday evening which was weirdly quiet considering their great £10 burger and drink deal! Very tasty homemade burger patty, good wine selection, fun staff and a well made cocktail to finish up. All in a lovely airy attic space.

D. B.

Lovely place for a brunch, the food is amazing and the staff very friendly. Highly recommend it.

b. g.

Great place full of lovely and fresh treats

M. A.

Superb tapas and laid back atmosphere. If you're looking for somewhere tucked away from the hustle then this is the place. Staff are divine. I love this place

R.

Amazing food and amazing place. Perfect for students who want to chill out and have a coffee with friends.

D. E.

A gem of a cafe for those seeking interesting food and good coffee. Had breakfast here and was not disappointed. Staff were welcoming, warm, and made for an excellent and relaxed dining experience. Would definitely go again

I. P.

Great spot for breakfast, best if you make reservation

C. H.

Delicious food, great coffee and superb service, packaged up in charming and relaxed surroundings. What's not to love!? Will be coming back next time we visit Oxford. Thank you for making it such a lovely experience :)

S. N.

Went there for dinner on a weeknight. The place wasn't very busy and it had a welcoming, cozy feel. Our server was very friendly and struck a great balance of helpful without being overbearing. The food itself was quite tasty - fresh, interesting, satisfying and reasonably healthy

N. S.

Their horseradish latke with gravlax was perfect. Good, quick service. It's that hipster style place, informal...

A. B.

The food was good but the portions of the avocado toast and salmon poached eggs were not filling and quite expensive. The bread felt stale and the food was luke warm. The cheese platter had one good cheese out of four. The other ones were bland and boring, all together for nine pounds. I wouldn't come again. It looks better on the pictures than it is and as mentioned, it's quite expensive.

F. H.

All 11 of us in our group agreed this was the best place we went to on our stag weekend. Great venue, lovely staff and amazing cocktails.

L. W.

Great to go somewhere where plant based is the default. Amazing vegan breakfast and drinks. Thoroughly recommend!

E. L.

Really good spot. Food was ace with lots of vegetarian and gluten free options. Staff were very friendly. It is highly rated and popular with students and tourists alike so you might have to wait for a table for Saturday brunch.

J. M.

Cool cafe. Good coffees, table service and much more space than some other places in Oxford (we bought a baby along in a pram and it was no hassle... although we did have to get up a flight of stairs). Will recommend to others and will be back ourselves.

R. W.

Great food + drink, lots of vegan options

A. W.

Best evening meal we've had in Oxford for ages! Great to find somewhere serving such fresh, delicious food and wine in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. Excellent music selection as well. Couldn't recommend more highly!

T. S.

Great coffee shop, full of life and students, quality service and lively staff. Cute fun decor and good food and drink make for a great experience, bring a date, bring friends any time of day. But it can be busy so you might have to wait for bigger tables.

G. K.

Tasty food, but you gonna need to wait quite a while.

S. M.

Delicious food and coffee, with great atmosphere. Had the best spicy Bloody Mary here

S. H.

Great atmosphere. The cafe is up top and the bar is down below -- and of course the bike shop is available too! What more could you want??!! A locals favorite. Be aware of the laptop hours... I dont think you can use them from 1100-1500 and after 1800

D. A.

Delicious coffee and food. Great breakfast and tasty Kimchi bowl. Will definitely be back.

C. C.

It turned out to be slightly smaller than i thought, but it has really good ambiance and nice coffee. The barista was very friendly and talked with us about differently ways to make coffee.

J. L.

Loved the place. Great food, great service, lots of character down a side road so passing trade limited; people go there because they like it, like me!

L. N.

Delicious food and wonderful staff. I order the Macarel w/ salad and it was brought out by the chef and was scrumptious! The wait staff were very friendly and coffee was good too.

F.

I liked the pancake they were good and different!!! Thank you

J. E.

Excellent flat white in a cosy bike shop. Don't be deterred by the bike shop facade, go up the stairs through the bike shop. The coffee is excellent! Small selection of cakes and savory cabinet food - looked good but we were there solely for coffee.

T. ..

I’ve been coming to the Handle Bar for years and years since before it was expanded and serving meals. Have always loved it - good coffee and friendly staff. The past few times I have been however, the food has been luke warm and of varying quality. Just hoping that they haven’t expanded past their best.

K. H.

Was quite busy but we had booked so wasn't too long to wait. Had a delicious brunch of poached eggs and avocado. Coffee was also great.

M. H.

Nice atmosphere for breakfast in this cafe. Service is super friendly. Prices are a bit on the high side though, and my breakfast didn't have much flavour.

M. G.

Good food, but tiny portions for the price. My (main) salad would barely pass as an appetizer. I’ve had larger, more filling app salads for the same price in central London restaurants

D. K.

This isn’t your ordinary avocado on toast with coffee place, this is everything you expect from a wonderful brunch place- offering a unique menu you can’t whip up at home. Everything was incredibly delicious and I can not recommend it enough :)

D.

Great service & excellent food, with plenty of creative & tasty vegan options. Will definitely be returning.

A. W.

If you live in or are visiting Oxford. This little cafe is a must do. Doesn't look like much from the outside, hidden above a bike shop, but the coffee, cozyness, and welcoming nature is perfect. Only criticism I have is the menu was a bit limited, I felt it was 1or2 dishes away from being complete and exciting.

L. H.

Stumbled upon this place whilst making a beeline for a pizzeria and decided it looked like a far better idea! Outdoor and indoor seating, a spacious upstairs and a lovely bathroom. The waitresses are super friendly and very good at their jobs. The food was pricey, expected when a place has a cute theme, but wonderful quality. The matcha latte was exceptionally well-made.

L. T.

Loved this quirky cyclists cafe bar restaurant...food was amazing coffee was delicious and a wonderful ambiance.. great service too. Very accommodating...made our weekend away to Oxford extra special.

