London Basque cheesecake specialist La Maritxu will open its first café outside the capital at Bicester Village on Thursday 1 October.
The new Oxfordshire site will sell the brand’s signature Classic Basque cheesecake alongside a tiramisu version and a Chocolate & Orange flavour created exclusively for Bicester Village.
Visitors will be able to buy cheesecake by the slice or choose mini, medium and whole cakes to take away, with prices beginning at £7.
At a glance
| Opening date | Thursday 1 October 2026 |
| Location | Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6WD |
| Exact unit | Not yet published on the Bicester Village directory |
| Flavours | Classic, Tiramisu and Bicester-exclusive Chocolate & Orange |
| Prices | From £7 for a slice, with whole cakes from £45 |
| Drinks | Coffee, tea and seasonal drinks including Hot Chocolate & Orange Cream |
| Opening hours | La Maritxu says 9am–9pm; Bicester Village currently lists 9am–8pm on opening day, so check before travelling |
| Parking | Complimentary parking and EV charging are available at Bicester Village |
| More information | Visit the La Maritxu website |
Classic, tiramisu and an exclusive chocolate-orange cheesecake
The Bicester opening menu will centre on three flavours.
La Maritxu’s Classic is a crustless Basque-style cheesecake baked at a high temperature to create a deeply caramelised top and a soft, creamy centre.
The Tiramisu cheesecake introduces coffee and cocoa flavours, while the Chocolate & Orange edition has been developed especially for the Bicester Village café.
The exclusive flavour combines chocolate with citrus and is being launched as a seasonal autumn option.
Cheesecakes will be available as individual slices and in three takeaway formats: mini, medium and whole.
| Size | Classic | Tiramisu or Chocolate & Orange |
|---|---|---|
| Slice | £7 | £7.50 |
| Mini cheesecake | £11 | £13 |
| Medium cheesecake | £15 | £17 |
| Whole cheesecake | £45 | £50 |
The launch announcement does not give the exact dimensions or recommended serving numbers for the Bicester whole cakes.
Anyone ordering for a birthday, dinner or larger gathering should therefore ask the café how many people each size is intended to serve before buying.
Prices have been supplied for the October opening and may change after launch.
What is Basque cheesecake?
Basque cheesecake differs from a conventional New York-style baked cheesecake because it does not have a biscuit base.
It is baked at a relatively high temperature, allowing the outside and top to become dark and caramelised while the centre remains soft and creamy.
The style is often called San Sebastián cheesecake after the city in the Basque Country where the modern version became widely known.
La Maritxu draws on the founders’ Basque roots and describes its cakes as handmade and baked fresh each day.
First La Maritxu café outside London
The Bicester Village opening marks the company’s first permanent location beyond London.
La Maritxu currently has cafés in Connaught Village, Greenwich, Kingly Court in Soho and Coal Drops Yard at King’s Cross.
The business says its family story began in 2021 as a project involving Basque sisters María, Almudena and Lucía, who wanted to share the food culture of their home region abroad.
Lucía later developed the London business with her husband Ignacio. She initially continued working as an architect while baking during evenings and weekends before moving into the company full time.
The new Bicester café is the next stage of that expansion, bringing the brand to an open-air shopping destination with more than 150 boutiques and a growing restaurant and café offer.
Bicester Village sits in the Oxfordshire countryside near the Cotswolds rather than within the Cotswolds itself.
Coffee, tea and seasonal drinks
The cheesecake range will be accompanied by freshly prepared coffee and tea.
La Maritxu has also announced seasonal drinks, including a Hot Chocolate & Orange Cream designed to complement the Bicester-exclusive cheesecake.
A full drinks menu and prices have not yet been published.
The company has not confirmed whether the new café will have indoor or outdoor seating, whether tables can be reserved or whether it will operate mainly as a takeaway counter.
Dietary and allergen information
La Maritxu’s standard recipe contains cream cheese, cream, sugar and eggs. The cheesecakes are therefore suitable for vegetarians but are not vegan.
The company’s general guidance says its cheesecakes are halal and alcohol-free.
It also says the cakes are made without gluten, but warns that its kitchen is not a certified gluten-free facility.
