The Turf Tavern in Oxford

It’s said to be one of Oxford’s oldest pubs. However, it now appears to be owned and run by a chain restaurant company. Some of the historic décor and atmosphere may still remain, though the modern ordering app might make the experience feel a little less authentic. Table are not the easiest to find, but it could be a lovely spot for a small gathering of 2–4 people.

Very busy as sunny but great atmosphere

A lovely little place for a quiet evening beer and a meal of the day. The local beers were delicious. However, the whole thing isn't exactly cheap. A beer and the catch of the day cost almost €28. Still, I highly recommend it!

Great food and amazing pub, great atmosphere and we had a delicious sunday roast, it could get quite busy though during sunday dinner time. But we were lucky to find a table in just 5min

Lovely tavern off the beaten track, lots of outdoor seating (with shade), good menu, good grub, good drinks menu and good service. Can order at the table using the QR code provided at the table. They didn't have the fish and chips (we called in for that) on the day so will call in again. It's lively and convivial.

We had a great experience at Turf. It’s difficult to find it, since it’s inside a strict road and I feel like there should be another sign pointing at the location, but when you find the spot you get astonished by its historical beauty. The pie we got was one of the best pies we got in UK, the pudding was great too. Overall a great experience, even though there was a ton of people and it was difficult to understand where to sit (you are not brought to the table by workers) and to order.

A wonderful pint in a true hidden gem. Atmospheric, historic, and utterly unique—with the kind of charm you can’t fake. The service was top-notch, and the mix of patrons made for lively, interesting conversation. Australian prime ministers and past American presidents feature prominently, adding a quirky, memorable twist to the decor. A place you stumble upon once and never forget.

Lovely place to eat and drink, I bring all my friends and family here all the time! The food is great and the pub atmosphere is vibrant and lovely. Would recommend to any one who is visiting Oxford. Would definitely recommend the Steak and ale pie it is very delicious.

The Turf Tavern is all about the atmosphere and history—and it delivers on both. Tucked away down a fun, narrow walkway, it feels like a hidden gem even though it’s well-known. There’s plenty of seating both inside and out, which is great for groups or a relaxed pint. The food is solid but nothing to write home about—pretty typical pub fare—but that’s not really why you come here. The charm of the place, its centuries-old history, and the quirky setting make it well worth a visit. A great stop if you’re in Oxford and want something close to all the main sights.

Experience a piece of history!! The Turf Tavern is one of Oxford's most famous and historic pubs, known for its rich history and unique location. Tucked away down a narrow alley off Holywell Street, the pub is hidden from view, making it a hidden gem in the heart of the city. It has a beer garden and a comfortable interior. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is relaxed. The service is fantastic. It's a must visit place to experience a piece of history.

10/10 Cozy terasse and interior, feel like a secret place "hard" to find. App and wifi available to order. Self-service tap water station. Good selection of beer and a nice sunday roast.

Absolutely fabulous day. Thank you for making it so special for us.

Sunday roast was very good and good price too.

Very friendly staff, great every time we visit. Love the atmosphere and Steak and ale pie was amazing!

This is an great pub, lovely staff, and I definitely recommend going there if you haven’t already!

I love the turf tavern, beautiful garden. Perfect for the sun 10/10

Fan unique pub. Great service. Lovely staff! Will definitely recommend

Wonderful historic pub, amazing service from the staff. Lovely food and best selection of ales in Oxford!! Niamh is amazing and looked after me really well

great place with beautiful interior and lovely staff. fabulous steak ciabatta

A wonderful historic pub with great food and drink. Got to give a shout out to Yana, who served us at the bar, she was great!

Absolutely stunning pub in the summer. Duck hash is amazing.

Lovely experience, great and friendly staff, food was excellent!

Had a terrific Sunday roast at this beautiful pub!!!

One of the oldest pubs in Oxford. Came here to meet up with 3 of my friends after work. It's a busy, bustling pub most of the time, and that ambiance is like no other. There is no music, but then again, we didn't have wall mounted speakers back in 1381, now, did we? 12 Cask Ales! Now, that's more than any other pubs I know in Oxford. My personal favorite is the Reggies Turf (Amber Bitter). Fairly malty liquid serenity. Off the food menu, the Battered Halloumi was simple and excellent. For mains, I don't think anything beats the Duck Hash. And for dessert, they're having the Chocolate Fondant at the moment. The molten chocolaty goodness paired with the creamy cool ice cream, with a dash of black cherry compot. If that's not perfection, I don't know what is. . There are many pubs, but there is only one Turf.

The beer is good, but at over 7£ (over 8€) per pint, it is very expensive.

Great food and service as always!

Great food, drinks and atmosphere!

