Il Corno - Panuozzo Bar
Covered Market, 40-41 Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3DX, GB
Rating: 4.8 ★ (139 ratings)
Details
Il Corno - Panuozzo Bar offers a vibrant taste of Naples, nestled invitingly within Oxford's historic Covered Market. This family-owned establishment exudes Neapolitan warmth and hospitality, aiming to provide a comforting retreat where good food meets good luck. The interior showcases a modern, sleek palette featuring deep red, black, white, and "Vesuvian lava-stone" grey highlights, echoing the lively streets of Naples, all set to a tailored playlist of jazz and bossa nova arrangements of popular Neapolitan songs. Named after the traditional Neapolitan 'corno' amulet, which symbolises good fortune and protection, the venue creates an immersive cultural experience.
The culinary focus here is on authentic Neapolitan street food, with the panuozzo as its star attraction – a delightful sandwich crafted from pizza dough and baked fresh with various savoury fillings. Patrons can savour options such as the classic Panuozzo Il Corno, featuring fiordilatte mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil, or the Panuozzo San Gennaro, filled with smoked provola cheese and pancetta. Beyond these, a selection of unique Neapolitan snacks like taralli, the sweet babà al rum, and a range of Campania wines and limoncello provide a genuine flavour of Southern Italy.
This charming spot is ideally suited for anyone seeking an authentic slice of Neapolitan culture, from casual lunch visitors to those enjoying an evening aperitif. It provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere perfect for a quick, delicious bite or a more leisurely experience. Il Corno also serves as a cultural hub, hosting events such as book clubs, language nights, and tombola evenings, making it a wonderful destination for students, locals, and tourists alike looking to connect and immerse themselves in Italian traditions.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact
+44 7741 939081
Comments
Ah, to close your lunch taste the famous babá.
The menu offers almost exclusively panuozzi, a specialty from Naples. I was immediately struck by the quality of the ingredients: they all come from Italy, and you can truly taste it. The result is a genuinely delicious product. As an Italian, I can assure you that it’s hard to find something of this quality even in Italy (except in Naples, of course). There are panuozzi for everyone (vegetarian options included), and the quality is always high. On top of that, the atmosphere is truly warm and cozy: all of this makes it a wonderful experience that I highly recommend to everyone!
The “San Gennaro” panuozzo was also good, though it could have used a bit more filling. Both were tasty options.
I checked out a few other places around but finally decided to grab something from Il Corno, without any big expectations… just a sandwich. But wow, the quality of the filling and the bread totally surprised me.
The bread was thin, soft, and warm just perfect. I’m glad I went for the whole sandwich (you can order half too, but trust me, half is not enough even after finishing the whole one, I could’ve easily eaten more 😅).
The only thing I missed was a cup of coffee. They only serve espresso, which is a bit too strong for me, so I ended up getting a lemon soda instead.
I ordered the San Gennaro, and it was amazing! Highly recommend.
Prices start from £5/6 (if I don't bad remember)