Queen's Lane Coffee House image

Queen's Lane Coffee House

Restaurant Cafe Coffee shop Breakfast restaurant

Cosy, multi-roomed cafe that has been serving coffee and comfort food for more than 350 years. People often mention coffee, good, Turkish, breakfast, oldest, staff, house, friendly, service, Oxford,


Address

40 High St, Oxford OX1 4AP, United Kingdom

Website

www.qlcoffeehouse.com

Contact

+44 1865 240082

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.00 (713 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
  • Saturday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
  • Sunday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
  • Monday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: coffee (31) good (19) Turkish (13) breakfast (12) oldest (10) staff (10) house (8) friendly (8) service (7) Oxford (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Rise&Shine 5 months ago on Google • 338 reviews
    Nice place to grab a bite and rest. Had their hummus and roasted veg wrap £5.95. It came with fresh veg and chips on the side. Americano large was £3.45. No taxes and service charge. They accept cash and card payment.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Khor Yong K. 8 months ago on Google • 712 reviews
    This coffee house is at High street, within walkable distance from Carfax tower. On its website..it was shown that it is the "Oldest established coffee house in Europe". Outside the cafe, it was written 1654 on its shade canopy. So I assumed it has been there for more than 350 years! It is a very cosy coffee house. We were here for afternoon tea. We tried the legendary Turkish coffee..It was very bitter, certainly not my cup of tea(coffee)! The ciabatta panini was good. They also serve big breakfast, some cakes and pastries. Service was good and attentive.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Eric M. 11 months ago on Google • 72 reviews
    Worth going to only for the memory. It’s claim is the oldest established coffee house in Europe. It was good, don’t get me wrong. Just not amazing. I didn’t get any pastries of food, but they looked equal to the other pastries and snacks I’ve seen in other windows in the city. I knew I was going to go here, so I paced myself out. Today was the day I was going to hit my 400th recorded coffee of the year. I made sure that this was the place I had it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Mario Simó H. 1 year ago on Google
    The place is nice and very well placed, but the food is disgusting. We ordered bagel with scrumbled eggs and salmon and the bagel was so dry we barely couldn't cut it with the knife, the scrambled egg was a thick mass of egg that made the whole thing so big we had to cut it for eating it. Besides, the waiter was unwelcoming and we didn't feel ok being there. It wasn't our first time, and some others have been alright because we ordered english breakfast and the staff was different, but the place has changed after pandemic and I truly don't recommend it anymore
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elena C. 1 year ago on Google
    The right place for breakfast or lunch, solo or with a company. Bright, clean, atmospheric, friendly, yummy, just where you want to be on a chilly day or hot afternoon after too much reading nearby. Friendly staff are multilingual, with empathy and care. Great place to be! Thank you.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Madhurima S. 1 year ago on Google
    It's a very well located, cute coffee shop. They say it's the oldest coffee house here. Lots of seating space. Option of sitting outside as well. Excellent service. I wouldn't say it's cheap but it's not too expensive either. Costs pretty much the same as all other coffee houses nearby.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Calvin C. 1 year ago on Google
    My friends in Singapore told me that Queen’s Lane Coffee House has the best scone. I came and tried it. The cream was fresh, and adding the jam gave another dimension to the taste. It was simply heavenly. Yum yum!!! Today, I tried several more dishes; they were equally as tasty. Time flew past when I was enjoying myself. Would I revisit this place when I am back in Oxford? 100%!!! Thank you to the wonderful waiting staff too. They were friendly and helpful.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Vagg X. 2 years ago on Google
    The place did not come up to any expectations. We sit for a tea and a quick bite, but the food was far below the average and too overpriced for the quality and quantity. I ordered a burger as a safe option (supposed to be the shop's highlight) and came out to be the worst burger ever had. It was just a beef patty between two 1/3 of a panini with no sauce, cheese or salad or any other topping. Just a patty between 2 breads, which was also over-cooked on the outside and still raw and watery on the inside with a very poor texture; obviously straight from the freezer onto the grill. When I kindly asked the staff to speak to the kitchen to see if anything can be done, I received what is shown in the pictures below. Disrespectful at least and disgusting to be served that over-burned thing, thrown on a plate. I would not even give that to a starving stray animal. Gladly the manager was willing to scratch it off the bill. The fish and chips my friend selected, also very poor, shoggy on the outside, dry on the inside, tasteless, with undercooked chips. At least the tea was potable. Steer clear of it, or at least of you're brave enough, visit it but don't get anything from the above. Stay with some tea. Hope the place has a word with the kitchen, because this behavior kills the great attitude of the rest of the staff working there.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Jake B. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is fine, it really isn't anything special. The coffee was okay but the hot chocolate was luke warm and definitely not that tasty, if not pretty underpowered. Interior is also fine, furniture is old and tired, pretty uncomfortable. The location is good but better places around.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 DaBoss R. 2 months ago on Google • 949 reviews New
    Came for my Turkish/greek coffee fix. Was very good and thick. They claimed they are the oldest coffee house in europe. That's to be confirmed

