The Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope sits at The Plain, the roundabout where Magdalen Bridge meets the diverging paths of Cowley Road, Iffley Road, and St Clement's. Geographically, it's the first pub you hit coming into east Oxford from the city centre, and it serves as an appropriate welcome — unpretentious, affordable, and sociable.

The building is small and the interior matches. A single bar, a mix of tables, and walls decorated with the accumulated ephemera of years. There's no garden, but the front tables provide a perch for watching the world circulate around The Plain — quite literally, given the roundabout.

What to order

Real ales at honest prices. The selection is basic but well kept. This is a pint-of-bitter pub, and it knows it. No food to speak of, but the takeaway options on nearby Cowley Road are endless.

The vibe

Friendly and easygoing. The Cape draws a mix of students and locals who appreciate cheap beer and unforced atmosphere. The quiz night is popular and the pub fills up during major sports events. It won't change your life, but it'll reliably provide a good pint and decent conversation. A proper starter pub for an east Oxford evening.