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Original poster

Oxford - where is good to go for lunch?

27 replies

liveeverysecond · 03/08/2021 20:50

Stopping in Oxford on our way through on Thursday with 3DDs (12, 10, 8). Can anyone recommend anywhere good to eat and where is good for a wander? Was thinking of westgate shopping centre but wasn't sure if it was walking distance to the centre? Will probably aim to be there was a few hours incl. lunch. TIA

OP posts:
BabycakesMatlala · 03/08/2021 21:00

Westgate is right in the centre. It has quite a few restaurants on the top, with good views over the city.

You can easily go from there into Christ Church meadows, which give very beautiful views of the colleges and also down by the Thames. The botanic gardens are at the other end of the meadows, and are a really special place to go (not sure if the glasshouses are now open again, but they're great even if it's just the gardens). Magdalen College deer park is also right nearby and good for a wander, and there's punt hire at the base of Magdelen College Tower. If you fancy going a bit further, the University Parks just north of the centre are only a few mins' walk and are great.

We don't have the lovely independent shops we used to, but the Covered Market off the High Street is nice for a browse (v good coffee shops/gelateria/choc shop in there, all worth a visit!). And a browse in Blackwell's bookshop on Broad Street (make sure you don't miss the amazing Norrington room in the basement).

Ashmolean, Natural History Museum and Pitt Rivers museum all fab (but quite booked up at the mo!).

Egghead68 · 03/08/2021 21:04

I like the Nosebag

www.nosebagoxford.co.uk/

FrownedUpon · 03/08/2021 21:10

We had Japanese in the covered market. There are a few different restaurants in there.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 03/08/2021 21:14

Browns! I grew up in Oxford and it was a staple when I was a child. The Pierre Victoire round the corner was always good too, but I'm not sure if it's still there.

Winecheesesleep · 03/08/2021 21:23

We've had a lovely few lunches at The Breakfast Club on the top floor at Westgate. The children really liked it.

Savannahnanana · 03/08/2021 21:28

It has to be Browns!

Savannahnanana · 03/08/2021 21:30

Followed by a visit to the shrunken heads in the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Shurl · 03/08/2021 21:33

Pierre Victoire is still there and I had a delicious meal there a few weekends ago. Definitely gets my vote. A proper Oxford institution, and i think it's much nicer than Brown's!

backtonormalonedaysoon · 03/08/2021 21:36

Quod is more central than browns

Orwiporo · 03/08/2021 21:40

They have removed the shrunken heads from Pitt Rivers.

Newnormal99 · 03/08/2021 21:44

Thank for this. It's a timely post as I have a couple of days booked for me and dd in Oxford (10&13)

I was thinking if the prison museum - is that worth it? Also which is best of the others. They are not massive museum goers so don't want to overload.

HelloDulling · 03/08/2021 21:48

There is a Comptoir at the entrance to Westgate. Lovely Lebanese food. Oxford is so nice for a wander.

Winecheesesleep · 03/08/2021 22:35

@HelloDulling

There is a Comptoir at the entrance to Westgate. Lovely Lebanese food. Oxford is so nice for a wander.
Oh yes, this is really nice too!
didireallysaythat · 03/08/2021 22:45

Al Shami was my favourite. I think Turl Street Cafe closed? The Varsity Club for the view

Defiantly41 · 03/08/2021 22:46

Was just about to say Comptoir Libanais!
Browns is an institution , if you're picnicking or need snacks the deli a couple of doors down from there is brilliant, also Maisonette Blanc
Quod is good too
Plenty of eateries around the Westgate

cafedesreves · 03/08/2021 23:16

Really like Quod and The Old Parsonage (the latter is expensive). Also love love love Branca in Jericho

subsy1 · 03/08/2021 23:23

We like the rooftop restaurant at the Ashmolean Museum.

Germolenequeen · 03/08/2021 23:26

I went back to Browns after a 25 year hiatus and was very disappointed 😞

unim · 03/08/2021 23:39

The rooftop restaurant at the Ashmolean has a really nice feel to it, always feels like a treat to be up there in that space - I haven't been there in ages but the food was good when I did.

The restaurants at the top of the Westgate are also nice. The Comptoir Libanais is at the bottom and the food is nice but the ambience is more cafe than restaurant.

Best food in Oxford hands down IMHO is Arbequina on the Cowley Road, but unless you are a foodie or going to Magdalen College or the botanical gardens then it is probably just a bit too far from what you are seeing.

unim · 03/08/2021 23:40

Maison Blanc is nice - up in Jericho.

Quod is ok, it always feels like a treat and it's a nice venue with good service but the food never quite lives up to expectations. Good cocktails though!

Sickoffamilydrama · 03/08/2021 23:49

@Orwiporo

They have removed the shrunken heads from Pitt Rivers.
What when did that happen I'm sure the last the we went they were there 🤔

In fairness I've been so many times I might not have noticed they had gone, we have done the mouse hunt in there so often we actually know where they all are now.

Anyway back to OPs question you could always get sandwiches somewhere and go sit by the river as well. Westgate has so much choice that you can't go wrong with kids there.

Prison museum is not as good as Ashmolean or Pitts rivers. I used to walk past the prison for college when there was actual prisoners in there, they used to shout at us. Then when they converted it is was walking through there with a work colleague and she said last time I came through these gates was to visit my husband, which did surprise me as she'd never mentioned anything like that before.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 04/08/2021 00:33

@didireallysaythat Oh no! I used to LOVE that place. And I loved the QI club before that - I've had a lot of good times in that building.

Savannahnanana · 04/08/2021 07:35

@Orwiporo the shrunken heads are back. My friend was there on Monday and they've been reinstated. ☺

Journeynotdestination · 04/08/2021 08:04

With kids I’d probably eat in the Westgate centre. There is Nando’s and some other nice restaurants at the top. In the basement there is The Social, with a burger place, noodle cafe and a few more.

Browns is a bit if a walk from the centre … and I don’t rate the food there anymore.

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 04/08/2021 08:14

My teens used to like the social on the lower floor at west gate as they could get different things then.
If I go now we tend to go to the roof at west gate and try different restaurants. Breakfast club is nice for pancakes etc.

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