  • 5/5 Riley T. 10 months ago on Google • 74 reviews
    Brunch at Queen's Lane Coffee House was delicious. Turkish coffee was served with a little sweet Turkish delight and a glass of water to cleanse one's palate. The food was truly fantastic, particularly the toast. Service was likewise good, swift, and on target, owing to attentive and helpful staffs.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bob S. 11 months ago on Google
    Nice ,quite coffee shop does good halal selection, tho bacon too ..... hopefully all cooked separately. Fish was fresh crunchy and a good size . The Turkish meat balls were supposed to be in a tomato sauce but came dry.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 bezaz 2 years ago on Google
    We had an English breakfast, it was fast and tasted amazing
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Avery “AveryCloseCall” A. 2 years ago on Google
    Historic and delicious with friendly, inexpensive, down-to-earth service in an extraordinary location. We really enjoyed the Greek Salad, Turkish Ciabatta, and Turkish Coffee with Turkish Delight for dessert. If it's Europe's oldest coffee shop, even the better - but it'd be a great spot even if not.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Tong T. 2 years ago on Google
    It is located at the tourist area just great for a break. Environment is comfortable with hand writing ‘oldest coffee shop in Europe’ on walls. Food is too salty. Drink is ok. Toilet is clean. Quite pricey!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Peter J. 2 years ago on Google
    One among the oldest coffee shops in the world which opened in 1654. The feeling of that is what attracted us. Tried their Turkish coffee which claims to be the best, but in my opinion was nothing special. Definitely haved tastes many best ones in the Gulf. The ambiance is ok and give the feel. The prices are slightly on the higher side, maybe due to the long standing history. Can definitely give a try to have a try. The fish n chips and tropical smoothie was ok.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stephen P. 5 years ago on Google
    My wife and I stopped in for some tea, coffee and food. The wait staff was on it, we were greeted and sat promptly at the door, drinks were taken and gathered immediately and we weren’t kept waiting to order food either. We had the chicken shepherds pie with potatoes. A very heavy and tasty meal. Also great view of one of the central areas of Oxford.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Nuran B. 1 year ago on Google
    Very nice interior, everything designed and thought well. Tasty music and great atmosphere. I had tried their hot chocolate and it was okay, personally could have been sweeter. Lots of college kids were there and a table went super loud which made the experience less enjoyable. Apart from that it was a fine experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aditi D. 3 months ago on Google • 246 reviews New
    We specifically visited this cafe as it is the oldest coffee house in Europe, the place was buzzing. we were lucky to get table for two but lot more people who arrived a bit later were not that lucky. I ordered tea and a chocolate cake. It was delicious, loved the presentation , my partner ordered full day English breakfast and he liked it as well , service was good too. I highly recommend this cafe if you in or around Oxford

  • 1/5 thetresident 2 months ago on Google • 14 reviews New
    Absolute rip off. Toasted baguette, a slice of honeycomb shortbread and a 330ml of coke came to over £13, how on earth you can justify that I have no idea.

  • 5/5 Aysha K. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the oldest cafes in oxford They have some halal food too but I wanted the veggie breakfast. Lovely food! Busy vibe on a high street. I got a cold pressed juice with strawberry apple and mint. Very refreshing! Great service too .

  • 5/5 Zoe T. 2 years ago on Google
    I went on a walking tour that introduced me to th oldest coffee house in Europe. Of course I had to visit and have a coffee here. I didn't have an ordinary coffee, but a Turkish coffee with Turkish Delight. I also ordered a strawberry cheesecake which was probably the best cheesecake I have ever eaten. The cheesecake was super creamy and smooth and the perfect amount. The coffee was strong and so yummy. The service was excellent and very quick, I didn't wait for more than 10 minutes for my order. The waitress was friendly but I was in and out, I didn't have a good interaction with her. All in all, this place as lovely decor, yummy cakes and strong coffee. There's not more you could ask for.

