Permit Room Oxford
Permit Room Oxford is an all-day bar-café from the team behind Dishoom, in North Bailey House on New Inn Hall Street. Inspired by the permit rooms of 1960s and 70s Bombay, it serves Indian drinking food, from chaats and puffs to curries and breakfast naan rolls, alongside playful cocktails.
Photos
Dishoom Permit Room Oxford
The idea
Permit rooms were Bombay bars where drinkers needed a permit to order alcohol. Dishoom's sister brand borrows their mood rather than their rules, creating a relaxed bar-café with 126 covers that runs from breakfast into the night, with the menu shared with its Cambridge sibling. Expect a look and menu distinct from Dishoom's restaurants, with drinks firmly in the spotlight.
What to order
The food is built around snacks and sharing plates: spicy chicken puffs, crispy spinach chaat, egg curry and salads, with a coconut caramel custard to finish. Mornings bring breakfast naan rolls and dishes such as chicken keema pau. Cocktails include a Thums Up Sazerac and a Mango Lassi Punch.
Fitting it in
New Inn Hall Street runs between Cornmarket and the Westgate end of the centre, so Permit Room is a short walk from Carfax Tower and the main shopping streets. It suits an informal breakfast, a long lunch with friends or a drinks-led evening, and is an easy choice for groups with mixed appetites. Walk-ins are part of the appeal of an all-day bar-café, though larger groups should check booking options first.
Highlights
- All-day bar-café from the Dishoom team
- Inspired by 1960s and 70s Bombay permit rooms
- Indian small plates, chaats and breakfast naan rolls
- Central, near Carfax Tower
Good to know
- Serves from breakfast onwards
- Large venue with 126 covers
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: restaurantonline.co.uk