We’re back with another round of places to grab a quick lunch in town – perfect if you’ve only got 30 minutes between meetings, or if you just need something to perk you up after a busy morning of very early Christmas shopping.

Don’t miss our first article for some other options as well!

Georgina’s

Blink and you’ll miss the entrance to this spot in the Covered Market. The tiny staircase takes you up to a cosy, colourful cafe that is covered in an eclectic mix of artwork and serves a delicious range of Greek and Mediterranean food. It’s small but there are several tables, so you might be able to nab one if you’re lucky. I happened to spot on their menu that they also do takeaway options, which made it a perfect option for a quick bite.

The menu has a great range of hot and cold options. I was sorely tempted by the huge slabs of spanokopita on display in the counter, but frankly didn’t trust myself not to make a mess as I was walking, so went for the meatball wrap instead (£5.50).

The meatballs themselves had a great flavour and interesting texture, and there was just the right amount of tomato sauce – not too dry, not too wet. There were a good amount of other fillings as well. It was a lovely light(ish) lunch at an amazing price and served very quickly.

This classic Oxford cafe is absolutely worth a visit if you’re wandering the Market and need to escape above the crowds.

Georgina’s
80a, The Covered Market Turl Street, Oxford OX1 3DY

Greens Cafe

Greens Cafe used to be found on St Giles, but it’s recently moved closer to the centre with a new location on New Hall Inn Street. It has an extensive menu including breakfast and lunch options, as well as a very well-stocked cake and pastry counter.

I thought I’d give this a go as an ‘eat-in’ spot. The room itself is comfortable and buzzy, and the service was friendly and very efficient – I had ordered and eaten within 20 minutes, although I was there at 2pm which was probably after the lunchtime rush.

I had a ‘stonebaked sourdough flatbread with rosemary’ filled with chorizo, halloumi and pesto (£7.45 eat in, £6.45 take away), as well as a passionfruit, pineapple and mango smoothie (£4.95). However, if you fancy something heartier they do have jacket potatoes and pasta dishes on the menu.

The flatbread was perhaps on the small side, but was a great light lunch. You could definitely taste the rosemary in the bread, which I really liked – it made it a bit different from other paninis you can get in town. The smoothie was very refreshing, with a strong pineapple flavour that cheered me up on a rainy day.

Green’s Cafe
5 New Inn Hall St, Oxford OX1 2DH

Sofi de France

Sofi de France is another spot in the Covered Market that has a nice mix of food on offer, as well as the option for both eat-in or take-away. There’s an extensive range of freshly-prepared baguettes, paninis and salads as well as some tasty looking sweet treats.

I was looking for something other than a wrap or sandwich on this occasion (it was hard to tear myself away from the carbs, in truth) so I went for a prawn cocktail salad (£7.95).

It was made-to-order, and very generously crammed into the takeaway box. There was no shortage of salad leaves but also some nice grilled herby peppers, olives and sweetcorn as well as a good helping of the prawn cocktail. The sauce could have had a bit more of a kick, but I came away feeling like I’d made a healthy choice (and also that I’d be back soon for one of their baguettes…)

Again, the service was quick and friendly; well within the 30 minute stipulation for the purposes of this article, but equally I’m sure you could extend it into something more leisurely if you can grab a table.

Sofi de France
Avenue 1 & 2, 33-36 Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DX

As ever, we’d love to hear your recommendations for places to grab a quick but delicious lunch in town – particularly outside of the centre. Watch this space!