The Turf is one of our favourite pubs in central Oxford and a place to take visiting friends and family because of its great atmosphere, interesting history, wide variety of food and drink and they pack in a lot of seating so there's often a chance to get a table without a reservation. The food -- classic pub dishes -- is well cooked and comes out quickly, even when they are busy. Something for everyone on the menu. You can order from your table with the QR code which is a blessing when the medieval bar with its low ceiling is crammed with thirsty people. Service is friendly and efficient.

Great pub with impeccable fish and chips! Only thing missing was mushy peas, hope that come back into the menu eventually!

Great pub with Ale locally brewed! ;)🍺

You pay extra for the history but the food is good and the team is friendly. Good service even when extra full after a graduation day in the university

A hidden gem in the centre of Oxford. Great atmosphere, food was lovely (especially the fish and chips) and a great variety of drinks. Staff were excellent!

Have been to this pub a number of times and have always had a fantastic experience. The staff are welcoming even in the busier periods and the food delicious with a good selection. Would definitely recommend stopping off if you’re in Oxford.

Beautiful family meal, would highly recommend. Staff are lovely as well

Fantastic spot in Oxford - Well done beverley!

Slice of Oxford's history - hidden away but well worth the visit!

Best pub in Oxford! All had a lovely meals, the steak and ale pie deserving a special mention. Great pub, great team and atmosphere. Well done team Turf

Had lovely drinks in the garden with friends. Great staff.

Great time there loved the atmosphere, was served by Gemma who’s was lovely will be back again 😁

Only stopped for a quick drink. Quite busy for Wednesday afternoon in March. Dog friendly plenty of outside tables. Local parking not an option.

As with many Greene King pubs, the gluten-free choices here are fairly good. My burger with cheddar on a GF bun was excellent, and the outdoor space really delightful to spend time in.

Wonderful old pub hidden away, full of history and charm

Update: Who exactly were we supposed to speak to? We waited 30 minutes after eating, but no one came to check in on us. The only staff interaction we had was with the waiter who quite literally threw the plates onto our table. Thank you for reminding me, my initial rating for service was generous. It's now going from 3 stars to 1. The Chicken Kiev was not described as burnt, yet that’s exactly what we were served. And as someone who knows their steak and ale pies, I can confidently say this one was completely off. I never claimed it had been in the fridge for 3 days, but that’s exactly what it tasted like—stale and reheated. The only way to resolve this is with a refund. That would be the most professional solution—and might just be the only way this review disappears. You can give me an mail address to solve this issue and I will send a picture, I can't make the upload on Google. I am happy to visit again in the future to give you another change, but this lunch was just dreadful. Please offer us a reasonable solution. Have a nice day, Sam Review: Starter and main were served together. The chicken was overbaked. Chicken Kiev was no Kiev, just an overcooked schnitzel. The worst part was the completely tasteless steak and ale pie. The only flavour came from a three-day-old fridge smell. Fries were unsalted and had no taste. Never again. Just taste it before you send something out, come on!

Lovely old pub that serves lovely ales

What A fantastic pub steeped in history. An extremely busy and well run establishment. Great food and drinks.would definitely return.

The atmosphere was nice and the food was delicious

Super nice pub, reasonably priced for its fame and location. Lots of tourists mixing with many locals. Went there twice and enjoyed it immensely.

love this place, so cute here, miss the ginger bartender who worked during summer though she was lovely ❤️

lovely menu and great, speedy service !!!

Visited for lunch on the weekend. dead end? It is located at the end of a small path, so it is a little difficult to find. Take a seat on the open terrace. You can order at the counter or by using the QR code on your table.

This typical and historic tavern in Oxford is very nice, I have visited it several times and will continue to do so, very good atmosphere!!!

Food was average and very overpriced - squid came out with 5 very small straight pieces and the special of wild boar was cold and uninspiring - but they have a good selection of ales and it’s a picturesque pub

Busy And sadly out of scotch eggs, but great atmosphere Outstanding Mac and cheese

Heralded Oxford pub with so much history and character. Great ales, good service and a classic low ceiling you can feel the centuries hanging there. Oh, and Bob Hawke's yard is in there.

One of the oldest pubs in Oxford. Great atmosphere.

A wonderful venue just a stone’s throw from St John’s College, University of Oxford, perfect for a delicious pub lunch in such a historic setting. The food was absolutely delicious and the service equally excellent. Gemma and her team were incredibly helpful in arranging our group’s pre-orders and kindly reserved a lovely spot for us in the garden, where we enjoyed the perfect day. Thank you for a truly lovely experience!

A pub with history and atmosphere. I recommend

great experience tonight at the turf. Food and drinks were great, and pub looks amazing. Definitely worth a visit when in Oxford.

Cooles classical must have seen pub in Oxford

Amazing atmosphere and delicious food!

