Best restaurants in Oxford

Somewhat of an Oxford institution, this restaurant has been around since 1998. With a cocktail bar, a bargain lunch menu, an afternoon tea menu and an extensive dinner offering, this spot really does offer up something for every occasion. In the evening try dishes like rosemary lamb cutlets 2 or spatchcock baby chicken.

With a three month waiting list and bookings that are only released in waves, saying you’ve eaten at Oli’s Thai isn’t something a lot of people can claim. For the lucky few that have had the privilege however, only good things can be said about the dishes on offer. From steamed sea bass, to confit duck Panang the small menu features all the best dishes the Thai cuisine has to offer. Just get in there quick when it comes to bookings.

Boasting a Michelin star and a head chef that has worked with the likes of Gary Rhodes and has appeared on the Great British Menu, The Oxford Kitchen does fine dining in a trendy way. With a selection of tasting menus to choose from, go for the chef’s one and expect the likes of Scottish Scallops, Gin cured trout and ‘Blackout Beef’. The modern and sleek interiors are great too.

With the seal of approval from renowned critic Giles Coren, this Chinese restaurant in Oxford claims to serve up food like 'a Chinese grandmother' would make. With a long list of mains there's certainly scope for one or two dishes to hit the mark, but happily most do. From dumplings to crispy duck you'll find all your favourites here, all packed with fresh flavours a little more flair than your local takeaway. 

Sitting riverside in Oxford, the Cherwell Boathouse is right in front of the docking area of the punting boats, so if you fancy a quick boat trip after your meal, this is the ideal spot to grab some lunch on a sunny day. On the menu, you’ll find seared blue fin tuna, guinea fowl with dauphinoise potatoes and chocolate trifle to finish.

On to add to your list of fun restaurants in the city, Kazbar is decorated like a Moroccan Souk with traditional clothing and instruments covering the walls and tree trunks growing up into the glass panelled roof. Gambas, anchovy wrapped olives and braised butternut squash are a few of the items that feature on this extensive menu. It's a great place to grab a late-night cocktail too.

With chefs hailing from Szechuan’s capital city, this is an authentic tongue-tingling experience. Dishes are packed with chilli and often feature offal - sliced pig’s ears with sesame oil or ox tripe in chilli sauce for instance. For an inexpensive meal in the middle of the day My Sichuan also dish up large bowls of noodles for around a fiver. 

Featuring on our top 100 best restaurants, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, created and headed up by world renowned chef Raymond Blanc, is a restaurant made for special occasions. With stunning surroundings and a host of set menus to choose from, you can experience the likes of confit of trout, garden beetroot terrine and roasted grouse. This restaurant is definitely one to add to your bucket list.

This popular London Indian restaurant has opened in Oxford's shiny new Westgate shopping complex. Mixing together both British and Indian influences to create modern and exciting dishes, expect to find the likes of chicken tikka and cheese naan, tandoori lamb and tandoori subz saag. Its super modern interior and outdoor terrace are a great place to unwind after hitting the shops too.

Offering an ever-changing menu filled with seasonal delights, Turl Street Kitchen is the ideal spot to grab a casual lunch after a day of exploring the historic city. Priding itself on being sustainable in every way possible you’ll find that all the ingredients used are sourced locally and food waste is kept to an absolute minimum. The menu feaures the likes of fried buttermilk burgers, bubble and squeak and black pudding hash with free range eggs.

With a floating river terrace and a rustic but still stylish interior, The Folly is just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre making it the ideal spot to have a nice lunch on a summer day or a cosy dinner when the days get colder. The menu is pretty traditional with the likes of duck liver parfait, slow braised pork belly and chocolate fondant featuring on the a la carte menu alongside tasting menus.

This countryside pub is pretty as a picture, and the perfect venue for a spot of Sunday lunch. Serving up an accomplished menu of classic dishes, you can expect all your favourites like fish and chips and burgers, as well as plates that change over the course of the year to reflect seasonality, like an oak smoked trout scotch egg made with leeks and potatoes. 

This tiny space can get queued out at dinner time, so make sure to arrive early to secure a table. Once you're settled, you'll be well rewarded with authentic Japanese plates. The famous octopus balls are topped generously with sauce, seaweed powder and fish flakes, while the edamame beans with a home-made chilli sauce aren't to be missed.

We're stretching our round up of the best restaurants in Oxford here to the best restaurants in Oxfordshire, with this quaint countryside pub nestled in the sweet hamlet of Binsey just outside of the main city. The stretch, we think, is worth it thanks to some solid English cooking from the kitchen here. The menu is all pies and puddings, with time-honoured classics given the proper airtime they deserve.

Run by the team behind The Canton Arms and The Anchor and Hope in London, this traditional boozer has all the trappings of a good gastropub: bare board floors, wooden tables and slick service. The menu, too, is a homage to all that is wholesome with the star of the show being a sharing main of seven hour lamb shoulder with a cast iron pan full of gratin potatoes and home pickled cabbage.

Set in a Victorian glass house, this bright and airy restaurant serves up Mediterranean cuisine cooked on a wood fire and charcoal grill. On the menu you’ll find salt cod croquettes, braised cuttlefish and Gee’s paella with seafood, chicken and chorizo. Located by the river it makes for the ideal spot for celebration lunches and dinners.

While this family-friendly Italian won't blow your mind when it comes to its reliable menu, it is a great place to take a varied group thanks to a far-reaching menu of familiar favourites. Pizzas, pastas and risottos all feature, with a few more unique options on offer too like a rare grilled tuna steak served with a salad of butter beans, roasted red peppers, baby spinach and chard with a green olive dressing. 

Housed in what was once Oxford's first police station, this Thai restaurant in the heart of Oxford serves up a strong line-up of knockout dishes. Fresh, authentic and bold, the menu focuses on traditional techniques and recipes with dishes like the mu pad phet being a firm favourite - in layman's terms that's stir-fried pork in a fragrant curry paste with fresh herbs, peppercorns and Thai aubergines.