Oxford's top 3 vegan cafes for studying
Being an English Lit student I always seem to be given fewer and fewer contact hours each new semester that begins with this current one taking the all time crown (One three hour module a week) so to say I have a lot of free time is an understatement. My course still manages to increase in difficulty though and with less teaching hours we are expected to be more independent, as a result of this I find a lot of my 'free time' really isn't all that free at all and that I am actually doing multiple hours of uni work a day, especially with a dissertation.
I've found there's only so much studying you can do in your small uni box room before you completely lose the will to live and, after a good ten plus hours a week suddenly the library doesn't seem all that great either. It is clearly nothing revolutionary but I have taken to visiting some of Oxford's many cafe's in recent weeks to give myself new study environments and maybe start to hate Shakespeare slightly less. Being a vegan, I thought this may be beneficial to record as it can be tough, although not so tough at all anymore, to find decent affordable vegan options in independent places.
Number one
Happy Friday Kitchen
Happy Friday Kitchen has a rep as Oxford's first and only exclusively vegan restaurant. They have a small restaurant just off Cowley road which is most;y always pretty quiet making it perfect for research sessions storming through all those online articles. They serve vegan junk food in a Californian style which is pretty hefty on the stomach so I guess they do take to Californian serving sizes too. Although it can be pretty pricey here there are deals running on every week day such as two for the price of one on Pizzas on Tuesdays and 20% the entire menu if you're a student on Wednesdays which make the food a lot more attainable. If you go here make sure to try their pizzas, I like the Buffalo soldier pizza best because you get both a tomatoey pizza taste as well as some spice and cream with their vegan ranch dressing. Notorious V.E.G is a firm favourite as is their Chilli dog. Speaking of dogs, Buddha is the little pup that always runs around there. He belongs to the owner and will beg you for scraps so be warned if you don't like sharing food. Happy Friday Kitchen is basically just the best restaurant in Oxford for vegans so go there regardless of if you want to study or not but know that if you do go it is possible to have a vegan hot chocolate with marshmallows whilst you get your reading done. They are also on Deliveroo so if its an all night study sesh they got you covered there as well.
Number two
The Nosebag
The Nosebag is in the city centre not far from westgate and next to the cutest little shop (another favourite of mine) where they sell lots of vintage items including cheap books, They have copies of novels from the early twentieth century for like two quid. It is such a hidden gem. Not to mention the nicest man works there, last time I went he gave me chocolate coins (unfortunately not vegan), a bookmark and an extra book all for free. Literally oxford's sweetheart. The nosebag is right next door o you can pop into the whimsical Arcadia and buy yourself a copy of Bleak House then head into The Nosebag to read your new purchase over their vegan breakfast. The vegan breakfast here has such a homely feel and is definitely one of the most heartwarming and cosy meals to have in Oxford.
It comes with lots of avocado so that factor alone makes it a winner. I like to smash the avocado and spread it on the granary toast and then dip it into the stew like bowl of mushrooms, spicy beans and mozzarella. The mozzerella here is so impressive, you pull the toast out and it has strings of the cheese dangling of. It is a lot bigger here then you imagine when you first enter and the tables are all the same size so you can claim one and spread all your highlighters and books out with no issue. If you end up being here for a while and get hungry again then don't worry because they also serve a vegan pear cake and a vegan truffle which look pretty tempting and I will make sure to try when I head back there. I have also had a look at their lunch and dinner menus and they have some really nice sounding vegan curry dishes if thats your thing.
Number three
The Handlebar cafe and kitchen
This place is just up the street from The Nosebag so it is a city centre location as well. I like this one because you could easily walk past it and think its a bike shop as it has lots of bikes outside as well as in, bikes are literally suspended from the ceiling. It is a very unique place clearly embracing the heritage of Oxford. It is generally pretty empty here but i'll let you in on a secret: they do the single best vegan pancakes in the whole of Oxford. They cost about £7 and are the fluffiest pancakes I have ever tried. They have a berry option which comes with raspberries, strawberries et cetera and a berry sauce as well as a banana option-both of which come topped with coconut flakes and drizzled in a sweet golden syrup. If you have a sweet tooth this is the place to come. The tables downstairs are small though so it is only really suitable if you have less work to do and not a heavy diss writing session. I will say that is also really good if you are a coffee lover but coffee doesn't love you back in that it has a tiring and jittery effect on you. They do chai lattes (Best drink ever) but in cute, small transparent cups on little yellow saucers to match the painting on the outside of the cafe. They're large enough to enjoy but not so big that it ruins your whole day work wise.
