Restaurants

Old Fire Station x Damascus Rose Kitchen

Old Fire Station x Damascus Rose Kitchen

40 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ

Rating: 4.6 ★ (70 ratings)

Details

Old Fire Station x Damascus Rose Kitchen offers a truly unique dining experience within the vibrant Old Fire Station arts centre on George Street in Oxford. This bright, informal, and friendly café boasts huge windows overlooking the street, creating a welcoming and colourful atmosphere. What truly sets it apart is its powerful social purpose, operating as a social enterprise that empowers refugee women in Oxford through sharing their authentic Middle Eastern, primarily Syrian, cuisine. The space itself has a warm, lived-in feel, featuring simple wooden furnishings softened by splashes of colour and touches of greenery.

The cuisine centres around delightful Middle Eastern fare, with an emphasis on Syrian traditions, offering a substantial selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Guests can enjoy a variety of small plates, such as the delicious fried cauliflower known as Zahra, the moreish Batata Harra with diced potatoes, garlic, coriander, and chilli, or a refreshing broad bean salad. Popular choices also include generous mezze bowls featuring items like hot crispy falafel, smooth hummus, fattoush, and spicy potatoes. Expect authentic flavours and hearty portions, reflecting the immense pride and skill of the women behind the kitchen.

This charming eatery is perfectly suited for those seeking an authentic taste of the Middle East in a relaxed setting, ideal for a casual breakfast, brunch, or a quick lunch in the city centre. Its cosy, lively, and family-friendly ambience makes it a great spot for group dining or simply catching up with friends. With an abundance of vegetarian and vegan options available, it caters well to diverse dietary preferences, providing a memorable and meaningful dining experience for anyone appreciative of good food with a genuine social impact.

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Contact

+44 1865 263990 | https://oldfirestation.org.uk/cafe/

Comments

Andrey Starodubov

6 Aug 2026

4.0 ★

Nice place, good coffee, free wifi, clean toilets. You can eat nice breakfast here (eggs based). In my case eggs were a bit overfried. So i am recomend it for fast breakfast or just fir a coffee stop with some sweets.

Nad z

22 Mar 2026

2.0 ★

Hate to say this but extremely disappointing experience. It wasn’t busy at 10.45 in the morning, yet was served tasteless oily eggs with egg shells and a meal that truly wasn’t worth £15 (egg, labneh, olives, few slices of cucumber, 3 small slices of bread and half a tomato). That’s extortion, there are other better breakfast spots in oxford where you can get more value for your meal.

Hazel McCartney

11 Apr 2025

5.0 ★

Fantastic find such amazing food, reasonably priced. Super staff and great cooks. Loved the initiative behind the cafe. Middle Eastern dishes, good sizes and extremely tasty and flavoursome

Maria Puolakkainen

24 Apr 2024

5.0 ★

What a lovely find. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. I had the mezze plate, and at £12, it was fantastic value for money. So many good flavours, especially the aubergine and falafel were delicious. I also love the social function of the spot, with flexibility and options for payment. Will 100% be coming back. A true community spot, and a far cry from the chain restaurants of Oxford.

SPW

5 Aug 2023

5.0 ★

A very good spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch serving very tasty food with a Middle Eastern influence. There is plenty of seating and you are greeted with a warm welcome. Food is served beautifully presented and all of the dishes we tried were just delicious.

Restaurants

Old Fire Station x Damascus Rose Kitchen

40 George St, Oxford OX1 2AQ

Details

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