Looking down to the bar
1 / 10

The Old Bookbinders Ale House

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A 19th-century Oxford pub blending traditional charm with a French bistro menu. Known for its quirky decor, excellent ales, and friendly vibe.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Looking down to the bar

The Old Bookbinders Ale House

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A 19th-century Oxford pub blending traditional charm with a French bistro menu. Known for its quirky decor, excellent ales, and friendly vibe.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"A hidden gem loved by locals for its fantastic food, great ales, and unique, cozy atmosphere."

TIP

Book Ahead for Weekends

Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits. Consider visiting on weekdays.

Set Menus Offer Value

The set menus provide great value for money, offering delicious multi-course meals.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Open·Closes 11PM

Cuisine

French Pub

Price

Mid-range

Phone

+44 1865 553549

Address

17-18 Victor St, Oxford, OX2 6BT, United Kingdom

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Quirky Traditional French Bistro

Quirky Traditional French Bistro

Experience a 19th-century pub with a traditional interior and a French-influenced menu. Quirky decor includes a train set on the ceiling.

The best pubs and bars in OxfordThe Top Bars And Pubs In Historic Oxford England
Delicious French-Influenced Dishes

Delicious French-Influenced Dishes

Savor traditional French bistro fare, including standout dishes like goat cheese tart, sea bass, and French-style burgers.

Cool Places to Eat in Oxford -Google Review
Well-Kept Ales and Friendly Atmosphere

Well-Kept Ales and Friendly Atmosphere

Enjoy a great selection of well-kept ales in a warm, friendly pub atmosphere, praised by locals and visitors alike.

Google Review+1
Your AI travel agent

Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you

Start Chatting

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

The Old Library at the Oxford Union, built in 1857 as the Society’s original debating chamber, is one of my all time favourite libraries. Home to almost 50,000 books, it’s a rare Oxford space where you’ll find shelves of general fiction rather than purely academic titles. The atmosphere is breathtaking - the walls are painted with Pre-Raphaelite murals by William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti,...
@whatshotblog
110 likes • 2.1K views

Book Ahead for Weekends

Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits. Consider visiting on weekdays.

Set Menus Offer Value

The set menus provide great value for money, offering delicious multi-course meals.

Secrets of the @Bodleian Libraries! #oxford #frankenstein #oxforduniversity
@history_alice
4.1K likes • 51.1K views
I type Oxford’s most iconic landmark …📚 celebrating the Bodleian Libraries rich history Prints go live 13th August midday (UK time) via my newsletter and next day is general release 📖📕 #typewriter #artistoftiktok #asmr #oxford #typewriterart #art
@typewriterartist
533.9K likes • 6.3M views

Explore Beyond Main Streets

This hidden gem is tucked away on a residential street, rewarding those who venture off the beaten path.

Ales Over Beer, Cider for Sides

Diners suggest feasting on the ales and enjoying cider, rather than focusing on beer.

beautiful places to visit in Oxford 🏛️🕯️ ✨Bodleian Library 📚 ✨Bodley Staircase (in Christ Church)☁️ ✨Church of St Mary The Virgin (Views from Tower) 🏛️ ✨Christ Church Dining Hall 🕯️ ✨Bridge of Sighs 🎞️ ✨St Phillip’s Books 📖 Oxford is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire 😍 Oxford, Oxfordshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 A place most definitely worth your time.👌 📸 @comewithkr...
@unitedkingdomdaily
3.3K likes • 127.2K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead for Weekends

Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits. Consider visiting on weekdays.

Set Menus Offer Value

The set menus provide great value for money, offering delicious multi-course meals.

Explore Beyond Main Streets

This hidden gem is tucked away on a residential street, rewarding those who venture off the beaten path.

Ales Over Beer, Cider for Sides

Diners suggest feasting on the ales and enjoying cider, rather than focusing on beer.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

The Old Bookbinders Ale House is a highly recommended 19th-century pub in Oxford, celebrated for its delicious French-influenced menu and excellent, well-kept ales. Diners praise the warm and friendly atmosphere, the quirky decor, and the consistently high quality of food and service. Getting a table can be challenging, especially on weekends, as it's a popular spot.

"The food and service were just fantastic. The food was delicious. The servers were lovely and friendly. The restaurant itself inside is amazing. I highly recommend it and would 100% love to eat here again."

Caroline Ratcliffe

"A lot was on going and it seemed as if I had stepped in at the wrong moment. The bar was alight, the ales flowing, the desserts unmissable.and the service was with a smile. Sometimes being alone in a crowd can be just feeling lost.
Feast on the Ales, shun the beer, cider is for the sides, food is amazing. Atmosphere bursting with energy.
You need to be in there to feel it"

Ashish Gupta

"I love this pub, easily one of the best in Oxford, the beer is very well kept and there is a good selection. On top of that the food is great too (I go there for beer mainly but I suspect most people go there to eat). You don’t often find a pub that does good beer as well as food."

