The Folly

Name: The Folly
Address: 1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, OX1 4JU
Telephone: 01865 201293
Price range: £26 to £40
Rating: 4.4

4.4

1361 Reviews

£26 to £40

British

Top tags:

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.

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

29 Apr 2024

19:00

Booked 22 times today

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
British, Modern European, Seafood
Hours of Operation
Lunch Daily 12:00–14:15 Afternoon Tea Daily 14:30–15:45 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:30–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:30–20:45
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
Our beautiful riverside restaurant, floating riverside pontoon, and characterful river launches can be exclusively yours for the day or evening.We host parties, wedding receptions, meetings, drinks receptions and arts events all year round in one of Oxfords most stunning, yet affordable, venues.
Private party contact
Reservations Team: 01865 201293

Location
1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JU
Area
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

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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.

Popular dishes

What 1,361 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
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Oxford/Oxfordshire
Great for fine wines
Oxford/Oxfordshire
Great for outdoor dining
Oxford/Oxfordshire
Romantic
Oxford/Oxfordshire
Great for scenic views
Oxford
Great for brunch
Oxford
Great for fine wines
Oxford
Good for special occasions
Oxford
Vegetarian-friendly

1,361 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had afternoon tea at the The Folly.. highly recommend, from start to finish the service was great, afternoon was delicious. Will he back again.
Is this helpful?
ML
MattL
Berkshire
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food here is amazing and the service is outstanding. We asked for a table near the window with a nice view of the river. I would highly recommend The Folly for any special occasion or just to treat yourself to some good food.
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t
tjamesjones
London
12 reviews
3.0
12 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We were a little disappointed. The location should be great, but rather than look out at the Thames, even from the main restaurant you seem to be largely looking at some sort of white tent. The food itself, particularly the steak, was quite disappointing as well as being expensive. Drinks were good, service was excellent.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is by far one of the best meals we have had in Oxford. overall amazing food and setting. super friendly staff would highly recommend. we will definitely be back. what a hidden gem
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TD
TonyD
Oxford
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 20 April 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service from our South African waitress..
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AA
AceA
Oxford
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 13 April 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I would say overall a great day had, afternoon exceed expectations. However the fact you pay on the day is very odd. I thought I had paid in advance and it cause some embarrassment. The restaurant was lovely and very Instagramable (if that's a word).
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 12 April 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and friendly staff, highly recommended
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P
Patricia
London
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on 7 April 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The setting is gorgeous, right on the Thames, with many windows to enjoy the view. We sat inside because it was a windy day, but there was also plenty of outdoor seating, including a tent-like structure. The service was perfect. The food was good. Overall this was a great experience.
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JC
JohnC
Oxford
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 6 April 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Brilliant service and staff! I can't thank the staff enough for helping me to make my wife's Birthday lunch a surprise, as I had organised for our daughter and her partner to turn up unannounced. The whole team played along even though our surprise guests were late, which made ordering the food and keeping the surprise a bit difficult. The staff work so hard at creating such a relaxing atmosphere and are so attentive. Its just such a shame that the food (or at least food that we ordered) didn't quite match the service. They also need to do something with the canopy outside as this impedes the view of the Thames, which was the whole point of me booking the table that I booked. I feel a bit guilty not giving a 5 star review but this restaurant really does have so much potential. A brilliant location with a professional, helpful and friendly team.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City
2 reviews
vip
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on 31 March 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Staff was friendly and treated us well. Food was very good. Other than waterfront views interior was uninspired and actually a bit shabby. Would have been fine if prices weren’t so high. Definitely not a good value.
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MH
MatthewH
Buckinghamshire
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 17 March 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food and service. Would come back again for sure.
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D
Danilo
New York City
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on 17 March 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The Pork Belly was tasty and the service was kind and fast. The table was a bit short so not very comfortable!
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NE
NESRINE
Oxford
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 15 March 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Appetiser was lovely and fish with risotto was nice. I wish we had a better table as the view was blocked.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hertfordshire
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on 8 March 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
The restaurant was very quiet which meant not much atmosphere, certainly has no discernible “vibe”, but the food more than makes up for this shortcoming!
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CA
ChristinaA
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 2 March 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had the afternoon tea, the scones and the cakes very fresh and tasty and the sandwiches good too. Some of the herbal tea flavour was so tasty and interesting combination.
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E
Emma
Oxford
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 2 March 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Disappointing service, felt very rushed, main course arrived when we still had half of the starter left. We were told to move starter to the windowsill so we could eat our main. Very expensive for what we had.
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DP
DonaldP
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 1 March 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
So glad we picked the Folly on a rare winter visit to Oxford. Must be stunning in the summer.
Is this helpful?
SB
SuzB
Kent
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on 27 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
As soon as we walked in we were greeted with smiles and our coats taken from us to be hung up.. We were served quickly and offered the afternoon tea menu straight away. Tea order was quickly taken and we asked to swap one of the sandwich fillings and they were more than happy to do so. Everything was freshly made and scones were clearly straight from the oven. They were absolutely delicious. All the cakes were superb and tasty sandwiches too. We were very well looked after. Very attentive and helpful staff. Nothing was ever too much. They even wrote ‘happy birthday’ in chocolate on the cake plate for my mum. Such a lovely touch. We all thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon tea and would highly recommend The Folly! Thank you for a great afternoon.
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FD
FabienD
Newcastle
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on 24 February 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The team was very welcoming and the food was tasty.
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R
Romisa
Oxford
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on 17 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
great view, great service! It is an amazing place for special occasions! the staff are lovely!
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VB
VictoriaB
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 17 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Came from sheffield for a birthday no idea other than the reviews - really excellent food would have loved to try one of the bubbles outside. Definitely would come again if we were in Oxford
