Our Story

Inspired by Old Delhi’s Gali Paranthe Wali. At home in Oxford.

A visit to Gali Paranthe Wali, the celebrated food street in Old Delhi, inspired Shezan’s approach to Indian cooking.

Our heritage-inspired menu combines Mughal classics with contemporary sharing plates, all prepared in our High Street kitchen and served in historic, characterful surroundings.

The Story of 135 High Street

1915
The rooms became refreshment rooms, beginning more than a century of dining here.

1925–1931
The Swiss Restaurant was followed by Oxford’s Town & Gown restaurant.

By 1978
The Gate of India brought Indian dining to the historic rooms.

2002–Today
Café Zouk opened under the same ownership and later became Shezan, continuing the building’s dining tradition with heritage-inspired cooking and warm hospitality.

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A traditional painting depicting a tree with lush green foliage, some people sitting at its base, and a background scene with animals and a hut.
A traditional painting depicting a cultural scene with several people, including men in traditional attire, engaged in conversation and drinking. The background shows an architectural setting with arches and buildings, and a large tree on the left si
A traditional painting of a woman in traditional clothing holding a cup and looking at a bird on her hand, with decorative floral patterns around the border.
A traditional painting depicting a group of men in historical attire engaged in a discussion or meeting, with architectural structures in the background and trees surrounding the scene.