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The Oxford Market

bars•
London
London

The Oxford Market

11-13 Market Pl, London W1W 8AH, United Kingdom

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Christoff

Christoff's Take

Insider review

Tucked away on Market Place, The Oxford Market manages something quite remarkable in central London: being genuinely popular without falling into tourist trap territory. This gastropub has earned its stripes as a local favorite whilst maintaining the kind of authentic atmosphere that's increasingly rare just minutes from Oxford Circus.

The Oxford Market: Central London's Surprisingly Authentic Gastropub Haven

A rare breed - the anti-hype local that actually delivers

My Honest Review

Atmosphere & Ambiance

The Oxford Market strikes an impressive balance between energy and sophistication, scoring 7.8 for liveliness whilst maintaining a refreshingly unpretentious vibe. The space pulses with conversation-friendly energy (8.5/10 on the social scale), making it ideal for groups looking to actually hear each other speak. The venue's flexibility shines through its dual personality - upstairs gastropub meets basement bar available for private hire with DJ setup. What sets it apart is the beer garden, a genuine rarity in this part of London that provides precious outdoor drinking space. The atmosphere skews toward vibrant social gatherings rather than intimate encounters, with group sizes trending larger. Despite being Instagram-worthy, it maintains an authentic, anti-recommendations feel that suggests you've discovered something special rather than followed the crowd.

Food & Drink

The kitchen focuses on modern European dishes alongside gastropub classics, paired with an extensive beer selection and imaginative cocktails. While specific menu details aren't available, the venue's positioning as a quality-validated gastropub suggests they're taking the food seriously rather than treating it as an afterthought. The cocktail program appears to be a particular strength, with the venue tagged as cocktail-focused, indicating they're putting genuine effort into their drinks menu. The combination of brewery credentials with gastropub execution suggests a place that understands both beer and food pairings. Given the price level of 2 out of 4, expectations should be calibrated accordingly - this isn't fine dining territory, but rather well-executed pub fare with modern European influences.

Service & Experience

While specific service details aren't provided in the available information, the venue's high conversation-friendly score and local favorite status suggest staff who understand how to maintain the right atmosphere. The fact that it's tagged as 'Actually Good' and 'Not Overrated' implies service that meets expectations without pretension. The availability of private hire for the basement space indicates they're equipped to handle different service scenarios, from casual drop-ins to organized events. However, potential visitors should be aware that the venue gets extremely busy during after-work hours, which could impact service speed and attention during peak times.

Value for Money

At price level 2 out of 4, The Oxford Market positions itself in the moderate range for central London, which is refreshing given its prime location minutes from Oxford Circus. The value proposition seems strong considering you're getting beer garden access, extensive beer selection, imaginative cocktails, and proper gastropub food without paying premium tourist prices. The venue's 'Not Overrated' and 'Quality Validated' tags suggest you're getting what you pay for without the usual central London markup inflation. For a gastropub with brewery credentials and outdoor space in this location, the pricing appears reasonable, though specific menu prices aren't available to make detailed value assessments.

Insider Tips

Best Time to Visit

Hit the beer garden before 6pm to secure outdoor seating - after-work hours see the venue become extremely busy, making it difficult to find seating or move around comfortably. The venue operates Monday-Wednesday 12pm-11pm, Thursday 12pm-12am, Friday-Saturday 12pm-1am, and closes Sundays. Early afternoon or late evening visits will offer the most comfortable experience.

What to Focus On

Focus on the extensive beer selection and imaginative cocktails, which appear to be particular strengths. Without specific menu details available, I'd recommend exploring their modern European dishes rather than defaulting to standard gastropub fare.

Christoff's Insider Tips

The beer garden is described as 'basically a rare spawn point in central London' - treat outdoor seating as premium real estate and arrive early. The basement bar can be hired for private events with DJ setup, making it worth considering for special occasions. Despite being Instagram-worthy, the venue maintains an authentic local feel, so it's worth visiting even if you're skeptical of social media darlings.

The Final Verdict

The Oxford Market succeeds where many central London gastropubs fail - maintaining authenticity whilst delivering quality. Its combination of extensive beer selection, imaginative cocktails, and rare outdoor space creates genuine value in an area notorious for tourist traps. The high energy and conversation-friendly atmosphere make it ideal for social gatherings, though the after-work crowds can be overwhelming. While I lack specific details about food quality and service nuances, the venue's tags suggest it delivers on its promises without the usual central London pretension.

Christoff's Rating:
7.2/10

Perfect For:

After-work drinks groups seeking authentic atmosphereBeer enthusiasts wanting extensive selection with outdoor spaceAnyone looking for Instagram-worthy spots that aren't tourist traps

Quick Details

1

The Oxford Market

🌺 Beer garden
🍺 Gastropub
⭐️ Central location
🍸 Cocktail focused
⭐️ After work crowds

That rare central London unicorn,a gastropub with an actual beer garden just two minutes from Oxford Circus madness. The outdoor space becomes prime real estate during after-work hours, where professionals clutch imaginative cocktails while pretending they're not still thinking about tomorrow's presentation. Inside, the atmosphere buzzes with high energy as extensive beer selections flow alongside modern European dishes. The basement transforms into private party territory with DJ setups, making it perfect for office celebrations. By 6pm, finding seating becomes a competitive sport, but the vibrant social atmosphere rewards those who secure spots early. Cocktail creativity meets gastropub reliability in a location that shouldn't work but absolutely does.

What's Great

✓ Rare outdoor drinking space in central London

✓ Basement available for private hire with DJ setup

Keep in Mind

× Gets extremely busy during after-work hours making movement difficult

Christoff

Christoff's Tip:

Lowkey hit the beer garden before 6pm to secure outdoor seating - it's basically a rare spawn point in central London

Vibe check scores

Trendiness
Sophistication
Noise Level
Uniqueness

Venue details

🕐"Mon-Wed: 12pm-11pm, Thu: 12pm-12am, Fri-Sat: 12pm-1am, Sun: Closed"
📍11-13 Market Pl, London W1W 8AH, United Kingdom
💷£££
📞+44 20 7079 2020
🌐Website

Featured In My Guides

The Oxford Market has been featured in 1 of my curated guides. Here's where you can find more context and discover similar spots.

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bars in london•
Aug 21, 2025
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