Dirty Bones Oxford is a New York City-inspired restaurant and bar situated atop the Westgate Oxford Roof Terrace. The venue features a large bar, open kitchen, and an outdoor dining area, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The menu offers inventive comfort food classics such as Chicken & Waffles, Cheeseburger Dumplings, and Mac & Cheese Balls, complemented by a selection of playful cocktails. The interior design blends retro-chic elements with 1970s Brooklyn influences, featuring rich colours, dim lighting, plush velvet fabrics, and reclaimed statement furniture. The restaurant also hosts live music events and plays old-school hip hop, funk, and soul music, enhancing its lively ambiance.
What each source says
- Google 4.6 5,964
- Tripadvisor 4.0 701
Bar length is review volume, so you can see how much weight sits behind each score. Captured 2026-08-26.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Appealing Atmosphere and Location The restaurant's rooftop location in Westgate provides nice city views, and the interior is often described as stylish and cool, contributing to an enjoyable dining experience.
- Delicious American-Style Food The restaurant is noted for its tasty and well-presented American cuisine, including burgers, fried chicken, and sides like loaded fries and BBQ corn ribs, with many finding the food satisfying and flavorful.
- Efficient and Quick Service Despite being busy, many reviewers highlighted the quick and efficient service, noting that food arrived promptly and staff were readily available.
- Excellent, Attentive Service Multiple reviewers praised the staff's attentiveness, friendliness, and knowledge of the menu, with some servers going above and beyond to accommodate allergies or celebrate special occasions.
- Great Cocktail Selection Many patrons enjoyed the cocktails, with specific bartenders receiving praise for their recommendations and ability to create custom drinks.
Criticised
- Drinks Can Be Expensive Some customers found the prices of drinks, especially soft drinks, to be quite high, making it a deterrent for future purchases.
- Inconsistent Food Quality A few reviewers experienced issues with food quality, such as soggy waffles or overly acidic sauces, suggesting that the execution of dishes can be inconsistent.
- Loud Atmosphere Some reviewers felt the music was too loud for comfortable conversation.
- Overpriced for Portion Sizes Several reviewers felt the portion sizes were small relative to the price, particularly for items like fried chicken and fries, leading to a perception of poor value.
- Service Can Be Slow Some customers experienced slow service, particularly with drink orders, with other bar customers receiving faster service.
The longer read
Dirty Bones Oxford, located on the rooftop of the Westgate mall, receives overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding service, food quality, and atmosphere. Multiple reviewers specifically praise the staff's attentiveness, friendliness, and knowledge of the menu, with names like Luca, Raff, Katya, Rio, Andy, Tobi, Zach, Raf, Joshua, Simone, Dez, Megan, Lydia, Cedric, Vivien, Chelsea, Harry, Kush, and Gabriel being mentioned for providing exceptional service. Many reviewers highlight the staff's willingness to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions, going above and beyond to ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience. Several reviewers appreciate the prompt seating, timely order taking, and efficient service, even during busy periods. The restaurant is described as a well-oiled machine. A recurring theme is the staff's genuine care for customers, with some reviewers sharing personal anecdotes of servers going the extra mile to make their visit special, such as offering birthday shots and desserts on the house.
The food is consistently described as amazing, delicious, and well-presented. The burgers, particularly the Mac Daddy Burger and brisket burger, are frequently mentioned as standout items. The loaded fries, lamb fries, chicken wings (especially the buffalo wings), and cheeseburger dumplings also receive high praise. Reviewers appreciate the generous portion sizes and the use of fresh, high-quality ingredients. The Koji chicken on a waffle is a popular choice, with reviewers highlighting the crispy chicken and flavorful sauces. While some reviewers find the prices of soft drinks to be high, most consider the food to be fairly priced, especially the lunch special. Several reviewers mention the excellent cocktail menu and the bartenders' expertise in creating custom drinks.
The atmosphere is described as lively, stylish, and relaxed, with a modern and dark aesthetic. The rooftop setting offers views of Oxford City, making it a great place to dine. The restaurant is considered suitable for various occasions, including birthday meals, family outings, and quick lunches. Reviewers appreciate the cleanliness of the restaurant and toilets. While a few reviewers mention slow service or incorrect bills, these issues appear to be isolated incidents and do not detract from the overall positive sentiment. A few reviewers noted that portion size can be small for some dishes. Many suggest pre-booking a table, especially on weekends, as it can get busy. Overall, Dirty Bones Oxford is highly recommended for its great food, outstanding service, and beautiful dining experience.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +44 20 8059 4483
- Website
- dirty-bones.com
| Mon | 8:00 - 23:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 8:00 - 23:00 |
| Wed | 8:00 - 23:00 |
| Thu | 8:00 - 23:00 |
| Fri | 8:00 - 23:00 |
| Sat | 9:00 - 23:00 |
| Sun | 9:00 - 22:00 |
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.5 against a median of 4.5 across the 55 places to eat we hold for Oxford, where the most-reviewed is Turtle Bay Oxford.
Still deciding?
- What time of day offers the best view from the Westgate roof terrace at Dirty Bones Oxford?
- Does Dirty Bones Oxford require reservations for indoor or outdoor seating, and how far in advance should I book?
- What are the most shareable or family‑style dishes on the Dirty Bones Oxford menu that work well for groups?
- Does the restaurant provide vegetarian, vegan, or gluten‑free versions of its comfort‑food classics?
- How would you describe the cocktail menu at Dirty Bones Oxford and are there signature drinks that reflect its New York inspiration?
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.