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

The Folly

4.5
4.5
1504 Reviews
£26 to £40
British
1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JU

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 p.m.
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • 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.

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
  • Neighbourhood
    Oxford
  • 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
  • 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, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

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Experiences

  • Afternoon Tea

    £27.95 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.

Private dining

Menu

The Folly's menu was last updated 2024-12-10.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,504 people are saying

The Folly reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

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

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Oxford/Oxfordshire

    Great for brunch

  • 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 Food

  • Oxford

    Best Service

  • Oxford

    Great for brunch

  • Oxford

    Innovative

  • Oxford

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Oxford

    Healthy

  • Oxford

    Hot spot

  • Oxford

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Oxford

    Great for fine wines

  • Oxford

    Romantic

  • Oxford

    Good for special occasions

  • Oxford

    Vegetarian-friendly

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Folly offers an enchanting riverside dining experience with "excellent food" and "outstanding service." Guests appreciate its cozy, tranquil atmosphere and attentive staff. Known for its afternoon tea and "fabulous" tasting menu, this spot is perfect for special occasions. While some find it pricey, the overall experience and "magical" location make it worthwhile.
1,504 Reviews

  1. Ronelle

    Oxford1 review

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    A fantastic experience @ The Folly. Food surpassed expectations & service was great. A real gem in Oxford

    Is this helpful?

  2. Romisa

    Oxford13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best place for afternoon tea in Oxford! Great food and service

    Is this helpful?

  3. Katy

    London1 review

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Overall was ok. Food was a bit on the bland side. Nice wine ordered from the menu

    Is this helpful?

  4. Rachel

    Oxford1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a lovely place with lovely staff. We had a wonderful afternoon tea!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Elliott

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent as always. The waiters and waitress were very attentive, food delicious, and appropriate ambience.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Holly

    Las Vegas3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    The arrival experience is very confusing, it’s not obvious where you should go to announce your arrival and this results in a lot of going up and down the stairs to the various levels of the property. The service was very slow and the staff lacked any attentiveness or urgency of response to requests. The afternoon tea is advertised at a different price online as to the cost marked on the menu. The menu also listed 5 types of sandwich on the afternoon tea and only 4 were served with no explanation or substitute given, with the same price charged. Our drinks arrived after a wait of 20 minutes and after the food. A disappointing experience.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Geoffrey

    Oxford1 review

    3.0

    Dined on March 31, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely location, quite expensive so not a daily treat. Food very good and plentiful. Great day if coupled with a cruise.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jayne

    Hampshire3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was a perfect afternoon experience - excellent food, wonderful position in a cosy riverside dome and friendly attentive staff. What more could one want ?

    Is this helpful?

  9. Valeria

    Dublin2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had afternoon tea outdoor. Food was excellent, location and atmosphere very cozy and beautiful. Staff are very friendly and quick.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Max

    Oxford1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice quiet restaurant with a tranquil atmosphere, food and drinks are outstanding - espresso martini and banoffee pie martini are definitely ones to try. All waiting staff are very accommodating and friendly, enhancing the whole experience

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Folly is rated 4.5 stars by 1504 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.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Oxford/Oxfordshire
  4. Oxford
  5. Oxford

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 p.m.
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Folly

1 Folly Bridge, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JU

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    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, Outdoor Smoking Area, 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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