Where to Dine in Oxford, Mississippi

Saint Leo

This football-centric college town is geared to restaurant lovers too

Consistently named one of the prettiest college towns in America, Oxford, Mississippi hangs its hat on Ole Miss, or Mississippi State University, founded in 1848. But beyond the religion of Rebels football, which brings 100,000 fans to every home game, Oxford is a respectable dining town worth exploring.

Chartered in 1836 on land originally occupied by the Chickasaw Indian Nation, Oxford is home to William Faulkner’s home museum, a lively arts scene, and a quaint downtown. As the Southern epicenter of the Slow Food movement, the town attracts multiple James Beard Award-winning chefs to its bustling town square.

Here are some dining highlights for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that showcase just how tasty Oxford can be, best enjoyed when the crowds aren’t in town for a game. There are worthy spots outside of town too, but this lineup is concentrated on walkability to the all-important town square hub.