Stands next to sister enterprise The Kazbar at the mouth of the Cowley Road, like twin guardians of boho cafe culture.

The Venue
Cafe Coco presents itself as the first of a number of quirky little bars on the Cowley Road, which means that it sucks up a lot of the wanderers who've made their way from the city centre.

The interior is indulgently designed to look simultaneously smart and rustic. Gold trimmed cafe-style tables and potted palmsshould be familiar to fans of The Grand which is owned by same group. Strange mannequin sculptures add to upmarketly artsy feel.

The unusual design of the bar sees it jutting out defiantly through the centre of the little cafe and it's a central feature. The rest of the seating is sectioned off with little walls, so you can quietly survey the place from the comfort of a nook, or place yourself at the centre of attention at the bar.

Cafe Coco manages to be airy and pleasant during the day, with the character nudging up a gear in the evening.

The People
Pashmina wrapped ra-ra girls and minted, vintage-clad Oxford students sit themselves around the aforementioned bar and present a picture of loud and lively sophistication. Because it's so small, the precociousness which permeates the whole establishment of an evening is unavoidable.

If you happen to be looking for a quiet evening though, that isn't a problem - it's possible to have a conversation sitting off to one side, without straining your voice.

Staff are friendly, very friendly, almost too friendly. You need only to breeze in and plonk yourself at a table for someone to come and take your order, even when it's hugely busy. This is a really nice touch, and immediately makes you feel pampered and relaxed.

The Food
Tasty Greek and Italian stuff is on offer, including lots of pizza. There's even a mouthwatering breakfast pizza for £6.50 (why has no one else thought to put black pudding on a pizza? Why?).

From 10am to 1pm you can get a full English breakfast for £4.95 and all meals are between £6.50 and £10.50, which is comfortably standard.

The Drink
This is a good cocktail joint. Heady and original concoctions are served up in an excellent cocktail-drinking atmosphere. Selected cocktails are £3.85 from 9pm onwards (though they are rather dinky).

Try the Cafe Coco's more tastefully named version of The Orgasm - The Red Star Alexander. It's a rich silky coffee-flavoured creature topped with grated almond or, for those who've discovered that Amaretto goes best with fruit, try the Cuban Cigar.

Main cocktails are between £5.25 and £5.80, and include most of the classics. It probably goes without saying that it's not the place for a pint, unless you want to sip tiny bottles of Portugese or Italian lager for £2.95.

The Last Word
A European-style late night cafe affair, perfect for treats and lively chats.

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