T. W.

I had the Venison Burger... absolutely delicious! And the little I saw of my friends food also looked excellent. Really good place to eat. Good atmosphere and the staff were very friendly and efficient. All round a great experience.

l. p.

Delicious breakfast in a beautiful setting 😍

L. M.

My favourite place in Oxford for a spontaneous (b/l)unch. I particularly rate the Pancakes and large baked beans. If you want something a little different, pop in for a chili hot chocolate!

A.

Despite this place being secretly tucked away from the main hustle and bustle, it's still rather busy inside and obviously popular. It's very trendy/hipster from the menu to the decor. The food was a little too fussy for us and we just warmed up with a drink then went off elsewhere in search of something more mainstream. If you're looking for somewhere to Instagram your food, then this is the place for you.

A. B.

Indie scene rocks! That's our gig, gettin' all indie! The Handle Bar is the real deal! Check it out...

M. M.

Excellent staff and cosy place. Delicious hot chocolate served by Estela

S. M.

Gorgeous well-lit upstairs cafe, covered in bikes. Good coffee, lovely staff; looking forward to getting back there for food. Seems they stay open later than indicated here: at least 'til 6pm on a Sunday.

L. H.

Really well decorated and cosy restaurant. We had a lovely dinner there. Everything on the menu was tempting (vegetarian and not). You can see the products are fresh and well prepared.

A. B. P.

had a lovely meal with a couple of mates who toured through Oxford. Recommend this place to anybody looking for a good feed with excellent coffee, against a rustic backdrop tucked away in Oxford's cobbled roads. Cheers guys!

G. A.

Quirky café with cool interior, friendly service and great food. Came here for brunch and was not disappointed - the coconut pancakes are amazing!

J. P.

We sat at a pavement table with our dog, ate tapas and drank a glass or two of wine watching the Covid 19 world go by. Prompt, pleasant service and excellent food, hot and fresh.

S. A.

Really cool vibe, good coffee and friendly staff

A. L.

My favourite cafe in Oxford. Set above a bike shop, it has a great hipster vibe and is well supported by good coffee and food, and a wicked music selection. Now has wifi which is great for the laptop crowd.

C. R. (.

I was only able to put my head in to get a seat but I couldn’t even at 11am on a Sunday. Not much space so better go early next time. 3 stars for now. Will review again after next visit and taste of food.

M. I.

The former (as such) Zappi's cafe is a much improved offer and use of the upstairs space. At least twice as much seating, a polite (and enforced) notice about using the space for work at peak times (ie. Buy a coffee then crack out the MacBook and pretend to be busy for four hours whilst hogging a full table). They do provide a "homework" area for just this now, so freeing up the rest of the cafe for faster turnover. This is only at peak times but a welcomed addition. The food & drink offer has been bumped up too, with some really well thought out dietary requirements specials. Fast and friendly service, good food and not too bad coffee. A lovely space to rest your feet (or bum if cycling) for an hour whilst refuelling.

S. M.

Great upstairs cafe. Awesome coffee and good all day brunch. Good home away from home for a Melburnian. The cakes are also good for an afternoon sweet hit with a long black.

H. R.

One of the best coffees in town in my opinion. The cakes are also nice and the atmosphere is relaxed. Great for a coffee in the afternoon and some catch-up with friends!

R. G.

Great place to take a coffee, the decoration with all the the bikes looks nice. If you want to use your laptop you have to seat in specific tables at the peak hours for lunch. The only negative thing is the price of the food, quite expensive

M. R.

Lovely place for lunch. Nice avocado, egg thing. You can pick up bike parts at the same time as there is an old-skool bike shop downstairs.

E. L.

I wast taking a week long course at Christchurch, and I’ve been following the cafe on Instagram for years and was so happy to find them while wandering around on my last day in the city before heading back to Canada. When I eventually go back I’ll definitely be returning to Handlebar.

S. S.

It’s a lovely cozy place with some fab food options. We had coconut banana pancakes and all vegan breakfast. Both were delish (though the vegan breakfast was a bit under seasoned, but never mind). Loved the coconut banana pancake, it was super yumm! Dirty chai and matcha latte were good too. We didn’t have a booking, still they accommodated us on a busy Saturday morning with a very little wait time of 15 mins. People working there are warm and helpful. Would surely visit it again in my next trip to Oxford.

A. L.

Zappi's is a wonderful place, such an informal atmosphere. A mixture of biking nuts stopping off for some calories and students working or gossiping over delicious cakes and quite splendid coffee. It's a caring and sharing sort of place so squeezing onto a table and meeting new friends is highly likely. My flat white and blueberry cakey thing were luxurious!

D. D.

Superb all round: Food excellent and the staff were very friendly. Although a Saturday mid am we waited for only 10 minutes to get a seat and it was overall a lovely experience.

K. T.

Fantastic atmosphere, don't mind students tapping away on laptops (as long as they're happy to share tables!), great coffee, toasties and smoothies. Could get some wi-fi, but most can connect to the uni's network. FIVE STARS!

M. S. W.

An excellent place with very good food, coffee and beers. Staff are also very friendly and the atmosphere is great. An ideal place to visit for breakfast, lunch or just for a coffee or a drink

A. O.

Feast with your eyes, stomach and soul on the food, the people and the cycle periphanalia at this great spot. Quick lunches, or lazy evenings in this intimate environment. I visit this place every time I am in Oxford.

R. B.

Neat bicycle cafe. Great coffee, great salad meals. Tasty cakes and great to see these cakes covered on the counter. Friendly staff. Will certainly return.

