Eat & drink
Meet you at the Covered Market.
Brown’s for breakfast, coffee in the lanes and shops for food, flowers and things to take home. The Covered Market is worth an hour between college visits.
At a glance
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours including lunch and a browse.
- Estimated cost
- Free entry; set your own food and shopping budget.
- Best area
- Market Street, between the High Street and Cornmarket Street.
- Book ahead
- Usually walk-in; check individual trader experiences and events.
Entrances off the High Street lead to food counters and independent shops. Come for lunch and allow time to look around.
The market opened in 1774, with plans for twenty butchers’ shops by architect John Gwynn. Cooks, makers and shoppers still share the building today.
These four ideas work in any order, with room to stop at other traders along the way.
The food suggestions below are based on published menus and trader information.
A morning at the market
Four stops,
one loose plan.
Start here
Start with breakfast
Brown’s Cafe has served market breakfasts since 1924. Bakery counters offer other breakfast options, but confirm individual opening times for an early visit.
Take it slowly
Coffee, with a lap of the market
Colombia Coffee Roasters serves coffee among the food stalls. Cardew & Co sells tea and beans, while Gulp Fiction combines books, coffee and a bar.
Stay for lunch
Find a lunch stop
Sartorelli’s serves wood-fired sourdough pizza, Alpha Bar has salads and hot lunch bowls, and Brown’s Cafe does cooked breakfasts. Look at menus, seating and service times before joining a queue.
Look beyond lunch
Browse the shops
There are cheese, flowers and bread to take home, along with books, jewellery, clothes and gifts. Traders also offer framing, shoe repairs and other everyday services.
Why it matters
Oxford’s everyday
market.
The official market site lists more than fifty independent traders. Alongside food, there are books, flowers, clothes and repair shops.
The trader directory lists individual shops, cafés and bars. Their opening hours can differ from those of the market gates.
Browse the official trader directoryKnow before you go
The practical bit.
- Find it
- Market Street, Oxford OX1 3DZ, between the High Street and Cornmarket Street.
- Lunch
- Brown’s serves café breakfasts and brunch. For a takeaway, Alpha Bar has salads and hot bowls, while Sartorelli’s makes pizza to eat in or take away. The directory lists Alpha Bar as closed on Sundays and bank holidays, and Sartorelli’s on Mondays. Ask the trader about current menus, dietary needs and seating.
- Gate hours
- The market homepage lists Monday–Wednesday 8am–5.30pm, Thursday–Saturday 8am–10pm, and Sunday and bank holidays 10am–5pm. Its FAQ gives earlier closing times on Monday–Wednesday and Sundays. If you’ll be arriving late, confirm with the market first. Holiday hours can differ.
- Evenings
- Food counters can close before the market gates. Gulp Fiction lists Thursday–Saturday service until 10pm. Look up the trader’s own hours before heading in for an evening meal or drink.
- Access
- Seven of the eight entrances have step-free access, according to the market’s access guide. One High Street entrance has a step. The businesses are on the ground floor except Georgina’s café, which is up 17 stairs. The access guide also covers routes and facilities.
Sources & visitor information 4 sources · Sources checked 18 Oct 2026
We use the linked sources for practical visitor details. Each date shows when we checked a source. Confirm opening times, prices and booking arrangements before you travel.
Visitor FAQs
Oxford Covered Market:
Frequently asked questions.
Is Oxford Covered Market free to enter?
Yes, there is no admission charge to browse the lanes, shops and food counters. You pay for food, shopping and any ticketed trader experiences.
Is Oxford Covered Market open on Sundays?
Yes, except on holidays such as Easter Sunday. The homepage lists Sunday gate hours of 10am–5pm, but the market FAQ says 4pm closing. Confirm with the market if you plan to arrive late. Traders have their own hours, and Alpha Bar is listed as closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Can you eat and drink inside Oxford Covered Market?
Yes. Brown’s Cafe serves breakfast and brunch, Sartorelli’s makes wood-fired pizza to eat in or take away, and Alpha Bar has takeaway salads and hot lunch bowls. Gulp Fiction is a bookshop, coffee house and bar. Kitchens can close before the market gates, so look up the trader’s hours and ask about seating before ordering.
Are dogs allowed in Oxford Covered Market?
Assistance dogs are permitted. Ask the market team before bringing a pet dog, and check your chosen trader’s own policy.