  • 5/5 George C. 1 year ago on Google
    The full English breakfast is really good, the staff are nice! Decent pricing. Also, great coffee

  • 4/5 Sadheesh R. 1 year ago on Google
    Tried a full English breakfast. The full English breakfast is really good, the staff are nice! Decent pricing and good hygiene. Food is amazing and will be recommending!!

  • 5/5 natasha m. 2 years ago on Google
    We stopped off here on our mini walking tour of Oxford. In addition to the gorgeous Turkish coffees we had a cream tea. The scones came out and were so warm and fluffy just what we needed.

  • 5/5 Deepta S. 2 years ago on Google
    Best breakfast in town. And the perfect place to experience Oxford, right from the heart of the place. Check out their turkish breakfast. Great 2-seaters at the window to just have a hot beverage and read a book.

  • 5/5 S S. 2 years ago on Google
    Conveniently located, offering a small but filling array of dishes alongside their pleasant coffee options. Grab a seat by a window, overlooking the main Street or queen's lane, if you plan a couple of hours of relaxed working lunch!

  • 3/5 Antony Z. 8 months ago on Google
    Nice breakfast spot. Delicious food including full English and continental options. Coffee was slightly burnt however, and service on a Saturday morning was extremely slow. We waited 20 minutes for someone to even acknowledge that we were still waiting to order despite going to the counter to prompt. Would've been a much nicer experience with a couple more staff to serve.

  • 5/5 Marwan Y. 9 months ago on Google
    Queen’s Lane, Coffee House 1654 It’s more than just a cup of tea. It was a taste of history, a sip of the past. Each sip carried with it the legacy of 500 years, a reminder of the countless stories woven into the tapestry of this remarkable café. 🌟 As I sat there, savoring the unique taste, I couldn't help but appreciate the magic of this place. It wasn't just about the flavor; it was about the journey. It was about embracing the opportunity to be a part of something greater, to be a part of a tradition that had stood the test of time. 🔮 So, if you ever find yourself in this extraordinary café, take a moment to savor the taste of history. Let the flavors transport you to a bygone era, and allow yourself to become a part of the narrative that has unfolded within these ancient walls.✨ Thanks for Veronika, Carly, Claudio and Merve for such experience!!

  • 4/5 Interview L. 2 years ago on Google
    Very friendly staff in Oxford's oldest cafe. Nice vibes. Whole setting reminded me on Paris, just much, much friendlier. Food was good too.

  • 4/5 Mimi MJ T. 7 months ago on Google
    Very friendly staffs, tried the Turkish coffee and a snack after the Sunday Worship at the nearby Church of St Mary the Virgin.

  • 5/5 Alireza Bahramzadeh (. 2 years ago on Google
    Omg, the falafel wrap was so good, tasted fresh and perfectly cooked

  • 2/5 curryqueen m. 3 years ago on Google
    Never going again. I was told this was a good little cafe in Oxford. Having never been, and extremely ravenous after a work out, I thought I'd give it a go. Everytime I tried to took into my food, there would be a bee hovering about. Staff swatted them away, moved to 3 different tables until I simply couldn't eat my food, they were all over it! Food was good! Gave a few stars because at least I got some money back for my troubles, but only because I asked! Just posting so I hope they acknowledge this problem and sort it out

  • 5/5 Syazwina F. 2 months ago on Google • 5 reviews New
    We went in at 5:50pm and the kitchen closed at 6:30pm. But the staffs were so kind and treated us so kindly until we left. They even helped take our pictures and moved the tables and chairs just for the picture 🥹. Love love the place. The fish and chips were so good. The turkish coffee was so good.

  • 5/5 Rebecca M. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a lovely brunch at the Queen's Lane Coffee House last week. They were especially accommodating of the various dietary needs of our party (2 vegans, 1 serious nut allergy & 1 very fussy eater!). Service was quick and friendly and the food delicious.

  • 5/5 Majd A. 2 years ago on Google
    One of my absolute favorite spots in Oxford. Service is always friendly and top-notch (been here many many times).l, food is great, with halal options. Carrot cake is amazing!


Call +44 1865 240082 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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