If you’re looking for great food in a medieval atmosphere, this place is great. Just watch your head because this place is from the 1200’s. Great meal for a good price. Hidden gem.

Very popular and very busy. Be prepared to queue, but it is worth it, a great pub with friendly staff. Great atmosphere....what's not to like?

Copious portions of well prepared food in a great setting at the foot of the old city wall. Excellent

What a pleasant surprise of a place. We will deffinetly return if we visit Oxford again. Yumtastic. Tip: order at the table via the QR code. Easy peasy lemons Jill. 😄

Always nice place to go visit especially when its summer

If you are looking for a local place to eat at Oxfords, this is definitely one of them! The food is beyond our expectations and located secretly around the bridge of sign. You can use student discount on Student Beans as well ;)

Pasamos por una cena y nos pareció el lugar muy encantador, amable y tuvimos un tiempo excelente. La comida era promedio, pero las bebidas y el ambiente eran excepcionales.

Very nice atmosphere. The drinks were very good and the staff was nice

Nice pub with a friendly team. cant get any better. 🍻

Such an amazing pub if you can find it some of the best beer and service in the Oxford town centre 🍻

Beautiful hidden gem in Oxford. Don't miss this place! Staff and food absolutely 5 star.

Completely a tourist trap. I had one of the worst burgers in my life. Totally overpriced as well

Unfortunately neither of us were happy with the quality of our food and the chips served with the burger were cold and had to be replaced when we finally managed to get the staffs attention. I don't know what the batter/Breadcrumbs are for the cod but they are not the best. Very disappointing

This establishment has some major issues on how to treat it's customers. We booked dinner for 3 at 8,15pm & although arrived a few minutes late booked our food from the bar at 8.30. Hardly a late time considering they take bookings up to 8.45pm (see website) On ordering we were told that if we wanted starters as well as mains then they would all have to be served together because the chef was stopping at 9pm. When our food arrived we asked if they could keep our mains warm whilst we had our starters. Begrudgingly they obliged. When they finally served them to us they were dry & almost inedible indicating they had just put them on the side in the kitchen rather than keeping them warm. The floor manager manager was extremely rude, indicating that it was our fault for arriving late. I suspect that because we visited out of term time then footfall is reduced & all the staff seemed to be interested in was leaving as early as possible with scant regard for their customers. My advice is that if you want a decent warm meal with a lack of attitude then either a)Book before 7.30 so as not to inconvenience the chef or b)Book somewhere else (recommended) Finally steer clear of the wine, the Shiraz was nearer to undrinkable & not recognised on Vivino which was a first!

Historic Tavern, as they say, if you visit Oxford you have to visit Turf. It’s alleged former president Clinton during his time in Oxford smoked illegal substance here without inhaling. Great beer, food and very Harry Potter like setting, just missing butter beer!

Unfortunately neither of us were happy with the quality of our food and the chips served with the burger were cold and had to be replaced when we finally managed to get the staffs attention. I don't know what the batter/Breadcrumbs are for the cod but they are not the best. Very disappointing and just to finish the experience off all the windows had brown paper over them to block the view to the garden

Had an incredible time, the food was excellent and the service was perfect

Great time here with my family! Unbelievable food, great ambience. Send our regards to Reece, he was so kind ! Will be coming back for sure ! Fish and chips were unbelievable !

Terrible food and dirty tables. The only redeeming feature about this pub is the staff, who were polite and friendly. Very disappointed.

Visited on Sunday the 13th April 2025. Great location and old school vibes. Food was reasonably good but certainly not anything amazing by British Sunday Pub Roast standards. Prices about par for a city centre and, considering it's Oxford, they are certainly not outrageous. Honestly, I quite liked the place. Staff generally all great but had a really bad experience with a younger American gentleman working there who gave us some surprising attitude. Booked a table beforehand and it was available for us as arranged but was really quite small given the number of our group (we mentioned the group size when booking). No problem, we were flexible and it was also the case that there was another table available nearby. When we asked if we could just add a chair on the end of the 'new choice' table the young guy flatly refused in a rude way, mentioning a fire exit....okay, fair enough. We then asked if we could just push up the free single table next to ours instead and he replied that was not possible as the other table was reserved saying 'You can either take this or that' (referring to the original table which was too small or the new table) ...wow! Had I not been there with my wife, guests and son, I would have had to have a very stern word with him, however I decided to take the higher ground. He badly needs some training. The sign on that reserved single table clearly showed 3:30pm but this was midday so they didn't need the single table for another 3 1/2 hours, it was an easy request to facilitate, and so the other servers/waiting staff easily agreed to us doing so. the other staff were lovely. No other problems. I usually only leave mostly positive reviews but really felt quite taken aback on this point. Agree with the other reviewers who have stated the ordering is really a bigger issue than the owners might realise. Several customers (complete strangers to me) were all heard saying the same. Literally waiting ages as the whole customer base queues around the tiny main bar (with people squeezing the already tiny spot into a smaller one coming through the main door) to eventually meet with one guy taking an order for every single drink and food item for a large group several rooms away as he operates his one screen till loudly stating to the whole line of us 'I'm not very good with this, just hang on a minute' is neither effective nor confidence inspiring. I know the owners will say 'there's an app if you just scan this QR code' etc but a lot of people really do not wish to do that, especially in a post covid context and there were nearly ten servers standing around bunched up near our table doing nothing presumably getting paid anyway so the attempt to run this alternative modern 'app based' system really missed the mark and the point (especially given the classic, cramped old British pub layout). Also do not agree with the owner's response to a similar complaint on this point made by some nice American customers whereby the answer for them was along the lines of 'this is normal for UK pubs'....if that were true, there wouldn't have been so many surprised British customers left unsatisfied.

