The Cricketers Arms

Walk into The Cricketers Arms and you'll find yourself in the kind of pub that's been quietly doing its thing for years without needing to shout about it. Temple Road's got that Cowley edge to it—slightly removed from the tourist crush of the city centre—and this place feels like it belongs here, all wood and worn-in comfort. You're looking at straightforward pub food that doesn't pretend to be anything fancier than it is, plus a decent selection of ales that rotate enough to keep regulars interested. It's the sort of place where locals actually gather, not somewhere that's been retrofitted for Instagram.