Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant ★★☆

The boathouse and restaurant on the banks of the Cherwell River

Some tables overlook the boat ramp, Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant, Oxford (Photo by Jeremy T. Hetzel)

Dining with a view, Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant, Oxford (Photo by David V.)

Chicken breast on a bed of lentils, Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant, Oxford (Photo courtesy of the restaurant)

Rump of Lamb with BoulangeÌ€re potatoes, butterbean pureÌe, vignarola, salsa verde, Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant, Oxford (Photo courtesy of the restaurant)

A table with a view of the punts, Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant, Oxford (Photo by Cinthu18)

Punts for rent on the Cherwell, Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant, Oxford (Photo by travelhos)

Fine French dining and boat rentals on the Cherwell River just north of downtown Oxford

Oxford's classic eatery is right on the river, with a French cuisine of fresh ingredients and half-priced kids' meals, about 1.5 miles north of the city center.

The food is some of the best in town—and priced to match—and this spot is terribly popular with weddings and other event parties.

Since long before there was a restaurant—opened in 1968 by Anthony Verdin and still run by his son, John—this has been a Victorian boathouse, built in 1904 and still renting punts (flat-bottomed boats) if you fancy a post-prandial pole down the Cherwell.

Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant Tours