Best food in Oxford Staff are so efficient for how busy they are And in the heat also they don’t slow down All deserve a beer buying! Well done team!!

Lovely pub in central Oxford with a great atmosphere. The food was quite nice but came out cold.

Typical Oxford pub in the heart of the city.

A gem of a pub, hidden in the middle of Oxford. We had a hot sunny day for a few pints in the tiny but amazing patio space. Crowded and jovial with friendly people. Good menu and amazing service on a very busy day. Low ceilings, so watch your head! Definitely worth a visit.

The atmosphere is amazing! Service and staff was great as well. Friendly people there.

atmosphere was so lovely, and alex was the most lovely server ❤️

The atmosphere here is very interesting and fun. The staff were amazing--very friendly, accommodating, and helpful. However, the food was awful. I had the Sunday Roast, beef. It did not look like the menu photo--instead it was like shoe leather. The yorkshire pudding was old and tough to bite into. The cauliflower was good. The potatoes were ok. The peas didn't have much taste to them. When my husband ordered a glass of white wine, the cup used to measure the glass had just been used for red wine. It was not rinsed so the white had a pink tinge to it. Granted it was a rather inexpensive wine, but still. It was rather disappointing so I will not be back if ever I make it back to Oxford. But the location is in a fun spot and the atmosphere is good. We regretted not ordering the hamburger as it looked good passing us by for the tables of others.

Lovely Pub, great food and atmosphere. Very accommodating for allergies and lovely ale selection

Lives up to its history and reputation! Fish and chips were great. Next time, I'll try the Sunday roast!

A lovely little find down a very small alley. Low beamed ceiling. Friendly staff

Tucked away spot right in the city centre. We visited for lunch in the beer garden on a beautiful spring day. Great range of beer and tasty food. Overall we felt it was a little pricey. Chips great, fries meh.

Beautiful historic pub. Quite busy on a sunny Thursday afternoon

Gran experiencia de almuerzo en una zona histórica de Oxford - el Mac y queso era increíble y la hamburguesa era deliciosa - gran ambiente y generosa cantidad de comida en buenos precios

Amazing pub. Best pie n chips that I've tasted in a long time, with perfectly done pastry and triple-cooked chips. Can also recommend the fish n chips, which are triple-whammy generous, delicious and filling. 100/10 with atmosphere to boot, having to find it through a classic, winding English alley. Felt like a proper experience.

Had the pleasure of visiting and dining here during our day trip to Oxford. It’s warm and cozy inside, and the crew were friendly. Yummy fish and chips and even better ales. We had a wonderful time.

Insane place I love it here it’s where the kids always ask to go on weekends !

Was recommended by tour guide to go. Ended up going for a couple drinks. Navigating the QR code to order was difficult so went to the bar. They didn't have several beverage items on the menu. The guy behind the bar was working hard and friendly but only one staff member working behind the bar.

I visited this famous restaurant in search of a uniquely British meal. The location is difficult to find and I wonder if this is really the right place? It's located down a narrow alley that makes you think. I already had a reservation ticket for a sunny indoor seat, so I took a seat at a table a little further back from the bar. You can either order directly at the bar or use the Greene King Pubs & Restaurants app to order based on your seat number. (Each table has a QR code and seat number for app download) The app is convenient because you can pay with Apple Pay or credit card each time. The Steak & Ale Pie I ordered was very delicious, and the charred cabbage and mashed potatoes that came with it went well too. The staff seemed busy and moved around a lot, but they were very attentive and I had a great time.

Gorgeous pub, very charming with lots of history and a fab cask ale selection.

Nice pub very good atmosphere, but very disappointed, on Google it says the kitchen close at 9pm but at 8:30 we ve been told wasn't possible to get some food as the kitchen was closed