Best Restaurants in Oxford: Unmissable Places to Eat
Insider Oxford is supported by readers like you. If you buy something through the links on the website, I may earn a small commission. Cheers! Learn More
Looking for the best restaurants in Oxford? When it comes to food, Oxford is filled with culinary delights ready to tantalize your taste buds.
From stunning British restaurants serving up traditional cuisine to random burger joints offering high-quality food in a relaxed atmosphere, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
With an abundance of places to eat in Oxford, don’t miss this guide to the city’s best eats.
Price guide:
£ – Mains £10 and under
££ – Mains between £10-£20
£££ – Mains over £20
Best Restaurants in Oxford
Quod
Price Range: ££
Area: Located on the high street, with great views of St Mary’s Church and the Radcliffe Camera.
If you are after classic European cuisine, with fresh British ingredients, Quod is the place. Rohan Kashid is head chef and a master in the kitchen – his dishes are incredible, and his team create daily lunch specials sure to entice you.
The ambience at this restaurant is second to none – you can eat your dinner on an italian-style terrace (heated, of course, this is the UK!) surrounded by greenery and atmospheric lighting in the evening.
If you like the sound of corn fed chicken thighs, cauliflower puree and chorizo, or fresh beef burgers served with homemade chips and relish, get yourself down to Quod for an unforgettable dining experience.
Cherwell Boathouse
Price Range: £££
Area: In a quaint boathouse on the banks of the River Cherwell.
Set in a rustic boathouse, Cherwell Boathouse is a charming restaurant overlooking the River Cherwell.
The menu has a vast collection of quintessential British dishes, but it’s the Sunday dinners that are really exceptional, featuring rib of Longhorn Beef and leg of Wootton Lamb, along with all the classic trimmings you would expect with your roast.
Restaurant managers Brice Guibert and Julien Minier are experts at wine pairing and are always ready to help you choose a wine to compliment your meal – this personal touch makes this restaurant extra special.
🍽️ Tip: Take this guided Oxford food & drink tasting tour.
Pierre Victoire
Price Range: ££ – Fixed Menu
Area: On the iconic Little Clarendon Street, a perfect dinner after a day of shopping.
Pierre Victoire is a Parisian dream in the centre of Oxford, serving up classic French cuisine that whisks you far away.
The restaurant prides itself on its traditional French dishes, cooked by skilled chefs, at a decent price as it would be in France. Starting at £26.50 for two courses, you can try delicious dishes like fresh mussels served in a cream sauce and fillet of beef with dauphinoise potatoes.
Pierre Victoire also has an extensive collection of wines, giving you the ultimate French experience in one of the best restaurants in Oxford.
Brasserie Blanc
Price Range: ££
Area: In the heart of Jericho, on Walton Street. Surrounded by plenty of cool bars, perfect for a post-dinner cocktail.
Owned by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, Brasserie Blanc is a warm French restaurant with an extensive range of seasonal dishes. From Rump of West Country Lamb to Halloumi Burger with House Coleslaw, there’s something for everyone on this varied menu that serves French dishes with a British twist.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is as wonderful as the dishes. The cosy interior is the perfect setting for sharing a dessert – or two – with friends.
Sticks n Sushi
Price Range: ££
Area: In the Westgate shopping centre, with stunning views of the historic city.
Now, a shopping centre isn’t the first place you would think of when choosing places to eat in Oxford, but Westgate shopping centre is home to a gem. Sticks n sushi is a Japandi restaurant, blending classic Japanese cuisine with modern interior.
Watch the sun set over Oxford on the rooftop terrace, in what the restaurant describes as “Danish twilight cosiness”, whilst delighting your tastebuds with fresh sushi, sashimi, yakitori, and other Japanese dishes.
Those who aren’t too keen on sushi, have no fear. The restaurant has plenty of meat dishes available, as well as the aptly named Greenkeeper dish for vegetarians and vegans, consisting of vegetarian sushi and seaweed salad.
4500 Miles From Delhi
Price Range: ££
Area: Next to the Castle and Prison, 5 minutes from the main train station.
Lovers of Indian cuisine will be right at home at 4500 Miles From Delhi.
The menu is extensive, filled with classics like Butter Chicken and Lamb Rogan Josh, as well as a selection of more authentic dishes that really make it feel like you’ve been transported to Delhi, despite being 4500 miles away.
The interior of the restaurant is stunning, with mirrored walls and low-hanging lights completing the luxury experience, making it one of the best restaurants in Oxford.
Parsonage Grill
Price Range: £££
Area: A 10-minute walk from the city centre, on Banbury Road.
Parsonage Grill is undeniably one of the best restaurants in Oxford. Head Chef, Allan McLaughlin, serves up traditional British dishes with a modern twist, take their 45-day matured ribeye, hand cut chips, green salad, and bone marrow butter, for example.
Boho-chic interior with oil paintings of well-known artists adorning the walls set an ultra-cool mood for the meal, and their curated wine list makes it very difficult to just have one glass.
Oli’s Thai
Price Range: ££
Area: Located on Magdalen Road, in a charming up-and-coming residential area.
For incredible Thai food in Oxford, it has to be Oli’s Thai.
Although they are currently takeout only, their menu is small but perfectly formed. With lots of vegetarian options, like aubergine curry and Gang Garee curry with celeriac and butternut squash, you’ll find something you enjoy no matter your personal preferences.
Finish the meal with a delicious custard tart for the ultimate experience.
