Best restaurants in Oxford

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tapas aficionados will love this quirky little joint, which is housed inside a converted chemist. We are big fans of the house onion tortilla and love the reasonable prices too, with most dishes under £10.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Despite a recent renovation, The Swan Inn maintains all essence of charm and history, whilst providing award winning cuisine at its Cygnet restaurant. Headed by chef patron Paul Welburn, enjoy two or three course lunches or four course dinners made with every changing, seasonal produce. 

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.

Housed in the city's Westgate Shopping Centre, Shoryu Ramen has ventured outside of the capital, bringing its authentic Japanese cuisine to the people of Oxford. Menus here are, unsurprisingly, all about the ramen, boasting a rich 12-hour pork broth in its signature dishes. Neutral backdrops, tasty food and a buzzing atmosphere is a winning combination in our opinion.