Society Cafe in Oxford

Contemptuous service awaits at the Society Café. In the absence of available table space, you’re ‘not allowed’ to stand and drink your coffee. To do so would mean you’d be ‘in the way’. If you’re standing about waiting for your coffee, though, this is seemingly fine. I’m not sure what logic this is. Tables are strictly reserved for empty-cup-nursing people eating their BYO food. Definitely a place to be avoided.

Rude staff the most rude staff in my life! no customer service at all..they charge me twice for a coffee which one i didn’t like…i do not recommend this place!

delicious coffee but the best part was the poor person my mum called over to grill about coffee beans, however she managed to help her to the best of her ability for which we are eternally grateful 🙏 big up the coffee machine

Away from the throng of nearby streets, Society is chill (even when it's busy). Hint: there's more seating downstairs. Yummy snacks/cakes, friendly staff, and chill vibes. Also, they're laptop-friendly.

The coffee was really delicious but - oh - the toilets were a disgrace. A lovely place to sit on a sunny morning but I wouldn’t recommend the shabby toilets that need new flooring and the doors painted. It might seem trivial but it’s an important factor in any place serving food.

Rude staff. Walked in, asked where to order, the barista made a sarcastic comment ‘at the till’, then sniggered, shook her head and laughed to someone sat at the bar whilst I turned away, as if I was stupid for asking. It is not difficult to be kind/ pleasant to customers, customer service needs improving. No one should be made to feel uncomfortable when simply ordering a coffee.

Best coffee in Oxford, and the best service! Not sure of their name but the barista with funky earrings and buzz cut especially lovely!

Friendly staff and delicious flavour hot chocolate but luke warm!! The cafe has a great vibe in the main upstairs part, however there was no seating available so we had to sit down stairs. It is not well kept downstairs and absolutely STANK of the toilets! Definitely not a place I will be buying another expensive lukewarm drink in a smelly environment. Additionally, the toilets were quite dirty and not at all nice to use.

A lovely, busy cafe. We popped in here whilst visiting Oxford. It was busy but had a lovely atmosphere. The coffee was delicious and the cake divine!

Decent selection of teas with pleasant, if not amazing, pastries. Prices are fairly typical for the centre. Service a tad slow, but quite friendly.

Great coffee and also interesting TEA selection! Awesome staff...always! Sadly it is let down by the loos. There is nothing good to say about them! Even the new Dyson hand dryer is set too high on the wall...this means that someone like me who is only 5ft 4...only gets to dry up their sleeves! Clearly installed by someone tall!!!😱

We managed to find a to table outside in the sun which was nice. My wife had an iced americano and I had a V60. My V60 took a while to make but was worth it with a light and fresh fruity taste. The staff here are very nice.

Firstly, I really need to alert coeliacs or allergy sufferers... They have cakes labelled as NGCI (no gluten containing ingredients) when some are - and I quote the man working in there - "low in gluten". Cakes are also uncovered and cross contamination with utensils. Nice coffee but as a coeliac, my confidence has gone.

Usual hipster hangout but with a difference. Wade through all the white jean wearing, rolled sleeved tshirt sporting cappuccino drinkers to get to the real black gold. Staff are friendly and the same smiley blonde barista made my V60 two days on the bounce. Tried both and both were fantastic. Yes it takes 5 minutes… so. Everyone who knows anything about coffee knows it takes time to weigh, time to breathe, time to infuse, stir, pour over…… it takes time. Cool goosenecks too. Served on a wooden platter with see through conical and eathernware cup. Wasn’t a fan of the cup but that’s because I’m anal and prefer a small white handled cup. Each to their own though. Photographs well I imagine for the gram. Staff were polite, friendly and I would trust the blonde barista to make my coffee anytime, great skill. Must visit if you like the black gold, 5 stars.

I visited the café Saturday 16.45. Preparing the coffee Was a young lady purple hair. She made my day!!! the coffee was perfectly done , she was immaculate in her job , really beautiful face , she was happy and smiling. She star a small chat to me without compromising the timing in her service. The banana bread delicious. Atmosphere clean , tidy and well organised……. I’ll be there again for sure!!!!

This cafe has a wonderful warm atmosphere, the staff are extremely welcoming providing exceptional coffee, wonderful home made cakes and an excellent gluten free range of cakes too… with the added bonus that they always welcome dogs….Cafe Society is 2nd to none! Well done guys! I will always return with Bentley the dog to meet up with my daughter, there is no better place, rain or shine!

