Tucked away in Oxfordshire, a ceremonial county town two hours from London, Bicester Village is one of the country’s most cherished shopping destinations. It is part of the Bicester Collection, a set of 11 luxury shopping destinations across Europe and China. Established in 1995, Bicester Village has swooned in size and significance over the years, brimming with 150 exclusive designer boutiques. With hands-off shopping services and multilingual concierges, visitors get the ultimate royal treatment by exploring the locale with abandon, doubling up on shopping bags, and thoroughly indulging their inner shopaholic.
Top Places to Eat in Bicester
A destination in its own right, Bicester Village is the second-most visited attraction by Chinese tourists, second only to Buckingham Palace. Besides designer wares, the pavements are lined with exquisite restaurants, perfect for a little break during the shopping fiesta. From dashing feasts to delicious cocktails and toothsoome desserts, one is certainly in for a spoiling day out. Read on to find the ten best restaurants in Bicester Village.
1. Shan Shui
Shan Shui brings authentic Southeast Asian fare to Bicester Village. Opened in 2018, Shan Shui is a halal restaurant where the atmosphere is a remnant of an urbane 1920s Shanghai – the “place to be for art, architecture, dance halls, and glitzy restaurants.”.
Cherry blossom creepers fringe massive swathes of the weaved bamboo ceilings, and lace partitions section the floor. Open wooden shelves with bamboo facades dot the establishment. Chintzy wallpaper and matching floor tiles perfectly complement the baby-pink furniture. Minute details, from serving trays to mats, reveal fascinating textures and patterns. The dumplings, Shanghai wontons, and prawn crackers are an excellent start to the meal, and for the mains, the pan-fried seabass fillet or the Sichuan mala chicken are popular picks. The restaurant’s signature “golden lava bao” is the perfect climax.
2. Cecconi's
Cecconi’s is the ultimate Italian culinary getaway in Oxfordshire. Pastel shades engulf the establishment, with soft blues, pinks, and yellows while marble tabletops, slender brass lamps, and vintage art pieces cling to the walls. For breakfast, one can dig into the vanilla butter pancakes or the eggs Florentine. A la carte celebrates their cicchetti (side dishes, typically served in Venice), beef tartare, and risottos, all of which are highly rated. The exclusive Cecconi pizza menu is their pride, with its own set of starters and desserts. As with any Italian epicurean sojourn, finishing off with a tiramisu and a small glass of Prosecco is an absolute must.
3. La Tua Pasta
La Tua Pasta is Bicester Village’s very own "Pastificio.” A handmade antique mahogany bar with golden finishes takes centre stage amongst plate cloche light fixtures, wall-mounted silver plates, rich green curtains, and handsome dark-wooden furniture. Clouds of greenery inject old-world sophistication into the space.The restaurant takes pride in its bona fide produce and traditional techniques,proclaiming that their real ingredients, “such as durum flour from Italy and wild boar from France,” make for hearty, authentic meals. For starters, focaccia is an obvious win, which can be followed by award-winning risottos – the “black truffle and ricotta tortelloni'' is particularly enticing. The lasagna bar serves beef and vegetable lasagnas, and tofinish off, guests can indulge in the highly popular “bomboloni,” which are pistachio-and-white-chocolate-filled mini doughnuts.
4. Ottolenghi
Ottolenghi is a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant, opened by Israeli-born British chef Yotam Ottolenghi. Textured beige walls provide subtle character to the interiors, enhanced by spontaneous bursts of the restaurant’s signature ruby red hues. Modern aesthetics have been woven into the space with asymmetrical cabinetry, colourful plates on the walls, and eccentric light pendants.
The day begins with breakfast delights such as shakshuka, scrambled harissa tofu, and breadboards with croissants or pain au chocolat. Mains include roasted aubergine salad, sirloin steak, baked pasta, and chicken breast in a smoky marinade and yoghurt sauce. The picture-perfect desserts include chocolate and rum fondant cake, red grapefruit drizzle cake, and triple coffee cake with mascarpone icing. Choices from an exclusive wine collection and a delectable cocktail menu are guaranteed to zhush up your dining experience.
5. Farmshop Restaurant
Farmshop is an homage to the British countryside, with English classics and farmhouse fare leading the venue’s theme. Cobblestoned floors, exposed beams, and barn doors are highly evocative of archaic landscapes. A throwback to simpler times, Farmshop’s ambience is an apt appreciation of Oxfordshire’s rustic charm. The menu comprises wholesome comfort meals, such as fruity pancakes and the hearty English breakfast, but their Victoria’s sponge in particular, has received rave reviews.