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M
Micky
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 14 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent menu - many gluten free options and vegan options available. Approachable staff - knowledgeable and friendly
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EG
EmmaG
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 10 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food and service here were very nice! We shared the breadboard to start, had Belly Pork and Beef Shin with a bottle of wine for main and shared the orange chocolate arancini for dessert. Everything was served in a timely manner, food was ideal temperature, flavoursome and delicious. We booked an early dinner - 6.15pm - so the dining room was very quiet when we first arrived and gradually got busier as the evening went on, but it never really got any noisier and the staff managed it all very well! The gratuity is added automatically to the bill here, but you can change/remove it if you need to, which we didn’t. We had a lovely time, and would recommend.
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M
Magda
Oxford
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 8 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing place, fantastic food and great waiter. 10/10 couldnt be any better
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IB
IanB
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 4 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The staff were friendly and helpful. We had some great cocktails to start the evening. The food was amazing especially the desserts. Awesome
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M
Marin
Oxford
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 3 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent, kind and unobtrusive waiting staff. The food always comes with some fresh ideas, and often served in dishes of colours complementary to the food (no, I usually don’t notice this, but the dinner last night was a visual experience as well). The four of us tried different dishes, and all were very tasty and adequate in size for a three course meal
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A
Andy
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 29 January 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Went here on a first date, the food, atmosphere and service were excellent. Thanks
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E
Ella
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 January 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service, incredible food, lovely ambiance.
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DC
DavidC
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 January 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best nice service and excellent food . Friendly environment near the river
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CP
CharliP
Oxford
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 27 January 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful food in a beautiful setting, would definitely go again
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TA
TheresaA
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 20 January 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely setting, well spaced tables, relaxing decor, attentive but discreet service, and some of the most delicious food we’ve ever tasted! A perfect 21st birthday lunch!
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CD
CorinneD
London
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on 18 January 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Went to The Folly for a special occasion dinner and the food was really delicious, lovely starter and the bread board and butters were tasty- great main dishes and would highly recommend the deserts or desert cocktails! It was a very cold night and unfortunately the main central heating system was broken but the staff couldn't have been more helpful in trying to overcome this with heaters and the offer of blankets!
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L
Lulah
London
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on 14 January 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
West End of London prices - a chicken main over £30 - that was poor value. The kitchen is attempting cheffy touches but they should concentrate on being simpler – most of the food was lukewarm to cool. A lot of the little elements were stone cold. £190 for 2 for dinner without desserts. Nah.
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LA
LuciaA
New York City
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 31 December 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
The food was very good overall, especially the main course we had (beef) and the dessert. But one of the starters we ordered was inedible and strange, which was unfortunate given the cost. The cocktails we ordered were really good, and the ambience was nice. The service was really lacking, and strange. No one offered us much information about the food and seemed to be poorly informed. I think they just have inexperienced waitstaff, and it wasn't a huge deal as everyone was polite and friendly. Overall, price is at odds with actual experience.
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PP
PatrickP
Tallahassee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 31 December 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely New Year’s Eve dinner! Food and service were perfect.
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JP
JonP
Oxford
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 30 December 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic food really good service . Lovely setting .
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DD
DennisD
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 December 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bread board was amazing- drinks selection lovely staff so polite and cheerful 😀
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R
Romisa
Oxford
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on 27 December 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The best afternoon tea in Oxford! Great view and good value!
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OO
OscarO
London
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 27 December 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Lovely views of the river and a nice vibe inside but unfortunately the service wasn’t great and the actual quality/value of the food pretty poor also. Had travelled for lunch too so didn’t feel too great about that on the day!
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MR
MikeR
Buckinghamshire
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 25 December 2023
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Unfortunately our first ever Christmas Day at a restaurant was a very disappointing experience . For £120 per head, even accepting that it would be expensive on such a day, this was no better than a basic canteen meal. The main Turkey Roast was below standard with a limited selection of hard warm vegetables served on the plate rather than in terrines. No stuffing, one pig in blanket little gravy, we had to ask for more. My daughter had clearly communicated her dietary requirements before the meal but this was not passed on properly to the staff apparently. In the end she had a piece of seabass with a tomato sauce scraped off and hard sprouts and other wilted veg and initially no gravy! In fairness when I discussed all this with the Manager he accepted that this was poor and removed one meal charge and discounted the rest. However the bill was still over £430 for five people including drinks (two cocktails, two mulled wines, a can of beer, a cider and a soft drink). The staff were very pleasant but there was no Christmas atmosphere, no music, crackers etc. I find it hard to believe that this was the normal standard for The Folly.
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FAQs

The Folly is rated 4.4 stars by 1361 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 booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

29 Apr 2024

19:00

Booked 22 times today

Experiences are available.

1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JU

Dining areas

Additional information

Area
Oxford
Hours of Operation
Lunch Daily 12:00–14:15 Afternoon Tea Daily 14:30–15:45 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:30–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:30–20:45
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
Our beautiful riverside restaurant, floating riverside pontoon, and characterful river launches can be exclusively yours for the day or evening.We host parties, wedding receptions, meetings, drinks receptions and arts events all year round in one of Oxfords most stunning, yet affordable, venues.
Private party contact
Reservations Team: 01865 201293

Gift card

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

Send a gift card

The Folly

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card

Experiences

Afternoon Tea

Tasting Menu at The Folly

Popular dishes

Folly Fish and Chips

Hot Chocolate Fondant

Steak Tartar

Menu

What 1,361 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is The Folly restaurant rated?

Does The Folly offer gift cards?

Is The Folly currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information

Gift card