We stopped at the Society Cafe for a coffee and cake stop and we weren't disappointed. Good choice of cakes with fresh ingredient and excellent coffee. Reccomended.

Stopped for an impromptu “cake for lunch” kind of situation and was not disappointed. Beautiful outdoor area next to the Oxford Union site, accommodating and cheery staff and the most DELICIOUS cakes. We tried a (vegan!!) bakewell slice and carrot cake and I think my...

My partner and I stopped by for coffee and cake on a Saturday in June 2021. The cafe has a cool atmosphere and a good range of cakes, and they have both inside and outside seating. However, the service was extremely slow - I waited...

Worse staff ever in a coffee shop , 10 minute wait to be served then told no cash allowed. But it helps if your friends come in and jump the queue , guess being suited up is to posh for here

I grab a coffee here most mornings, and it is the best start to the day. The staff are friendly and always make an effort to interact - during lockdown my interactions with the staff here were one of my main forms of social contact...

Not only is this the best coffee served in Oxford it was directly opposite where we were staying. Great holiday planning😉

Down a pleasant side street with outside street seating and some good drinks choices. Too much packaging but that is a sign of the times. Choose this one for the location.

I really wish they put up a no-smoking sign outside. There is limited indoor seating, but people smoking outside means I avoid the place because i know it will be busy and if i want to sit down, it will be outside with the smokers...

Great coffee just what is needed for a stop with friends, latte my favourite. Lovely atmosphere. Staff great

When in town and craving for a good cup I head to Society café. Easy going atmosphere no matter if you are here to meet with friends or to work for a while. Once in expect eclectic interior and buzzin crowd. Personable service & great...

I go to Society quite a bit and always ask for a V60 as that’s what I like to drink. 9/10 times they will say they can’t serve it due to being too busy even though after I order a batch brew they usually are...

We looked for somewhere to have filter coffees in Oxford and Society Cafe was recommended. The knowledgeable staff provided advice about their individual coffees and the filter coffees were delightful. We also had some snack food which was excellent. The only downside really was in...

Actually disappointing to be honest. Day trip to Oxford and first stop off to go to a local cafe. Cappuccino: average Got chocolate: average Banana & Chocolate cake: sweet and sickly Polenta & Pastacio cake: average Cost: over priced Service: good Environment: upstairs good but...

This was my first time visiting as I wasn’t aware of it’s presence until now. On arrival we were served promptly by a friendly member of staff and found a seat easily, although the seats we chose were not the most comfortable long term. (Every...

Society Cafe serves some of the most interesting coffee in Oxford. It is a modern, friendly coffee house right in the centre. Besides the cakes are fabulous. Well worth a visit.

Excellent coffee! The best! Recommend flat white decaf with oat milk , perfectly made smooth and creamy

It’s not the most comfortable cafe but their coffee is really top notch with a choice of bean (usually anyway - they were switching over when we were there). Hot chocolate made with real discs of proper chocolate too. Yum.

Staff were charming and efficient and the cafe itself was bright and pleasant. My capucinno was sadly quite luke warm, very creamy and mild in taste whilst the panocholate was a bit doughy and bland. Alltogether it was a perfectly pleasant experience but for this price point I was expecting a bit more depth of taste.

I hunt out this coffee shop everytime I’m in Oxford - the coffee is unreal. They have a selection of blends to choose from, a whole range of non dairy milks and it’s about half the price of what you pay in London style artisan coffee spots.

I've always wanted to drink coffee, however it doesn't agree with me so I normally don't have any real reason to goto a coffee shop when all I get is a cup of hot water and a bog standard teabag.

Pedimos dos espressos y nos cobraron un dineral, pero bueno, como se llama Society Café esperas que el precio valdrá la pena.

Flat white is strong and so good, nice and hidden spot. Team is very qualified. İf you are searching for artisan coffee shop this is the place.

Slightly off the beaten track it's a nice independant coffee shop with some yummy cakes to go with your coffee.

Nice location, great capuccino and tasty pastry. Perfect for a quick snack-stop in centre of Oxford. Friendly, quick service

Enjoyed a coffee with a friend on a Saturday morning. Bar stools in the window good for people watching. Pay for food at the counter and it will be brought to your table. Friendly staff

We called in here mid week for coffee and cake. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. My test for a good coffee shop is the quality of the decaff (sadly, partner and I can only have decaff these days); the decaff here was excellent, so I can only imagine how wonderful the full caffeine version must be. Our brownies were also delicious (3 varieties were on offer on the day of our visit). This will definitely be my coffee stop on future visits to Oxford.

