A beloved local boozer in the backstreets of East Oxford, the Rusty Bicycle is the kind of place where students, families and extended groups of friends huddle around mismatched wooden tables digging in to the excellent pizza and some of the city’s best burgers. With choices for veggies and vegans, an eclectic collection of house beers, a large beer ‘garden’ (no grass) with heated pods, and a regular quiz night, it’s gloriously unpretentious yet a winner every time. Contact: dodopubs.com/locations/the-rusty-bicycle

The Rusty Bicycle has 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 interior is intimate and cosy, with charming vintage posters and postcards of bicycles hung up on the walls and chalkboards with the day’s menu or amusing quotes fixed behind the bar. The pub fare, meanwhile, speaks for itself: juicy burgers, hand-cut chips and sourdough pizzas abound, and the pub offers midweek specials and deals on food.

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.

Nestled in the heart of Oxford, The Rusty Bicycle is a peculiar gem that humbly showcases its eccentricity through its mismatched décor and enchanting ambience. With walls adorned by a whimsical mishmash of bicycle-themed memorabilia, this quirky joint is a haven for bike enthusiasts and those seeking a taste of the unconventional. Sip on a frothy pint of local ale amidst the company of friendly locals, while pretending to appreciate the existential musings of a unicycling squirrel, and you'll understand why The Rusty Bicycle is an unmissable stop on any Oxford adventure.

The Rusty Bicycle was the original venue for local chain Dodo Pubs Co, which now host a quintet of popular pubs under the apt motto “eat, drink, and be social”. Like all of their venues, the Rusty Bicycle offers a relaxing respite where locals and tourists alike flock for a chat, a cold pint, and the chance to fill up on the famous burgers and pizzas. Doggies can join in the fun too and are allowed inside and out where the staff will happily offer up cuddles, biscuits, and water.

Another East Oxford offering, The Rusty Bicycle is part of a small Oxford-based pub group with locations dotted throughout the city’s suburbs. Characterized by mismatched furniture and colorful artwork, The Rusty Bicycle is a favorite among residents, with such a cult following that they even shut down the local area during its annual street party. As well as a wide-ranging drinks menu, The Rusty Bicycle also specializes in brunch, burgers, and pizza.

As elsewhere, gastropubs have flourished and multiplied in Oxford in recent years. Along with those mentioned in the food section above, we recommend the fresh, pleasantly modern Rusty Bicycle and its newer Jericho offshoot, the Rickety Press. In the same vein, price- and atmospherewise, the Cape of Good Hope is conveniently located on the fringe between East Oxford and the city centre, and offers a funky take on a traditional pub grub menu.

An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasn’t looked back since!. With a keen interest in History – and a BA degree to match – Margaret prides herself on her knowledge of the amazing city she calls home and she's been guiding here now for nearly a decade. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries.

Just around the corner from Cowley Road is Magdalen Road where a few of my favourite haunts can be found including Oli’s Thai and Rusty Bicycle. This sister restaurant of the Rickety Press (one of my favourite restaurants in Jericho, Oxford) doles out woodfired pizzas and juicy burgers from inside a traditional British pub. Don’t miss the truffle parmesan fries…Address: 28 Magdalen Road, Cowley, OX4 1RB.

The Rusty Bicycle is a bright, community pub with a lovely beer garden and rustic décor that creates a relaxed vibe. They’ve got great drinks and a menu of burgers and pizzas that fits perfectly with the bar’s informal, friendly vibe. It’s a real neighbourhood boozer with a bustling atmosphere, and it can be found hidden away in the back streets of East Oxford.

This informal pub is located in the residential area of Cowley, a five-minute walk away from the Cowley Road. It is very intimate; at peak times you may struggle to get a seat due to its popularity as a local’s pub. It serves a select menu of traditional pub pizzas and burgers and the cosy atmosphere ensures it is a popular retreat all year round.

The self-proclaimed 'neighbourhood pub', The Rusty Bicycle on Magdalen Road offers a wide selection of wings, although sadly none are veggie or vegan. With the classic flavours, Buffalo, BBQ and K-pop, they also offer seasonal flavours such as their Christmas wings which consisted of gravy, cranberry sauce, sage salt and a bacon crumb.

A niche category, I’ll admit, but there’s a lot of hype around The White Rabbit pizzas and I felt it needed to be addressed. Don’t get me wrong I think The White Rabbit is certainly worth a visit, but The Rusty Bicycle has way more character (in my humble opinion). It’s cosy and colourful and has rogue beers that are actually nice.

You’ll be welcomed like a local at this friendly neighbourhood back-street pub and beer garden in east Oxford. The easy-going menu features burgers made with dry-aged prime cuts, wood-fired pizzas and healthier options such as bowls of kale Caesar salad. Craft beers include the pub’s own small-batch-brewed Dodo lager.

Refurbished & reinvented in 2009, the Rusty Bicycle is now one of the fer de lance pubs of East Oxford's spirit. You'll love spending your Sunday mornings in its nice garden, trying each of the breakfast menu item. I personally recommend the mighty veggie for its amazing cheddar+leer fritters.

We are big fans of the pizzas and burgers at this Dodo pub, their hot wings are bangin’ too!. This relaxed garden has picnic tables and cute colourful garden huts. Be warned – it can get very busy, walk-ins only so get in early.

Later, feast on heavenly momos at Taste Tibet (tastetibet.com) or tapas at Arbequina (arbequina.co.uk) before finishing the day at the Rusty Bicycle (dodopubs.com) a kid-, dog- and vegan-friendly neighbourhood pub.

Nestled by the former Oli’s Thai, and sharing a road with pubs like the Magdalen Arms and The Rusty Bicycle, it has some well-established neighbours to compete with come lunchtime.