S. R.

Great vibes and great music and most importantly, some fresh, proper drinks. Le Bar marks its spot on the map as one of the few no-bs, modern drinking establishments in Oxford. Josh (and recently, Chris as well) is one of the coolest dudes around in OxTown. He shares a solid love of drinks sans smoke and mirrors/over-the-top presentation - drinks that are unique and stray from the usual manhattan, negroni, or old fashioned path. I personally look forward to his unique creations week after week - creations that are incredibly palatable and often have some eclectic mix of alcos and mixers goin' on. The man definitely knows how to balance flavors. Amazing stuff. On top of it, Le Bar has some great music and some, overall smooth vibes that make any sesh laid-back, refreshing, and characteristically, chill. P.S. try the chamomile sour.

B. B.

Fantastic little place with great music and nice atmosphere, perfect for a having a drink and chilling. They have reasonable prices and the food is also good. Shall return!

C. C.

This is a great place for meeting and chatting. A good selection of drinks at reasonable prices. And no pressure to move on, which is a great plus point. The decor is lovely too.

P. S.

Tasty coconut pancakes with plenty of bacon. Good coffee too.

G. U.

A good spot for brunch in Oxford. Very nice staff, though the manager is a bit stressful and over the top.

J. C.

One of my favourite places to go for a delicious brunch. Though it's recommend to make a reservation, the staff are kind enough to help you in case you don't and they aren't too busy. It gets tricky on weekends. I first came here to try their take on the Full English Breakfast and that was absolutely delicious, especially because they prepare their own beans. I returned once more to try their Fava Toast and Hemp Milk Cappuccino. Absolutely amazing!

C. D.

Faultless execution of quick brunch in a lively atmosphere, with large windows either side bringing in lots of light, and a reassuringly enthusisatic young French waiter. Big wooden tables perfect for a game of Pass the Pigs due a small split down the middle that adds an unpredictable nature to every throw.

k. k.

Lovely coffee, hot chocolate, and their apple&blackberry cake is an absolute legend! Very nice and polite staff, will def come back!

B. B.

Excellent coffee and food + great atmosphere. It really has that thriving university vibe. We're from Australia and enjoy our coffee - this place really delivered.

D. O.

Great brunch spot. Really enjoyed the avo toast and the coffees were great.

N. E.

Cool place, but the food was average. Enjoyed the tofu salad, but the one veggie main didn't have much taste and was overpriced.

J. B.

Fantastic café, really lovely food and great coffee. Good service, and friendly staff. Will be going back again.

T. S.

Amazing, great taste, atmosphere, and many gluten free options!

h. m.

Banana coconut pancakes were the best brunch I’ve ever had, highly recommend! Downstairs was very busy, friendly staff, cute atmosphere

E. A.

Excellent veggie breakfast here, moves away from a traditional brunch items and blends then together very well. Love the quirky bikes hung up too

D. C.

Fabulous upstairs bar, good wine and cocktails, music and staff, well spaced tables. Super evening spent here

E. R.

The food was super good.. love the environment and the staff was super friendly.. great way to start your sunday

J. B.

Really great cafe that offers a fantastic choice of veggie, vegan and gluten free options. Prices are a bit towards the expensive side but not unreasonable

M. M.

I’ve been here twice and the coffee is good but food is below average. The bacon is especially soggy and nasty! Not sure I ordered steamed bacon?!

H. J.

Best breakfast I've had in ages!

B. D.

Great atmosphere, lovely hostess, amazing food (pulled pork bun incredible) at reasonable prices - what's not to like!!

M. R.

Had a delicious avacodo toast breakfast but the coffee was rather disappointing compared to how things were when this was a cafe. The roast might be trendy but it's not as good as the previous supplier.

I. C.

One of the best avocado toast and veggie breakfast you can find in Oxford. The only downside is that it can get very noisy, especially during the weekends.

T. K.

Quite happy with our quiet dinner just around the corner from the busy street. Service was good. The food had a modern feel.

V.

Quirky, nice atmosphere, friendly staff, not too busy. And was that a fig tree in the middle? I forgot to ask.

a. h.

Very friendly staff and good atmosphere. A tad pricy, but use the Dealer app for 20% off. Pancakes are amazing and very cozy environment!

B. T.

Had an absolutely divine asparagus quiche. It was a very hot day, but they set out some fans which made it bearable. Lovely place.

I. B.

I love the handle bar cafe. They have the best drinks ( including a matcha latte) lovely staff and the best cakes and pancakes. the guys here are so great and smiley. I love this place to bits as the interior makes you feel warm and homely and the bikes are super fun. It is not snobby and makes for a really good place to work as they have benches next to huge windows so you can look out and get some sun. The plants and their names are funny and calming.

D. S.

The best coffe in Oxford. Fantastic atmosphere and super kind staff 🥇

L. A.

This is a great little gem in centre of Oxford city. Nicely decorated, with excellent eduroam internet access, polite staff, and great drinks.

L. C.

Great breakfast! Avocado on toast with chilli and feta dee-lish! Great coffee too, nice to see Cortado on the menu!

D. T.

Unbelievable tasty!!! Perfect place!

s.

Lovely character-full cafe with great vegan options. Quick service despite it being very busy when we visited.

M. W.

Food was not really fresh. Black Pudding was a dry, thin, odd tasting slice. Avocado toast Was good.

Z. D.

The ambience, food and service are all top notch! My friend and I had a brunch there, which was delicious and satisfying. Highly recommend!

K. C.

Brilliant! The menu is excellent and I would go back for the Bloody Mary alone.

S. R.

Love the food, make a reservation as it's busy

M. S. S.

Interesting interior but not very good flat whites! One of the staffs was very amateur, Didn't know they serve puddings! All in all not that bad.

I. D.

We visited Oxford for a first time! And found this very unique bar! Decided to stay and get brunch! We went not wrong ☺️! Thank you!

S. F.

Best food I’ve had in England so far. Amazing and lovely staff. I would totally recommend!

S. F.

Very unique place. Super nice atmosphere and nice staff. I had the spice hot chocolate that was brilliant

J. R.

Brilliant coffee, great cake and the food looked excellent so I'll go back and eat next time. Well worth a visit

T. C.

Never have I ever been this eager to pay £9 for a fried breakfast. One of the best meals you can get in Oxford, full stop.