I need to find more excuses to get to Oxford just so I can spend more time at Society. The coffee is absolutely spot on and they have some perfect cakes/snacks to accompany it. If you are in Oxford don't bother with anywhere else....

This is definitely a craft coffee shop with great coffee, but it's also a very friendly staff and atmosphere. It's my favorite shop in town.

We popped in here one Saturday afternoon. It was very busy and we struggled to find a table. We ended up sitting downstairs which didn’t have quite the same ambience as the main area. It is good coffee but a bit pricey at £2.90 for a latte and they only do one size which is quite large. Personally I do not think this is the best coffee house in Oxford but it is better than a national chain if you don’t mind the price tag.

When I moved to oxford I made it my mission to find the best coffee in town... Society wins hands down. The added bonus of friendly staff and a super chill environment adds to the 5*.

It’s fair, isn’t it? To submit a second review of the same place, after a second experience contrasts with the first?

A great little cafe. Stopped for coffee and cake with friends. The carrot cake was delicious. Friendly and helpful staff.

This cafe is a wonderfully quiet and relaxing cafe just off the busy road. A nice space to work or study. The best coffee I had while in Oxford.

We had an hour to kill before our walking tour so popped into the busy little cafe full of students tapping away at keyboards ... it offered a delicious selection of pastries & cakes - which we resisted ! But we had a good strong, smooth coffee and a delicious chai latte ... served with a smile by the friendly young staff. Would definitely pop in again and sample the food ...

A very relaxing place with lovely staff. The coffee was really good, and the atmosphere was great for a working environment, or a catch up with friends... even though I was there alone.

Nice coffee shop across from the Oxford Union and just a short distance away from the hustle and bustle of the main shopping street of Oxford. Coffee was nice

This is the third time I’ve ordered a take away coffee from society cafe and they’ve forgotten my drink. Once I did get it 15 mins later, it was cold and burnt. The staff were visibly annoyed that I asked for a new one, but for this price you would expect an acceptable coffee. Really not on.

I absolutely love this place! After staying in Italy for quite some time I became very particular about my coffee choice ha! I’ve never had any complaints here and the staff are so friendly. 5 stars from me 😊

Came here on a Sunday with my GF, both of us bringing laptops to do some work. Many tables are "laptop" free in order to prevent "lone workers" hogging space from other customers. So we ended up at a communal bench table. Hardly comfortable for more than 30 minutes. So I did not extend my stay. Also, my flat white was lukewarm. Other than that the service and vibe are good.

Interior design is essential to a coffee shop, and society cafe did not cut any corners on that. You will sense a good atmosphere right as you walk in, greeted with friendly baristas and above-average coffee.

Amazingly good coffee but surprisingly children friendly. Good high chairs and very open space. Best coffee I've had in Oxford. The standard filter is excellent and the aeropress magnificent.

The vibe of this place is very modern and relaxed. I ordered a cappucino and a slice of the violet, apple and elderflower cake. The combination of flavours in this cake was so unsual. Coffee and the cake were outstanding. The coffee was smooth and not bitter.

The coffee at Society is fantastic, and the staff are friendly and efficient. However, it can sometimes be hard to find a seat, given that students flock there to do work!

Society is the go-to coffee shop if you're in the center of town and want reliable, fast and delicious coffee. They are super professional, take coffee very seriously and have a mixed team of staff, with more and more diverse and friendly staff coming in making the place feel friendlier and more relaxed. The customers are varied, but I would say it is one of the best places to work as a student with a laptop on a weekday and better for families/groups on a weekend if you can get a table. It's also a go-to for business meetings/interviews and the like. I think I prefer the layout arrangement of other Society cafes I've been to more, as there is something more personable about them. Don't get me wrong, they definitely do provide what they say: professionalism and great coffee. However: I would have to complain about pastries and cakes - and a little bit the atmosphere. The cakes are definitely overpriced, they used to be a pound or so cheaper, and are sourced from the same bakery that other coffee shops nearby charge a lot less for. Sometimes slices can be so small that paying 3 pounds 40 for is obscene. Their croissants and pan au chocolat are dry and are not much better than what you would buy at a supermarket - I think they should pay more attention to those, but their almond croissants are good. Again, there is a lot of inconsistency when it comes to the pastries and cakes in terms of quantity and how fresh they can be varying from very fresh to terribly dry. I also think their sandwiches could be improved significantly and sourced from local producers or at least be more experimental in terms of the combinations of ingredients and the bread. The vegan/peanut butter sandwich should be scrapped.

