Restaurants

Rooftop Restaurant Ashmolean

Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH, GB

Rating: 4.0 ★ (576 ratings)

Details

Panoramic views of Oxford's iconic spires await at the Rooftop Restaurant, perched atop the historic Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows ensure the bright, airy dining room is flooded with natural light, or you can opt for the spacious terrace for an alfresco experience when the weather allows. Serving a menu of Modern European dishes with distinct British flavours, this fashionable spot offers a unique fusion of food, wine, art, and culture. Whether you're seeking a leisurely lunch after exploring the museum's treasures, or a memorable afternoon tea, the restaurant provides a stunning backdrop. Keenly priced sharing platters, French bistro staples, and Italian classics often feature, with menus sometimes taking inspiration from the museum's current exhibitions.

Expect a smart, snappy, and convivial atmosphere inside, attracting a mix of museum visitors, academics, and students. The restaurant is praised for its friendly and attentive staff, contributing to a lovely overall experience. Afternoon tea is a particular highlight, renowned for its freshly prepared traditional offerings, which can be enjoyed daily. Lunch is served from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, with afternoon tea available until 4:00 pm. Given its popularity and stunning location, booking in advance is highly recommended to secure your table and savour the delightful food and views after your cultural explorations. Ashmolean Members can also enjoy a discount on their meal.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Thursday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Contact

+44 1865 553823

Comments

Aneta Pawlik
19 Mar 2026
5.0 ★
I booked a vegan afternoon tea for two at this place. The place was very very busy - we waited a bit for our table and for our food to arrive. It's a nice rooftop location for drinks but to be completely honest, I did not find it special. The vegan afternoon tea was amazing though!
Patrick
8 Mar 2026
3.0 ★
The Ashmolean is a fantastic museum in the heart of Oxford; the restaurant is a nice pitstop when browsing through decades of history. We've had amazing weather when visiting, so the rooftop terrace is a great opportunity to enjoy the weather with a view over the rooftops.

As for the food, for a premium size, the portion size and quality is fairly average. We've had the olives and sourdough bread for starters which were both a bit disappointing. The lemon chicken was nice, but for £8 quite a small portion, even for a starter.

All in all, worth stopping by if you're visiting the museum. Solely for food and drinks, there might be better places around.
Juliet Benning
10 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
Had a fabulous solo "artist date" here. Was made to feel very welcome and given a wonderful table with view of the rooftops. The service from Lesley was *brilliant*. Everything beautifully timed and I didn't have to wait ages for the bill (as that sometimes seems to happen).

The wine was crisp and cold. The food was just wonderful. Light yet tasty with superb ingredients. The vegan burrata especially delicious. Tasted just like the real thing.

The roof deck in the sunshine was a piece of heaven and loved the big bright interior of the restaurant. I will be coming back lots!
Barry Sullivan
5 Feb 2026
5.0 ★
We stopped here at the beginning of our visit to Oxford, starting at the Ashmolean Museum.
Rooftop restaurant, really nice views of the surrounding buildings.
We stuck with lattes and desserts, and we very happy with the food and the service.
A nice place for a break in your busy day !
Sarah
5 Jan 2026
3.0 ★
Afternoon tea at £28.50 a head plus automatically applied 10% service charge - which I don’t approve of. The food just wasn’t that great and neither was the service. None of the desserts tasted home made and some of the sandwich filllings were very lacklustre. There was no attention to detail - cups and crockery low quality etc. I think I expected it to be similar to the afternoon tea experience offered by Bettys and other similar chains and it isn’t - which is a shame for somewhere in such a beautiful location. Would not recommend the afternoon tea option at this price.

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