Ole & Steen

I visited Ole & Steen around Christmas to specifically sample the Mince Pie Festival Bun in collaboration with Meringue Girls. It did not disappoint and was one of the best filled pastries I have eaten - I hope it is back this year! The only drawback was the price BUT it was worth it in my opinion. We also got a cinnamon social to take away which was delicious and one of their classics. The coffee was ok but couldn’t fault their baked goods.

Love the place!
Love the atmosphere!
Love the pastries and smoothies (except the spinach and mango smoothie)
If I had one critique- it’ll be the way and manner in which one of the waiters approached us.
We were having an Oxford African Students get together- and granted, maybe we were a bit loud! She was so impolite in the way she talked to us - I mean, it’s a public space ( wouldn’t want to go into a lot of details)
But Ole and Steen gives value for your money, especially if you’re a sweet tooth!

A great cafe ☕shop in the heart of Oxford 🎓 part of a Danish cafe chain. Ideal for families with extra space for push chairs and the necessary toilets facilities.

📍Location: Inside the Westgate Shopping Centre in a very central location of Oxford city.

🍲 Food: There is a nice collection of sandwiches and panini-style snacks and a small variety of main courses including a lovely option of the soup of the day.

☕ Coffee: Average coffe with espresso/cappuccino/americano selection s available.

🍰 Deserts: Heavenly good, go for chocolate twirl and cinnamon social (see photos attached)... Our favourite.

💵 Prices: Higher than average.... But quality balances the high cost.

🅿 Parking: There is a parking area in the Westgate shopping centre (-2 level, often very busy), consider park and ride options around the city.

😉 Extra tip: Go for the iced coffee during a sunny day (see photo attached).

Friendly staff. Located close to the bus stop and shops from Westgate shopping centre. Plenty of space to seat and enjoy a coffee. Plenty or sweet and savoury options. Delicious danish bakery. Prices are are a bit high but quality is excellent. They offer brunch options

The Oxford branch is an absolute joke.
Ole & Steen is in general a great place with very good food and service. Anywhere else apart from Oxford that is.
It’s been the second week in a row that I visited the place and they still haven’t fixed their dishwasher, they serve people sitting there on paper cups and have them eat their food out of paper bags and plastic cutlery. I would understand this for a day or two but it’s been way more than two weeks. Come on guys, up your game, this is not acceptable.
Another time I took my kids for Sunday brunch and they told me that they couldn’t serve breakfast that day as they hadn’t delivered them eggs! Well, where exactly is the manager to go get some?
All in all, seems like a place run by amateur than couldn’t care less.
Can’t recommend it to anyone I’m afraid, not until they fix their issues.

The cinnamon social is to die for. Having had it in London I was pleased to see a location in Oxford.

The hot chocolate however left me wanting more. Not quite sweet or chocolatey enough and no option for whipped cream to make it extra special.

Friendly staff and quick service.

Very disappointing - twice!
Lack of customer engagement with staff. Total failure to comprehend any need to offer assistance (I was alone and on crutches, making it difficult to carry a cardboard cup of coffee.)
Why a cardboard cup? The dishwasher was broken ... again!
The coffee lacked robustness. It was over-priced for what was a very average beverage. It probably would have tasted better in a cup and even better had someone offered to help me carry it but the counter staff were simply too shy or too distracted or too something else to be aware of their lack of service excellence.
Even more disappointing was the response to my contact with head office. I’d clearly stated my poor experience was at Castle Street, Oxford but they initially assumed I meant Oxford Street, London which is careless.
The apology was half-hearted - merely a ‘we’ll pass on your comments’ with no feedback to me, even though I gave them a nudge. There was no follow-up to the nudge.
I’d be very reluctant to go back. Clearly my expectation is not at all in line with what the happy customers seem to tolerate. Maybe they routinely take their own toilet tissue, given there wasn’t any provided and nobody interested in being informed so.

There are far superior competitors in terms of product and service and even with a fractured leg, I’d tolerate the inconvenience to get to one of them rather than support this arrogant disregard for my not unreasonable expectation.

Just two words: utterly delicious. We tried the chocolate chip bun, apple pie, and Christmas special bun. And the display at the front of the store was mouthwatering. It was difficult to choose what to eat, because I wanted everything.