MJ E

What People Like

Delicious French bistro-style food
Excellent, well-kept ales
Quirky, traditional pub atmosphere

What People Dislike

Can be difficult to get a table, especially on weekends

Frequently Asked Questions

The restaurant serves a traditional French bistro-inspired menu, alongside well-kept ales and other drinks.

The best pubs and bars in OxfordGoogle Review

It can be tricky to get a table, especially on weekends, as it's a very popular spot. Reservations are highly recommended.

Google Review+1

Popular choices include the French-style burger, sea bass, goat cheese tart, steak frites, and the set menus offer great value.

Google Review+1

Yes, it's known for its excellent, well-kept ales and a good selection of other drinks, including cider and French gins.

Shortlist: 14 Fantastic Pubs In Oxford That Locals Love!Google Review+1

The pub has a cozy, quirky, and traditional 19th-century interior with unique decor, such as a train set on the ceiling.

The best pubs and bars in OxfordThe Top Bars And Pubs In Historic Oxford England

It's strongly advised to make a reservation, particularly for weekend visits, to ensure you get a table.

Google Review

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

The Telegraph

The best pubs and bars in Oxford

Another fine local hidden away down an unassuming residential street, this characterful pub was built in 1869 for workers from the nearby Oxford University Press. Inside, it appears wholly traditional with tankards on the shelves and beer mats and posters on the walls, until you notice the train set on the ceiling and the delectable smell of cooking. Ale enthusiasts crowd the bar and diners huddle around tightly-packed tables at the rear to sample the traditional French bistro menu.

Visit Source →
The Culture Trip

The Top Bars And Pubs In Historic Oxford England

Located in Oxford’s trendy Jericho area, the Old Bookbinders is an excellent example of the traditional Oxonion pub: cosy, quirky and welcoming. The atmosphere is eccentric and full of character, with an old toy train set suspended from the ceiling and with the walls and ceiling covered with music posters and memorabilia. The pub continues this theme in its events, holding regular open mic nights for locals, students and visitors to come and perform.

Visit Source →
Lonely Planet

Best restaurants Oxfordshire

Visit Source →
| Food & Drink Guides

Cool Places to Eat in Oxford -

The Old Bookbinders Ale House in Oxford is one of those subtle gems, from the outside it has the appearance of your regular run of the mill pub buts as the website says it’s known as Oxfords best kept secret since 1869. The Bookies (as it’s also known) is a family run pub settled off Walton street away from the everyday hustle and bustle of Oxford and was re-opened in 2011 by the Sardones family who endeavoured to mix the quaintness of the British pub with the formidable menu of a French Bistro. Although the menu itself is bijoux, the menu changes regularly so you’re never bored and it also allows the emphasis to be on quality rather than quantity.

Visit Source →
What's On In Oxford

Pubs and Bars in Oxford

One of Oxford’s newest additions to the pub scene, having only been established in 2009, The Rusty Bicycle has nevertheless established itself as a quirky neighbourhood staple and is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Oxford for a pint and a meal. The Trout Inn is a well-known and well-loved historic pub located in Oxford’s Port Meadow, a large area of common land filled with flora and wildlife just a few minutes walk from the centre of the city. Located down a narrow, winding alleyway, The Turf Tavern is initially tricky to find, but well worth the effort.

Visit Source →
TripSavvy

The Best Pubs in Oxford

Nestled away in a backstreet of Jericho, The Old Bookbinders Ale House is named for the nearby Oxford University Press, and a nod to the printers and publishers who used to reside in the village-like suburb. Nowadays this family-run pub is an old-fashioned drinking hole where you can always find a seat and a real ale. Step back in time to sample one of the carefully selected house beers, or choose from a rotating selection of guest ales, which often come from local breweries.

Visit Source →
Rod London

The best restaurants in Oxford

This quaint pub, a nice venue tucked away on an unassuming residential street, was built in 1869 for the workers of nearby Oxford University Press. Inside, it looks completely traditional with mugs on the shelves and beer coasters and posters on the walls, until you notice the train on the ceiling and the delicious smell of cooking. Beer aficionados flock to the bar and diners flock to the densely packed back tables to sample the traditional French bistro menu.

Visit Source →
Wandering our World

Shortlist: 14 Fantastic Pubs In Oxford That Locals Love!

Beautifully tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Walton Street, this 19th-century pub boasts French themed décor, and combines English pub classics with French cuisine and great ale. This family-run pub has plenty of character, along with a warm friendly vibe. It’s a famous eating place in Oxford’s Jericho area, and is also dog-friendly and has a small but good selection of wine, as well as some unique French gins.

