Located opposite the Phoenix Picturehouse on Walton Street, Jericho Cafe is a popular place for pre-cinema drinks and its proximity to Oxford University Press has made it a handy hangout for the local publishing community.

The Venue
Less than 10-minutes walk from the city centre the Jericho Cafe attracts a clientele looking to escape the bustle of the high street. However, it does cater to culture vultures and the decor here is understated Parisian chic. Watercolours of the Eiffel Tower abound.

The basement is occasionally hired out for private parties but with a capacity for 100 customers it is always possible to get a seat. A couple of outdoor tables and large front windows means there's plenty of opportunity for people-watching.

The People
Halfway down the stairs you’ll find a double noticeboard swamped with flyers for everything from salsa classes to karate as well as gig listings and adverts for language tutors. Jericho Cafe is a fine place to come if you’re new to Oxford and looking to find out what the city has to offer.

Pilate classes are held next door and the restaurant is particularly popular with young mothers looking for healthy food in a sociable setting.

The cafe is busy all day long as it’s a comfortable place to while away the hours catching up with friends. In the evenings a Guardian-reading crowd often gather before checking out the latest European cinema across the road.

The Food
The Cafe Breakfast is a popular dish, good value at £6.95 for eggs (scrambled, poached, boiled or fried), bacon, sausage, hot buttered mushrooms and baked beans. It comes served with granary or white bread and tea or coffee. The breakfast is tidily presented, free of grease and garnished with parsley.

If you don’t have room for a full English you can choose two or three breakfast items and a miniature breakfast combo will cost you less than a fiver.

The most expensive individual dish is the homemade fish pie. It's still good value at £8.95 and the pie is made from salmon, haddock and prawns. The Jericho mezze (to share) is £11.95 and features hummus, tzatziki dips, falafel and tabouleh.

There are plenty of other European treats on the menu, mainly priced between £7 to £9. A huge selection of fresh desserts is showcased below the counter. The tea and coffee here is served without pretension and instead come in big white mugs!

The Drink
Four European beers are available, Peroni, Budvar, Becks and San Miguel. Each bottle is priced at £3 while a glass of the house wine is a very reasonable £2.95. Jericho Cafe is open until 10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Last Word
This cafe mixes the best of British with the best from the continent. It's an affordable but sophisticated restaurant and is great for a comforting English breakfast or a European main meal. Come here to beat the cinema drinks prices or to explore the noticeboard, which caters for any interest you will ever want to pursue in Oxford.

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