A few Honourable mentions-
Costa Coffee, very large and do incredible vegan cookies
Rachels cafe, Haven't been here but they serve tofu and satay sauce baguettes so...wowza
Starbucks, naturally
I've found there's only so much studying you can do in your small uni box room before you completely lose the will to live and, after a good ten plus hours a week suddenly the library doesn't seem all that great either. It is clearly nothing revolutionary but I have taken to visiting some of Oxford's many cafe's in recent weeks to give myself new study environments and maybe start to hate Shakespeare slightly less. Being a vegan, I thought this may be beneficial to record as it can be tough, although not so tough at all anymore, to find decent affordable vegan options in independent places.
Number one
Happy Friday Kitchen
Happy Friday Kitchen has a rep as Oxford's first and only exclusively vegan restaurant. They have a small restaurant just off Cowley road which is most;y always pretty quiet making it perfect for research sessions storming through all those online articles. They serve vegan junk food in a Californian style which is pretty hefty on the stomach so I guess they do take to Californian serving sizes too. Although it can be pretty pricey here there are deals running on every week day such as two for the price of one on Pizzas on Tuesdays and 20% the entire menu if you're a student on Wednesdays which make the food a lot more attainable. If you go here make sure to try their pizzas, I like the Buffalo soldier pizza best because you get both a tomatoey pizza taste as well as some spice and cream with their vegan ranch dressing. Notorious V.E.G is a firm favourite as is their Chilli dog. Speaking of dogs, Buddha is the little pup that always runs around there. He belongs to the owner and will beg you for scraps so be warned if you don't like sharing food. Happy Friday Kitchen is basically just the best restaurant in Oxford for vegans so go there regardless of if you want to study or not but know that if you do go it is possible to have a vegan hot chocolate with marshmallows whilst you get your reading done. They are also on Deliveroo so if its an all night study sesh they got you covered there as well.
 |
| This is Arcadia, next to The Nosebag. |
Number two
The Nosebag
The Nosebag is in the city centre not far from westgate and next to the cutest little shop (another favourite of mine) where they sell lots of vintage items including cheap books, They have copies of novels from the early twentieth century for like two quid. It is such a hidden gem. Not to mention the nicest man works there, last time I went he gave me chocolate coins (unfortunately not vegan), a bookmark and an extra book all for free. Literally oxford's sweetheart. The nosebag is right next door o you can pop into the whimsical Arcadia and buy yourself a copy of Bleak House then head into The Nosebag to read your new purchase over their vegan breakfast. The vegan breakfast here has such a homely feel and is definitely one of the most heartwarming and cosy meals to have in Oxford.
Number three
The Handlebar cafe and kitchen
This place is just up the street from The Nosebag so it is a city centre location as well. I like this one because you could easily walk past it and think its a bike shop as it has lots of bikes outside as well as in, bikes are literally suspended from the ceiling. It is a very unique place clearly embracing the heritage of Oxford. It is generally pretty empty here but i'll let you in on a secret: they do the single best vegan pancakes in the whole of Oxford. They cost about £7 and are the fluffiest pancakes I have ever tried. They have a berry option which comes with raspberries, strawberries et cetera and a berry sauce as well as a banana option-both of which come topped with coconut flakes and drizzled in a sweet golden syrup. If you have a sweet tooth this is the place to come. The tables downstairs are small though so it is only really suitable if you have less work to do and not a heavy diss writing session. I will say that is also really good if you are a coffee lover but coffee doesn't love you back in that it has a tiring and jittery effect on you. They do chai lattes (Best drink ever) but in cute, small transparent cups on little yellow saucers to match the painting on the outside of the cafe. They're large enough to enjoy but not so big that it ruins your whole day work wise.
A few Honourable mentions-
Costa Coffee, very large and do incredible vegan cookies
Rachels cafe, Haven't been here but they serve tofu and satay sauce baguettes so...wowza
Starbucks, naturally
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