The Alice
The Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LN, GB
Rating: 4.4 ★ (876 ratings)
Details
The Alice, housed within Oxford's iconic Randolph Hotel, offers a delightfully whimsical and imaginative dining experience. This British brasserie stands out for its playful Alice in Wonderland-inspired decor, featuring a vibrant clash of colours with retro baby pink banquettes, green chairs, and a striking patterned blue ceiling adorned with colossal chandeliers. The atmosphere is an inviting blend of easygoing charm and polished elegance, creating a welcoming setting distinct from more traditional establishments in the city.
The cuisine at The Alice is a modern take on British classics, focusing on comforting, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients. Diners can enjoy an array of enticing dishes, from perfectly prepared fish and chips and succulent roasted Lake District lamb to flavourful smoked haddock fish cakes and 36-day-aged beef rump. For those seeking a lighter bite or a quintessential British experience, the traditional Alice Afternoon Tea presents beautifully crafted scones, delicate sandwiches, and exquisite cakes, with vegan and gluten-free options available. The Alice Bar also offers an extensive selection of wines, craft beers, and creative cocktails, including themed concoctions like "Through the Looking Glass".
This enchanting restaurant caters wonderfully to both locals and visitors looking for quality dining in the heart of Oxford. It is perfectly suited for a relaxed lunch, an unhurried evening meal, or a celebratory afternoon tea. The elegant yet vibrant ambiance also makes it an excellent choice for special occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays, or pre-theatre dining, appealing to a broad range of tastes and preferences.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM; Tuesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM; Wednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM; Thursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM; Friday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM; Saturday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM; Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM
Contact
+44 1865 256400
Comments
Attentive and helpful staff, we felt very looked after.
Special shout out to our server Alpha, who couldn't have done any more for us, even bring out a special "happy birthday" cake for the birthday girl.
Only 1 tip for customers, if you don't like the smell of cigarette smoke, don't sit next to the windows! The smell was a little overpowering ar times during our visit!
What we ordered:
3 sets of afternoon tea: 9/10
teas: 9/10, we went with Peppermint, English Breakfast, and Jasmine. The presentation was beautiful, and it was the perfect way to introduce my family to a proper tea service
tea sandwiches: 8.5/10, bread was incredibly soft and the fillings were so fresh and flavorful
sandwiches were- smoked salmon & creme fraiche, cucumber cream cheese cumin & mint, curried egg & rocket, apple sage & sausage, mushroom quiche tart & pickled onion
scones: 8/10, can’t have afternoon tea without perfect scones. These were warm, crumbly, and paired perfectly with the rich butter and sweet jam
sweets: 9/10, every single pastry was gorgeously displayed and followed the Wonderland theme perfectly. Almost too aesthetic to eat, but they tasted just as good as they looked
sweets were- carrort spelt cinnamon cake, cherry bakewell tart, victoria sponge with elderflower & lemon, alice grand fruit cake
atmosphere: 10/10, super cute and whimsical. The Alice in Wonderland theme is done so tastefully, making it feel high-end but still really fun and playful
Food - loved the tea cakes especially carrot and Battenberg. The mini mushroom tarts were incredible and so was the side of Pommes Anna, deep fried crispy and perfectly seasoned potatoes. The portions were quite generous with multiple servings of tea. Was surprised at how nicely brewed the masala chai was.
Service - our attendant was very prompt, polite and accommodated all requests including one for a vegetarian selection. The lady at the reception was lovely and took our photographs with patience and effort. I’m really touched by how nice the staff was.
Atmosphere- beautiful, luxuriant setting in the heart of Oxford, I would definitely go again just for the ambiance itself.
On Christmas Day, we had lunch from the set menu. I went with the non-vegetarian option, while my wife chose the vegetarian one. The food looked great and tasted just as good, and the staff were friendly and engaging, which added nicely to the festive feel.
We returned on Boxing Day for afternoon tea and were seated in the Drawing Room — a beautiful space that really elevates the experience. The nibbling-style spread was generous, with plenty of options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences.
Arjun looked after us during the afternoon tea, and his tea recommendations were spot on. Special shout-out to him for making the experience even better.
Overall, a very pleasant place to dine — comfortable, well-presented, and consistent across visits.
The food was amazingly delicious especially the slow cook pork chop, duck breast was absolutely tender, juicy and tasteful. Won't regret if you choose either.
Wine recommendation was a wonderful pairing choice to all our selected dishes.
Food overall was really good, considering the price / venue I’d say it’s a touch below perfect but the chips are absolutely amazing!