My friend was feeling poorly, so I was stood up for brunch at All Bar One... but it was probably just as well.

By myself, I didn’t find it too hard to resist the lure of the brunch cocktails which included Mimosas (£5.50), Bloody Marys (£6.95) and even a Breakfast Martini (£6.50). But with it being nearer lunch than breakfast, my pal not having to go back to work, and myself being easily led, it could have been a dangerous combination.

As it was, I sipped on a mango and passion fruit juice (£2.50) and reflected that the atmosphere was so relaxed, I didn’t feel awkward eating alone.

The modern bar with food is quietly stylish – wooden floors, leather chairs, a tiled bar – and has a mix of seating for couples and larger parties and a few sofas.

There’s free wifi, a disabled loo with baby changing facility, room for pushchairs and although newspapers aren’t provided, there’s a handy newsagents right across the road.

The brunch menu offers more than a dozen dishes and covers pretty much anything you’d fancy for brekkers, ranging from £4.50 for strawberries, blueberries, banana, granola and Greek-style yoghurt to a full breakfast with sausages, bacon, eggs, mushroom, tomato, baked beans and toast at £7.75.

There’s a veggie version of the full breakfast (£7.75); Eggs Benedict (£6.50); buttermilk pancakes (£6); and smoked salmon with avocado (£7.50).

I went for the Boost breakfast (£6.50) and was delighted. Two slices of toast – one with a houmous and sweet chilli base and the other a herby butter – were topped with two huge mushrooms, tomatoes, perfectly ripe avocado and a poached egg. For an extra £2, fried potatoes with spinach and onion were a tasty addition.

And even more impressive were the special offers of any breakfast and hot drink for £6 on Monday to Friday and any breakfast and a brunch cocktail for £10 on Sundays. There is a £2 supplement for the full and vegetarian full breakfast but with hot drinks costing £2.30, they are still good deals.

Breakfasts are served Monday to Saturday 8am to noon and Sundays 9am to 4pm.

I’ll be back when I’ve got time to linger over those cocktails.

All Bar One Oxford, 124 High Street, Oxford
01865 791696 allbarone.co.uk