Vaults & Garden Cafe in Oxford

Very charming place to rest on your visit to Oxford. We only had a good coffee, and it cost us less than at the London train station.

Restaurant with a small menu, the seasoning is good, the portions fair. They only accept payment by credit or debit cards. It has clean bathrooms. The staff is friendly and they prepare your drinks at the moment.

Completely amazing everything, specially people extremely kind and honest. After a delicious meal one member of our family forgot his bag pack with passports and money and the staff found it and everything was inside. They have saved the tourist time in England. Well done all stuff members of Vaults & Garden best wishes, blessings and hugs. We hope buck in a future. Many many many thanks.

The food was amazing! I paid about 20 pounds for a good meal (the beef curry with rice) and a glass of wine. Their lunch menu has several different items to choose from. Recommended.

probably the best cream tea place in ox

When I visit first, I liked this place. So I introduced here to my friend, and ordered avocado toast. However the server gave us the broken - two parted - toast and then said ‘oh the bread was broken’. What a bad experience. Personally, even though the food is great, if the server is unkind, then I will not go there.

It is a wonderful cafe right in the heart of the city. A charming, traditional atmosphere with a great view! Great coffees and bakeries. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit ;) delicious scone Had a lovely Oxford breakfast here and a cappuccino. highly recommend 👌

Much nicer than I thought. So worth a visit and there is a nice little cafe for food. No idea on the parking as we walked

lovely little gem. we had to wait a long line because it was during a graduation and pretty crowded. good tea and scones, wished they are a tad generous with the clotted cream though. also one of the staff spoke indonesian and was very attentive to us.

Had a lovely Oxford breakfast here and a cappuccino. The breakfast was very nice and the beans were just 👌 I know, how can beans be so nice?!! They just were great. Highly recommended.

Lovely place and lovely organic food

The staff are great, the scones are great, the tea is great, the atmosphere is great, what more can you ask for?

They have vegetable milk (oats, soy and almond) but it increases the bill between 50 and 70p

Stopped for tea and a scone while visiting Oxford. The place has shared tables and can be hard to find a seat inside, but it’s well worth trying. The scones were fresh and tasty. The history of the place adds to the charm.

Very nice. Would recommend it for a nice quiet lunch. Coffee is good there. I loved the toast with cheese... very relaxing and great service. Plenty of options for sitting.

The place is nice, but the food is too spiced and salty for my tasted, and the service is a little on the slow side. There is litte space to leave the trays once you have finished your meal, and dirty dishes can pile up in the eating area.

Very nice restaurant and tea room with friendly staff. Excellent scones!

I love this place and visit it every time I visit Oxford. The food is wholesome, and tasty like rustic home cooked food. There is a range of full meals or smaller items. You can help yourself to water. You queue and give your order to someone behind the counter. The staff are always friendly. At times it can feel a bit overwhelming because it is small and busy but once you have found a place to sit and eat your delicious food it is well worth it.

Great little cafe and the scones were great. Looks like the place is under threat of closure though – why they’d want you close such a great little cafe though is a mystery.

A great local find in the historical church vaults for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Friendly staff and very reasonable prices for quality food. Located just across from the famous Bodleian Library and colleges. We had the English breakfast and scones and jam with tea. Very tasty and cozy place.

Lovely little nook in the basement of an old church. One of the coolest places in Oxford location-wise to have a meal. Food is tasty and reasonably priced. I’ve enjoyed the carrot and red lentil soup, vegan Oxford breakfast, and fruit scone. Given that the vegan breakfast is the same price as the non vegan one and has food taken out (e.g., eggs, sausage), I felt like it could have included more of the beans and veggies. My portion of beans was just a handful of beans. But flavor wise it was delicious. Especially the bread! Their homemade scone was also fantastic. Drink-wise I tried their teas and chai latte and did not find them great. Service is friendly but unhurried. Prepare to wait to order, and if you’re in a hurry, avoid lunch, especially around noon.

Unimaginative and expensive menu, served slowly by surly staff. Popular with visitors due to central location, but better to be had elsewhere.

