50+ restaurants in Oxford and beyond for alfresco dining this summer

With longer evenings and blue skies finally making an appearance, there’s no better excuse to head outside and soak it all in – preferably with a crisp drink in hand and something delicious on your plate.

Whether you’re after a lazy lunch in a leafy beer garden, a sun-drenched terrace for small plates and spritzes, or riverside dining with a view, Oxford and its surrounding villages have you covered.

So dust off those sunglasses, gather your crew, and discover some of the best spots for al fresco eats, scenic sips, and making the most of this glorious weather.

The Store, Oxford

The Store opens rooftop terrace in Oxford

Perched atop The Store on Broad Street, the rooftop bar is a hidden gem for sunseekers. With sweeping views over the city’s iconic spires, it’s a stylish spot to sip cocktails or enjoy a chilled glass of rosé as the sun sets. Sleek, contemporary and effortlessly cool, the rooftop at The Store brings a touch of laid-back luxury to alfresco drinking and dining in the heart of the city.

Quod Restaurant at Old Bank Hotel

The Quod Restaurant is a haven of tranquillity and culinary delight, away from the bustling High Street. Take afternoon tea, or enjoy a three-course meal, on the terrace, tucked away amongst the topiaries.

The Roof Terrace at The Varsity Club

Located over four levels at No.9 The High Street, Oxford, The Roof Terrace at The Varsity Club is great for drinks and dining. The roof terrace has heaters for colder evenings. Booking is advised, although several tables will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Plough Inn

This historic city centre pub serves traditional real ales and craft beer, and you can expect an a la carte menu or a more classic all-day menu that can be eaten in the new outside dining areas – on Cornmarket and on St Michael Street – both overlooked by the tower of St Michael’s, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford.

Visit The Plough Inn

The Handle Bar, Oxford

This cosy restaurant, cafe and bar in central Oxford, tucked away above a bicycle shop, offers incredible food, coffee and a rare slice of tranquillity. Enjoy its breakfasts, brunches, lunches, Tapas outside in little booths and tables on a part -pedestrianised St Michel’s Street in the City Centre Street.

The White Rabbit, Oxford

The White Rabbit - Pizza, Pub & Beer Garden in Oxford - Gallery Image 03

The White Rabbit is an independent pub in Oxford that claims to make the best artisan pizza this side of Naples! Pizza and a pint are what they believe in. All of their ingredients are carefully selected by their Italian head chef, with their best ingredients imported from Italy every week.

The Ashmolean Cafe

Ashmolean Cafe and Rooftop Restaurant Oxford - Terrace

Feast on seasonal dishes and afternoon tea with terrific views of the Oxford spires from the Rooftop Restaurant at the Ashmolean. Lunch is served between 11.30am and 3.30pm and afternoon tea is available from 11.30 to 4.00pm.

Victors

Victors Oxford is a Hamptons-inspired restaurant & bar offering a menu of modern American small plates. The menu is designed to share. Dishes are served to the centre of the table, creating a social and relaxed environment. Menu highlights include black cod, lobster tacos, sushi and raw bar platters, and lamb cutlets presented on a konro grill.

The Breakfast Club

This family caf business (caf not café) doing a mean old all-day food and drink offering. The restaurant is fairly well known for its banging brunches, but it also offers some wonderful lunches and evening meals – think the ultimate comfort grub. You can make a reservation for outdoor dining.

Pizza Pilgrims

Pizza Pilgrims’ first pizzeria outside of London town serves slow-proved Neapolitan pizza, from double fermented dough made fresh, daily, and topped with the best ingredients they can get their hands on. Bookings and Walk-ins welcome.

Alchemist, Oxford

The Alchemist are masters in the dark arts of molecular mixology and demons in the kitchen. Their mixologists create cocktails that are presented in vessels orchestrated to add a devilish dash of theatre – served with molecular magic al fresco. Also, expect a menu of classic dishes with an Alchemist Twist.

Flight Club, Oxford

Flight Club Oxford isn’t just about social darts – it’s also a great spot to soak up the sun. Its outdoor terrace offers a lively escape from the hustle and bustle, perfect for enjoying cocktails, sharing plates, and catching up with friends in the open air. With vibrant décor and a buzzing atmosphere, it’s a fun, relaxed setting for an alfresco get-together.

Sticks’n’Sushi Oxford offers a stylish and relaxed way to enjoy fresh, high-quality Japanese cuisine in the heart of the city. Set on the rooftop at Westgate Centre, the outdoor seating area is perfect for soaking up the atmosphere while sharing sushi, sizzling yakitori sticks, and refreshing cocktails.

Parsonage Grill

Famous for its intimate, bohemian, clubby atmosphere, the Parsonage Grill on Banbury Road is a Sunday Times ‘Top 100 UK restaurant’. Dine bistro-style outside the Cotswold-stone house with its trails of ivy.

