Restaurants in Oxford

Opened as part of the Ashmolean Museum's mass refurbishment, Oxford's first rooftop restaurant remains one of the best dining venues in town. In keeping with the cosmopolitan feel of the museum, it draws its influences from a wide range of European culinary traditions and has a handpicked, 80-strong international wine list.

Busy at lunch and in the evening, stylish Fishers is a superb seafood restaurant with a varied menu based on daily supplies of fresh fish and shellfish – all direct from Cornwall, no less. Influences from Mediterranean, Northern Atlantic and Pacific Rim gastronomy are discernible in the dishes, which are finished with an assured touch.

One of the newest arrivals on the Oxford scene, this Marco Pierre White eatery is well placed on the High Street and specialises in creative, Big Apple-influenced versions of the Italian classics. You'll find everything from burgers, steaks and seafood to pasta, pizza and risotto in a classy, yet informal setting.

An Oxford institution since the early 1970s, the Nosebag is a popular independent restaurant in the heart of the town, with a menu full of home-cooked food – expect anything from vegan farinata (Italian pancake) or chicken jambalaya (a Cajun rice dish with spicy sausage) to baked potatoes. It also bakes its own cakes.

Locals rarely stop raving about this out-of-the-way Thai joint, located a while from the centre but nicely placed just off the multicultural thrum of Cowley Road. The menu's far from extensive, but what they do offer tends to be extremely high in quality. The aubergine curry is worth the journey alone.

Freshly renovated in 2015, this 17th-century thatched inn sits is in the pretty village of Binsey on the city outskirts. It's one of the oldest pubs in the region, but food is a big focus – expect farmhouse-style meals with plenty of pies, puddings and casseroles. The devilled eggs are also recommended.

Offering a great selection of traditional Lebanese dishes at very reasonable prices, Al-Shami on Walton Crescent remains one of Oxford's most popular restaurants. Deservedly so too: the food here is really good, both the grilled meats and the vegetarian dishes, and its wine list has some wonderful Lebanese wines. Don't miss the baklava.

Legendary among the students and office workers that frequent Cowley Road, Atomic Burger dishes up good-quality beef, chicken and veggie burgers in a colourful setting that owes everything to the 1980s. Back to the Future memorabilia, R2D2 models, A-Team vans – they're all here. Even the burgers have names like Jake n Elwood and Daisy Duke.

As authentic a Japanese restaurant as you'll find outside of Japan, Edamame occupies a blink-and-you'd-miss-it spot on Holywell Street. Renowned for its eccentric schedule, sushi nights are Thursdays, while an alternative dinner menu comes into force on Fridays and Saturdays. Other than that, it's open solely for lunch, except on Mondays and Tuesdays, when it's shut all day. Got that?