O'neill's Oxford

You'll find this sprawling Irish pub right in the heart of George Street, where it's been serving pints to everyone from frazzled tourists to post-lecture students for years. The dark wood interiors and Gaelic memorabilia could feel forced, but there's something genuinely welcoming about the place that transcends the chain pub trappings. The Guinness here is properly maintained – none of that flat, rushed nonsense you get elsewhere – and the food goes well beyond standard pub grub. Their Irish stew actually has depth, and the fish and chips are generous enough to share (though you probably won't want to). Open from 9am most days, it's equally suited to a morning coffee before tackling the Covered Market or evening pints when the rugby's on. The staff know their regulars but don't make newcomers feel like outsiders.