Vaults is such a cute and quintessentially Oxford cafe and their outdoor area has a great view of the Radcliffe. Proper decent portions of old school cakes and food here and decent coffee. The staff are all friendly and kind. It should be noted that it is a bit tricky accessibility wise given the narrow passages and steps for the bathrooms.

Delicious pastry and breakfast options!

I advise tourists to pass by this magical and gourmet place. The setting is magnificent!

Great little gem! Located in a beautiful place. Busy and vibrant and with a home cooked food feeling. Have at least one vegan dish (today they had two). The yellow curry one I had was great, plenty of taste. Many larger tables and there is always room for one more.

Popped in for afternoon coffee last Saturday. It was busy, but we quickly found space inside for my family of six. The space is beautiful and the vibe is warm and communal. Mochas and Lattes were excellent. Nice way to take a load off while walking around this beautiful city.

Nice hiden place, romantic ambient, banana cake taste so good

Unbelievable brownie. Hearty, delicious food. Perfect meal and cozy historic atmosphere. I can't imagine a better place to have lunch exists in Oxford.

I've been here a few times for scones, and it's always a treat. Every time, business has been booming. The relentless crowd ensures an energy that works well in the space, even if it can get a little noisy. The service is hit-and-miss. They have staff who are on their game, and others who it seems couldn't care less, but this, for me isn't a dealbreaker. Love it! Also, I heard they may be closing down? Noooo! Don't do that! No one wants that!

Quieter place to rest and enjoy great food.

Brilliant, friendly cafe with amazing home cooked food. Great place for brunch, lunch or afternoon tea. Cakes and patisserie are fantastic, and all set in the vault of an old church next to some of Oxford's most beautiful and famous buildings. Outside seating too. Hope it stays open!

Crowded with short service but good food at decent prices and a great view of the Radcliffe camera if the weather permits.

Most of the food is prepared already in advance. They just scoop it out next to the cashier. Food is not special, and coffee is ok. It is shared tables inside. The outside is nice to sit but the weather should permit it. Entrance to the inside of the place is a bit cramped.

I’ve been here a couple of times and each time has been incredible!! Their food is delicious and homemade, the perfect place to find warming comfort food this winter. The staff are also super friendly and really make the effort to attend to your needs. Also, as a full time barista I can confidently say they do some of the best coffee based beverages in Oxford, my favourite being their mocha which is super rich and creamy (I wish I knew how to make a mocha this good!?). Their prices are also very reasonable, their service is fast and they manage to maintain a very clean space. I’d highly recommend paying this stunning and historic place a visit.

Had an absolutely hearty and wholesome meal here. The chicken curry with a side of roast potatoes and steamed broccoli. I wolfed it down in a few minutes. There's a nice choice of condiments to add to your meal.

A wonderful cafe right in the heart of the city. A charming, traditional atmosphere with a great view! Great coffees and bakeries. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit ;)

We had breakfast at this wonderful spot. It is located inside St. Mary's Church in Oxford. Everything was fresh and made to order. A great find and centrally located.

What a venue and great food selection. Delicious, hearty, friendly. Rooting for you❤️

Met friends for a coffee before wandering around Oxford, very friendly and welcoming place

This place is so typically Oxford! Great tea and cake, and really nice home cooked breakfast and lunch.

Great vibe, mostly the college crowd. Order at the counter, pay, take your food, and find a seat! Good variety of food choices (some vegan), but I'm definitely here for the delicious cream tea.🫖

Perfect location within St Mary's on Radcliffe Square with the Radcliffe Camera resplendent in the centre. Food was good to!!

Beautiful place, delicious everything, super friendly sales!

What a great cafe find! Sustainable, social mission welcoming students, strollers, all ages, limited menu changes with time of day. I came back twice for the excellent Chicken Fricassee and white beans lunch. Easily found seatings in and outside, excellent counter service. Non accessible restrooms. There was a notice to sign a petition to save the cafe from eviction as the Church wants the space back, I hope the cafe stays in business.

Good breakfast and excellent coffee Queues start to build up mid morning

Fab veggie food and baked goods. Shame the church is pushing them out.