Visit Source →
Techno-Mads

The 12 Best Pubs in Oxford 2022.

Located in the lovely Jericho neighbourhood, The Old Bookbinders Ale House is a cosy pub that is a favourite with the locals in Oxford. Often considered one of Oxford’s best kept secrets, this welcoming pub is set deep in the heart of Jericho, just a short walk from the city centre. This Oxford pub manages to effortlessly maintain charm and quirkiness of old public houses, encompassing the rich history of the town.

Visit Source →
Pure Pet Food

15 of the best dog friendly pubs in Oxford

If you walk back from The Rickety Press towards the canal, you’ll soon come across The Old Bookbinders. This cosy family-run local is tucked away in the backstreets of Jericho, a hidden gem beloved by the locals. The eclectic decor gives the Bookies a warm, quirky style all its own, and the eccentricities don’t stop there, because you can expect to chow down on french bistro-style meals alongside your real ale.

Visit Source →
amberstudent

15 Best Restaurants In Oxford

Down a residential street, this French bistro can be easily mistaken for a local bar. This is one of the best restaurants in Oxford, with the bar hung with tankards and trains and the back rooms are full of satisfied customers digging into their escargots, moules and coq au vin. The food is delicious and affordable, so that attracts a lot of people, and if you want a nice dessert, the crepes are mouth-watering.

Visit Source →
Daily Info

Oxford Food Guide

Oxford does not have more pubs than you can shake a stick at (we've tried and the stick is still extant) but it certainly does have a lot of pubs, and the vast majority of them serve food. Some of the best are located in Jericho. The Old Bookbinders recently reopened under French management and boasts a suitably mouth-watering menu, while the Victoria, not far away, specialises in traditional British pies.

Visit Source →
Goats On The Road

15 Best Pubs in Oxford in 2023

Continuing with pubs in Jericho, this classic Oxford hangout is one of my favorite pubs in the city and somewhat of a secret spot. The Old Bookbinders has lots going on throughout the week to entertain punters; from an open mic night to a pub quiz, live music, comedy nights, and more. The pub prides itself on being “dog, child, and student-friendly (as long as they’re well behaved)“.

Visit Source →
royaloxfordhotel.co.uk

Best Pubs & Restaurants in Oxford

Recommended Restaurants: Bangkok House (Thai) Hythe Bridge Street, Quod Bar and Grill (British) High Street, Chiang - Mai (Thai) High Street, Brasserie Blanc (French) Walton Street, Branca (Italian) Walton Street, Browns Bar & Brasserie (British) Woodstock Road, The Trout (British) Wolvercote; Cherwell Boathouse (British) Bardwell Road; Gee's (British) Banbury Road and many more.

Visit Source →

Oxford itineraries

Head to The Old Bookbinders (17-18 Victor Street; 01865 553549), a gem of a pub hidden down a backstreet, for a dinner of surprisingly good French cuisine. Spend your evening drinking here or wander back up through Jericho for some live music at The Jericho Tavern (56 Walton Street; 01865 311775) where Radiohead and Supergrass launched their careers.

Visit Source →
Atly

Top 12 Gluten-Free Bakeries to Delight in Oxford

A charming pub hideaway, adored for its captivating blend of vintage appeal and modern coziness, offering memorable moments and top service. I recently enjoyed an evening here while visiting Oxford. I came specifically because of the extensive gluten free offerings on their menu, and I was not disappointed!

Visit Source →
Insider's Oxford

11 Best Oxford Pubs - Historic Inns, Quirky Taverns And Famous Spots

A lot of the best pubs in Oxford are buried deep in the small streets of Jericho – and The Old Bookbinders Ale House is no exception. This family-run pub focuses on two things – good ale and good food – the kind that keeps their clientele returning again and again. This is no bog-standard chain pub.

Visit Source →
Best Five In

Top 5 Best Craft Breweries in Oxford

In Jericho, Oxford, there is a historic bar called The Old Bookbinders Ale House. The bar provides a superb assortment of craft beers and ales and has a warm, inviting environment. The staff is helpful and courteous, and they are always willing to offer advice.

Visit Source →
ArrivalGuides.com

Hassan's Kebab Van - Oxford

The Old Bookbinders Ale House is a Pub managed by a Father and Son team which offers English and French types of cuisines. This restaurant offers great and affordable food. The people and staff are also very pleasant.

Visit Source →
Oxford Mail

The best pubs and bars in Oxford according to The Telegraph

Another hidden away drinking spot on the list is The Old Bookbinders on Victor Street with the traditional pub originally built in 1869 for workers from the nearby Oxford University Press.

Visit Source →
Kasia's Plate

Guide: Gluten free Oxford

The Old Bookbinders: For hearty pub grub, make sure to head here. They have a couple of gluten free options (including items on the set menu for a great deal).

Visit Source →