6. Shakils
Shakils, a Central and South Asian gastronomic paradise, is the spot for Indian, Bangladeshi, and Parsi bites. A humble establishment, a sparse dining area is aglow in iridescent blue lighting and peppered with white cloth-clad tables, while private nooks with velvet sofas are available for more intimate dining experiences. The extensive menu comprises tandooris, baltis, thalis, and biryanis, a true haven for spice junkies. Shakils’ specials, such as achari gosht (spiced lamb) and badam pasanda (chicken or lamb in a cream sauce) have won over countless visitors over the years. The Dhansak (a Parsi gravy) and the Pathia (a tamarind-heavy Persian curry) are also highly rated. Pescatarians would thoroughly enjoy the Bengali fish menu, which features various biryanis, roasts, and curries.
7. Copper Kitchen
A traditional bistro, Copper Kitchen is popular for its refined pub cuisine and generous pints. Its stunning interiors truly capture the pastoral pub charm of a bygone era, with the cobblestoned walls, exposed beams, old-fashioned lanterns, and the intimate open kitchen. The elevated pub fare bears testimony to the restaurant’s premium produce, with popular starters including sautéed mushrooms with herbs and garlic, pan-fried prawns, and mozzarella wrapped in ham on ciabatta. Butternut squash risotto and the beef burger are some highly-rated mains, while the Panna cotta with raspberry sauce, and sticky toffee pudding are Copper Kitchen’s mouth-watering desserts.
8. Chesterton Brasserie
Chesterton Brasserie is a lavishly decked salon serving sumptuous European fare. The contemporary brasserie includes bespoke artwork, velvet armchairs, gilt wallpaper, tall windows, and ebony furniture, with sleek decor that is in perfect harmony with rustic elements such as the exposed beam and traditional sconces. Their rack of lamb, steak, sea bass fillet, and vegetable Wellington have been local favourites. In addition to desserts such as affogato, deconstructed cheesecake, and tiramisu martini, their cheese platters have been lauded. Florid botanical cocktails, besides the standard lagers, spirits, and wines, testify to Chesterson’s inventive mixological prowess.
9. Quod Restaurant & Bar
Hearty European meals are served in a homely Mediterranean setting at Quad, a popular restaurant favoured by tourists. Tall windows, exposed brick, timber facades, and light wooden furniture litter the restaurant, conjuring the aesthetic of a chic New York loft. Their Italian terrace garden, with ornate furnishings and manicured greenery, makes for the ideal romantic gastronomic getaway, while for intimate gatherings, Quod has its very own private dining room with an eight-person capacity, known as the “red room,” as it is swathed in scarlet paint.
The menu features mouth-watering marvels such as chicken kiev, salmon fish cakes, seared duck breast, rabbit and tarragon ragù, and rump of lamb. Bespoke cocktails include “French 75” (a blend of Cotswold gin and champagne), “Kentucky Bird” (woodford reserve, campari, pineapple, and lime), and “Botanical Garden” (rosemary-infused beefeater 24, St. Germain, apple, cucumber, mint, and lime).
10. The Lion
The Lion provides the ultimate British culinary experience, made with fresh produce and local ingredients. With timber beams, cobblestoned facades, antique paintings, a roaring fireplace, lavender creepers, and rustic wooden furnishings, the Lion is a charming countryside haven. Breakfast meals include porridge, pancakes, eggs, and the traditional English brunch. The sophisticated main menu furnishes delectables such as chestnut and wild mushroom pie, peri-marinated half-boneless chicken, pan-roasted venison, miso-glazed cod, crispy duck salad, and fisherman’s pie. The Lion’s Sunday roast, featuring beef, chicken, and pork loin, is an Oxfordshire treasure.
Their signature drinks include the negroni (a blend of gin, Campari, Carpano Antica, and orange bitters), the bee’s knees (gin, citrus, ginger, honey, and soda), and a glass of the exclusive Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée champagne. Bicester Village is the ideal stop for decadence and indulgence. If you appreciate the finer things, the centre’s luxury boutiques and distinguished eateries are bound to entice you. Get ready for the ultimate retail therapy experience and an unmatched culinary sojourn at Bicester Village, England’s very own shopping paradise.
