But it's a very tasty leek and potato, the real artisan bread (50p) lives up to the billing, and, I suppose, local, organic ingredients – vegetables from nearby Worton Organic Garden – don't come cheap. Elsewhere on the enticing menu, notable for its excellent veggie options, you'll find dishes such as spiced chickpea tagine with roasted butternut squash, green olives and rosemary; puy lentil and goat's cheese gratin, with marinaded aubergine and roasted red peppers; or organic beef lasagne (mains served with salad, brown rice, potatoes etc.) The location also plays a big part in the Vaults' popularity. It's housed in a 14th-century hall, the "congregation house", built as Oxford University's original administrative centre, within the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, while the gardens – actually the graveyard – look out on to the famous circular Radcliffe Camera library and several university colleges.

If it’s raining, cosy up inside under the stunning vaulted ceilings of the University’s Old Congregation House with a hot chocolate; if the sun is shining head out into the garden, and enjoy your tea with incredible views of Radcliffe Camera. Vaults and Garden serves breakfast and lunch, as well as a good selection of cakes and scone, but it’s the little extras – like offering picnic blankets in the summer and hot water bottles in the winter – that makes this place so special.

This is one of the most unusual café venues in Oxford, housed in the undercroft of the university church of St Mary’s. With the emphasis on fresh, organic ingredients, and with plenty of vegetarian options, it’s also one of Oxford’s healthiest places to eat. You can drop in for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea, and best of all you can sit outside in the churchyard and admire one of the finest architectural spaces in England.

This gem of a self-service café is the perfect spot for lunch in historic Oxford city centre” on long trestle tables or in the garden; combining “good-value wholesome food” – everything from “vegan dishes to Asian curries and lovely cakes” – with a “buzzing atmosphere” and “the most fabulous location behind the University Church with stunning views to the Radcliffe Camera”. But while “it’s the setting that makes this café special” it also threatens its future after 20 years, with its church landlord wanting to evict it to make way for its own social enterprise. The legal battle is expected to be settled in the High Court this year.

The Vaults & Garden Café is very touristy, yes, but not a tourist trap. It’s across from the iconic Radcliffe Camera (part of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University; you can only visit the interior if you take an extended tour or are a member of the university), so you can admire the gorgeous circular building if you sit in the garden. If you go inside, you will be in what used to be Oxford University’s Congregation House, where I believe the governors of the university met starting in the 14th century, although the vaults make it look more like a medieval monastery.

The ideal time to grab a table at The Vaults is on May Day morning, just after you’ve joined the throng of locals tuning into madrigals sung from atop Magdalen Tower, and then paraded past the Morris Dancers in all their jangly glory. Still, on any other day of the year, this local favourite is no less a full-proof stop for a filling lunch or comforting tea. Make your way into the 14th-century vaults of St Mary the Virgin, and load up your tray with sweet potato curry, Tuscan beef stew, or a generous salad, all sourced from Oxfordshire allotments and cooperatives.

Welcome to The Vaults & Garden Cafe in the enchanting city of Oxford, where you can feast on scrumptious food like a peckish scholar pondering the mysteries of the universe. This hidden gem, nestled amidst ancient stone walls, offers a quaint yet lively ambiance that makes you feel like you've stumbled upon a secret rendezvous of literature-loving squirrels. From their delightful garden terrace, you can enjoy a cup of tea whilst elegantly dodging fierce pigeon battles, providing ample entertainment for all the bird enthusiasts who secretly wish they had wings.

Vaults & Garden Café is the perfect place to have some coffee and relax. Located inside St Mary’s Church in Radcliffe Square, Vaults & Garden Café offers both indoor and outdoor seating, so whether you want to sit outside in the sun in the summer, or want to relax inside and cosy up in the winter with some great coffee, Vaults & Garden Café is the café for you!. If you choose to sit outside you will be sipping your coffee while appreciating the view of the amazing Radcliffe Camera which just takes your breath away!

Oxford is a goldmine for historical architecture, and its cafés are no exception. One of the most beautifully restored venues for a light lunch and a pot of tea lies beneath the Church of St Mary next to the Bodleian Library. Dating back to the fourteenth century, the curving vaulted ceiling of the Vaults and Garden Café would lend a certain gravitas to even the humblest of chocolate brownies, but luckily the cake selection here is competitive and the coffee is just as good.

This is one of the more unusual cafes in Oxford, housed in the attic of St Mary’s University Church. With an emphasis on fresh, organic ingredients and with plenty of vegetarian options, it’s also one of Oxford’s healthiest places to eat. You can have breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea and best of all you can sit outside in the cemetery and admire one of the most beautiful architectural spaces in England.

Vaults & Garden is another place yet to offer bottomless brunch, but what they do offer is a great selection of brunch dishes using organic ingredients. We highly recommend trying the Oxford cheese rarebit, a slice of sourdough topped with cheddar and gruyere cheese – pure heaven. V&G also has a great selection of vegan and vegetarian meals, as well as the generous option to customise your dish.

This charming café is located in a historic university building, but don’t let that fool you—it’s incredibly kid-friendly!. With plenty of space inside and a beautiful outdoor seating area, it’s perfect for families looking for a relaxed brunch or lunch. They serve up wholesome, organic dishes with lots of veggie-friendly options, so it’s a great pick if your little ones love fresh, tasty food.

