Too often Oxford Street can be overlooked on a visit to Whitstable, which means people miss the amazing independent businesses at the top of the high street. And since so many are relatively new to the town, we thought an up-to-date guide might entice you to Oxford Street on your next visit.
Oxford Street flows on from The High Street, starting at the junction with Argyle Road and Middle Wall. If you park in Middle Wall Car Park, then walk back to the main road and turn right.
There are a lot of cafes, bars, restaurants and music venues, so they are all listed below, but first, here are the other independent businesses to discover, and we highly suggest building in time for the museum if you visit during its opening times.
Umbrella Centre
This community centre hosts a huge range of events, including monthly or bi-monthly events such as The Foodies Market and Heart of Whitstable Makers Market. There are also frequent Antique fairs, Social Clubs, Drama groups, Yoga, Banking support plus larger music events organised by The Rock Lodge.
The Whitstable Museum
The museum is an incredible space and a Tardis from looking at the outside! Whether it’s the history of the harbour with Oyster Yawl, Steam engines and the history of the Crab and Winkle Line or the life of Peter Cushing, there is so much to explore, great hands-on for children and volunteers that will educate and entertain you, their passion for the museum is infectious and you will leave inspired. There are constantly evolving exhibits, so every visit will reveal something new. The Museum is just going through a renovation, and we will be doing a blog all about it when it reopens in March. Check the website for seasonal opening times.
Independent Small Businesses
Memories & Moonbeams at no 5 is an incredibly curated vintage shop selling jewellery, glassware, clothing and more in this small but perfectly formed little shop. Bev is a joy to speak to and will tell you all about the pieces she has collected for you to purchase.
Whitstable Framing at no 9 is actually in front of the museum, an ideal stop if you have bought a print in town that needs framing. They also boast the smallest gallery in Whitstable, showcasing the eclectic artwork of local artists.
Samson & Coles at no 13 established in 2003 showcases the beautiful pieces made by the two owners Teresa Samson & Maddie Coles, all pieces are handmade on the property in the integral workshop so you can see the works in progress. They will therefore create bespoke pieces and repair jewellery for you. The displays of their work will entice you to purchase whether a gift or just because you deserve it, a warning the door is stiff so give it a good push!
Valentines Vintage at no 21 is the home of Gary and the most incredible eclectic display of vintage furniture, rock memorabilia, lamps, prints and so much more, don’t miss it, plus another great guy to chat with about the history of what’s there and where it came from.
Chappell Contemporary at no 30 is a wonderful light and airy modern art gallery, opened by Paula Chappell in 2015, her mantra ‘Only buy art you love’ means there is no sales pressure but if you are looking for something for your home, Paula will be very happy to guide you. She specialises in finding new artists and mainly sells limited prints, but there are also a few originals and handmade Neon pieces.
Brits love Vintage at No 45 is the place to fall in love with anything from a lampshade to a perfectly eclectically restored piece of furniture courtesy of Jackie, and if you are inspired Jackie is the Frenchic paint stockist and also holds upscaling workshops not only on furniture but also on shoes called ‘Sole Revival’ which are Gild your shoes & boots workshops, there are some beautiful examples displayed in the window. Do not walk by without going in; your life could be changed forever.
Bounty at No 48 moved here from Margate, so may be familiar to some, this jewellery studio is where Lydia makes the pieces for sale, beautifully displayed along with other local gifts and homeware curated to complement Lydias work. Every piece is unique and the store is just a beautiful place to browse and hopefully buy a gift for someone, or yourself
Mabel of Whitstable, at no 64, is the shop without a name above the door, selling upmarket pre-loved clothing for both women and men. Here are some real treasures with great labels, so if you love finding that special find, here’s the place to look.
Scandinavian Touch at no 66 is the place to go if you want a ‘Scandy’ touch to your home, furniture, homewares, linens, bags and more. It really offers something different to your homeware & furniture chains, which is why we love our independent stores in Whitstable. It’s a great place to wander around and find that special addition for your home.
The Cheese Box has recently relocated from Harbour Street to No 68 within Warehams Antiques. Stocking only British cheeses, Dawn is the absolute cheese expert and there is always something new to discover, check out the very local cheeses made in Dargate by Jane, the Cheesemakers of Canterbury. A great treat to take home to remind you of your fabulous visit to Oxford Street.
Food & Drink
Blueprint Coffee & Books is right on the corner at No. 4. This cosy shop, as the name suggests, not only makes great coffee but also sells books, so you can browse whilst you sip. Lovely, friendly staff, and you can even buy their own ground coffee to take home.
