The Turf Tavern 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.

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

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?

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. 😄

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 ;)

Wonderful historic pub, amazing service from the staff. Lovely food and best selection of ales in Oxford!

Always nice place to go visit especially when its summer

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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 !

beautiful pub and great atmosphere. delicious steak ale pie

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!!

Typical Oxford pub in the heart of the city.

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

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 Duck Hash very delicious!!!

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Beautiful historic pub. Quite busy on a sunny Thursday afternoon

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.

Great pub with Ale locally brewed! ;)

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.

Absolutely stunning pub in the summer. Racclete pie is to die for.

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

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

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.

A wonderful historic pub with great food and drink.

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

Such a great spot right in the heart of the city!

Our local in Oxford. Next to our usual hotel. Ancient — 1300 something? Lots of students and professors and tourists. Good vibes.

Wonderful little bolt hole epitomising Oxford, but very popular on sunny days - only stopped for a drink on this occasion but the food service looked great also. Good selection of beers and various indoor and outdoor seating options.

One of the best fish and chips in Oxford. Warm charming ambience and a relaxed vibe.

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

Historic pub/restaurant in a great location

Amazing pub, great staff, defo go there again!

I love the turf tavern, beautiful garden. Perfect for a sunny day 13/10

My boyfriend took me here for dinner and it was the best meal I had had in ages the food was delicious and the staff were really friendly. 🍻🍻

I used to love this pub, but it has become a tourist trap. Food was dreadful and overpriced - somehow both overcooked and cold. Also extremely family unfriendly, with no changing facilities for young children.

Came in for a Sunday roast and was really good. Straight from the beginning we felt welcomed member of staff explains us how it works for get a seat and how we can order. Take in the bar very friendly and very helpful when it comes help you choose beers. The food was lovely, we didn’t wait too long. Lovely atmosphere ,and a pub full of history. Definitely recommended

Food was overcooked, cold, and rubbery. Staff rudely told us to leave because they felt our baby pushchair was taking up too much room. Earlier they gave a bad excuse for not having any baby changing that the building was old, but the bathroom has plenty of space and is in a new build annexe. Lousy all around. Won't be back.

Lovely meal out, will be back for sure

Went for drinks fantastic place to meet friends

What a beautiful pub to have a meal/drink with friends. Highly recommend you try it 👍 😎

The steak was chewier than a leather belt. Starters and sides were very good though.

£3 for a lime soda. 8/10 like soda.

Steak was great,plate could have been warmer though.

The rooms are very clean and comfortable. Check-in is always complicated for me and don’t know why. But very welcoming. The bar service is always great and food is okay for me since I’m vegan.

I've had better food. I think fries and a drink are doable. It would definitely be better. It's a little difficult to find an empty space. But sitting is very enjoyable. 😊

A restaurant located at the end of a small alley. It was by far the best fish and chips I've had in the UK. The steak was good, and I was satisfied with the variety of beer options. I went there hungry and it was over in an instant without even having time to take a picture. When I came to my senses, only the empty bowl remained.

Nice cozy pub. May have to reserve in advance if you want a table inside. Mac and cheese was only cheese so it wasn’t great. Portions are fairly big

Pretty amazing little Oxford gem, old and charming with great food which arrived quickly and a dedication to Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke in the beer garden!

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

Wonderfully Cosy secret spot with lovely food and service

The food was very disapointing . Had the pie , it looked 10 times better thsn it was . Rock hard pastry , not a lot of filling .£17.00 . £13.50 for 2 pints . Although the waiter was very pleasant, the guy with the beard behind the bar was a bit grumpy

Great food plenty of choices to eat 👍👍👍can get busy but worth a visit

Lovely old pub with some nice menu options.

Amazing pub with great atmosphere, great food, superb location and super helpful and knowledgeable staff! Definitely recommend to everyone who is visiting Oxford! Must to visit!

Love coming here for drinks & dinner! It’s always so lively & the staff are so accommodating & lovely!

Must visit for Oxford - best beer in the city 🍺

Great place to meat and be a part of history Absolutely beautiful pub great service

Went there with friends for lunch. We had a fantastic time, food was delicious and staff was very friendly. Will be definitely back.

Lovely place, tucked away hidden. Great service, lovely grub. Reasonably priced in today’s world

Lovely pub, and it wasn't our first visit. However, the main course was at room temperature, and it's desirable for the duck to be warm. Also, the waiter gave us one napkin with our cutlery. So that's half a napkin per person😆🤦‍♀️I had to go and ask for more, and that's just embarrassing.

Thank you grace for the great service and a beautiful smile to go with can’t wait to visit again the duck was amazing

Great pub, a gem in Oxford and a must visit. Beautiful standards, clean, great staff and plenty of history.

Bellissima serata in un locale storico, situato nelle vicinanze della Bodleian Library, con alle spalle centinaia di anni di storia, che mi hanno detto essere una sorta di istituzione ad Oxford, frequentato soprattutto da studenti. Cibo tipico dei pub inglesi ma di ottima qualità, grande scelta di birre. Una menzione in particolare per un cameriere italiano affabile e simpatico, di cui purtroppo non ricordo il nome, che ci ha messo completamente a nostro agio. Consiglio la Turf Tavern a tutti coloro che visitano Oxford per respirare la speciale atmosfera di questa città.

Tourist visited pub with many cask ales. Good food choices

A Hidden Gem in Oxford! The Turf Tavern is a must-visit for its historic charm, great selection of ales, and delicious pub food. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff make it the perfect spot to unwind. Tucked away but worth finding! My friends and family absolutely adore this British pub and are happy we can order from our table via QR code to stop it from getting too rammed at the bar! Lovely garden to sit in summer! Absolutely 10/10 staff!

Took friends to The Turf, what a treat! Lovely buz and felt very looked after by staff. Would definitely go again and recommend

La Turf Tavern è un bellissimo locale storico nel centro di Oxford, adatto per una cena dove ti senti a tuo agio, un luogo molto accogliente. Ci tornerò.

The chicken sharing platter and chips were inedible. Seriously overcooked and slathered in sauce to hide the fact they were probably reheated from yesterday. It was like eating flavoured rubber

great food, friendly and attentive staff. would definitely recommend!!!

lovely menu and great, speedy service !!

Absolutely love this place and pop in for lunch/dinner every time we are in Oxford. The food and service are always amazing and the atmosphere is superb. The cherry on the top is that the dog is welcome too! Highly recommend.

Beautiful pub and restaurant in Oxford, a must see hidden gem nestled away with great beers and fantastic food. Will be returning!

Great atmosphere and top customer service, I ordered the Sunday roast (beef) and it was perfect. Defiantly recommend!

A very charming and unique old pub with a cosy and lively atmosphere and good food including vegan options