M. -.

We loved the food, really a rank above the average, but we were appalled that they allow clients to bring their dog inside... that’s just not acceptable.

D. P.

High-end bikes for sale and for ogling, bike repair shop, and amongst all this a coffee shop serving excellent Italian coffee and cakes. All run by Giro del Trentino cyclist Flavio Zappi. Sometimes lacking in seating capacity if you find yourself there when a cycling posse is planning their next adventure, but always great atmosphere. Innovative 'gift voucher' blackboard allows you to buy a coffee for someone who can collect by finding their name on the board - great idea!

S. N.

Always love the pancakes with bacon. I had the chicken with pak choi ... beautifully cooked and presented as always - thank you again 😎😊

S. C.

Loved the french martini n lamb steak!!! Will go again. The service is good. The place is casual n welcoming

J. R.

Great place for breakfast and you can get your bike fixed

A. C.

I found this place quite noisy and loud - despite me being half deaf! Food very good from an imaginative menu but rather expensive for what it was. Friendly staff.

J. C.

Wonderful interior and service. Had the veggie brunch which was sadly not what was expected. Lacking in flavour and a bit wet; menu said sourdough, it was untoasted sliced brown bread. Coffee was nice!

H. R.

Delicious! The lentil salad was dreamy, looks small but perfectly filling and super tasty 😋

V. N.

The best avocado on toast I have ever had! And killer coconut pancakes as well! Absolutely loved it!

S. J.

I love to meet friends here for lunch as it is different from most of the other food offerings in town. Good home cooked food and nice atmosphere.

E.

One of my favourite places in Oxford! Food and drinks are unique and delicious, and staff are very friendly.

P. J.

Really nice inside and the menu uses a lot of local ingredients.

J. B.

Lovely spot for breakfast, with super friendly staff. Try the award winning sausages and the coconut pancakes!

Z. D.

Super friendly staff, excellent avocado on toast, barista style soy flat white. Great place. :)

M. G.

Had an awesome Dirty Chai and Overnight Oats Pot here. Sooooo yummy!! Very neat environment and great staff. Will definitely be back!!

A. V.

Café above the bike shop. It's a nice café all through the day, and late in the week it opens as a restaurant in the evening. Good food, good range of beers.

C. L.

Great spot for brunch

J. R.

A cafe full of vegan options thats also dog friendly! It was very busy when we arrived but the waitress was polite and attentive the entire time. Recommend the pancakes and banana smoothie!

P. F.

Best cafe in Oxford - super cosy and great food! Real focus on the local community which is very refreshing.

G. S.

Above average venue, very home-y feel to it. The food was also well cooked for a place with a limited venue. Very affordable prices for food.

M. S. W.

My absolute favorite breakfast place in Oxford. Really good food as well as a buzzing atmosphere. Staff is friendly and helpful 👍🏼👌🏼

F. K.

Very good food and very good service. Well worth a visit if you’re in Oxford and wanting a good breakfast.

W. B.

Cozy place to eat, have a drink, drink a coffee or have a dessert. You can’t use your laptop between 11:30-3 and from 6:30 until close time.

N. P.

Limited menu of nicely presented food. Good atmosphere. No light bites menu which is unusual for a cafe.

G. J.

Cute warm place, the food is very well presented and delicious. Bit high prices which probably just normal for Oxford.

A.

Great breakfast in a great old fashioned building. Very good staff which added to the atmosphere. Will be back!

J. D.

Called in for hot drinks. Nice small cafe downstairs and a bigger restaurant up.Good atmosphere and interesting things to view,especially if interested in bicycles.

M. E.

Of the beaten track went upstairs only to find there was a wait for a table . Very friendly service and lovely food. Very different that's why we liked it.

J. W.

Great vegan breakfast and nice coffee. Good with allergies too.

C. G.

Cake was OK, service was good but a bit slow. Atmosphere was great, maybe better for drinks on the night than tea.

M. L.

Reasonably nice coffee (and I am extremely picky), good pastries and excellent breakfast options. Nice location and decoration.

C. F.

Lovely cafe near the town centre. Staff were really welcoming and very helpful. Coffee and breakfast were both fantastic!

S. D.

Great coffee, delicious food, wonderful people. Thank you.

C. B.

Fantastic vibe, coffee and food, friendly staff and delicious pancakes 😁

E. N.

Good brunch food, nice location, friendly staff!

W. T.

The black pudding is good. They have unique flavor of English breakfast.

L. H.

Lovely food, good vegan options (including vegan pancakes on breakfast menu), great ambiance.

S. V. T.

Excellent place, wonderful people.

H. G.

Great service and a lovely menu including regularly changing fish menu. Sea Trout was delicious. Thank you guys. 🐇♥️

J. E.

Was on my list of favourite Oxford cafes, removed it after my recent visit. Good coffee but below average brunch. Don’t order shakshuka, worst I’ve ever tried.

F. A.

The place is a bit too hipster, but the food is good and they change the menu quite often. A solid option in Oxford.

A. W.

Great food, great staff, and not too expensive!

R. L.

Lovely place !Never disappointing and always welcoming. Great Breakfast and good service

M. C. R.

Great restaurant and cafe above a bike shop. Definitely a hidden gem in Oxford — I'd recommend seeking it out!

L. C.

Amazing cocktails, not pricey and the atmosphere in the evening is intimate. Nice barmaid too 😊

J.

One of the best spots in the Centre of Oxford. Geeky coffee,splendid breakfasts and lovely staff.

C. C.

Very relaxing ambience, lovely food and friendly staff. A nice place for brunch whether you love bikes or not, recommended!

D. M.

Friendly and funky, I liked the music and atmosphere. Importantly, the drinks were great!

