Guidebook for Oxfordshire
Food Scene
Brasserie Blanc is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year as the Oxford Venue first opened its doors in 1996. Led by Raymond Blanc, this restaurant is all about the French cuisine (‘honest food, cooked with the heart’ is his motto) – and the best of it. Their menus are seasonal and this winter you can have a two course set menu complete with a specially priced glass of wine.
21 íbúar mæla með
Brasserie Blanc
71-72 Walton StBrasserie Blanc is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year as the Oxford Venue first opened its doors in 1996. Led by Raymond Blanc, this restaurant is all about the French cuisine (‘honest food, cooked with the heart’ is his motto) – and the best of it. Their menus are seasonal and this winter you can have a two course set menu complete with a specially priced glass of wine.
Oxford’s food aficionados believe this used to be the best restaurant in the city. When the magnificent Charles Michel was still about town, he’d frequent the pub. So too did the Oxford Gastronomica lot, who know a thing or two about eating. When it launched, the Rickety Press was a low-key, food-focused restaurant with fine cooking and ideas you’d struggle to match unless you went out into The Cotswolds, or down to Henley. Now, it’s had a bit of a makeover and it seems to be more geared towards a crowd that wishes it were in London but still has a year at university to contend with. Pizza and burgers – but good ones.
28 íbúar mæla með
The Rickety Press
67 Cranham StOxford’s food aficionados believe this used to be the best restaurant in the city. When the magnificent Charles Michel was still about town, he’d frequent the pub. So too did the Oxford Gastronomica lot, who know a thing or two about eating. When it launched, the Rickety Press was a low-key, food-focused restaurant with fine cooking and ideas you’d struggle to match unless you went out into The Cotswolds, or down to Henley. Now, it’s had a bit of a makeover and it seems to be more geared towards a crowd that wishes it were in London but still has a year at university to contend with. Pizza and burgers – but good ones.
Plan ahead to sample Laddawan Thurston’s Thai food. With just a few tables, this appealingly simple dining room on a back street outside the city centre is booked up weeks ahead, even for lunch. If you're lucky, you might be able to snag a last-minute spot at the counter, from where you can watch dishes like jungle curry with butternut squash, coconut milk and red hot chillies being expertly put together. Mains from £8.50.
66 íbúar mæla með
Oli's Thai
38 Magdalen RoadPlan ahead to sample Laddawan Thurston’s Thai food. With just a few tables, this appealingly simple dining room on a back street outside the city centre is booked up weeks ahead, even for lunch. If you're lucky, you might be able to snag a last-minute spot at the counter, from where you can watch dishes like jungle curry with butternut squash, coconut milk and red hot chillies being expertly put together. Mains from £8.50.
This converted chemist’s shop on Oxford’s Cowley Road is where you'll find some of the best tapas in the country. Request a seat at the long, steel-topped counter to watch robustly flavoured plates like grilled baby leeks with punchy romesco sauce come off the plancha. Must-try dishes include crunchy salt cod croquetas with aioli, and slow-cooked ox cheek with cauliflower purée. The first-floor dining room is perfect for larger groups. Tapas from £3.
28 íbúar mæla með
Arbequina
72-74 Cowley RdThis converted chemist’s shop on Oxford’s Cowley Road is where you'll find some of the best tapas in the country. Request a seat at the long, steel-topped counter to watch robustly flavoured plates like grilled baby leeks with punchy romesco sauce come off the plancha. Must-try dishes include crunchy salt cod croquetas with aioli, and slow-cooked ox cheek with cauliflower purée. The first-floor dining room is perfect for larger groups. Tapas from £3.
Drinks & Nightlife
This Jericho institution has been mixing up cocktails for decades, and has won awards for doing it particularly well. With an advertised 50 rums, 18 gins, 25 tequilas and 40 whiskies, the quality comes from the freshly squeezed juices and homemade syrups the spirits are mixed with, as well as its retro, subterranean venue, professional bartenders and guest DJs.
38 íbúar mæla með
Raoul's
32 Walton StThis Jericho institution has been mixing up cocktails for decades, and has won awards for doing it particularly well. With an advertised 50 rums, 18 gins, 25 tequilas and 40 whiskies, the quality comes from the freshly squeezed juices and homemade syrups the spirits are mixed with, as well as its retro, subterranean venue, professional bartenders and guest DJs.
It might sound like a cosy old pub, but it’s actually a pretty swanky cocktail bar, so don’t go expecting the former. There’s a large impressive bar with low hanging lamps down one side and a wave of leather seating down the other, the choice my friend is yours (unless it’s Friday/Saturday night when you’ll be lucky just to get in the door).
25 íbúar mæla með
The Duke of Cambridge
5-6 Little Clarendon StIt might sound like a cosy old pub, but it’s actually a pretty swanky cocktail bar, so don’t go expecting the former. There’s a large impressive bar with low hanging lamps down one side and a wave of leather seating down the other, the choice my friend is yours (unless it’s Friday/Saturday night when you’ll be lucky just to get in the door).
We love this pub! With a father and son team at the helm, it’s full of passion and it shows. It is the perfect place to come and hang out whether you’re a tourist / student / local (or BarChick) you’ll be welcomed in with open arms.
There’s always lots going on from quiz nights on Tuesdays to open mic nights on Sundays, it’s always good fun in here. Warm up by the fire, jam on the piano, play board games with friends or examine their huge collection of lighters (we did).
25 íbúar mæla með
The Old Bookbinders Ale House
17-18 Victor StWe love this pub! With a father and son team at the helm, it’s full of passion and it shows. It is the perfect place to come and hang out whether you’re a tourist / student / local (or BarChick) you’ll be welcomed in with open arms.
There’s always lots going on from quiz nights on Tuesdays to open mic nights on Sundays, it’s always good fun in here. Warm up by the fire, jam on the piano, play board games with friends or examine their huge collection of lighters (we did).
Dating back to 1242, this is the oldest pub in Oxford (quite a feat) and it’s as charming as it is aged. With wooden panelled walls, crackling fires, low ceilings and a wooden well stocked bar, don’t go lighting any matches in here.
Locals, students and tourists alike sit on benches or at tables, reading papers, drinking delicious pints or eating. There’s a good range or beers, ciders, ales, stouts and wines and the menu is traditional British pub grub, so tuck into burgers, pies or black pudding.
The real charm in here is the mega collection of club ties. There are over 5,000 of them pinned to the walls and the ceilings.
35 íbúar mæla með
The Bear Tavern
6 Alfred StDating back to 1242, this is the oldest pub in Oxford (quite a feat) and it’s as charming as it is aged. With wooden panelled walls, crackling fires, low ceilings and a wooden well stocked bar, don’t go lighting any matches in here.
Locals, students and tourists alike sit on benches or at tables, reading papers, drinking delicious pints or eating. There’s a good range or beers, ciders, ales, stouts and wines and the menu is traditional British pub grub, so tuck into burgers, pies or black pudding.
The real charm in here is the mega collection of club ties. There are over 5,000 of them pinned to the walls and the ceilings.