Check the seasonal flavours before ordering
The Bicester announcement does not include a product-specific allergen guide for the Tiramisu or Chocolate & Orange cheesecakes.
Seasonal flavours can contain ingredients and allergens beyond those used in the Classic recipe.
Customers with coeliac disease, allergies, intolerances or strict dietary requirements should ask staff to check the current ingredient and cross-contact information for the exact product before ordering.
La Maritxu advises keeping takeaway cakes refrigerated and allowing them to come towards room temperature before serving.
Customers taking a cake home after a long shopping day should ask staff how long it can safely remain unrefrigerated and confirm its use-by guidance.
Opening hours need confirmation
La Maritxu’s press announcement gives planned opening hours of 9am to 9pm.
However, Bicester Village’s live opening-hours calendar currently lists the shopping destination as open from 9am to 8pm on Thursday 1 October and Friday 2 October, 9am to 9pm on Saturday 3 October and 10am to 7pm on Sunday 4 October.
Restaurants and cafés can sometimes operate different hours from the boutiques, but a La Maritxu page has not yet appeared in Bicester Village’s dining directory.
Anyone planning an evening visit should check the final café listing or contact Bicester Village before travelling.
How to get to La Maritxu at Bicester Village
Planning your visit
| Address | Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6WD |
| Exact café location | Not yet shown on the Village map; follow signs or ask Guest Concierge on arrival |
| By train from Oxford | Direct trains run from Oxford to Bicester Village station, with journeys from around 14 minutes |
| By bus from Oxford | Stagecoach service S5 leaves Magdalen Street up to every 15 minutes and serves Bicester Village |
| By car | Follow signs for Bicester Village from the A41 or M40 Junction 9 |
| Parking | Complimentary parking, accessible spaces and EV charging points are available |
| Guest Concierge | 01869 366266 |
| Village information | Plan a visit to Bicester Village |
Bicester Village station serves the shopping destination directly and is the simplest public-transport option for many visitors travelling from Oxford.
The site also provides complimentary wheelchairs and mobility scooters, subject to availability, which can be reserved through Guest Concierge.
Accessible parking spaces are positioned near the entrances, while accessible toilets are available throughout the Village.
Frequently asked questions
When does La Maritxu open at Bicester Village?
The café is scheduled to open on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Is this La Maritxu’s first café outside London?
Yes. The company currently lists four permanent London locations, making Bicester Village its first site outside the capital.
Where exactly will the café be?
The address is Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, Bicester, OX26 6WD. The individual unit has not yet been added to the public Village directory or map.
What flavours will be available?
The opening menu will include Classic, Tiramisu and a Chocolate & Orange Basque cheesecake created exclusively for Bicester Village.
How much is a slice?
A Classic slice will cost £7. The Tiramisu and Chocolate & Orange slices will cost £7.50.
Can visitors buy a whole cheesecake?
Yes. Whole Classic cakes will cost £45, while whole special-flavour cakes will cost £50. The serving size has not yet been published.
Can whole cakes be pre-ordered?
The opening announcement does not explain whether Bicester whole cakes can be reserved in advance. Check the café’s final listing once it goes live.
Is the cheesecake gluten-free?
La Maritxu says its cheesecakes are made without gluten, but the kitchen is not certified gluten-free. Customers with coeliac disease or an allergy should check the exact product and cross-contact risk with staff.
Is there a vegan cheesecake?
No vegan cheesecake has been announced for the Bicester opening. The standard recipe contains dairy products and eggs.
Is the Tiramisu cheesecake alcohol-free?
La Maritxu’s general FAQ says its cheesecakes are alcohol-free, but customers should confirm the ingredients of the new Bicester seasonal flavour before ordering.
What time will the café open?
La Maritxu says 9am to 9pm. Bicester Village currently lists its opening hours as 9am to 8pm on Thursday 1 October, so check the live listing before an evening visit.
Is parking free?
Yes. Bicester Village provides complimentary parking and EV charging points.
How long is the train from Oxford?
Direct journeys from Oxford to Bicester Village station can take from around 14 minutes. Check the Chiltern Railways timetable before travelling.
