25-27 Cowley Road,
Oxford,
OX4 1HP
(01865) 202 920
The ViewOxford Review
A popular haunt, Kazbar is a popular North African themed bar.
The Venue
Kazbar is two main rooms with other areas off that. It’s all on a North African theme with its rustic yellowy and ochre coloured walls and metal Arabesque lanterns and patterned wood screens.
There are swathes of fabric hanging from the ceiling and even a big potted lemon tree on the bar (honest). The small carved wood bar is lined with leather-topped metal stools and elsewhere are small round tables and low stools. Mysteriously, a metal kettle moves up and down on a pulley hung from the ceiling. The music in the background is eclectic and you can’t help but feel that the Latin salsa tunes don’t really fit in with the environment. The only other downside is that the waitresses (and one barman) look seriously miserable most—no—all of the time.
The People
The crowd are a little more mature here—but everyone seems to love the place. It’s also popular with hen parties.
The Food and Drink
Half a dozen bottles each if bottles of red and white wines—they are mostly Spanish and range from £13.25 a bottle upwards and it’s £17.95 for a bottle for Cava Rosado. They also serve chilled sherry, which they describe as the most misunderstood wine in the world (here, here).
In bottles there’s Mardous, Mahou, Estrella Damm, Mahou Laiker, San Miguel and Sidra Mayador. The mezze menu comprises dishes such as chorizo, artichoke, roast peppers and goat’s cheese—all between just £2.25 to £3.60 and a couple of plates suffice. The tuna loin comes with and fishy and spicy tomato sauce and to finish the lemon and almond Galician tart was soft and satisfying. You get a free tapa with your drink between 4pm-7pm on Monday to Friday.
The Last Word
Kazbar is a popular place to eat, drink and make merry. So why don’t the waitresses smile?
Kazbar has been reviewed by 3 users