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Riverside dining in the heart of Oxford - The Folly, Oxford, Oxfordshire

The Folly

4.4
4.4
1463 Reviews
£26 to £40
British

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for scenic views
The Folly, Oxford's unique riverside restaurant.
Join us for elegant food, superb drinks, a charming atmosphere, and a unique location perched on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of historic Oxford.

Book your table online and visit us to indulge in some fantastic modern British food.
Private dining

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British, Modern European, Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 12:00 pm–2:15 pm Afternoon Tea Daily 2:30 pm–3:45 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    01865 201293
  • Website
    http://www.no1-folly-bridge.co.uk/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Dan Richardson
  • Catering
    We offer a wide variety of catering options from fine five course dining to buffets, canapes and afternoon teas.
  • Private party facilities
    Make your next occasion unforgettable by hosting it at The Folly, where tradition meets elegance in the heart of Oxford.
  • Private party contact
    The Folly Restaurant: 01865 201293
  • Location
    1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JU
  • Neighborhood
    Oxford
  • Parking details
    See http://www.no1-folly-bridge.co.uk/parking/ for full parking information.
  • Public transit
    Redbridge Park and ride<br /><br />X3, X13, 35A,B & C
  • Entertainment
    The River ThamesBoats, punting, our Edwardian river launchesSwans, geese etc
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

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Experiences

  • Afternoon Tea

    £22.95 per person

    Multiple dates available
    A classic British Afternoon Tea, available Monday to Sunday, 2:30pm - 3:45 pm. Please note that card details are required to secure your booking but will not be charged apart from in the event of no-shows in which case we reserve the right to charge £10 per person. Payment will be taken for your afternoon tea when you visit us. Please make us aware of any dietary requirements at least 48 hours prior to your afternoon tea bookings. Optional prosecco upgrades can be booked during the reservation process.

  • Tasting Menu at The Folly

    £75.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Come and sample a selection of The Folly's finest dishes designed to be be enjoyed by the entire table. Optional wine pairing is available and can be added during the online booking process. Please note that card details are required to secure your booking but will not be charged apart from in the event of no-shows in which case we reserve the right to charge £10 per person. Payment will be taken for your meal when you visit us.

  • Christmas Day at The Folly

    £130.00 per person

    Dec 25, 2024 only
    Join us to celebrate Christmas Day and delight in a festive five-course lunch within the cosy ambiance of The Folly.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,463 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Oxford/Oxfordshire

    Gluten-free-friendly

  • Oxford/Oxfordshire

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Oxford/Oxfordshire

    Romantic

  • Oxford/Oxfordshire

    Great for scenic views

  • Oxford

    Best Overall

  • Oxford

    Best Service

  • Oxford

    Best Ambiance

  • Oxford

    Great for brunch

  • Oxford

    Healthy

  • Oxford

    Neighborhood gem

  • Oxford

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Oxford

    Romantic

  • Oxford

    Good for special occasions

  • Oxford

    Vegetarian-friendly

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Folly offers a delightful dining experience by the Thames, praised for its "wonderful ambience, delicious food, fantastic service." Guests rave about the "amazing location" and attentive staff. While some reviews mention service delays, the overall impression is positive, with standout mentions of the "beautiful setting" and "excellent food." A perfect spot for special occasions and riverfront dining.

1,463 Reviews

  1. Jan

    Devon

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Very friendly staff. Great service and lovely food. But it was just so chilly in there. People were wearing their coats on the next table. Yes it was a cold day, but no excuse for not boosting up the heat.

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  2. Pal

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing venue and beautiful food! Service was outstanding, cannot wait to return! Thank you for your hospitality

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  3. Caroline

    London

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely wonderful place, buzzing but plenty of space. Delicious food, charming staff. Not to be missed when in Oxford.

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  4. Valeria

    Costa Rica

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely experience - not only was the Afternoon Tea great and very reasonably priced, the location is great and the host was really special. We will definitely come back again!

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  5. Meryl

    Indiana

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Folly is one of the best restaurants in Oxford. We were surprised it was not more crowded, but that makes for a pleasant experience. The food is consistently both interesting and excellent, the staff are attentive and helpful, the location is convenient and the setting by the river is rather magical. Completely recommend.

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  6. Matthew

    Warwickshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The afternoon tea was of the highest quality - warm scones plus a selection of sandwiches and some lovely mini desserts. Really clean, great view of the water and great value too. Will definitely return and would definitely recommend.

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  7. John

    London

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and attentive staff. Recommended! We shall return!

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  8. Ben

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Folly was a lovely, quaint and decadent dining experience. The service and food were exceptional, and the atmosphere was calm and relaxing. Thank you, The Folly!

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Oxford

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 6, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely setting, great food. Rather pricey and portions not over-generous but food imaginative and beautifully presented.

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Oxford

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 26, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really lovely birthday dinner for my partner. The mains were 10/10- but my only disappointment was the duck starter, it looked beautiful but it lacked flavour and the duck was tepid and the flavour mix was bland/unusual. However, it may be that it wasn’t to my taste and my partners soup was very nice! Other than that, absolutely lovely and great staff and the best pork I’ve had in a long time ☺️ Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Folly is rated 4.4 stars by 1463 OpenTable diners.

The Folly does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Folly

1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JU

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Oxford
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 12:00 pm–2:15 pm Afternoon Tea Daily 2:30 pm–3:45 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British, Modern European, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    See http://www.no1-folly-bridge.co.uk/parking/ for full parking information.
  • Public transit
    Redbridge Park and rideX3, X13, 35A,B & C
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Dan Richardson
  • Entertainment
    The River ThamesBoats, punting, our Edwardian river launchesSwans, geese etc
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.no1-folly-bridge.co.uk/
  • Phone number
    01865 201293
  • Catering
    We offer a wide variety of catering options from fine five course dining to buffets, canapes and afternoon teas.
  • Private party facilities
    Make your next occasion unforgettable by hosting it at The Folly, where tradition meets elegance in the heart of Oxford.
  • Private party contact
    The Folly Restaurant: 01865 201293
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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