The Folly
Price Range: ££
Area: Next to the Folly Bridge on the River Thames, minutes from the city centre.
The Folly is another one of the many traditional British restaurants Oxford has to offer. Slow-cooked pork belly, crab and prawn linguine, and daily fish specials are all up on the menu.
The restaurant’s offering of afternoon tea is particularly tasty, with a selection of fresh homemade cakes and sandwiches alongside a choice of tea or coffee, or prosecco if you’re feeling fancy.
The outside seating is quite literally floating on the Thames, next to the Folly bridge, treating you to some gorgeous views while you enjoy dinner. You can even hire a boat for afterwards and spend an evening on the water.
Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Price Range: £££
Area: Set in the Oxfordshire countryside, around 20 minutes from the city centre.
When it comes to Michelin-star restaurants, Oxford has a couple, but Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons stands out as one of the best. Set inside a stunning hotel of the same name, this restaurant is another masterpiece from Raymond Blanc, serving up French-inspired dishes. Spiced duck breast and vegetable risotto are some of the standout dishes on the menu.
If you are feeling extra fancy and money is no object, why not book the seven-course dinner? It will set you back a whopping £194 per guest and consists of crab, lamb, and a duo of decadent desserts.
Atomic Burger
Price Range: ££
Area: A five-minute walk on the other side of Magdalen Bridge.
For a guilty pleasure burger, Atomic Burger is one of the best restaurants in Oxford. Their burgers are big, and their sides are even bigger. The Dead Elvis is popular and features American cheese, Swiss cheese, fried onions, and bacon – this is the kind of meal you come away with stuffed, but with no regrets.
The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, and the restaurant is decorated with a comic book theme, making it the perfect place for a casual burger with friends.
Spiced Roots
Price Range: ££
Area: On Cowley Road, near Magdalen College School and a stone’s throw from the centre.
For colourful Caribbean cuisine in a welcoming environment, Spiced Roots is the best.
They pride themselves on authentic dishes that reflect the warm nature of the islands – think jerk chicken, spiced curry goat, and saltfish croquettes with a side of rice and peas.
The restaurant offers takeaway and delivery, so you can get your Caribbean fix from the comfort of your sofa.
The restaurant also has a Rum Bar expertly curated by Jordan Allison to showcase some of the Caribbean’s most delicious rum, cocktails, and beers.
Other Brilliant Places to Eat in Oxford
Ben’s Cookies
Price Range: £ (Although the boxes are much better deals than buying a single cookie!)
Area: In the Covered Market, on the corner near to St Michael’s Church.
Although technically not a restaurant, Ben’s Cookies just had to make this list.
If you like cookies with the perfect chew-to-crunch ratio (let’s face it, who doesn’t?), and huge chunks of chocolate, then you will love these.
Ben’s Cookies started in Oxford’s Covered Market in 1983 as a small stall, where the owner, Helge Rubinstein, named these treats after her son.
From classic flavours like milk chocolate chunks to wilder varieties with rose or matcha inside, it is impossible to just buy one.
G&Ds
Price Range: £
Area: Little Clarendon Street, with other locations at St Aldates and Cowley Road
Sometimes a craving for ice cream hits, and in Oxford, there is only one place to go: G&D’s. There are a couple of locations around Oxford, but the Little Clarendon Street one is our favourite. The store was first opened by an Oxford University student who wanted to open a friendly creamery to rival the larger chains.
Whilst you can opt for some of the more classic flavours, I highly recommend choosing the Monkey Business, a banana ice cream with chocolate chips. Delicious.
The Perch
Price Range: ££
Area: In the Binsey area of Oxford, overlooking the Thames River.
The Perch is a classic British pub serving up traditional pub grub and, of course, an incredible Sunday roast of beef, lamb, or a nut roast offering for vegetarians.
With a menu that changes seasonally, this pub uses local, high-quality ingredients to create dishes that are a little bit special.
In a historic riverside setting, this is a dreamy British pub that escorts you away from the buzz of the city and rivals some of the best restaurants in Oxford.
Society Café
Price Range: £
Area: In the Gloucester Green neighbourhood, on St Michaels Street.
Society cafe is a small chain that serves up rich, speciality coffee in a cosy atmosphere, and coffee connoisseurs will appreciate that theirs is sourced from some of the best roasters in the world. Society Cafe also offers tea, hot chocolate, and a range of soft drinks for those who prefer to stay away from caffeine. The cafe’s interior is light with wooden accents and has plenty of seating for those who enjoy relaxing inside.
Vaults & Garden
Price Range: £
Area: Inside the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, opposite the iconic Radcliffe Camera.
Vaults & Garden is another cafe in Oxford that not only serves great food but is set in an impressive location – a historic 1320’s building. William Pouget created the cafe based on his vision of a space to relax and enjoy food created sustainably.
The cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and cream tea, with an array of cakes and coffees available. The full Oxford breakfast is highly recommended, as is the Oxford rarebit and vegan Oxford breakfast.
Bbuona
Price Range: ££
Area: In the Gloucester Green area, next to St Peter’s College.
You could argue that this is an Oxford restaurant, but Bbuona calls itself a pizza bar and serves up some of the best — and reasonably priced — Italian cuisine in the city. This pizza bar offers ultimate customisation, you can even choose your organic flour base.
Bbuona offers takeaway and delivery options, but the food is best enjoyed seated in the bar with friends, enjoying a pizza and an aperitif.