E. B. L.

Food it's really good and has a lovely atmosphere, definitely worth trying what's new on the menu

E. D. G.

Very well looked after... Great spectrum of wine

B. C.

Good breakfast with Caribbean Cuisine twist. Friendly staffs

R. F.

Hi quality brunch n coffee with a good booze menu. Absolutely recommended.

A. M.

Great food, coffee etc. Downstairs member of staff needs a customer service course.

C. S.

Very good burger. Espresso could have been better. Service was very friendly and attentive

R. S. L.

The food is very delicious though it’s a little pricy. Services were superb ! Would definitely recommend to others.

N. J.

I love this place. Engaging staff who seem to really enjoy their job and great coffee.

B. T.

Great food and great service. Quirky and out of the way, but not a big chain which I like.

E. C.

Great place with awesome atmosphere(no laptops allowed during peak times), good food, and reasonable(for Oxford) prices.

O. S.

Great vibe and food, definitely quite popular and busy at peak brunch times!

C. T.

cycling themed cafe/bistro with a vibrant buzz

e. v.

Very tasty brunch! Friendly staff! Would come back soon again

G. G.

Menu has changed. We have had many delicious brunches here in the past but on this occasion we were really disappointed with the lack of options available on the menu. Where are the avocados?!! I had the veggie breakfast and it was very bland.

J. C.

Staff very helpful and friendly, coffee was great. Advocado and lime cake was fantastic.

R. M.

Lovely coffee, excellent food and really great service, will definitely be back!

A. E.

From the ingredients to the staff everything is perfect 👌 Happy to come back everytime !

A. H.

The avocado toast is just everything that it’s good in this world. Don’t think it twice, come to this place and try it

J. M.

Very high-quality food and excellent ingredients, especially for dinner, though it has a limited menu

C. M.

Nice place, amazing food (try the lamb burger) and friendly staff. Can be busy at times

R. S.

A nice cafe, but could be very crowded during brunch time. Consider yourself lucky if you can get a seat right away!

A. W.

Really good experience here. Will be making regular trips here now I have moved to Oxford from Devon.

C. W.

Coffee is excellent. Breakfast was incredible.

M. W.

What a cracking place for some food! Nice cocktails downstairs, friendly people and great food upstairs Thanks!!

G. S.

Very cute decor! The staff were very kind and welcoming. Food was very different and of course good! We tried coconut pancake stack with berries and smashing avocado on toast. The latter had an amazing seasoning.

J. S.

I came here while visiting Oxford around 11am on a Friday. The restaurant is rather small, there were a couple tables empty and it was rather busy but we got sat immediately. Unfortunately it appeared as only one woman was tending all of the tables in the restaurant but she moved pretty well. Within a reasonable time we got our order taken, and drinks came right away. Our food came shortly after, we ordered the HB full house and the Fava toast black eyed beans. Both meals were absolutely outstanding. According to the menu, everything is made from scratch in house and that really truly shows. The flavor and texture were great, and the food felt healthy and satisfying, and very nutrient dense. We left feeling like we had one of the best meals we could get on our trip so far. The Handle Bar is definitely a must visit spot on your trip to Oxford, in my opinion. I will go back next time I am in Oxford. The server was also very friendly and helpful as well.

M. S.

Popped in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised, staff very friendly and helpful and general ambience and food were all good.

T. M.

Great vegan and vegetarian options. Delicious coffee and a charming setting.

M. T.

One of my favourite cafes in Oxford

M. G.

Very nice place and extremely helpful staff. They serve the best coffee in town!Love it!

C. T.

Very nice trendy little restaurant. Good quality food in a freindly atmosphere.

T. H.

Great space, good drinks, marvellous food. Meet here with 12 people and really enjoyed ourselves.

E. S.

Great little cafe in the centre of town. Went with my daughter in her lunch break. 👌🤓

S. S.

No more avocado toast

ç. A.

Bicycle friendly place! I like the interior design of this cafe. Enjoy it :)

S. M.

Fantastic food and drink, friendly staff and atmosphere, interesting bikes around as well.

L.

Had a delicious fresh granola bowl for brunch here, great range of options, friendly service, decent prices and the most refreshing orange juice (just wish you got a bit more in a glass!) overall brilliant experience and the perfect hangover cure!

A. K.

Great coffee, great food. What else could you wish for on Saturday morning?

j. w.

Great place. Friendly staff and nice food. Love their burgers.

G. B.

Lovely cocktails and very friendly staff, a really nice relaxed atmosphere.

س. ا.

One of best coffee shops in Oxford, has. Unique atmosphere

A. R.

The avocado toast was amazing, but the eggs were meeh and the cheese selection was sad

P. L.

I don't write five stars reviews very often but the Handle Bar Cafe really does deserve it. Great food, lovely staff and the classic cycling theme are clearly a five star combo worthy of very high praise. Our waiter was a ledge. We shared a couple of reasonably priced and tasty salads, a glass of wine and cake to complete. A very, very good experience all round. I'll definitely come back again and would encourage anyone who likes bikes to check it out.

L. A.

Absolutely delicious breakfast and really quirky decor - will be back!

I.

Good vibes and friendly staff. Gets pretty busy at midday.

M. H.

Okay. Bur not sure about my food choice. Very strong cheese on breakfast meal. I found this too much in morning. But if I had got the pancakes with fruit or Shaksukka. I am sure it would have been full matks

J. G.

This is one of my favourite (and regular) spots for coffee and cake in Oxford. My last visit was a few days ago, in the middle of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these non-ideal circumstances, the staff were extremely friendly and cordial. The coffee was made promptly and to a high standard.

P. O. (.

Nice, good menu, I forgot to take pictures of the meal, it was scrumptious

B. B.

Beautiful place with two floors, the second one being a very well-light and cozy area. The coffee is good and the menu has very interesting offers both sweet and savoury. The problem was the lack of interest of the lower-floor waitress, who took her time to do everything (i.e. 20 mins to prepare a flat white) from taking orders to bringing the check. Thank god from time to time a cook/chef (french?) would come downstairs being very active and cheerful. The food was quite good, specially the home-made gnocchi! Too bad the place was so crowded that by the time food reaches the lower floor, its already cold.

a. H.

