St Aldates Tavern

Walk down St Aldate's and you'll spot this place holding its own amongst the tourist drag that leads up to Christ Church. It's the kind of pub where you can actually have a conversation without shouting over someone's DJ set, which in Oxford is increasingly rare. You'll find a mixed crowd here—students rubbing shoulders with locals, the sort of place that doesn't take itself seriously but does care about what it pours and serves. The food is solid pub fare (expect proper burgers and pies rather than gastro-nonsense), and the drinks list won't overcomplicate things, which is exactly what you want when you're after a reliable evening out.