We all know Oxford Street for its shopping. The name alone conjures a delirium of endless footfall and minimal personal space. This mile-and-a-half corridor of consumerism stretches from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road, and famously lures hundreds of thousands daily, each in pursuit of the next acquisition. Yet, for all the attention we pay to what Oxford Street sells, we have somehow mistakenly overlooked all of what it serves.
This September, the annual event, OxFood Street, sets out to change that. Returning with a month-long programme of restaurants, bars, special menus, and events across the area, it caters to almost anyone’s day. Whether it be an impromptu lunch, an afternoon of cocktails, rooftop dinners, or late-night drinks, your day on Europe’s busiest retail street looks quite different when shopping isn’t the entire itinerary.
Lunch Without the Rush
Historically, a lunch break between stores calls for devouring a limp sandwich with undignified haste atop a concrete bench. But if you step off the pavement, you may realise how much you’ve been missing.
At Market Halls, a multi-vendor food hall, the problem is not finding something you’d like to eat but narrowing it down enough to order. Black Bear Burger offers its Miso Bacon Burger, Breddo’s Tacos detours to a Yucatán Chicken Quesadilla, Fresco Pizzeria throws in a Halal Diavola, Gopal’s Corner unfurls Banana Leaf Chicken Kari, and Little Bao Boy twirls Hoisin Duck Noodles. It’s a spread of international flavours condensed into a single lunch stop; so the only rational approach is to bring someone willing to share a few plates.
Department store lunches are no longer just quick stops between shopping. Since its launch this past August, the newly minted Platter at John Lewis & Partners is now serving diners all day with fresh pizzas, bakery favourites, and pastries from The Eclectic Collection. And for those with foresight or a sweet tooth, the Dessert Parlour has sundaes and waffles for anyone who still has room.
For those who can afford the luxury of one’s time, go to the Heddon Street Kitchen and try their autumn set menu during the weekdays until six in the evening. Two courses come in at £22, or make it three for £27. The late finish gives you plenty of time for lunch to follow its leisurely natural course and inevitably lead into drinks.
Sushi and Spirits at Aqua Kyoto
Aqua Kyoto smooths the transition from lunch to libation. For OxFood Street, two pieces of Akami Yukari and Cherry Crystal Sushi are served with the Õka cocktail priced 50% off at £17; this vibrant mixture consists of Everleaf Mountain, 42 Below Vodka, Chambord, raspberry and sage cordial, and Fever-Tree Lemonade.
Cocktails at LAVO Restaurant and Bar
On Marylebone Lane, LAVO is taking a more extensive approach by launching five limited-edition OxFood Street cocktails, all of which are inspired by the local food district and include varieties like the bittersweet Mediterranean Negroni and the bright, sparkling Paloma.
High-Altitude Mexican at Madera at Treehouse
As evening arrives, Oxford Street makes a good case for date night. And for the best views, it pays to look upwards.
At 1864 Rooftop Bar & Kitchen, a secret garden floats above the city, pairing cocktails and Italian bites with a panorama of London’s skyline. Madera ascends even further: on the 25th floor of Treehouse Hotel, Mexican dishes arrive just as the sun slips behind the city’s silhouette. After an afternoon below, the 25th floor beckons.
Matchmaking at Market Halls
Of course, a date night, by definition, assumes a date. But luckily, OxFood Street has made securing that prerequisite a whole lot easier. On 24 September at 7 pm, NICE will host “Date, My Mate” at Market Halls, an event that lets you outsource the dreaded self-promotion of modern-day dating to your friend. Here, singles are pitched by their mates to a room of potential matches, with any ensuing romance free to continue conveniently around Oxford Street. Tickets are available online in advance, so you’ll want to grab yours before they sell out.
Dating apps have already normalised distilling ourselves into a handful of posed photos and cheesy prompts, so handing the marketing over to a friend is hardly more absurd. If anything, it guarantees an interesting conversation over that first drink. And there are plenty of places for that.
Stay a Little Longer
At the Sanderson Hotel you have the option of taking your night to somewhere a bit more extravagant. Here the Long Bar extends for 80 feet and is set in glowing onyx, surrounded by verdant hanging plants and trailing vines. It functions as a stylish lounge for a casual drink during the day, but come the weekend when the ambiance shifts and the DJs take charge, the atmosphere makes an early night seem quite unlikely.
For a night centred firmly around the drinks, The Punch Room at The London EDITION presents twenty different punches on the menu, one of which is its famous Milk Punch. Apart from the beverages, the atmosphere is filled with music from soul and blues, with occasional spontaneous live performances. At this point, whatever it was that you first came to Oxford Street to buy is probably beside the point.
For Now, Forget the Shopping
Tomorrow the cycle resets. Commuters will pour out from the four adjacent Tube stations, the metal shutters will be raised, the number of shopping bags will multiply, and Oxford Street will return to its usual fast-paced routine. For one month, though, shopping does not have to be the main attraction.
This September, there is every reason to embrace this renowned avenue unburdened by a shopping list. Start with a spontaneous lunch in a hidden hall, let the afternoon turn into early evening drinks, look out over the skyline for dinner, and leave the rest of the evening undecided. The shopping can wait. Come hungry instead.
Discover more at OxFood Street
All images courtesy of New West End Company.