The Vaults and Garden Café in Oxford is a delightful hidden gem that combines culinary excellence with an idyllic setting. Tucked away within the historic University Church of St. Mary, this café offers a unique dining experience in the heart of Oxford. The café is nestled in the church's crypt, and its charming, rustic atmosphere is enhanced by the natural stone walls and the soft glow of candlelight. It's a serene escape from the bustling city streets, making it a perfect place to unwind and enjoy a meal or refreshments. One of the most appealing features of the Vaults and Garden Café is its enchanting garden. Set against the backdrop of the church's beautiful spire and lush greenery, the garden is a peaceful oasis in the midst of Oxford. Whether you choose to dine indoors or al fresco, the setting is simply enchanting. The menu at the café is a testament to its commitment to quality. From freshly prepared sandwiches and salads to delectable pastries and a variety of hot beverages, the café's offerings are both delicious and diverse. It's a wonderful place to enjoy a leisurely brunch, afternoon tea, or a quick snack. For those seeking a unique and tranquil dining experience, the Vaults and Garden Café is an ideal choice. It seamlessly blends history, natural beauty, and culinary excellence, making it a perfect spot to savor the charm of Oxford while indulging in delightful food and drink.

Save the Vault! This place is a gem and one of the highlights of my Oxford trip. I had a lovely lunch of pumpkin soup and bread with a stunning view. Let’s keep this place up and running!

Good Food | Exquisite Location | OK Service | Recommended —— Detailed Review Below —— Caught up with a dear friend on campus and we ended up at this place after looking at a few other options. The ambiance is (obviously) unbeatable, with the high ceilings and the historic building. The inside dining area can get crowded but thankfully we went on a day when sitting outside was still a viable option. I had an avocado toast, served with salad, and my friend had the Oxford Vegan (which looked fantastic with the avocado toast, the sautéed mushrooms, and the giant (white kidney) beans. My coffee (flat white), however, was disappointing, because (1) it was lukewarm, and (2) the milk was not microfoamed well enough. Verdict: Recommended - both for the experience as well as the food but be careful with the coffees Food/ Quality - 4/5 Location/ Ambiance - 5/5 Price (Value for Money) - 4/5 Service - 4/5 Other (History - 1320 Bldg) - 5/5

A wonderful independent coffee shop and lunch venue with hot meals, tasty cakes and small snacks. Speedy service and lots of seating available both inside and outside with a wonderful view of the Bodleian Library.

Lovely place attached to the church, had the most amazing piece of cake - lemon, pineapple and blueberry with cream cheese icing - it was so delicious, would love the recipe! Worth a visit for sure ⭐️

Great food and great service! Best scones there are! So sad they have to close :-(

Nice cafe with outdoor sitting. Do come early as it gets crowded after 10am on weekends. Great place to sit down and chill.

This is a very popular spot, inside a very old cathedral building. Fantastic choice of foods, large indoor seating, some outdoor tables under the Cathedral Tower.Had homemade soup and garden salad. Incredible staff, located in the centre of Oxford University.

Had my very first english breakfast there ! It was so good and the location is great !

Overpriced breakfast, which was inedible and cold. Tea was weak and tasteless

Since the tragic demise of Boswell's cafe, this has become my 'go-to' venue for a pot of Darjeeling and, what would appear to be, home-baked cakes! A trifle spendy, but overall, worth the cost and it supports the up-keep of the church.The cream teas are exceptional and you will invariably be needing one, should you decide to ascend the stairs of the church tower!

An Oxford staple. Staff is always very polite and attentive. The fod is always top notch, like the goats cheese suffle and curries, and both inside and outside areas provide a great environment. It would be a massive shame and loss if this place were to close, as it seems to be being discussed at the moment. I truly hope that doesn't happen.

had cake and scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream.. wonderful! best scone I've had! lovely place and atmosphere! sadly.. they have to close down.. something to do with the college wanting to take it back. very authentic place!

One of the best English breakfasts I’ve ever had

The food and desserts are very delicious, especially the cakes and scones.

Nearly worth a visit for it's setting alone, this cafe gave sanctuary and restorative lunch to my family on a blustery September day. We had the rarebit, green salad with lentils, carrot/pumpkin soup, and some terrific tea and cakes. I loved the meal so much, I made notes to try to replicate. Also the staff were lovely, kind, generous with tired tourists. 10/10 would return!

