Rumsey's Chocolaterie Thame — Restaurant in South Oxfordshire

Cozy, Dog-Friendly Chocolate Spot in Thame – A Sweet Choice for a Relaxing Break

I’ve visited Rumsey’s in Thame a couple of times, and it’s a spot I’d happily return to, especially for a traditional hot chocolate or a quick churro fix.

Atmosphere & Ambiance The place has a cozy, bustling feel – ideal for a catch-up with friends or a family outing. While the decor isn’t particularly standout, it’s welcoming and comfortable, with the added perk of being dog-friendly.

Service Service was friendly and accommodating. Despite being quite busy, the staff kindly rearranged a few chairs and tables to fit our group of six plus two dogs, making us feel right at home.

Food & Drinks On this visit, I opted for the ‘Rumsey’s Original Dark House Hot Chocolate’ and the ‘Churros with Milk Chocolate’. The hot chocolate, while clearly a house specialty, was a bit too rich for my personal taste, as it’s essentially melted chocolate – perfect for serious chocoholics but a bit intense for me. In the future, I’d probably stick to their more traditional hot chocolate, which I’ve enjoyed before and find a bit more balanced. The churros, on the other hand, were delicious – lightly dusted with cinnamon and served with a smooth, creamy milk chocolate sauce that hit the spot. I’ve also tried their chocolate fondue before, which is a fun and shareable choice for groups.

Little Extras Near the entrance, they have a charming counter where you can pick up baked goods, hand-crafted chocolates and boxed treats – great for gifts or a little something special to take home.

Value for Money Rumsey’s is pretty reasonably priced. You can have a drink and a sweet treat for under £10, which feels fair for the quality.

Final Thoughts I’d likely return, though it would probably take a friend’s suggestion to get me back, as I’m not the biggest chocolate fan myself. That said, for those who are, Rumsey’s is a solid pick with a welcoming atmosphere and...

Great to find the Thame Rumsey's open on a Sunday despite what the website says, but disappointed to discover they were serving dine-in customers as if Rumsey's were a McDonald's - ie using takeaway containers and refusing to use the crockery. Staff claimed it was due to staff shortages but there was no warning in advance of purchase to say they were having to lower their standards to that of a cheap café. If there really is an issue with staff cleaning crockery, we would rather have been served our coffee and cake with proper crockery and done our own washing up than put up with takeaway containers! The couple on the neighbouring table told us they felt the same. So until this situation is resolved, I would recommend you go elsewhere if you want a proper...

I have reviewed this place before, and the staff are always friendly, however on our most recent visit we arrived with 45 minutes until closing, I felt as though we were not so welcome at this time, the staff were all a bit younger than the usual mix of ages and one of the staff said pretty loudly near us that they were closing at 5pm, talking to another member of staff. I felt that this was meant for the customer's to hear. Its quite pricey, but the food is delicious, I love the chocolate swirls and decoration you get on some of the drinks (Mocha, hot chocolate and some others). The Churros with dipping chocolate (milk, dark or white) are really good and a perfect snack. I would just like to be made to feel a bit more welcome like the more mature staff...