Pompette Restaurant, Summertown

Pompette Restaurant, North Parade, Summertown, Oxford

Pompette – the charming French word for tipsy – is a stylish charcuterie wine bar and restaurant in Summertown, Oxford, by husband and wife duo Pascal and Laura Wiedemann.

Mamma Mia Pizzeria

Mamma Mia Pizzeria in Summertown is probably Oxford’s finest authentic Pizzeria. It is well regarded for its traditional pizzas and authentic pasta dishes – all made with fresh, quality ingredients – as well as sumptuous desserts and a varied wine list.

Cherwell Boathouse

Dine outside on the banks of the River Cherwell at the Cherwell Boathouse restaurant. The family-owned restaurant, which was started in an authentic Victorian working Boathouse, alongside the punt station (established in 1904), will be using as much of their outside space as they can.

Gee’s Restaurant

What Gee’s Restaurant provides locals and visitors is a uniquely rustic Mediterranean dining experience, set in a unique Victorian Glasshouse. The terrace situated in the heart of the conservation area along the Banbury Road known as Victorian North Oxford offers Mediterranean grills and sharing plates.

Branca, Oxford

Enjoy the bold flavours inspired by Italy, southern Europe & beyond at this contemporary restaurant and brasserie that has been located in the cosmopolitan Jericho in North Oxford for nearly two decades. The beautiful terrace garden is only a 10 minutes walk from the city centre.

Joe’s Bar & Grill, Summertown

This vibrant eaterie and bar located in the heart of Summertown, Oxford offers an American diner menu with a twist – from a unique breakfast and brunch menu and famed burgers to juicy steaks, grills, salads and much more. There will be a covered terrace area in front of the restaurant, open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee, cocktails and all your Joe’s favourites from 9.00am till late.

Kazbar, Cowley Road, Oxford

This popular Spanish/Moroccan tapas restaurant and cocktail bar in bustling Cowley Road in East Oxford is usually housed in a modern building with a conservatory. The North African souk inspired decor aims to provide you with a warm, snugly, romantic vibe of being in a Moroccan city. But for now, enjoy tapas, pizzas and drinks and soak up the splendid atmosphere outside on a pedestrianised Dawson Street.

Arbequina, Oxford

Arbequina to open new restaurant in Oxford’s Covered Market

This lively neighbourhood restaurant on Cowley Road serves vibrant, seasonal tapas with a modern twist. Set in a relaxed, stylish space, it’s perfect for sharing plates of bold Mediterranean flavours, paired with carefully selected wines and sherries.

The Magdalen Arms, Iffley Road

Magdalen Arms Restaurant - Exterior - Back

Located just outside the scholarly city centre – to the east in the bustling Iffley Road – The Magdalen Arms is a gastropub with a relaxed, scrubbed-wooden ambience, and a hearty-but-interesting seasonal menu that often changes daily. The Magdalen Arms has outside seating at the back terrace.

The Rusty Bicycle

This a beloved neighbourhood pub in East Oxford serves authentic quality Neapolitan pizzas, award-winning burgers and much more. It is part of the small DoDo pub chain which includes The Up In Arms (above).

The Up In Arms, Marston

Ask anyone about the best pubs in Oxford, and we’re fairly sure The Up In Arms will get a good few mentions! The old pub on Marston Road has been given a new lease of life and is now part of the small DoDo pub chain offering a menu of pizzas, burgers, plus sides.

Flo’s Cafe

Flo’s Café in Florence Park serves freshly made brunches, curries, soups, and salads, with a cosy indoor space or takeaway option. At weekends, enjoy a Syrian-inspired menu alongside homemade cakes and pastries, including vegan and gluten-free treats. There are kid-friendly meals, snacks, and coffee that supports social enterprises and community projects.

Tap Social, Botley, Oxford

Tap Social Movement Brewery and Community Space, Hinksey Lane, Oxford

Founded in 2016 out of a passion for good beer and social justice, their eclectic partnerships with local foodie vendors continues with the added bonus of heaters, covered seating and of course the (outside) taproom.

The Punter, Osney Island, Oxford

The quirky gastropub is situated on the banks of the Isis, on Osney Island in Oxford. Originally the Waterman when it opened in 1871, this pub has undergone a thorough overhaul recently, including a change of name, and is now much more food-orientated with a completely vegetarian and vegan menu.

The Head of the River

The riverside garden at The Head of the River promises some of the best pub food in Oxford. Enjoy the lovely riverside views while tucking into some superb contemporary pub food, accompanied, of course, by real ales on tap.

The Folly, Oxford

Alfresco dining at The Folly in Oxford offers a truly picturesque experience, with tables set on a charming riverside terrace overlooking the gently flowing Thames. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely lunch or a romantic evening meal, it’s a serene escape from the bustle of the city.

Slow & Steady

Housed in a Grade II-listed former coach, The Slow & Steady (previously The White House by Tap Social Movement) is a newly refurbished pub on Abingdon Road, reopened in September 2024 by Dodo Pub Co — their fourth venue in Oxford and ninth overall – offering a menu of pizzas, burgers, plus sides.