Vegetarian Indian restaurant Namaste Village opens in Oxford

Vegetarian and vegan restaurant group Namaste Village has opened its first Oxford site, adding to its growing portfolio.

The new branch is located opposite the Malmaison hotel in Oxford’s Castle development. It joins other Namaste Village restaurants in Twickenham, Southend-on-Sea, Cambridge and Islington, with further openings planned in 2025 and beyond.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Vijay and Nivedita Jetani, the group specialises in Indian vegetarian cuisine. Menus include biryanis, dosas, curries and street food dishes drawn from regions across India, with spices sourced directly from local markets and ground in-house.

Oxford’s menu features plant-based versions of traditional dishes, such as chick’n jalfrezi and jackfruit biryani, alongside paneer curries and lentil daal. Drinks include Indian-style lassi, spiced chai and cocktails infused with tamarind, cardamom and chilli.

The group also runs “Dosa on the Wall”, a scheme allowing customers to donate towards free meals for those in need. Each £5 contribution is matched by the restaurant and displayed on the window for anyone to redeem discreetly.

Vijay and Nivedita Jetani said: “Bringing Namaste Village to Oxford is a dream come true. As passionate advocates of a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, we’re honoured to join the city’s rich food scene and showcase how vibrant and satisfying plant-based Indian cuisine can be. We also hope to soon bring our Namaste Cookery School to Oxford, so these flavours and values can be shared beyond the restaurant and into people’s homes and daily lives.”