I went on a trip to England! ・Fifth day after arriving in England ・A cafe with beautiful terrace seating that I found on Instagram ・I was like, ``Let's go there if I can!'' But since I arrived in Oxford early, I went there for breakfast until my reservation time at Christ Church. ・It was sunny and there weren't many people, so it was really great. (Although it was cold 🤣) ・The library is right in front of me, so it's nice to have breakfast in Oxford while looking at that building. ・There was a breakfast menu, but I couldn't take it that long so I had bread and coffee. ・This open-faced sandwich is heated up in the store, and it was really delicious... (Croissant 🥐 of course) ・It was so comfortable that I could stay there forever ☺️ / I will introduce details of the trip in the story 🇬🇧💂🏻 \ 🔖Date and time: September 2nd around 9:00 AM 🔖 Staying time: about 30 minutes 🔖Access: Approximately 20 minutes walk from Oxford Station 🔖Menu: ☕️American £2.60 🍽️Croissant £5.80 🍽️Open sandwich £6.20 →Total approx. ¥2,800

How comfortable we were in this cafeteria, the atmosphere was very good, the service not bad, the surroundings wonderful

Great coffee, friendly staff and a gorgeous garden. Can't wait to come back to try the food, it sounds amazing!

Nice place to stop for a drink~ with the view

Thank you for offering such good vegan food! Keep it up! 🤘🏻🌿

I dropped in when my walking tour ended outside the entrance on a blisteringly hot day. It was lovely and cool inside and had plenty of room on the communal tables. I was totally spoilt for choice as all the food looked delicious. I opted for the slow cooked tuscan beef which had a choice of sides alongside a glass of organic red wine. The beef was really tender and the sauce very tasty. I finished with a cappuccino and the homemade cakes looked divine but I resisted. The staff were smiley and very friendly and it was a thoroughly lovely lunch stop, highly recommend.

The servers here are very surly and cold. Nothing worse than feeling like a total inconvenience as a paying customer. My ice coffee and breakfast was slammed on the table. Not a smile to be seen. Very disappointing as it is a very scenic location and my breakfast was tasty but on the expensive side. This place just needs a few more friendly faces and it would be a 5/5.

A quiet place in the city center, delicious desserts, a great garden

Nice range of options and a lovely location but the buffet food was as cold as the service. Given the prices, it's not good enough.

Really amazing cream tea and not too crowded (went on a Tuesday). very nice staff!

One of the only places in Oxford where you can get a proper meal in a casual setting! I have food intolerances to dairy and eggs, so when I go here I often get the vegan option. It's always very delicious & filling. I also like that they have jugs of water you can take to your table. Whenever I do the Abingdon to Oxford walk, I go here and drink lots of water and eat a big meal. The food is always really quality, non processed. That's very hard to find in most cafés. I was so sad to see the church they rent it from want to close it down and open up a different Cafe. This one is perfect! I always bring friends here & it's great for healthy eating.

Located in a section belonging to a church, it is an excellent informal place to enjoy a typical English scone accompanied by jam and butter-like cream. Closing at British times (6pm).

Excellent vegetarian food. Welsh rarebit highly recommended.

Nice tea and scones but overpriced and very busy

Good spot for breakfast on a good weather. Inside seemed quiet chaotic but still served quickly. Good coffee and pastries

The atmosphere is great. However, The Rose's scones are more delicious.

Lovely location and great atmosphere, I can't comment on the food as we only stopped off for a cool drink

Review from a couple months ago. We luckily found a table at lunch time on a weekday, but the place was packed! Order at the counter and pick up your items on a tray. Plenty of veg and some vegan options to choose from, and so many bakery items. Everything tasted fresh and good, a hearty meal at a very reasonable price.

The sausages and eggs are delicious, and the environment is great. There are a lot of bees outdoors.

I had the pleasure of working with the Vaults & Gardens team for a large charity event earlier this year. Their team was exceptional; both their food and service exceeded our expectations, thanks to fantastic communication and attention to detail. We are very grateful to V&G for enabling the event to run smoothly and would not hesitate to recommend their catering services. If you’re looking for a professional team providing attentive service and excellent food, look no further.