Is Society cafe just free office space for the hard faced non customer who takes up 3 seats and a full table to spread out their laptop et al without making a purchase for hours at a time ? The coffee is great and the staff are too, but whenever I want a coffee I can never get a seat even though I'm a real customer without a lap top.

Very nice café, friendly staff, good coffee, non-dairy milk and vegan options (the spiced apple muffin is delicious!).

The perfect combination of modern and cozy. Great place to sit down and grab a cup of coffee in the afternoon. Although I do agree with other reviews that said the coffee could be a bit hotter. The welcoming atmosphere with shared and private tables makes you feel like staying for as long as you want. Definitely want to go back to try some of the sweet treats and also the matcha latte, which seemed like a house special since I saw many people ordering it.

Standout coffee shop in Oxford. Professional accurate Baristas and most importantly tasty coffee. Great range of eats and non coffee related items. Helps they use beans from Origin too one of my favourite roasters.

Kids. Ain't they just a pip! Unless you are a highly calibrated barista trying to get a perfectly made double macchiato to the table. Then they're a pain in the bum. Or so it seemed from the miffed look on the guys face. Or maybe he was upset because he's 6ft 4" and has an apron designed for someone of smaller stature? Who knows. Either way, he was disgruntled.

Such a lovely space, delicious pastries, cakes and sandwiches. An impressive selection of coffees too. However, the last 3 times I have been (I have given it 3 chances before writing a bad review) I have asked for a cappuccino and been given what resembles a latte (the most recent time I asked for a cappuccino 'not to be too milky' and it was no different). Whilst waiting for the coffee the barista, who came across quite rude, seemed to be snickering about my request to a less milky drink. Again, I received another latte - no froth whatsoever. It seems a shame that arguably one of the best cafes in Oxford can be ruined by pretentious baristas and what seems like a fundamental gap in coffee making knowledge.

The coffee is alright, but often I’ll go and order, sit down, and never receive anything. They frequently needed to be prompted before they’ll remember to serve you.

I have been once. And I will come again. :)

Good range of tasty coffee with standard prices (e.g flat white £2.90). The space is casual and cool with great background music. They also do a good white hot chocolate.

I definately would recommend for coffee fans if you're nearby. Nice decor and friendly staff. Not the place if you're looking for a frappachino.

Popped in for a coffee with friends while visiting Oxford for the day. Seemed like a typical student haunt based on the decor and counter staff. The coffees might have tasted better had they been more than lukewarm and my pain au chocolate was dry and stale tasting. The next time we are in Oxford we will definitely give the Society cafe a miss.

Hard to get a seat but good gourmet coffee options especially for filter coffee lovers. Average price for Central Oxford. Quite slow service but very busy. Nice cakes. Limited food options.

it’s quite hidden, just off cornmarket street and seems to be very popular especially among students. they have really nice coffees and the coconut-pineapple cake is heavenly.

Went here on a Sunday morning for a coffee and quick read of the Sunday papers. The service was very good and the coffee lived up to its reputation as being the best in the City. Had a very relaxing morning without once feeling like we were rushed. Highly recommended.

We were looking for a lunch venue and had walked past the café on our way to Bill's (which had 15 minute wait) but came back in search of rest and recuperation after a fabulous time in the Ashmolean museum.

Very good coffee with options of having it either with soy or almond milk. Fast service and amazing cakes which change on a regular basis. It can get very busy, but if you catch a spot then you are lucky enough to enjoy a high quality coffee, a piece of mango cake and get some work done.

Discovered by accident. Wonderful coffee and very relaxed atmosphere. Great selection of cakes (which we all know is very important!) Next time I'm in Oxford, will definitely be coming back.

The best coffee I've ever had. The stuff is great and friendly, the cakes are yummy. Thanks guys! Thanks Silviu! Köszönöm! :)

Lovely space in the heart of Oxford city centre. Great selection of teas, coffee and delicious looking things to eat. Unfortunately, I ordered an iced latte, got a normal latte. I was lucky, we waited and waited and the final order of 4 drinks didn't arrive with the other drinks. It didn't arrive at all. The staff whilst looking all hip and cool should focus more on getting orders right and getting them to the tables within a reasonable timeframe. A shame as the coffee is good, really really good. 5 star coffee, 2 star service.

Society WAS great when it first open. The original staff are still great, very friendly and welcoming, the cakes from Barefoot bakery are yummy (but avoid the ones they ship in from Bath - not so nice).

