Where is the best vegetarian lunch in Oxford? 

For those of us still hung up about the loss of Leon, the answer to the question of where to find a quick, high-quality vegetarian lunch may not be an obvious one. This week, I set out to find out. 

I chose to rank independent (ish) cafés in the centre of Oxford, because I’m lazy enough not to want to walk far from college, but enthusiastic enough to want to support local businesses over chains. My rubric was uncodified and unclear, but what I was after, approximately, was a cheap, tasty, and filling vegetarian lunch. Honourable mentions (options no worse than the following list, but too obvious to be worth including): a Taylor’s baguette, a last-minute punt for Itsu maki, and a classic Greggs vegan sausage roll. 

5. The Schwarzman Centre 

Stay with me. What it lacks in ambience it makes up for in ease. Plus, there’s the added bonus of being able to eavesdrop on conversations between Google executives (true story) whilst you do the reading for your seminar 20 minutes prior. Its main drawback is that it will cost you about £10 for a full lunch. Not one for everyday. It’s also slightly embarrassing to turn up to your 2pm class and respond, when asked about the stain on your shirt, that it is butterbean purée. 

4. Organic Deli Cafe

Tucked away in the alley between Tesco and Gloucester Green lies a fab little café with plenty of veggie options – no less than five different options for sourdough sandwiches! Once again, the drawback here is the price (although I sympathise with the challenge of being a small business owner in the current economic climate), as one such sandwich costs nine Great British pounds. I will say, though, that the Organic Deli’s (£4) chocolate cookie was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. A cookie can be a lunch; it’s a subjective concept. 

3. The Alpha Bar 

One of my all-time Oxford favourites is the Alpha Bar, located inside the Covered Market. I’ve tried and enjoyed both the build-your-own bowls and the hot meal options, many of which are vegetarian, hearty, and delicious. If tofu is your protein of choice, then the Alpha Bar is the place for you. I will also note, though, for accompanying carnivores, that on this particular day the Alpha Bar was also serving coq-au-vin and beef rendang curry. But once again, it’s just not the kind of thing you can afford to rely on regularly (affordability is coming, stay tuned), since a small bowl costs £8.

2. Gloucester Green 

“This was the no-brainer. This was the banker, this was the one that couldn’t fail, this was the one that’s never failed” – Gary Neville, I would imagine, if he ever visited Gloucester Green. If you want my specific recommendations, the £7 vegan momo from Momo King are insanely good. £7 appears to be the going rate, and for that price, you could also get the vegan plate from Ceylon Spicy, or the gnocchi from Polentista Italian, if spice isn’t your thing. Since my last visit, it seems a stand devoted to tiramisu has also appeared, which is also a vegetarian option. As I say, lunch is a subjective concept. But I am forced to discount points on account of the difficulty of finding seating during busy months, and the unpleasantness of eating outdoors during the cold, quieter months. And if, like my sister, you possess a mortal fear of birds, this is one to avoid altogether. 

1. Salsas del Sol 

We’ve made it. The GOAT. £6 to fill a small bowl, which I can personally attest fits enough for a filling lunch (especially if you detour to the Organic Deli for a cookie, then you’re really cooking). Pictured above is my most recent effort, which also serves as proof of their leniency regarding overfilling. The serving station is refilled with fresh options for your bowls or pitas, which include halloumi, aubergine, mushrooms, and chickpeas, as well as a whole host of different grains and salad bases. You can help yourself to sauces, and there’s no surcharge for hummus. If you are a vegetarian who hasn’t been to Salsas del Sol yet, trust me, I have found your new favourite lunch.