The Magic Café is one of the few completely vegetarian eating places in Oxford. Painted bright red it stands like a beacon amidst the dilapidated buildings of Madgalen Road and does indeed bring some sort of magic to East Oxford.
As you enter you can immediately sense an atmosphere that ... Read review
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Advantages: A friendly and relaxing, totally no smoking veggie cafe. Disadvantages: Its not in the city centre.
The Magic Café is one of the few completely vegetarian eating places in Oxford. Painted bright red it stands like a beacon amidst the dilapidated buildings of Madgalen Road and does indeed bring some sort of magic to East Oxford.
As you enter you can immediately sense an atmosphere that is warm, cosy and friendly but at the same time interesting and stimulating. On the right as you enter you will find a comfortable three piece suite ... ...plants. Further into the café you will find an assortment of wooden tables with equally eclectic chairs. Tables for two, old draw leaf tables, and round tables mingle with large tables seating up to 12 people.
The Café regularly hosts exhibitions of paintings by local artists which are displayed on the bright yellow walls. The décor of the café is actually quite bright and cheerful with yellow and orange walls and deep blue ceiling ... more
The Magic Café is one of the few completely vegetarian eating places in Oxford. Painted bright red it stands like a beacon amidst the dilapidated buildings of Madgalen Road and does indeed bring some sort of magic to East Oxford.
As you enter you can immediately sense an atmosphere that is warm, cosy and friendly but at the same time interesting and stimulating. On the right as you enter you will find a comfortable three piece suite covered in throws and colourful cushions and surrounded by large plants. Further into the café you will find an assortment of wooden tables with equally eclectic chairs. Tables for two, old draw leaf tables, and round tables mingle with large tables seating up to 12 people.
The Café regularly hosts exhibitions of paintings by local artists which are displayed on the bright yellow walls. The décor of the café is actually quite bright and cheerful with yellow and orange walls and deep blue ceiling and carpet but in spite of this it retains a sense of calm.
On the left is a huge noticeboard crammed to overflowing with notices and ads for a myriad of diverse events. Every type of alternative therapy is offered, shiatsu and reiki, holistic massage, tranquillity evenings etc. All types of dance class from baroque and ballet to line dancing, Rooms to let, vegetarian flatshares, rooms wanted. Programmes for theatres and art cinemas sit alongside for the programme for the Zodiac and other music venues.
It is impossible to classify the people you find in the Magic Café for it attracts all sorts for all sorts of reasons. But if you imagine a cross section from Glastonbury festival that would sum it up – sort of hippiesh with rainbow coloured jumpers. Chidren are made welcome and there is at least one high chair and some toys here and there, including a rather nice cuddly clown.
At the far end of the Café is the food bar a wholesome foody smell greets you. All the food is freshly prepared on the premises and on display are huge bowls of healthy salads competing for attention with the wickedly tempting cakes.
Lunch is served from 12 and the delicious offering of the day is listed on the board: it could be lasagne and funghi at £2.30 or savoury pie and 3 salads for £4.50. The hearty soups also look very wholesome being full of beans and chunky vegeatables and sprinkled with fresh herbs. I have never actually eaten lunch there but it looks delicious and seems to be very popular.
I do, however, regularly have coffee there – a huge cup of delicious cappucino is £1.10 is my usual choice but they also have a vast range of teas on offer at 70p, plus fruit juices and milkshakes etc. The cakes are too tempting to pass by: these include passion cake, paradise slice, sachertorte, hazel and orange custard tarts. These decent sized portions of homemade temptation are reasonably priced around £1. 10.
As an added attraction on Saturday lunch times from 1 – 2 there is live music to munch to. At other times various types of suitable music is played in the background. A Saturday lunchtime might be jazz or blues, acoustic folk or even Elizabethan lute music but whatever the music it draws a large audience and the place is full to overflowing then.
The magic café is not in the city centre it is located is in Magdalen Road, which runs between the Cowley Road and Iffley Road and is a ten minute bus ride away from the centre. Catch a number 1 bus to Blackbird Leys which run every 5 minutes and get off at Magdalen Road. Magdalen Road is a one way street which should be approached from the Iffley Road if you are driving. If you are lucky you will find a free parking space right opposite.
Right next to the Café is the Inner Book shop which specialises in all things esoteric. It has a vast range of weird and wonderful books which would appeal to many of the Café’s customers. The Inner bookshop has a website (see http://www.innerbookshop.com/ ) and this has a map of the location and details of how to get there.