Met my neice for a chat, she recommended Society cafe, we both had hot chocolate, it was delicious, the staff were friendly. The atmosphere was informal and relaxed, the cakes looked good.

Go to Society cafe and meet their mega friendly and efficient staff. Coffee is fabulous and so are the cakes.

Visited this morning for the first time. Good first impression, clean and tidy, food displayed nicely and one of the very few places I can get a Lapsang souchong (although I think this was just a 'guest' tea). I really liked the notice on each table welcoming laptop users but reminding them that it is a cafe and not a library. There is nothing more annoying than needing a well earned cuppa to find that all the tables are taken up with individuals and their laptops nursing the cold dregs of a coffee bought hours ago. The young lady who brought my tea over to me was lovely and seemed to be knowledgeable on the teas. She advised me on how long to keep the tea bag in for my particular choice of tea and even supplied a timer. We also ordered a hot chocolate, a sandwich to share and a chocolate brownie. Food was lovely, brownie and hot chocolate were particularly good. My criticism is with two of the young men serving. It really wouldn't hurt to crack a smile, be welcoming and generally be a bit more pleasant. I can see why the phrase 'smug and arrogant' has been used. They didn't exactly go the extra mile on service, when I asked for a knife I was told to ask at the till. Ok he might have been busy but given that the service area isn't exactly huge it wouldn't have hurt him to ask his colleague to pass one to us.

Dit café werd me aangeraden door een studiegenoot.

The coffee at Society is very well made, fresh and thoughtfully sourced. There is usually an interesting choice of espresso, which is great and a lovely opportunity to explore different types of coffee from different places. I have had espesso here well over 100 times and have not been disappointed on one single occasion. The few times I have had a flat white, or Cappucino I have also been very pleased with the quality and temperature. The staff are very well informed about the coffee, are polite and friendly and extremely conscientious. The pastries are very pleasant also.

The nicest thing about this was the size of the spoon to stir the coffee. Positively the worst, most bitter espresso I have tasted and even worse than Starbucks. What irritates me the most is that you can make a better coffee at home with a pack of Lavazza and a Moka.

I called in today around 11.15. On ordering my Soy Latte I was informed that it would be brought to me however, after 10-15 minutes nothing had appeared.

I ordered a flat white from here the other day. The coffee was excellent. My only gripe would be having to wait a little while for it.

Buen café y un ambiente muy informal pero cuidado. La unica pega es que hace frio (estuvimos alli a mediados de diciembre)

Quite a nice atmosphere- most customers working on laptops. Coffee well crafted , served tepid.

We met family here for a morning get together and we're certainly not disappointed at the selection of teas, coffees and simply wonderful and fresh pastries. Definitely worth visiting for a relaxed break when in town.

Friendly stuff, great salted caramel brownie which was a great match with the V60 filter i had. Definately would cone back for more

Popped in with a relative and her new baby. Staff friendly, felt perfectly welcome with a small baby. Lovely coffee, and a choice of 3 different hot chocolates! Only let-down would be the not-very-comfortable seating, but not a problem for a quick visit. The cakes looked delicious and I hope to try them on my next visit.

Called in towards the end of the afternoon and was not disappointed. Good choice of coffee and styles, so much nicer than the "chains". Helpful staff guided me to the coffee to best suit my taste. Good atmosphere, good coffee, not unreasonable cost!

Friendly staff, cool decor, great coffee. Have been in here a couple of times, cakes etc look nice and always busy- obviously well liked.

Love their coffee and their custom coloured La Marzocco.

Visited many venues in Oxford, this is one more ticked off.

In terms of coffee and atmosphere, this is a lovely cafe. The team was friendly and I was pleased with the quality of the coffee. However, a major caveat - the seating is horrendously uncomfortable. Undoubtedly the intention is to keep people from lingering, but the effect is to make one feel unwelcome. Surely it would be possible for this trendy cafe to have contemporary furniture that is still at least somewhat comfortable for its customers? It would be nice to be able to sit for more than five minutes and enjoy one's drink. Given the discomfort, there are definitely better options in Oxford.

There are many places serving excellent coffee in Oxford, and Society Cafe is comfortably in the top 3. What it has that the other two in the top 3 don't is plenty of space, and a nice environment, making it my favourite to visit.

Friendly cafe with well thought out decor. Problem is they are obviously pushing for recognition as a place for people who really appreciate a high quality coffee and they sadly disappoint. The coffee I had was bitter and the cup was cold. The search goes on!