Opposite at No. 3 is Amedea, the half Croatian bar, the wonderful Ed and his team have created a really cosy spot to enjoy a coffee and pastry, but more interesting is the range of Croatian wines and beers, cheese and meats to be enjoyed inside or in the beautiful sunny courtyard, weather of course dependent! At weekends, make sure to try the bar; you can really feel that you jumped on a flight and arrived in Dubrovnik! The building used to be Ed’s father's shop, Kites & Things, which is now in the harbour.
The Rock Lodge at No 17 will also make you feel you have jumped overseas, but this time to an Apres ski bar downstairs and the Luxury Ski lodge dining area upstairs, with a great roof terrace. Both family and dog-friendly seating outside, and there is usually live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The food is designed to give you a warm, comforting hug, using local suppliers and great flavours, from small plates to big family sharing platters, something for everyone.
Gilberts Café & Deli at No 19 is one of those places that you can’t imagine not making it a favourite stop, Gary & Tara not only create delicious sandwiches, salads & coffee etc but have shelves groaning with bottles & jars of goodies that you can’t find in a supermarket, sourced from all over the world and then a deli counter with local cheeses etc. There are alfresco tables too, but don’t miss perusing the shelves before you head off.
Garage Coffee Roasters at No 23 is the brainchild of Luke Underdown and started as a speciality coffee roastery before opening their coffee shops, using their own coffee, in Herne Bay, Canterbury, Margate, and Whitstable. With a lovely range of pastries and great coffee, it’s a lovely spot to relax and unwind, and as the saying goes, ‘Smell the Coffee’.With a highly ethical ethos, they have also built relationships with local businesses to use their grind waste.
Castellum Pizzeria at No 27 doesn’t just make Pizzas, but the pizza is incredible, they also offer artisan pasta dishes and great seafood, but do try some pizza, you won’t be disappointed. It’s another stop on the way where you are suddenly in Naples, in a very buzzy restaurant simply full of happy people, clinking glasses and incredible aromas.
Taste of India at No. 40 offers a great range of dishes, both traditional and some wonderful duck and fish dishes. In 2024, it won the Curry House of the year award!
Grain & Hearth Bakery & Café at No 50-52 again offers you the opportunity to taste the bread in fabulous inventive sandwiches whilst choosing which loaves and baked goods to take home, from the huge sausage rolls, the delicious cruffins with ever-changing fillings and of course the Sourdough. Follow their socials as well for special evening events.
Across the road is the Coach & Horses, a traditional pub run by Sarah & Maddie, who are really invested in the town. Offering live music and events, great food (check out the Google reviews), and a garden for when the weather behaves. Dog friendly and welcoming with great Guinness, they also do a very delicious range in cocktails!
Just up at No 39 is Thirty-Nine Whitstable. This all-day and early evening venue is where you can get your morning coffee, brunch & lunch till late afternoon, with a revolving display of artists' work on the walls. Lauren always plans a great calendar of events, so check out our What’s On section. The main menu has a great Asian fusion theme with vegan & vegetarian options & a Burger menu. The bar offers more great cocktails, a 2-for-1 deal every day, local beers & good value wines, so it's an all-round great place to stop for a while. The venue is also available for community meetings and private hire events, so pop in and take a look.
At no 49 is the new Drift a beautiful new family run bistro, only opening in April 2026, so look out for posts and blogs on this new venue!
Back across the road at No 67 is Fable & Green. This crossover between an antique shop, café & music venue is warm & cosy, with plush sofas, jazz playing, and great wallpaper. They also have a shop in the harbour to sell more antiques and upcycled items. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and of course, afternoon teas with great cakes. There is a Live Jazz & dinner every other Friday, and on Saturdays, check out the Live Piano & Plates sessions.
At 72 in East Kent, this pub was lovingly restored, and a great outdoor area with a pizza oven was created during the lockdowns! Now under the care of Lois and Joel, the Pizzas are still on the menu, along with great Sunday roasts and a good Pub food menu, featuring some modern dishes, plus snacks and small sharing plates. A Shepherd Neame pub, so a good range of local beers and a great wine list.
At No 76, Atomic Lola is the incredible vintage collection curated by John, think vintage cars, juke boxes, we are not talking small and then add in a pop-up collaboration with florists Bramble & Herbs, so don’t be confused by the new window floral display, the cars are still in there!
Kakawa Artisan Chocolate is the last stop on Oxford Street at No 75, but make sure you get there, better still, book into a chocolate-making experience; these are for adults and children, and John, the master chocolate maker himself, always arranges special events for school holidays too. You can book a whole party to make bars and drink prosecco! (adults, of course) If you don’t have time, don’t worry, there is a wall of chocolate to choose from to buy, and the hot chocolate to drink in or take away is divine! So spoil yourself and enjoy.
There is one more stop just over on Canterbury Road: The Handsome Sam. It’s a great little micropub with its own Catman piece inside. Lovely range of local beers and wines, and super friendly staff and customers, guarantee you will be chatting to locals within minutes.