One of the best breakfast I’ve ever had - so much taste - and amazing value!!! Big list of bloody Mary’s too! Great service too! Better than most brunches in London! Coming again!

J. O.

A lovely cosy retro and chic cafe. I ate the best pancakes I have ever tasted in a long time. You know how pancakes can be super rich and unappealing? Not here. I tried the coconut and banana flavour with a hot chocolate and it was divine. The little designs on the table by the window was cute. Staff were very polite and friendly. Will definitely visit again.

R.

Delicious brunch, really recommend it for a place that serves locally sourced and slightly quirky dishes. It was very popular so I'm glad we booked but the turnaround of both food and tables is rapid so you won't queue for long. It felt very 'Oxford' to me, would definitely go back.

r. M.

Interesting place. Not just hot drinks. Art for sale as well as plants. My green tea was very good despite being small. I asked to buy some to take home but not available unfortunately. I ordered a bacon and egg bap.. It came in a box and looked delicious... The bacon was crispy. Lettuce has snuck on top. I let that slide. The egg wasn't there at all. An imposter had dived into its place called melted cheese. I took a chance and ate it anyway.. It was divine.. I was more than happy to forget the crime of no egg with my bacon so didn't go back to demand justice from the very nice young lady serving on Saturday who had time to chat a little and make me feel welcome. I will be going back to try bacon and egg. Next time I'll keep an eye out for imposters trying to slip into my bap.

S. J.

Fabulous breakfast, amazing quality, good value. (Two of us shared three dishes, both had coffee and a juice - £40).

R. K. M.

Very unique restaurant with interesting decor of bicycles. Beautiful lighting. Was there for dinner. 4 mains. Had the hake and salad. Tasty. Very nice and helpful waitress. Not many mains, but portions decent. Decent wine collection.Did not need reservations on a Saturday night. Surrounding area is nice to walk around. Near St Peters college. Think there is late night live music as well. There is a monocycle on the wall which is interesting.

T. Q. T.

Lovely cafe shop and friendly staff

M. J.

We went here on a really busy bank holiday weekend for brunch and left very satisfied with the food and service. We started with a couple of smoothies (Good Morning and Traveller on the menu) and an orange juice. We then moved on to teas, hot chocolate and coffee along with the breakfast which was a generously ordered HB full house, goodie veggie, coconut pancakes (bit too sweet), smashing avocado on toast, vegan avocado on toast, eggs gravadlax and creamy mushroom. The food was good and the goodie veggie turned out to be the favourite on our table. The service deserves a mention as the staff made an effort to be attentive despite the ridiculously busy hour. Worth a visit if you're in Oxford!

C. M.

Oh goodness this place is outstanding. Must visit. Nice refreshing interior with fig tree and exposed rafters. Best breakfast I have ever eaten. Each staff member I interacted with was friendlier, personable and gave great advice. Although I didn't have one, the cocktails also look incredible.

C. S.

Mixed feelings about this cafe. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, but it was rather run of the mill and honestly I was just starving. This brings me to another point - our food took really long to come. The cafe was busy (i felt the cafe was a little cramped as well as seats are all so close to each other) so that's expected but some others got their food even though they were sat down after us. But the service was great as they were attentive to our dissatisfaction and helped us to check with the kitchen, and offered us a free drink seeing that we waited pretty long for our food to arrive.

w. l.

Well impressed. Had a great HB Full house with an “award-winning” sausage 🙂 Need to return and try the pancakes, desserts and coffee! Good options for meaty and vegan peeps!

К. А.

So glad we decided to go in when we spotted it walking around Oxford. Unusual ingredients used in creative way leading to excellent food and experience. Thank you!

M. B.

This is one of my favourite coffee shop and brunch places in Oxford, I'm always happy when I eat something here, the food is amazing, the coffee is perfect and the latteart as well.. the staff is lovely and the location very relaxing

J. D.

The restaurant is cute and at the city center and the service was very friendly. We waited for our food quite some time so when it arrived the bread was soggy and the poached egg was dry. The coconut pancakes were delicious. The waitress removed the service charge from our receipt as a gesture for the wait. Overall it’s quite good!

P. L.

Cleverly bike-themed, Handle Bar is cozy, hip, and welcoming. Full English breakfast that’s up-to-date with homemade beans and plantains, plus a vegetarian version that doesn’t feel compromised. Every kind of beverage: great chai, coffee any way, booze, and juices. Great start to a day exploring Oxford.

M. E.

Nice cafe above a bike shop near the centre of Oxford serving excellent food and bloody Marys. The place is located above a bike shop, up some stairs that have a path for you to bring your bike. Unfortunately this means that if you have a push buggy, you'll have to haul this up some awkward stairs. It's very casual inside, with high ceilings, exposed metal supports, bicycle paraphernalia adorning the walls and rafters. There is a long bar where you can order alcoholic drinks, varied seating furniture and a good breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. Food is good with a focus on quality ingredients and healthy options. Coffee is also very good, highly recommended.

K. O.

Chic cafe to hang out if you don’t mind it’s small and narrow seatings. We ordered a vegetarian breakfast, love the home cooked baked beans instead of can baked bean. It added some value in to a ordinary English breakfast. Staff in general very friendly and attentive but you might need to find the right time if you want some quiet moment for your coffee and book reading.

D. C.

Nice relaxed atmosphere and good food! Veggie brunch was tasty 👍🏼

L. C.

Super cute cafe hidden on the second floor of a bike fixing shop. Good portion great atmosphere, house milk is oat milk too!

J. F.

Awesome place. Super friendly team and the food and drinks are absolutely amazing. The best pancake pile I ever had.

