With vegetarianism and veganism on the up, Daily Info brings you our top 5 totally meat free establishments. Lots of these places offer meals reliant on meat substitutes to help wean recent converts or as indulgent weekend treats, so if you'd rather visit somewhere that offers a wider range of plant based options, check out our full list of vegan and veggie faves here.
1. The Magic Cafe
If you decide to wander over to Magdalen Road to visit The Magic Cafe, expect high-quality homemade vegetarian and vegan cooking at reasonable prices. This cafe has perfected the art of meat-free comfort food; though their mains change daily there's always a vegan option, plus the guarantee of lots of cakes, teas, coffees and milkshakes.
The Magic Cafe isn't as flashy as its name might suggest - instead expect to be greeted by what seems to be a spacious living room, with plenty of space for larger groups and families with pushchairs. There's a relaxed, no-nonsense community feel - helped by the mix-matched furniture and enormous local notice-board. Head over to relax, indulge and make yourself at home!
2. Happy Friday Kitchen
Happy Friday Kitchen, a new independent restaurant on Cowley Road, is Oxford’s first and only totally vegan eatery. Taking inspiration from Californian comfort food, their menu is packed with American diner favourites and certainly isn't what you'd expect from somewhere with a strict ban on animal produce.
You'll have trouble choosing between their range of meat-free pizzas and burgers, heaps of creamy mac'n'cheese, crispy fries and Seitan tenders, or their healthier option; veg-heavy Buddha bowls. If you're a vegan or vegetarian who still craves meat, Happy Friday Kitchen is a guilt-free must-visit.
3. Rick's Vegetarian
Rick's, a Mediterranean-inspired cafe and takeaway on St Clements, is a tastefully decorated diner complete with exposed brick walls and reclaimed beams; it may be small, but it has plenty to offer. The menu covers all your breakfast, lunch and dinner needs, and is pretty much entirely vegan.
One of the great things about Rick's is that there are plenty of opportunities to tweak and tailor your meal to suit your tastes; the breakfast menu has space for ad-ons and changes, there are just under 20 mezze dishes to choose from, and the plates and boxes option allows you to build your own filling lunch from a choice of different stews, grains and pulses. You could come to Rick's over and over again and find it very difficult to run out of new combinations to try.
4. Feast Without the Beast at The Fir Tree
Every Sunday from 12 until 6, all food prep at The Fir Tree is handed over to Feast Without the Beast, a 100% vegan pop up kitchen. With menus changing gradually throughout the year to welcome in different seasons, you can always be sure that the Fir Tree will provide a hearty Sunday feast containing zero animal produce.
In winter you'll find traditional warming roast dinners on the menu, with four different mains to choose from plus every trimming imaginable. Their summer menu keeps some of the roast options on offer but adds buddha bowls, burgers and nachos all made using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Their desserts are available all year round, and for those with eyes much bigger than their bellies, you can buy their sweet treats to take home and enjoy when you aren't so stuffed.
5. The Gardener's Arms
This cosy, traditional pub in Jericho surprises many of their punters by boasting a totally vegetarian menu. The friendly atmosphere of The Gardener's Arms is sustained by their regular poetry nights, music events and weekly quiz - plus their pints are cheap by Oxford standards!
If you're after big portions of hearty food look no further - the pub aims to please by opting to serve the traditional pub grub favourites of burgers, wraps and hotdogs, while also offering slightly more adventurous mains including a delicious vegan mushroom pie, an authentic Indian thali platter and generously portioned Greek salads. Daily Info recommends you head over there when it's warm outside, grab a beer and head out to their garden to soak up the sun and surroundings.