Tick Tock Café

Head down Cowley Road and you'll find Tick Tock tucked away at number 3—it's become the kind of place where regulars actually know the staff, which feels increasingly rare these days. The coffee is genuinely good (not trying-too-hard third-wave, just reliably excellent), and the brunch menu does proper, unfussy food that doesn't apologise for itself. You get the sense they care about what's on the plate without making a song and dance about it. It's where you actually want to sit for an hour with a flat white and your laptop, or catch up with someone without shouting over indie covers.