T. H.

Great dirty chai accompanied with a peanut brownie made for a lovely visit. The downstairs space was small but wasnt cramped. Seemed understaffed with only one employee covering the whole bottom floor; made it feel a bit chaotic.

L. A.

Good selection of healthy eats in a chilled atmosphere. Good veggie and vegan options too.

C. J.

Quite expensive for what we got. Service was very nice but it was slow, which they were upfront about so I don't blame them as they were having staffing issues. Pretty good gluten free options also

G. G.

The coffee here is amazing and normally the staff are very friendly, but today a friend and I were told we had 1h 15m max stay because we were using our laptops. However after less than 45 minutes, we were given a bill without asking for it, and then promptly asked to leave even though we hadn't even finished our drinks yet. This made us feel really unwelcome and uncomfortable. I understand that it is busy on a Saturday, but I don't think we would have been treated so rudely if we weren't young.

J. B.

It's a lovely cafe, covered in bikes and the brunch offers something a bit more exciting than your standard breakfast items. Personally I feel it's expensive for what it is. A juice, coffee and veggie brunch set me back £24 (due to an additional item costing £2.50 and a service charge being added on top). If it wasn't for the price I would have to give a five star rating, but felt the extra charge a bit cheeky. Juice was disappointing. However, loved the tempeh bacon and spicy ketchup!

S. D.

Fabulous independent cafe with wonderful healthy meals prepared with care. Well worth seeking out.

G. L.

This place is a gem. Interesting and unique menu as well as superb, friendly service. You can sit outside on the cutest street. This is a must place to visit and try when in Oxford.

c. g.

The drinks were good, cafe was lovely, but service was a little slow

J. B.

Awesome service, repaired brakes at short notice - fab place, great coffee & knowledgeable staff - thank you so much for helping out whilst we on tour to London 🚴👏🙏🙏

H. S.

As a student here I've been to quite a few breakfast places. This little gem here has the best breakfast food (like literally the best). I've been to most - vaults and gardens, combibos, jimbobs, etc etc - but this place has the best avocado toast / smoothie / coconut pancakes. I don't even like coconut but these are next level!!!! As for the topping on the avo toast, both the bacon and the poached egg is divine. Go for either. Or why not both? I had both today. This is a no filter photo. Go for it! As a small downside, this place can get quite crowded and the service can get slow - so come early, or come with good company :)

K. M.

Friendly staff and outside tables in historic Oxford.

A.

Cute breakfast place full of old a new bikes. We sadly had to miss out on the coconut pancakes but the veggie breakfast was great, wishes the portion had been a little bit bigger. The Mexican hot choco was also a treat.

R. V.

Ever tried bikes and breakfast? You should! Great atmosphere, lovely staff and nice menu. Worthwile visiting twice or more... more... more...

A. K.

Had a very nice brunch with lots of veggie and vegan options, and great service.

B. F.

Staff were very friendly and accommodating. The place looked really nice and was decorated very nicely. We came for brunch but the food a bit bland. The coffee wasn't very good, quite acidic. It was a bit disappointing considering I'd heard so much about it. If we go again, hopefully it will be better :)

M. M.

Fresh ingredients, great vegan and vegetarian options, nice staff and chill vibe. Fair prices. Perfect for brunch.

E. M.

Came here for breakfast and was not disappointed by the food and service! Coffee was excellent and the HB beans were a highlight.

G. D.

Dropped into the Handle Bar cafe at 10am with my partner just as they were opening for Sunday morning breakfast. We both ordered up the HB Full breakfast, which we both agreed was one of the tastiest breakfasts I've had in long time, served with lovely fresh sour dough bread, homemade bake beans which were devine, black pudding, fresh mushrooms and to wash it all down a very smooth freshly ground cappuccino. By 10.30am the cafe was full with a mix of freshly faced Oxford students and locals alike chatting away to a nice and relaxed background ambient soundtrack. The Handle Bar cafe decor is full of nostalgia bikers delights and well worth a visit just to see the many retro bikes hanging from the ceiling, which I suspect were donated from the local bike shop below. If your passing through Oxford, stop by and FYI they don't serve banana bread any more, instead they offer lush carrot cake or Guinness cake. We'll definitly be back for more.

M. K.

A cosy place with an original bike-inspired vibe and decor. Considering the levels of bikiness in Oxford, it's strange it opened only so recently (in the grand scheme of things). Great coffee, nice service, menu has some vegan options. There is no wifi, and you can't work there. But there is a nice matcha latte.

S. P. M.

Nice breakfast place with alot of veggie options

P. S.

Great place, reasonable prices and everything we saw look delicious. Laptops are banned at certain times. A mix of local students and tourist. Smoothies looked particularly good.

朱.

Fab service. Chic decoration. Biker’s place

H. W.

Lovely cafe with friendly staff, yummy cake and great coffee. Dog friendly inside, and plenty of tables upstairs too. Kitchen closes at 3pm, and food looked great. Perfect pit stop 🙂

J. O.

A good experience with a traditional English breakfast. Staff is friendly. You may want to do a reservation before as it is usually crowded and plus you can go to the first floor, which is very nice.

J. P.

Really lovely chilled spot for a drink. We were on holiday and looking for somewhere in Central Oxford to have a drink which was also suitable with kids. Awesome staff who were great with our 4 and 6 year old, and even replaced a spilt drink free of charge. City centre location with a laid back vibe. Great find!