Very atmospheric place to have a coffee outdoors and enjoy a scenic view in the middle of Oxford.

Just left a Corp reception at Vaults & Garden - literally some of the most delicious and creative appetizers I have ever had the pleasure to sample

The location is perfect in the midst of authentic Oxford. The cakes are delicious, we will return to try some more of the goodies.

What a lovely spot slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets, but a lovely venue for breakfast with inside and outside seating and the lovely interior where customers tuck into great food and drink. There was a great vegetarian breakfast with gluten free bread for my partner and, like the meat version, came with the same homemade baked beans, amazing scrambled egg and buttery mushrooms. Just great and well worth a visit.

The concept of this place is great, the food is tasty, the location is really nice and the staff is kind. I had lunch and cream tea here, and they were both excellent.

Great breakfast location, very university. Food was tasty and drinks were fine. Lovely location in an old church with great aesthetics and characteristics.

Awful, overpriced hot meal. No flavour whatsoever. Embarassed, having taken a foreign visitor there.

Beautiful cafe tucked in a vault of 1320 church. Delicious breakfast, hot chocolate, coffee and baked treats! Small patio overlooking the Radcliffe Camera.

It's cramped and often crowded, but wow, the food here is so good -- locally sourced, imaginatively prepared, value priced. Plus: this is the room where the first Oxford University students received their degrees -- in the 12th century.

Best scones ever (and I had many in the UK). Coffee also very good! Staff is friendly and positive as the food is friendly to humans and animals. It can be very busy, don't forget there are places to sit and eat beside the church of St. Mary in Catte Street.

Pretty crowded and noisy and really unclear as to which way to queue. There are two entrances. Once you get your order the scone was large and cream tea was fantastic!! £7.99 for cream tea and scone.

Yumptious for brekkie. Great coffee and Danish ; fresh cooked items to order ; mushrooms on toast the best ever!

I have to give 1 star because at the end of our drinks and cakes this morning, sadly and disgustingly there was a human nail in the bottom of my iced coffee. It was truly horrifying and vile - it was a greyish/blue painted nail, acrylic or real I wasn’t too sure but it made me feel sick nonetheless. The team at the till refunded me but I have no idea what reprimands were given, as the culprit of the nail amongst the staff would be easily identifiable. It also made me doubt the hygiene and cleanliness of this establishment entirely.. go with caution!

Visited today for a swift drink after punting. We received a very frosty reception on arrival as we were in desperate need of the toilet first. The manager on duty assumed we were taking advantage of the facilities and that we weren't paying customers. The toilets were filthy, there were bad food handling practises- ie. Staff handling food and then proceeding to touch their faces and till, without wearing gloves and the overall atmosphere was frosty.

An interesting take on the Full English Breakfast. There’s a reviewer somewhere who said that this was the best breakfast he had ever had. Inspired by that, I thought I’d give it a go. I ended up being disappointed, which was a shame because the venue and the service were excellent - I can only hope that the rest of the menu is better. Firstly, the FEB shouldn’t have anything green on it, a single asparagus spear doesn’t belong and seems an expensive garnish. One sausage , one slice of bacon and half a tomato seems parsimonious, add to that butter beans (!) cooked in chopped tomatoes and mushrooms with a curious extra flair of what seemed to be Worcester sauce , and things were getting unusual. There wasn’t a choice of eggs offered, it’s scrambled and that’s yer lot. To be fair, it wasn’t pretending to be a Full English, it was a Full Oxford, so I guess Oxford palates are more forgiving/sophisticated. Don’t go expecting anything other than a dish ‘inspired’ by the FEB, you’ll be fine: my wife’s smoked salmon on sourdough with (yes, scrambled) eggs was serviceable, the coffee and tea was good and service was cheerful, welcoming and prompt. It’s just that wasn’t close to the “best ever breakfast” I was expecting… it was just …….. “interesting”

A lovely bistro. Excellent food, friendly and super organized staff, very busy at lunch but the turnover is constant. Cheerful atmosphere.

Food is delicious but really expensive. £12 for a serving spoon of tofu curry with rice and veg seems stingy. Slim slice of cake £5.