Duke of Monmouth

Head down to Abingdon Road and you'll find yourself in a part of Oxford that feels genuinely lived-in—this is where locals come to properly decompress. The Duke of Monmouth has the kind of understated charm that chain pubs often miss: solid ales on tap, decent food that won't break the bank, and enough regulars that it never feels sterile. It's the sort of place where you can nurse a pint without feeling like you need to order overpriced brunch to justify your seat. The low ratings on Google suggest people either love it or expect something it's not trying to be—we reckon it's the former.