A. C. Q.

Great very friendly staff and attentive. Food was also great especially vegan & mimosa

H. C.

We wanted to find an independent cafe which catered for me (vegan and gluten free) my hubby (omnivore) and would take dogs. We were not disappointed with The Handle Bar. My hubby had the lamb steak which he said was delicious and I had the puy lentil and beetroot burger (they swapped the burger bun for gluten free bread). It was so nice to have a really tasty burger that wasn't pretending to be meat. It was snowing on and off the day we visited Oxford, so we nipped back in for tea and cake to warm up and avoid a snow shower! The banana and chocolate brownie (vegan and gluten free) and rhubarb and rosemary cake hit the spot, along with a very good chai masala (I had oat milk chai latte at lunch which was lovely). I would suggest you make an effort to visit The Handle Bar🚲

A. N.

Some very interesting tapas dishes - our favourites were the sea bass ceviche and figs! Some dishes like the patatas bravas were not as flavourful. 2 dishes per person was probably enough - we ate far too much! Almost everything was gluten free which was good for us.

J. L.

Amazing food. The gnocchi and cheese croquettes were the best we've ever had. Staff are really nice and friendly too. I would love to give a 5 star rating unfortunately the matcha tiramisu was more of a matcha flavoured fruit compote rather than a tiramisu. Not bad but not what I was expecting.

e. w.

Central location down a side ally, decorated with bikes and art. Overall i had a nice brunch, but found it annoying that you couldn't make any changes to your order. A friend wanted to swap poached for scrambled eggs, nope! I dont eat mushrooms or beans, and wanted to substitute them for avo, I had to pay £1 extra although I wasn't having 2 items. A bit of flexibility would be nice, otherwise you feel like they are cooking in bulk. My poached egg was hard.

S. R.

One of the best breakfasts I've had in Oxford. How did I not know this place was here before?!

S. S.

Stopped by for a delicious wine on a sunny day exploring Oxford. Staff super friendly.

S. M.

Nice little place hidden away in a lateral street, above a bicycle shop. A breath of fresh air in the otherwise hyper touristic food options in Oxford.

A. R.

In the old Zappy's location they've notched things up in s good way. Friendly staff great pancakes, who knew coconut is what's been missing from the classic pancakes bacon maple syrup deal 👍 Coffee was really well done and obviously something they do with care and pride. Loved it and we'll worth the 75miles cycle!

S. R.

Top place for breakfast, I've been coming every week for months and the food and drinks are consistently at a high standard. Lovely staff who are always polite and helpful. I've been round all of Oxford and I can safely say that this is the best place for a cooked breakfast. Highly recommend!!

K. A. K.

Great food, delicious drinks, amazing staff, the best ever! Especially Timi, the bar staff. She is always similing, very quick and helpful. Great experience.

P. S.

The coconut pancakes are fantastic! Their vegan spin on ‘full English’ is quite nice, mushrooms were a bit blunt but it’s definitely interesting, with a bit of a twist!

Y. H.

Had brunch at this place, the food was decently priced for what it is. The outside sitting was pretty good as well. Would recommend.

K. B.

A lovely ambience and prime location makes this easy for me to recommend to anyone looking for a nice snack during the day. I would have preferred stronger flavours, but my palate obviously doesn't match the standard palate served here, and I'll be sure to ask for more salt and spice while ordering the next time I'm there! I thoroughly enjoyed my smashed avocado on toast after the procurement of some salt, and the staff were very helpful at splitting the bill for our merry group of 6.

A. B.

Very nice place, friendly staff and tasty brunches

T. S.

Delicious brunch - great variety of options, all unique takes on brunch!

R. D. B.

After waiting for 15 minutes for a little street side table (we stupidly hadn’t pre-booked for inside) we finally sat down and ordered some delicious food. My children 2 and 7 were very hungry. Everything on the menu looked amazing and healthy. When our food came- so did 15 wasps. I could handle it but my husband and children were panicking. The lovely people at The handle bar carried our food inside and upstairs and sat us down so we could promptly finish eating in peace. No questions asked. They were wonderful! I’d recommend their delicious food. I’d recommend their awesome service! Too bad I didn’t get a pic of the tardy goodness!

A. T.

Lovely place, with nicely put in outside seats now with planters around. Had breakfast recently, and mostly fantastic but the plantains in the full breakfasts are a) just trying too hard to be hipster and b) not nicely cooked to back it up.

N. C.

I had the most amazing flapjack stack with berries, nuts and yogurt. Yummy!!

M. U.

Possibly my favourite cafe in the world!! Despite seemingly being on the back streets of Oxford we managed to stumble across The Handle Bar multiple times on our 2 day stay. And very glad we did. The coffee is excellent, staff are very friendly and the food is good. We stuck to the standard coffee menu, avoiding the specials and weren’t disappointed as it was delicious. We were also offered a sample of one of the specials which we tried but were glad we stuck to the main menu! The Handle Bar also offer non dairy alternatives at a cheaper rate than dairy. This is a nice touch, encouraging people who wouldn’t normally try these to do so. On our second visit we tried the Full English breakfast. I was sceptical at first as the menu suggested they were messing with a classic! Plantain chips are not usually on the plate. However, the breakfast was excellent and I would recommend you try it.

b. s.

First time to the Handle Bar Cafe and don't think it will be our last. We went for a raclette evening that they were doing as a one off it tasted amazing and it was just like being back France. They had seating on the road but it was well set up with bamboo planters separating the groups making it feel like you were somewhere. Just disappointed that I forgot to take a photo. Please do more raclette evenings.

M.

Had a wonderful time, food was nutritious and tasty. I was served by Lilly, she was friendly and made the experience more enjoyable. I worked for a few hours in a quite area upstairs. Would definitely recommend 😊

C.

Alternative cafe with different styles of seating - tables and bar stools near the window with great views of nearby buildings. The £10 breakfast menu is good, I found it hard to choose what to have! Only thing I would say is the portions are small and I expected it to taste more home made - the hummus tasted shop bought. The drinks are small for the price but it was a nice treat for breakfast and something different.

C. I.

The pancakes and sweet potato fries were quite tasty (though a bit sweet for the pancakes). The avocado toast was ok, the bread was a bit too soft and overall it lacked a bit of taste. Overall, it it is a great place for Brunch (also during the week!) and I recommend it! The staff is friendly too :)

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