When it comes to aesthetic convenience, no one can beat Vaults & Garden, commonly known as “Vaults.” With its high ceilings and beautiful interior, it is a beautiful place to come and study. Its proximity to the RadCam is also a huge bonus since it can make for a great little getaway after long hours of studying. We personally recommend the tea and scones for a much-needed afternoon treat.

Quite an exotic location since it is situated inside the University Church itself!. The terrace overviewing the Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College cannot be more marvellous. It is definitely one of the best place to enjoy a cream tea in Oxford; ask for a Lapsang Souchong (Chinese smoked tea) to go with your (fresh out of the oven) scone - the quintessence of a British spring afternoon!

Set in the very heart of Oxford, the University Church of St Mary the Virgin is home to the Vaults & Garden café. The surrounding landscape features the University Church gardens, the Radcliffe Camera (an 18 th Century building designed to host the science library) and Brasenose College. The café has a focus on fresh, organic food and the promotion of healthy living and sustainability.

If we were judging on surroundings alone, Vaults & Garden would wipe the floor with all other Oxford cafes. Set inside St Mary’s Church between High Street and Radcliffe Square, this gorgeous cafe has inside and outside seating. Choose to eat outside in Oxfordby relaxing at a table in the garden overlooking the Radcliffe Camera, the most iconic and photographed building in Oxford.

Open everyday from 8:30am, Vaults & Garden offer incredible breakfast options, cakes, pastries and cream teas. But their lunches truly are something to behold – the menu changes daily, with the Oxford cheese rarebit a firm favourite. We love their lemon drizzle cake and fruit scones, which are served in the beautiful surroundings of University Church and the Radcliffe Camera.

If you sit outside, you’ll be looking directly at the gorgeous Radcliffe Camera (potentially my fave view in Ox.) Not only do they welcome your doggo, they also serve incredible cakes and a huge variety of hot and cold food throughout the day. 📍 University Church, 1 Radcliffe Sq, Oxford OX1 4AH, 01865 279112, thevaultsandgarden.com. View this post on Instagram

Vaults & Garden Cafe is slap bang in the middle of Oxford in Radcliffe Square. You’ll definitely go past it when you’re in Oxford because it’s opposite the Radcliffe Camera, Oxford’s iconic round library. The best time to visit the Vaults & Garden is in the summer so you can sit on the patio outside and look up at the beautiful Radcliffe Camera.

The brainchild of Oxford foodie Will Pouget, who also runs Vaults and Garden Cafe, the Alpha Bar in the Covered Market, and the cafe in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, as well as a big catering arm, he wanted to provide for the increasing number of vegetarians and vegans in Oxford, particularly young people and students.

Nestled under the spire is The Vaults and Garden, a favourite spot for students taking a library break. The café serves a range of delicious hot dishes which change daily, alongside a selection of cakes and pastries. Their indulgent chocolate cake and a cup of coffee was the perfect comforter after a long day studying in the Rad Cam.

The Vaults & Garden Cafe offers a serene and picturesque environment for you to work from. With its high ceilings, gorgeous windows, and beautiful interior it’s bound to get your creative juices following. The cafe is located on Oxford’s historic Radcliffe Square and offers stunning views of the iconic RadCam.

Set within a 1320 building at the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, just around the corner from the Bodleian Library. The Vaults & Garden have a strong ecological bent and use only the finest locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients to produce their breakfasts, brunches, lunches and cream teas.

Vaults & Garden café is tucked away in the vaults of St Mary’s Church on Radcliffe Square. The café serves a range of tea, coffee, cakes and light bites to eat. In the summer it is possible to sit outside and admire the view of the Radcliffe Camera which is one of the most iconic buildings in Oxford.

William Pouget has a little Oxford Eatery empire going that started with Alpha Bar and now incorporates Salsas del Sol and Chickpea. Vaults and Garden is at the high end of the price range for both drinks and food but the unique setting, both inside and out, does make it stand out.

Best for: Afternoon tea with stunning views of the Radcliffe Camera. For a relaxed and picturesque afternoon tea, Vaults & Garden is a local favorite. Located inside the oldest building in Oxford, St. Mary’s Church, this cozy café overlooks the stunning Radcliffe Camera.

Located in the University Church, it offers home-cooked food and delicious scones. “I had a great and hearty meal here yesterday. It's an excellent and sustainable café serving delicious and healthy foods using high-quality ingredients,” one person commented.

Sustainability, and a carefully curated menu are just a couple of reasons to visit The Vaults & Garden Cafe. The other is their spectacular gothic-styled building which houses the cafe. You can visit, and view a lush English garden after your tea service.

Vaults and Garden: Could you imagine a better spot for lunch other than next to the infamous Radcliffe Camera?. You’d expect this to be a ‘tourist trap’, but it is actually reasonably priced. Lots of the lunch menu options are naturally gluten free.

Vaults and Garden – this must be one of the most sought after locations for a café in Oxford!. Reward yourself after a climb up the University Cathedral tower with one of their fantastic buttery scones overlooking the Radcliffe Camera.

Vaults and Garden is the most scenic place for lunch or tea, and the hot-cooked, organic meals are superb. There is always a delicious vegetarian selection as well as a meat or fish pie. Not much choice, but everything is good.

You can also enjoy locally sourced delicacies in some of the restaurants along Turl Street. There are also a number of food events held annually. If you are lucky enough, your visit might coincide with one of these events.

Budget: £ – Open 09:00 am to 05:00 pm.Type of Food: Quick bites, International, Cafe. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Dish You Need to Try: Don’t miss the scones and the delicious cakes.