The Paper Boat Cafe

You're heading down to Folly Bridge when you spot it — this isn't some glass-fronted chain but an actual character-filled spot tucked into the Old Toll House. It's the kind of place that feels like it's been here forever, even though it has that fresh energy of somewhere doing things properly. The riverside location means you can watch the Cherwell do its thing whilst nursing a really decent coffee, and there's a real sense that the people behind it actually care about what they're doing rather than just clocking in.